Chapter 21 “ Stonehenge
The wind blew bitterly cold as it slapped the side of Riddle’s face and passed right through Harry’s nonexistent figure. The stars twinkled menacingly overhead as they approached what was surely their destination. The large green field formed a circular setting and stones were standing tall. It was mystifying, confusing, and yet, as Harry drew nearer, he remembered the sight. His years of Muggle schooling felt like centuries ago, but he remembered this historical sight.
It had been fourth grade when he had first seen a picture of this place. He was always curious about the mystery of its origin. What would have brought Riddle to Stonehenge?
Just as Harry thought this, Riddle glanced over his shoulder and shot a powerful spell behind him. The light whipped through Harry and continued undisturbed. Apparently Riddle had been checking for followers. This made Harry wonder where Dobby was, or what kind of strong magic he was using.
Riddle approached the very center of the mystery. Harry saw the inside of a door, and Riddle vanished. Harry was utterly bewildered. It was as though there was a strange building and only the interior could be seen. The odd force that was Dobby propelled him onward, and soon they were at the spot where Riddle had just disappeared.
Although Harry couldn’t see his companion, the next thing he knew, the door was open and he was being drawn inside.
Harry found himself in a dimly lit hallway made completely of stone. The ceiling was rather low and unimpressive, but he could see a grand hallway up ahead. Nothing decorated the walls but basic torches, and the prospect that Voldemort would have hid one of his Horcruxes here was seemingly laughable.
The small corridor opened up to a much more glorious room than what he had seen before. From what he could see, he appeared to be standing at the top of a long and magnificent staircase. He leaned over the railing and was unable to see the bottom. It was solid stone with chiselled statues at each landing. Up above, there was nothing but the ceiling. Dobby was descending the stairs and bringing Harry with him. This time the walls were lined with plaques. Names were engraved into the silver plates and they covered every inch of the walls. Harry was trying to read each one as he passed, but only got glances. Chiwasmi….Kettbask…Malfoy… Harry froze and stared at the ancient plaque that read “Nowell Malfoy ~ 73-126”. As he looked at the other plaques on the wall he saw that most of them did not have years on them. The most recent name was “Cecille Hadfeld ~ 1217-1292”. More than half must have been Before Common Era. Harry was beginning to understand the building. He realized that it must have been thousands of years old. He gazed with wonder over the staircase railing and saw the top of Tom Riddle’s head vanish through a heavy oak door two landings down. Harry hurried down the stairs and reached the same door. The plaques still continued on this wall too, and most of the silver was extremely tarnished. There were no years recorded.
Harry and Dobby entered the room and saw Riddle standing just a few paces away. He wasn’t moving “ just staring blankly at the opposite wall. A large tapestry hung there with the image of the sun behind a raging fire. To the left was a snake, blood red, and to the right was a creature that surely did not exist today. Across the top of the tapestry read the words “ in silver and snakelike writing; “Emitth ginfost soh gemoclew, livee hty alth ginni traeh foer upeht sllew dth gilya dni”. Harry hadn’t a clue what it meant, but it sent shivers down his spine.
The walls on either side of Harry had portraits of ancient scenes with witches and wizards of the past dressed in clothing from different eras. Each portrait seemed to be telling a gruesome story, but they all stopped what they were doing to watch Riddle. Riddle was still glaring at the tapestry opposite him. He pulled out his wand and created a long stick, which he threw before him. Instantly spells were released trying to stop the stick from passing. It caught fire and was nothing but ash. The room was once again silent. Riddle drew another stick as he took a step forward to stand over the ash. When he threw this one, daggers flew from the ceiling pinning the wood to the ground as Riddle hopped forward again.
The third stick suffered a seventy-foot drop into a rocky den below. The fourth found itself trapped in a cage of lion’s bones (apparently the inventor of the trap forgot that lion’s need daily feeding) and the fifth simply disappeared. As each trap was preoccupied with the sticks, Riddle advanced. Very slowly, still needing to use all his cunning and all his strength. The tasks had no effect on Harry, and he did not know where Dobby might be. After nearly an hour of slowly crossing the room, Riddle reached the tapestry. Harry had a nagging suspicion that it was woven out of human hair.
As Riddle extended his wand, the tapestry burst violently into flames and the room was illuminated by fire for the second time. A blast of spell tossed back Riddle’s hair as though examining him. The portraits on the wall quivered. Riddle must have passed the examination, for, with a wave of his wand, the flames parted like the Red Sea. He entered the new passage. Harry tried to follow but found he couldn’t. Dobby could not get through. The memory began to fade.
Harry was pummelled back to his room and found he was staring in wonder at the mischievous Pensieve. He had seen enough to help him get there, but he had no idea what would happen beyond the tapestry.
Harry leaped off the floor and fled to wake Ron and Hermione. He paused as he remembered what Ginny had asked him and he felt his heart sink. He was worried about her safety, and he sincerely felt that this would be better accomplished on his own. Nevertheless, he decided it would be best to explain the situation before he flitted off to save the world.
He found everyone down in the kitchen eating breakfast, all looking to be in a terrible mood. He sat down, welcomed only with a few grumbles. When he asked what was the matter, it was Tonks who replied in a very subdued voice.
“Hogwarts is being evacuated,” she muttered into her coffee. “A student was killed while in Hogsmeade. The school will be shut down by the end of the week.”
Harry Potter and the Seventh Search by snufflesismyidol
Chapter Notes: I've been having some computer troubles with the next few chapters, but summer is now here, and I will deal with it soon...