Disclaimer: In first chapter, but still not mine. Not king yet, either, come to think of it.
Desires
Chapter Nine: Clues to the Mind
When the spell was finished, each book flashed brightly: Gryffindor's with a golden light, Slytherin's with a silver one. A new page appeared from nowhere, with writing filling them. But it was odd, for neither of their pages made sense. Hermione's page was the most confusing, and it took Harry two tries to convert his from Parseltongue to English. But then they got it, as Hermione wrote what Harry recited, then added his to her own. The finished product looked like thus:
If ye seek
Then ye shall find
The answer lies
Within the mind
But to find
That which ye seek
Potions drink
And spells ye speak
Potions found
Within the green
Let thou see
What is unseen
Spells which sought
Betwixt the red
Can bring back life
To those not-dead
Harry muttered to himself as they tried to figure out what exactly they were looking for. Hermione began a list, and each of the four added to it as they re-read and pondered the strange clue. When they were finished, they were certain they knew what they were looking for; potions for sight beyond sight, or viewing abstract concepts; spells to revitalize and rejuvenate a body, and perhaps the spirit and soul as well. Now they just had to find them.
Harry searched his book through twice, while Hermione and Severus took turns searching the other book, each making notes. Draco dozed off occasionally, but always came awake at the first sound from any of them, so his sleep was fitful. Eventually, Harry gave his book up as fruitless and searched the others by Slytherin, but still came away with no more knowledge than he had from previously reading the books. He knew he was missing something, but couldn't tell what. He gave up the ghost near dawn and laid down to rest with Draco while Hermione and Severus continued on.
Hours later, a sound came from the bedroom that startled the two still researching. It was a scream, then gasping and yells. Then all went silent; too silent. Hermione looked over at Severus.
"Harry's having a nightmare. I think Draco must have put up a silencing charm," she said.
Severus nodded, but had no intention of waiting idly by until Draco let them know it was alright. Both he and Hermione must have thought the same, because both rose and headed for the bedroom. When they opened the door, they were met with a blast of noise and the sight of Draco rocking Harry as he tried to soothe him out of his nighttime horrors. Hermione scuttled over and climbed up on the bed behind Harry and rubbed soothing circles on his back, while Severus watched on, helpless to do anything. After a time, green eyes opened and focused on him. Harry groaned and mumbled something that made Draco and Hermione laugh, but which Severus couldn't hear. After much pushing from the dark haired young man, the three were off the bed and all four retreated to the relative formality of the living room.
Harry began reading his books again, but after only a few minutes he scrambled to his feet and tugged on Hermione's arm.
"C'mon!" he said excitedly. Hermione looked at him quizzically.
"Where are we going?" she asked. He pulled her towards the door while answering.
"To pay a visit to Myrtle, of course." Hermione's eyes brightened.
"Oh! I've not been yet."
"Wait! We're coming too! You're not going down there without us, you know," Draco said, grabbing Severus' arm and trying to drag the man behind him. Harry raised a brow.
"You're going to get dirty you know, Draco. Can the Malfoy pride afford that?" he teased.
Draco glared at him in response and they set off down the corridor towards the stairs.
Severus was curious, but willing to go along. But . . .
"Where are we going?" he asked, reiterating Hermione's earlier question.
"The Chamber of Secrets, of course!" Draco replied. Severus nodded, an eager gleam in his eyes.
The trip into the Chamber itself was uneventful, if one discounted Draco's mutterings about not just being dirty, but down right filthy! Harry laughed at him, teasing the blond with 'I told you so's and what not. As they delved deeper into the bowels of the castle, however, they became more excited. At the entrance to the final part of the Chamber, Harry halted and turned to his companions.
"I'm not sure what we'll find in there. After all, I've never learned how quickly basilisks decompose," he warned them.
Severus looked at him curiously. He'd heard the stories, of course, about how Harry had slain a basilisk when he was twelve. But he'd never believed them before now. However, he couldn't deny the evidence before him as the doors opened to the hissed command. There, on the floor before a massive statue of Salazar Slytherin, was an equally massive basilisk corpse. A perfectly preserved basilisk corpse.
Harry moved around the corpse as if it weren't even there, while the others stared at it and wondered how a twelve year old boy with no wand--only a sword--managed to kill that thing. Harry stopped in front of the statue and used the same phrase Tom Riddle had years before.
Speak to me Slytherin, Greatest of the Hogwarts Four!
And the statue's mouth opened, creating another tunnel for Harry to slide down. He was at the bottom before the others reached the statue, calling for him to come back up. He answered only that he was alright, looking around with great interest. If he was right, then the answer to one of their problems would be solved. However, they still had to figure out just what the riddle meant, exactly.
A/N: So? What do you think?
Thanks for all the reviews, and I know it's been awhile. I am very sorry about that, but Real Life intruded on my happy little fantasy world, and then I got writer's block. I seem to get that often, and for a very long time. Hmmm... odd, that. Speaking of odd, does anyone have any ideas about Pendant, and how I can get my muse back on track for that? I'm just so... frustrated with that story because I can't make it go. Ah, well. Until next time.
JA