章 64: Chapter 64 - First Challenge
Thomas looked at Harry, as he let out a sigh. This wasn't the first and most likely not the last time Harry would say the same thing over and over again, and in all honesty that made Thomas unable to understand just why was Harry so fixed on putting the blame on Snape.
"Harry, are you sure it's Snape? How can you be so certain that it was him?"
Just like as always, Harry's face harden while he glanced at Thomas. "I just know, Thomas. It's Snape, no matter what you show or tell me. There's something off about him. I can feel it. And I've seen the way he looks at me like he's only waiting for the right moment to kill me."
Everyone exchanged some glances, unsure of what to make of Harry's conviction. But Thomas trusted his friend, knowing that Harry's instincts had proven right in the past, he decided to let him think what he wanted for now, since there was no proper proof that Snape or even a beggar was here, at least for now.
"Okay, Harry," Thomas, responded back. "If you believe it's Snape, then we'll go with that. But let's be cautious. We don't know what we're up against."
Harry nodded, appreciating Thomas's support. "I'm not good at talking so I'll say it bluntly. If any of you don't want to come into the room and prefer to go back, I won't blame you," he said. "You can take the Cloak, I won't need it now. Not with Thomas here coming with me."
"Don't be stupid," said Ron.
"We're coming," said Hermione.
Hearing his two friends' responses, Harry turned towards Thomas' group, knowing very well that the real heavy hitters were those four Ravenclaw boys.
Thomas rolled his eyes at Harry's remark, telling him with a subtle gesture that he had no intention of leaving. He had come this far, and he was more than ready to see it through till the end.
James chuckled and elbowed Thomas playfully. "Oh, come on, Tommy-boy! You know I've been dying to fight a big bad and scary hooded figure! This is my chance to shine!"
Michael shook his head at James's comment. He understood James's attempt to lighten the mood, despite the relatively dire situation the seven of them were in. "Leave it to James to make things seem less daunting," he muttered under his breath.
Adam only smiles at them before turning towards Harry. "Harry, we're here ain't that a good reason to see that were are going to see whatever is here to the end."
Harry didn't say anything in response, but deep down, he was glad that his friends were willing to face the unknown with him, supporting him without hesitation. As such, after they prepared themselves mentally for what was beyond the door, the group followed Thomas as he approached the slightly open door leading inside the room Fluffy was guarding. Amongst all seven of them, he was the only one who had faced death before, at least in combat, and because of that, Thomas decided to be one leading his friends inside.
As the door swung open fully, they saw Fluffy, peacefully snoozing on the floor. The Cerberus wore a goofy expression on each of its heads, completely oblivious to their presence. Nearby, a harp lay abandoned, its strings still reverberating softly singing a lullaby for the dog.
"Is that a harp?" Ron asked and everyone's eyes rested on the musical instrument that was charmed to sing for the dog.
"It does look like one," Hermione said.
Harry glanced around the room before speaking his thoughts aloud "Snape must have left it there."
"Well, if the harp stopped, our big and goofy doggo will definitely wake up and I don't know about you guys, but I'd rather not be washed by his tongues right now," not bothering to argue with Harry, Thomas decided to point out what was quite obvious.
Sadly for them, Fluffy was sleeping right on the trap door, making it almost impossible for them to go through without waking the Cerberus. And while Thomas could take care of the dog by himself, as he said before, he'd rather not be washed by Fluffy. With no other viable option, the group realized they had to stop the harp from singing, even if it meant waking Fluffy. They gathered around the harp, thinking about all of their choices, some more pointless than others.
Thomas glanced at his friends for a moment before he accepted his fate. "Guys, we have to do it. If we really want to stop whoever went down the trapdoor, we can't stay here forever. It's now or never."
All six of them nodded reluctantly, understanding the gravity of the situation. They knew they had to take the risk, even though the consequences could be dire.
Together, they approached the harp, studying it carefully to see if there was any way they could stop it without destroying it. In a moment of negligence, Ron trips on his leg and fell on top of the harp, entangling his hand in the strings, causing the melodious tune to come to an end. Almost instantly, Fluffy's eyes shot open, and the three-headed dog growled menacingly at the kids.
To Harry, Hermione, and Ron's horror, one of Fluffy's heads spotted Thomas and started wagging its tail with enthusiasm. The large dog bounced toward Thomas, stopping right in front of him before showering him with the most dreaded and affectionate licks.
Thomas caught off guard but still smiling, tried to push Fluffy's head away gently. "Alright, boy, calm down!"
Meanwhile, Adam, Michael, and James couldn't contain their laughter, rolling on the floor as they watched Thomas being slobbered on by the friendly but imposing Cerberus.
"Thomas, are you out of your mind?" Harry exclaimed, and Thomas could hear the disbelief in his voice. "That's the same dog who nearly mauled us last time he was awake!"
Ron, still recovering from his fall, shared the same feelings as Harry, "Yeah, mate, are you secretly a dog whisperer or something? How can you be so comfortable with him?"
