Chapter 27 - The Three and the Snare (1/2)
Arth raised an eyebrow. ”Are you sure this is a good idea? I really doubt that the enchantments protecting the sorcerers stone are able to be broken by four first years.”
”Well we can't sit here and do nothing,” replied Harry, ”if Voldemort gets this stone, he is coming back! Haven't you heard what it was like when he was trying to take over?”
”And the first thing he will do is kill Harry,” Ron added helpfully.
Arth shrugged, ”if we get caught, we will lose points, I'm guessing about fifty points a piece. Honestly, I wouldn't even help you if it weren't for the added bonus seeing Fluffy. I only see him a couple of times you see, when Hagrid goes into the castle to feed him.”
”So you don't want to lose points but want to pet a three headed dog in a suicidal manner?” Ron said disbelievingly, ”you are absolutely mental.”
”Ron, don't say that! You are being rude. At least he is trying to help us,” Hermione reprimanded.
”Yeah, and so did Neville. And look what you did to him.”
Arth raised an eyebrow. ”You cursed Neville?”
”It's only a full Body-Bind,” said Hermione miserably, ”we were short on time okay?”
”Let's just get this over with,” said Harry as he pushed the door open.
As the door creaked, low, rumbling growls met their ears. The dog's noses sniffed madly in their direction, even though it couldn't see them.
”What's that at its feet?” Hermione whispered.
”Looks like a harp,” said Ron. ”Snape must have left it there.”
”Why do you three believe that Snape is the one who wants to steal the stone? He is a professor for god's sake.”
”Cause he despises Harry to the point where I wouldn't be surprised if he stabbed Harry during potions class.”
”Can't really argue about that. I'll start playing I guess.”
He put Hagrid's flute to his lips and started playing the first line from 'silent night'. From the first note the beast's eyes began to droop. Slowly, the dog's growls ceased and tottered on its paws and fell to its knees, then it slumped to the ground, fast asleep.
”Keep playing,” Ron warned as they crept toward the trapdoor. ”I think we'll be able to pull the door open, Want to go first, Hermione?”
”No, I don't!”
”All right.” Ron gritted his teeth and stepped carefully over the dog's legs. He bent and pulled the ring of the trapdoor, which swung up and open.”
”What can you see?” Hermione said anxiously.
”Nothing. Just black. There's no way of climbing down, we'll just have to drop.”
”I'll go first then,” Harry volunteered.
”You want to go first? Are you sure?” said Ron. ”I don't know how deep this thing goes.”
Harry climbed over it and looked down through the trapdoor.
He lowered himself through the hole until he was hanging on by his fingertips. Then he looked up and said, ”If anything happens to me, don't follow. Go straight to the owlery and send Hedwig to Dumbledore, right?”
”Right,” said Ron.
Arth nodded all the while playing.
”See you in a minute, I hope...”
And Harry let go. There was a moment of silence and- FLUMP.
”It's okay!” Harry called from below.
Ron proceeded to jump down alongside Hermione with Arth being last.