| Jarvey
Join Date: May 2008 Location: Leicester, UK
Posts: 567
Hogwarts RPG Name:
Krysta Hedwig
Sixth Year | 
Quote:
Originally Posted by TriwizardChamp12  Wait
hermione?
this is really confusing me
please post agian Your wish is my command. Happy Friday everyone! Beware this is a long chapter.
Chapter 21: Darkness, Part 1
Darkness can have a strange effect on the mind. It can make you crazy, playing on your worst fears, taking you to the brink of despair until you feel like your insides are tearing themselves apart and you're helpless…so helpless. For Darkness represents all our fears. Darkness is the symbol and the mask that blinds us, it is the Vail that keeps us from that comfortable place of enlightenment. The very word enlightenment is so coincidence, oh no. Everything in this world seeks a state of stability, a place of comfort. And for us, for the human race as we are, we seek knowledge.
We seek understanding and clarity. We seek enlightenment for enlightenment takes us to that place of comfort, that place where we have knowledge. For if we have knowledge, we have power.
But without knowledge? We are lost and helpless, we are blind and confused, full of despair. We are in the dark. The true nature of Darkness here reveals itself. In Darkness lies our fear.
In Darkness…lies the unknown.
But is it all in the mind? Are all our fears a figment of our collective imaginations, manifested in the monsters under the bed? Are the monsters more likely a skeleton in the closet? Or are they real? The mind is a powerful force after all. Are the monsters just shadows of ourselves, cast from light and forged from Darkness itself. Maybe.
But maybe somewhere along the way the darkness took form, became solid and grew a knowledge of it’s own. Maybe the monster under the bed is real after all and the knowledge we hold so dear to us is the very tool of darkness.
Does our knowledge cloud our minds? Do we tell ourselves that the shadows are just shadows? Do we assure each other that the monsters are all in the mind, that they cannot be real? And if so, has darkness itself turned inside out? What is shadow if no more than darkness created by light? So what is our knowledge, if not lies…forged by darkness?
We are turned in on ourselves, and on each other. The light burns coldly now. Wherever we stand we cast a shadow, and only when light surrounds us are we safe. We are never safe from the dark. It's there, in each and every one of us. Doubt. Suspicion. Fear.
And sometimes, the safest place to be…is in Darkness.
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He didn't know how long they'd been down there. It felt like forever, the kind of forever that turns out to be just a few minutes. He felt like a child in the backseat, persistently enquiring: 'are we there yet?' to an increasingly annoyed parent. But he held his silence. He didn't want to break the eerie lull that emanated around the chamber. The only sound was shuffling students trying to get more comfortable in the packed and crowded space, or an occasional sniffle as some of the students had been unable to contain their fear.
He looked around the room as though seeing it for the first time. It looked so different now, packed with terrified students and anxious teachers. Professor McGonagall didn't seem to take her eyes off the door for a moment.
One way in, One way out.
He felt movement beside him and turned to look at Ron who half grinned his sideways smile, his eyes as always betraying his true feelings. But Ron seemed more disorientated than afraid. Harry wasn't surprised. It had all happened so quickly.
Hermione shivered and Harry squeezed her hand a little harder. Ginny was curled up against Fred who had an arm around her shoulder. Harry was glad that she couldn't see her brother's face for she would feel anything but comfort if she could. George didn't look much better. Nor did anyone.
The younger students stared around them with hopeful, fearful eyes, eagerly hoping for news. The older, more mature students merely stared into space or looked at each other for comfort, for they knew no news could be good news right now. And although they did not know what was happening in the world above them, they knew it must be too terrible and too horrific. For why else would they all be down here? The entire school locked below, protected by magics almost as old as the school itself. For the Headmaster to resort to such drastic measures…
The heads had stopped turning now and Harry was relieved. The interest in him for now at least had diminished. Everyone had their own demons to face right now. Merely hours ago - was it hours? It felt like years - every face in this room had been towards him. Anxiously and eagerly baited breaths, many whimpering in panic and fear. He did his part, he'd done just as he'd been told, done what nobody else in the school could have done, and ultimately saved the lives of every student in the room. But Harry couldn't think about that now. He couldn't take on board what could have happened if they'd been just minutes later in making their move. Moving the entire school into an underground cavern was no mean feat after all. But somehow, through all the panic and all the commotion, through the hysteria that had set in they had managed to get them safe.
A horrid thought went through Harry's mind. What if they had missed one? What if somebody had been left behind? Hiding in fear underneath their bed, or inside their wardrobe. Harry shivered and he felt Hermione squeeze his hand back. He smiled coldly at her and swallowed hard.
But Harry knew that somebody was left behind. Somebody had refused to go with them. Someone had insisted on standing their ground.
Why? Why? Why?
Why had they done it? They would have been safe. What could they have done up there? And where were they now? Had they escaped? Were they dead? Harry felt sick at the thought.
"Fool."
