Chapter 22 “ This Time Around
“It was no one we knew,” Hermione said softly, daring to look into Harry’s eyes. “It was a Hufflepuff fourth year.”
Harry sat down amongst his pale family, and the events of recent times were replaying in his memory. Fudge, the Watveys, Dumbledore, Sirius, Cedric, his parents…
He stood up abruptly, drawing everyone’s eyes with him.
“Ginny,” he turned to his left, “come with me.”
Ron and Hermione made to follow as Harry led his girlfriend toward the exit. They headed toward the front entrance and Harry turned to his two best friends. He felt awkward and ashamed.
“I’m sorry,” he said hurriedly but honestly to them, “but there can’t be a lot of people on this trip.”
Hermione gave an understanding nod, but Ron looked completely hurt. Ginny pulled on her shoes as Harry struggled into a coat. Harry stopped before opening the door when he noticed the look on Ron’s face. Harry turned to his faithful friend.
“Mate,” he said sincerely, “I’ve seen the place. Riddle himself barely did it.”
Harry left Ron with a look of bewilderment as he and Ginny, using Side“Along Apparition, Disapparated as soon as they left the house.
~*~
They arrived very unevenly in front of Stonehenge. The stones stood unnaturally with the moonlight reflecting in the crisp night.
Ginny, who had so far not received any information, turned to Harry for some answers.
“Why are we here of all places?” she whispered nervously, as though the rocks would hear her and be offended.
“There’s some sort of castle just ahead,” Harry replied anxiously. He gripped her hand and pulled her onward. “Riddle was able to see it, but I don’t know why I couldn’t.”
“Why do you keep referring to it as though you’ve been here before with You-Kn… Voldemort?” She wrenched her hand free and glared intensely at Harry. Harry was feeling very impatient with wasting all this perfectly good time, but explained.
“It was in my Pensieve. Dobby followed Riddle one night and saw him hide the cup here “ well, he never actually saw him “ I don’t think “ but the whole place is rigged! It’s some ancient secret organization -” Harry stopped talking with the convinced look on Ginny’s face. Ginny never led Harry to believe she understood when she knew nothing.
“Come, help me find the door, it was right around here…”
The pair began to feel around for some form of a door handle “ or door in general. Ginny was not quite sure where to look. Harry tried to explain the general direction of the door. It was difficult without Riddle as a guide. Once Harry finally found the wall, it was easier for him.
“I can’t feel a thing!” Ginny exclaimed angrily after nearly a quarter of an hour. “Are you sure I’m looking in the right place? There’s not even a building!”
“What do you mean?” Harry snapped back in frustration. “You’re practically in the entrance hall right now!” He felt his way over against the wall from where he stood (which was about fifteen feet away from Ginny), and found that the wall’s boundaries enclosed Ginny by a good six feet.
“How are you doing that!” Harry almost pleaded. He had no way to get to Ginny, who appeared to be inside the invisible building. He wasn’t sure if this could be dangerous for her, or even how to get to her.
“I’m not sure!” she called over the brewing storm. “Is this how Muggles can’t find this place?”
“Come back! I need to find the door, we’re wasting time!”
“Don’t yell at me as though it is my fault! I’m doing the best I can!” The pair both felt frustrated by the lack of information and help. This was a lot more difficult than Harry would have hoped. He worried about what would greet him on the inside.
Nearly a quarter of an hour after their arrival, Harry found the heavy door. It opened slowly, and they wordlessly slipped inside. Both were so relieved to be out of the tense situation outdoors, even if the inside would prove to be even more aggravating.
The same pale torch glow dimly lit the area as Harry hurried down the hall to the large staircase. The stone masterpiece wound around nearly twenty floors and from wall to wall you could have fit the Great Hall of Hogwarts. He sensed Ginny’s amazement as they leaped down the stairs as quickly as possible, not bothering to admire the ancient names that hung on the wall. Although this place was incredibly old and eerie, there was not a single sign of a life form, not even a spider.
Harry slowed down as he remembered that he didn’t know which landing Riddle had stopped on to open the correct door. Harry felt that it must be somewhere in the next few levels. With Riddle, he felt that they must have descended at least four floors. He thought that he and Ginny must have passed three floors already.
Each door was different, even in the smallest way. He saw a large oak door similar to the one Riddle had entered years ago. He was about to open it tentatively when he remembered the stick. He hesitated momentarily. Harry hoped that the traps hadn’t been adjusted. Figuring it worked for Riddle in a place like this, Harry conjured himself up a stick and opened the door wide enough to throw it in and see the results. The stick vanished instantly, and Harry was beginning to see that this was the wrong room.
One landing down and the stick landed in the familiar death chamber with the tapestry. Harry motioned to Ginny to stay glued to his side at all times. Where he moved, she was to move with him.
He shut the door behind him and strained his memory to remember the traps. He threw a stick, which burned, and then he advanced. His heart pounded against his chest. This is it, he thought, terrified of every sound in the chamber. The daggers pinned the next stick to the ground, and they continued. The third stick fell into the pit that Harry and Ginny jumped over. The “lions” reappeared for the fourth stick. Their eyes were focused intensly all around. A new trap could appear from anywhere.
Just as Riddle had journeyed through many years ago, Harry did the same. He finally reached the tapestry, which he knew had some sort of examination process that he must pass in order to continue. Harry concentrated on Riddle’s actions that night, but he could only think that utmost evil and determination were etched in every line of his face.
Harry concentrated with all his energy and filled his thoughts with only cruel intentions of killing Voldemort. The wind only whispered gently by his ears.
“Help me,” he mouthed to Ginny. “Think like Voldemort would.”
He forced his mind to think about Voldemort’s face, his sneer, his cold, high-pitched laugh. The wind ruffled his hair. He concentrated every atom of his body on all the senseless murders Voldemort had caused over the years. On his right, he saw Ginny with the same determination that he himself felt. His body began to shake with rage and every inch of him was fighting the urge to leave this place to track down Voldemort and seek immediate revenge.
The tapestry lit fire and the wind was strong enough to knock him and Ginny off their feet. As soon as it died, Harry raised his wand as Riddle had, and parted the flames. He had no idea what was supposed to happen after this. He held Ginny’s hand tightly in his and stepped in between the flames.
Harry Potter and the Seventh Search by snufflesismyidol
Chapter Notes: After many months, it's here. Enjoy.