[dw]

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 27

Part 2

Coloring Within the Lines.


By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

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Professor McGonogall stood there, the very same tiny white and blue lights that Hagrid was experiencing where also causing deep concern before her eyes as well.

"Severus, what, who, did anyone just seem something? What, now how is it that we, oh no matter, come now Hagrid, we must inform Severus that the Headmaster has sent us to help him with what ever it is that he is, well brewing."

Minerva turned her head toward Hagrid, who at that moment was shaking his head from side to side. He looked like a massive shaggy dog that had just come in from the rain. The hair upon his head and chin tossled too and fro.

Hagrid stopped moving his head but those tiny little lights took a little longer to fade from view.

"M'nerva, wha was it yuz wuz sayin? I mush'v bumped me head or sumptin."

"No Hagrid, I believe we may both have been somehow attacked. But by whom and by what?" Minerva said with a bit of confusion in her voice.

"Hmmmff" came a sound on the other side of the Dungeon.

Both the head of the Groundskeeper and the Potions Master snapped at the clearing of a throat. Both had their eyes fixed in the direction of the sound. The figure before them was instantly recognized.

"Oh, itz you Professor, did'n see yuz standin there. Did yuz happin ter see wha hit us?" Drawled Hagrid.

Severus Snape stood for a moment before answering, then with a tiny swish of his wand behind his back that neither of the intruders his Dungeon Office could see, the Gold Cauldron upon the table was gone. Left in its place a small glass ball jar. Its top fitted tightly. Nothing escaping its seal and the opalescent blue contents swirling gently, almost dreamily in its glass prison.

"I am sure I have no idea of what you refer to. Now if you do not mind, I believe that you have a message for me? Otherwise why would you have so violently intruded my inner chambers without prior notice?" The hissing words barely escaping Snapes lips when McGonogall broke in to his diatribe.

"Professor Dumbledore, has sent us to find you and to assist you with what ever he has ordered you to create. Now if you do not mind, will you please inform us of what this certain something happens to be? As you see, it appears that the Castle may well be under siege and there is really no time for your snarky tantrums Severus.

"Yes, well you see MINERVA, I have already completed the project and it is safe and sound should it happen to be needed. Now, let us not stand here dawdling and get this school and it;s students safely battened down." Snape stated as he turned toward the table.

The Ball Jar and its contents were now being gently placed on a shelf about shoulders level. Without another word, Severus Snape began to smile to himself. He knew that the two visitors whom had come to assist and summons him were now unaware that they had been struck down by a silently cast memory charm. The word having been cast inside Severus Snapes own mind. The word OBLIVIATE was heard by neither recipients of the spell. Neither aware that they had been witness to the creation of the final potions product.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 28

Part 1

The Great Escape

By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

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"CRUCIO, CRUCIO."

The words were screamed with such venom that one would think that the words were being ripped out of the speaker by force.

"NO, PLEASE, NO! Mamma, FATHER, PLEASE, OHHHHHH, ARRRHHHH."

The hideous please were equally torn from the form that was chained to the cold and damp stone walls of the torch lit dungeon room.

The sound of rattling chains, the screams that echoed through the captive souls prison were mingled with the voices and laughing conversation of several individuals. Each standing with hoods upon their heads, long dark robes covering their body's from shoulder to the tips of their toes. The identities of these four torturous individuals hidden from the massive bloodshot eyes of the man being internally ripped from limb to limb.

"Tell US! TELL US and your pain will be put to an end. Your life will also be put to an end but you will no longer be in pain. Give us what we need. Tell US, where is the entrance to the Labyrinth of the Gryffindor Minotaur."

"NO! PLEASE, OH LORD NO!" the figure once again screamed as it writhed in his bindings.

"You filthy little creature, have you no idea what this means to the "LORD?" How DARE you use his name in vain.. You will tell me what I need to know, you will or you will continue to hang here in these dungeons and the pain will rip your ever lasting soul piece by piece into shreds. You brain will be slowly turned to mush and your very last nerve ending will be set upon fire. NOW TELL ME WHERE THAT ENTRANCE IS!" Beatrix Lestrange yelled as spit ran out of the corner of her mouth and down her chin.

Dedalus Diggle, hanging by his wrists, writhed and squirmed. His screams and pleads were met by laughter and more casts of CRUCIO. He was barely able to bring the foul smelling air into his lungs before the next blow was laid upon him and knocked from his insides. His chest felt as if it were being crushed while his internal organs felt as if they were swelling to the point of bursting and flooding the room.

The blood vessels burst in what was once the whites of his eyes. No longer could anyone tell that the Baby Blue Iris of these same eyes once smiled at each and every passerby that he met. No, no one could ever imagine that poor Dedalus was ever happy at all.

"CRUCIO!"