"What?"
Harry looked at Ron in surprise. He hadn't even realised he'd said it out loud.
"Sorry. I was just…thinking aloud." He murmured as quietly as possible. Ron held his gaze and nodded. The look in his friend's eye told him that he'd guessed Harry's thought.
They both fell silent again.
"He's still alive." They both looked down at their friend who was curled up in between them. Neither of the boys said anything.
"He's alive. But…" she paused again and they could both feel her shaking. "…he's in pain." Harry's mouth fell open and Ron hugged Hermione tighter as a tear fell down her cheek.
Harry squeezed the girl's hand with both of his and leant back against the rocky statue behind him. A flash of the past came back to him. He looked down at his body expecting to see it covered with blood, but saw only the school robes he'd been wearing in class. He glanced at the huge circular door again and focused his eyes more. Krysta was leaning with both hands against the door. Professor McGonagall was speaking to her but they were too far away for Harry to hear. He could barely make them out at all from this end of the chamber. Harry watched Krysta smash her hands against the metal in frustration. Harry knew she could not get out anyway. Only Harry could open the door. And Harry had a promise to keep. Another memory - a more recent one - flashed through his mind.
"You have to."
"No, I won't leave without you."
"You have to keep them safe, child."
"It's my fight, I won't let you fight it for me."
"You know this is how it has to be."
"No."
"You…know it. You've had the same dreams, my dear."
"You're a fool to do this, no! Get off me, Severus I'm not going. No!"
"There's no fool like an old fool, my dear."
Harry shook his head and turned away where he hoped no one could see the angry tear roll down his cheek. Why hadn't he listened to her? She was right wasn't she? It was her job to stay and fight. Not his. He returned his attention to the door. Krysta had given up the argument with McGonagall and had slumped to the floor, her back against the wall. He hadn't even noticed her climb down the ladder. He smiled briefly as a large black dog appeared beside her and slumped to the ground, resting its head on her knee.
"It's a relief having him down here with us."
Harry turned to look at Ron who had also been observing Krysta's frustration. Harry nodded.
"I'm just so glad he was in the school when…" he trailed off. He couldn't even bring himself to say the words.
"Yeah." Agreed Ron quickly, saving Harry the trouble. Ron probably didn't want to hear the words either.
Harry realised for the first time that they were not the only two to have broken the silence.
The din had been replaced with a low hum. The students seemed to have come out of their trance, and although the tension in the air had not lifted, the eerie feeling seemed to have lifted. Harry caught only the odd word of people's conversations but he could tell the panic at least was more or less over. Some optimistic characters were daring to hope that since they hadn't all perished then perhaps things were going to be ok after all.
The more sceptic of the crowd were speculating that since they hadn't heard from the outside world that they were all doomed to die from starvation or worse, suffocation at the foot of a giant stone Snake in the Chamber Of Secrets.
And although some of the Slytherins seemed to deem that a honourable way to die, some of the other houses were not quite so enthusiastic. Having said that the interest in the chamber was quite apparent among all students. It wasn't a picture of comfort right now, or ever, but it was quite a sight to behold, especially to a child that's grown up with the legend. Harry didn't feel such wonder and nor did Ginny. She had spent the entire time hidden against her brothers, shivering. ‘She must be going through hell’. Harry knew that. Her ordeal had left a terrible mark on the girl. She had nearly died down here after all.
A dark movement caught Harry's eyes and he refocused. He narrowed his eyes again when he saw the source of the movement. Professor Snape was slowly edging his way around the chamber, staring around him in what Harry could only describe as awe. But it was an odd awe. He looked calm but deeply and darkly thoughtful. He wandered out of view into one of the tunnels and Harry turned away. He didn't want to think about Snape right now. He closed his eyes for a moment but was forced to open them again quickly when he felt a slight tug on his robes. He opened his eyes wide in surprise to see a small girl standing in front of him, peering down nervously. She had straggly long brown hair that hung around her face. Her wide eyes were green and framed with wire-rimmed glasses, which she pushed up onto her nose quickly.
He noticed her robes were too big for her, the sleeves coming almost right over the edge of her fingers. Her skirt however seemed too short and made her somewhat knobbly knees stand out more than Harry thought they normally would. One of her long grey socks was wrinkled up in a heap around her ankle, spilling out over the top of her scuffed shoe.
He instantly liked her.
"Er, hello." He said a little cautiously. She sniffed and peered down at him. Without warning she dropped to the floor and sat cross-legged next to him. Harry stared at her in surprise and looked over at Ron who was grinning over the top of Hermione's head. Hermione herself merely gently watched the girl through hazy, almost sleepy eyes.
"So that was pretty cool, like." The girl suddenly piped up and Harry stared down at her, ignoring the stares they were getting from the people closest to them.
"Er, cool?" he asked.
"Yeah." She agreed, very matter-of-factly.
