Harry Potter Veela's Embrace

Harry walked over and again stared at the image, imagining it was really a snake. "§Open Up§" He hissed and immediately a section of wall started to sink out of sight. Set into the very wall itself was a set of steps leading downward. Harry immediately started to walk into the opening.

"Wait," Dumbledore commanded as he put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "I'll lead the way. I expect either Salazar or Tom might have left traps for the unsuspecting," The Headmaster pulled out his wand and made a few casts around the opening. Then ducking his head into the entrance, he lit up the end of his wand. Carefully he examined the passageway before turning back to the rest of the people waiting. "Everyone follow at a safe distance," He turned and started down the steps. Harry followed the Headmaster, while Fleur, Gabrielle and Hermione followed him. Sirius, back in human form after he was on the steps, brought up the rear.

Once the group had descended about a thirty yards, the door to the bathroom closed on its own, cutting off all light except that coming from the tip of Dumbledore's wand. Every other person in the group pulled out their own wands and cast the illumination spell. It was only another fifteen yards when Dumbledore stopped and started looking at the walls.

"Notice how the footsteps in the dust seem to move around on this step?" He asked the group in general as he pointed down. "Small feet, obviously Ginny Weasley. I believe she, or I should say Riddle was disarming a trap of some sort," He cast his wand around and muttered a few phrases under his breath until a rock about shoulder high glowed blue. "Ah…there it is," A few more waves of his wand and he was satisfied. "It's safe enough now. I have permanently disabled it," He found two more similar traps before they reached the end of the long staircase.

The steps ended in a small tunnel which went on for about twenty yards where it ended in a larger tunnel with bones scattered everywhere. "There were a lot of bones where the pipe came out, so it might be around here somewhere," Harry said. He started moving around until he found the pipe jutting out of the wall. "Here it is, so the Chamber is that way," He pointed in the opposite direction.

They started down the tunnel and when they rounded a bend they came to the caved-in spot where Harry and Ron had got separated. "That hole looks much smaller than it did two years ago," Harry thought to all three of his bond mates. He thought how small the second years looked to him now.

"Professor, can we expand that hole some?" Harry asked.

"I think so, but first I think we need to make sure the ceiling is secure. With this much rock loose, it would be easy to have another cave in." Dumbledore and Sirius both pulled out their wands and started casting spells that softly impacted the walls and ceiling of the tunnel. Where it hit, the rocks and dirt seemed to fuse together.

"What spell is that?" Hermione asked.

"Permanent sticking charm," Sirius replied. "It's a very useful spell. In this case, it is sticking the dirt and rock together. As long as you do the whole ceiling and walls, they can't cave in."

"Can you show it to me?" Hermione asked with the gleam in her eye that appeared

"Sure, the incantation is 'Propri Limitoand' and you make this movement with the wand," Sirius replied showing everyone the correct movement. Soon everyone was able to cast the spell.

"I think that's good enough," Dumbledore said a few minutes later. "Now shall we move some of these rocks? Levitate what size rocks you are comfortable with and pile them over there," He pointed to a spot off to the side of the tunnel. Soon there was a five foot wide path through the cave in.

"What is that?" Sirius asked as they got their first view of the basilisk skin.

"Uh...just a skin," Harry replied.

Everyone was staring at the pile of skin now. Gabrielle backed away a few steps and Harry could feel the fear she had. He quickly moved over to her and put his arms around her.

"It's okay. Just an old skin," He said gently. "And the thing that left it behind is dead," He could feel her fear start to ease away but still asked over the bond. "Are you really okay Gabi? You can go back."

"I…I'll be fine," She replied.

Sirius let out a whistle. "That large pup?"

"Uh…actually somewhat bigger," Harry replied as he led then further on down the tunnel.

Several turns later, the tunnel ended at a blank wall. Harry remembered the last time he'd been there. Seeing the two serpents carved into the wall with the giant emeralds they had for eyes. He remembered the fear, knowing a basilisk was around.

Hermione's thoughts were similar, but of her failing Harry. "I should have told him," She thought.

"You didn't fail me Hermione," Harry said out loud causing his best friend to look at him.

"You...you could have been killed."

"I would have, if it hadn't been for you."

"You and Ginny wouldn't have been down here if I'd just said something."

"Think about it," Harry argued. "I'd have probably gone to the library with you wouldn't I've?"

"Ye...yeah probably, well there was a Quidditch game so...so I'd probably have stayed until it..."

"Then Penelope Clearwater would have been dead," Harry reminded her. "And if we had gone there immediately, I doubt I'd have used a mirror. I'd have looked around the corner and died," He walked over to the woman he loved and put his arms around her. "Hermione, trust yourself as much as I trust you. You've always had a convincing argument, especially during the bonding."

"Well you've always been a bit stubborn," Hermione replied.

"Will you kiss me every time I'm stubborn?" Harry asked with a grin.

"Prat," Hermione replied but returned his smile.

"Well that was enlightening, but shall we go into the chamber now?" Dumbledore asked. "We've already been gone quite some time and I can imagine your parents are getting concerned."

Harry nodded and looked at the snakes before he hissed the parselmouth command. Just as it did two years previous, the snakes separated and the entrance was revealed.

....

Join my P*atreon to enjoy 60+ advanced chapters.

Link: p*atreon.com/ScarletRosee (Remove the *) 

Free members can get 2+ advanced chapters FOR FREE.