Hermione tried to wipe her eyes, hoping that this was just a dream or a nightmare and that the same dog that almost ate them wasn't now acting like a cute little puppy in front of their friend. "I don't understand it either. Cerberus are supposed to be guards...but this… It's not like he's suddenly turned friendly because of Thomas, right?"
Thomas, still patting Fluffy's head with a calm demeanor, looked up at his friends. "Guys, I know it seems strange, but remember the first time we came here, months ago? Well apparently, this good boy was just angry that we disturbed his sleep. Fluffy might seem scary, but he's just doing his job. If you approach him with kindness and confidence, he can sense it and will let you pet, right boy?"
Fluffy responded to Thomas's words by wagging his tail even faster, shocking once again Harry, Ron, and Hermione. His three heads bobbed up and down happily as they enjoyed the attention and affection he was being given.
Adam, Michael, and James, who had been watching the scene unfold with amusement, approached Fluffy without a care in the world. Seeing that their friend could touch the dog without having his arm bitten off, made them curious to see if they could too pet the Cerberus.
Adam reached out his hand tentatively, and to his surprise, Fluffy nudged it with his snout, wanting more pets. Michael and James followed suit, joining in on the petting session. The three boys look at each other in amazement, unable to believe the sudden transformation of this once fearsome creature.
Meanwhile, Thomas gently guided Fluffy away from the trapdoor, leading him to a corner of the room where he could rest undisturbed. Fluffy willingly followed his lead, feeling a sense of trust and calmness around Thomas.
As Fluffy settled down in his new spot, the group gathered together, still in awe of what had just transpired. Hermione cautiously approached Fluffy's side, slowly extending her hand to stroke one of his heads. Fluffy responded by leaning into her touch, emitting a soft rumble of pleasure.
At the same time, Ron and Harry went towards the trapdoor. Stopping right beside it, Ron took a closer look before turning toward his friends. "I think we'll be able to pull the door open. So who wants to go first?"
The group exchanged nervous glances as Ron mentioned pulling open the trapdoor. Harry, remembering his time in the forest, hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "No way, Ron. I'm not volunteering this time."
Hermione, who had joined them near the trapdoor, agreed with Harry. "I'm with him on this one, Ron."
Adam, Michael, and James shared similar sentiments, all declining Ron's offer in unison. "No thanks," said James. "I'm not keen on being the guinea pig here."
Adam hesitated for a moment, his eyes shifting between Ron and the open trapdoor. And after a second, he finally spoke up. "I appreciate the offer, Ron, but I think I'll pass on being the first one down."
Michael nodded in agreement with Adam's decision. "Yeah, I'm with Adam on this one. Besides, I'm not exactly the best duelist or fighter."
Seeing that none of his friends wanted to bite the bullet made Thomas roll his eyes and let out a sigh. He knew that someone had to take the initiative, and if his friends weren't willing, that would mean that he was the one who needed to take the lead.
"Alright, fine," Thomas said in an overly dramatic manner. "I'll go first. But I better not hear any complaints later."
With that, Thomas positioned himself at the edge of the trapdoor, peering into the dark tunnel below. He took a deep breath, preparing himself for whatever awaited him, and then without hesitation, he jumped down, disappearing into the darkness.
Meanwhile, Adam, Michael, and James stood near the edge of the trapdoor, their ears perked up, straining to hear any sign of their friends. The silence stretched on, making their anxiety grow with each passing second. Then, finally, a voice echoed from below, breaking the silence.
"Guys, I'm okay!"
The relief on their faces was evident as they let out a collective breath they didn't even realize they were holding.
"Hey, guys, it seems like there's some sort of soft plant down here," Thomas called out, his voice echoing in the underground chamber. "It cushioned my fall. You can jump down safely!"
One by one, the remaining members of the group gathered their courage, ready to take something akin to a leap of faith. Harry, Ron, and Hermione took a step forward and for the first time, the three of them were determined to follow Thomas. They knew that they couldn't afford to hesitate now. They had come this far, and they had to continue on this journey for the sake of the stone.
Michael, Adam, and James stood beside them, still not so quite ready to jump into a dark hole, but at least they trusted Thomas enough to know that he won't lie to them.
"One by one, guys," Adam spoke, trying to encourage everyone. "Let's do this together."
As soon as all of them were down, something scary happen to them. The plant that cushions their fall had started to twist snake-like tendrils around their ankles, gently so as not to alert them. Thought, being the last one to jump down, Hermione got the most violent reaction from the plant for some reason, and that made her realize what was happening to her legs. And before the plant could envelop her completely, Hermione managed to free herself. Now she watched in horror as the five boys fought to pull the plant off them, but the more they strained against it, the tighter and faster the plant wound around them. Meanwhile, Thomas just stood there watching as the plant seems to avoid him, almost like it was scared of him.
"Stop moving!" Hermione ordered them. "I know what this is, it's Devil's Snare!"
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