"You think what just happened to us is cool?" he asked a little unsure of who this girl was and what the hell she was on about. Maybe she was a Slytherin. Yes, that would explain it. In response she started up at him eyes wide and shocked.
"Don't be dense!" she exclaimed and Harry did not miss the snigger coming from Ron's direction. "I mean what you did for us. That was cool. And I know you're a freak and everything but I think it's cool."
She spoke so completely seriously and sincerely that Harry didn't quite know how to react. Ron of course was now trying desperately not to laugh out loud and Hermione's eyes had open wider and were taking this newcomer in with interest.
"Er…thanks." He said unsurely, but she cut in again.
"I mean if you weren't a complete freak then we'd all be dead, wouldn't we?" Harry just stared down at her open mouthed and Ron had resorted to biting some of Hermione's hair to prevent his laughter from escaping, which ended badly when he got it caught in his throat and ended up choking instead.
"Er…"
"So you know, I think its cool." She added again, saving Harry the trouble of trying to find something to say.
"Thanks." He concluded and she looked up and grinned at him.
"I'm Jessica." She said through the grin, and held out a grubby hand. Harry stared at it for a second before taking it and shaking it. "Jessica Withwright." She added.
"Harry Potter." He offered and she rolled her eyes.
"Well duh!" she grinned again and he couldn't help but return the grin.
There was suddenly a small commotion over by one of the tunnels and all heads turned to see Professor Snape dragging a boy from the depths of the maze of pipes. Peering, Harry could just make out that it was Stephen Casey. He was just wondering what on earth the boy thought he was up to when Jessica spoke again.
"I bet they feel right at home down here." She said bitterly and he looked down at her enquiringly.
"Bloody Slytherins." She added with a scowl. Harry grinned broadly. He definitely liked her.
When Harry came around his eyes opened wide. What on earth was going on? What were all these people doing in his dorm room, and since when was his dorm room this big? It took several moments for him to wake up properly. Clarity returned reluctantly to his face as he remembered where he was. He looked shakily around him, still groggy from the sleep that had crept up on him. He rubbed his eyes underneath his glass then straightened them. Most of the people in the Chamber were asleep, as he had been. Ron had drifted off with Hermione uncomfortably next to him. She looked up when she noticed movement from Harry's direction and smiled weakly.
"He fell asleep on my arm." She whispered clearly not eager to wake her friend up. Harry grinned a little but it was short lived. The girl, Jessica, had disappeared and Harry assumed she had gone back to whoever she had been with before. What a strange kid she was.
He sensed movement on the other side of the Chamber and strained his eyes as best he could to make out the figures. It was Krysta and someone else, someone about her height. The brilliant blonde hair gave Draco away even at this distance. Krysta was walking away from him but something the boy was saying had made her stop and turn around to face him. As Harry watched she took bold steps towards him and grabbed his shoulders and appeared to be shaking him. Out of nowhere another dark figure appeared and pulled Krys back. At first Harry's eyes played tricks, making him think it was Sirius, but the man's mannerisms soon betrayed his identity.
Krys shook herself free of Snape's grip and walked away from both of the Slytherins, closely followed by a black dog. Sirius had been there after all. Harry frowned. What could Draco have said to provoke her in such a way?
A sigh close by pulled his attention away again and he looked around to see that Ginny had finally awoken from her sleep. He frowned again but for a different reason.
"What are you doing?" he asked as quietly as he could and still sounding concerned. Her sigh it turned out was in frustration as she thumbed vigorously through a thick book that sat in her lap. She was sitting upright and cross-legged, her head buried intently in the pages, though Harry could tell she wasn't liking what she was reading.
"This is useless." She hissed throwing the book away in frustration. Harry winced as it narrowly missed the head of a sleeping sixth year student.
"What do you mean? What are you looking for?" asked another voice and Ginny looked up at Hermione who was watching the red head with avid interest.
"There's nothing here at all. Nothing that can help us. We're stuck here. If we leave, we die. If we stay here, we die." She spat out. Harry raised his fingers to his lips, begging her to lower her voice. The last thing they needed was for the entombed students and teachers of Hogwarts to panic.
"That your Defence book?" asked Hermione who sat up quickly and nodded towards the discarded literature. Ginny nodded gravely. Hermione looked down at the comatosed Ron and with a deep sigh, yanked her arm from underneath him as quickly as she could. The move reminded Harry of the old conjurer's tablecloth trick and although Ron was jolted quite harshly he merely mumbled something about blue dragons and turned over in his sleep. Hermione didn't even stop for a giggle and immediately grabbed a leather bag she'd been leaning against.
"Hey!" cried Harry when he realised it was his school bag she was rummaging through.
"I left mine in the library." She announced not looking up. "When the attack happened I wasn't allowed to return to the table to get it, they just herded us out of the door."
"And a good thing too. I heard the library isn't even there anymore."
To Be Continued...
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Last edited by Krysta; 08-29-2008 at 02:19 PM.
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