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 28

Part 2

The Great Escape

By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

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Dobby was trying so hard to fight the urge to do as his own senses directed him to. He was well aware of the ramifications of disobeying the directive from Dumbledore.

"Dobby is a free elf though and Dobby is a good elf. Dobby must follow what Dobby believes it the right thing to do, yes Dobby must."

A loud "POP" echoed throughout the kitchens. The head of Winky the house elf slowly moved toward the place where Dobby had once stood.

The sudden and abrupt disappearance of Dobby from the kitchens set off a mass clambering and rushing too and fro of the Hogwarts House Elves. A loud cry of "NO DOBBY, NO!" came from the mingled crowd of bulging eyes and bat like ears. A veritable sea of extreme concern was plastered upon their faces.

Severus Snape turned his back toward Hagrid and Professor McGonogall for a moment. He had reached up and once again taken down the bottle which he had just levitated onto the shelf.

"Wuz dat Professor?" asked Hagrid.

Nothing of concern to you Hagrid. I feel there are things that may be not as they appear to be on the surface and I might wish to have a little insurance on our side." Severus Snape hissed as if bothered to be even asked such a question.

"Come now, both of you. If Albus believes that we must be on our toes and as fast as the wind then that is what we must be. Severus, will you assist me in closing up the castle or must we stand here in this place one more second not doing anything?" suggested Minerva.

"Of course Minerva, I have no intention of being anything less than helpful. Please will you and the oaf, er, I mean Hagrid lead the way."

With this the bottle was quickly placed inside Snape's robe with no one taking any further notice. His outer cape being picked up from a metal hook on the wall was placed over his day robes. He moved with the grace of a bat at night. He followed the curt steps that Minerva McGonogall strode as she attempted to keep up with the hulking figure of Hagrid before her.

The torches on the walls of the Dungeon Halls lit one by one as the trio of Professors approached them. A "POP" went almost unnoticed but all the Professors, all except for Snape. He stopped suddenly in his stride, the others continued on their way unaware of what had just transpired.

"What is it you filthy little creature? I have no time for the likes of you." spat out Severus Snape.

"Professor Snape, Dobby has come to you with very important information. The whereabouts of the passage that we house elves have known for these many years. Dobby comes to you with a way to help Harry Potter Sir." as Dobby bowed so low to the ground that his nose touched the stones beneath both their feet.

"Get on with it, Elf. I have no time for prattle. If you have something of importance, Tell me NOW!" came Snapes vicious tone.

"Dobby will bring you Professor, Dobby has no wish to delay you for one second more."

With this said, Dobby reached out, took the wrist of Severus Snape within his own long fingers and a loud "POP" echoed throughout the corridor.

This time the sound reached the ears of both Hagrid and Minerva McGonogall.

"Wuh da?" came Hagrids gruff voice. It was filled with deep breathing from his bearded lips.

"Severus, what do you think." but McGonogall cut herself short, realizing that they were no longer being followed by Severus Snape.

"Go on Hagrid, you must get Argus and assist him in securing the hidden passages. Go! NOW!" she yelled.

With this Professor McGonogall regrouped her nerves and headed up the stairs that led toward the Kitchens.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 28

Part 3

The Great Escape

By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The painting of the bowl of fruit hung quietly. Covering its secret to the passerby. Without the breath of the breeze that flowed freely through the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Minerva McGonogall rose her right hand and ever so slightly touched the underside of the painted Pear as it sat amongst its fruity friends.

The painting became animated, the fruit in the bowl re-arranged themselves to one side and the gold guilt frame which bordered the painting began to creak just a bit. The painting swung in a wide arch from left to right, revealing a passageway cut into the seemingly solid stone wall upon which the it hung.

A torch down just a bit into the passageway revealed several cut stone steps which led into what appeared to be a massive chamber on the opposite side of the wall which the painting hung.

Minerva stepped over a small ledge and carefully gauged her movement. Not wishing to tumble down the steps which had over the many years being in the castle, showed obvious signs of wear as the steps sloped and sagged toward their center. The steps where much higher at the spot where they met the walls of the small passageway. Many individual steps over hundreds and hundreds of years are the only way that these steps could possibly have developed such a wear pattern.

Minerva moved carefully, marking each step she took with her free hand being placed upon the wall to secure her balance. Then the passageway gave way to the larger chamber. The light that flooded this room was brilliant, it was of course Magically created as there were no windows this far below the ground level of the castle that would allow such flooding of warming light.

The sound of shuffling feet, scuttling along the cut stone floor of the room proved to be almost a stampede. Minerva was immediately surrounded by at least 5 dozen House Elves. Each of which who carried some sort of imbibe. A tray of crackers here, a pitcher and glass of pumpkin juice there, Grapes on gold trays, cheeses, cured meats, sweets that would rot the teeth in an instant and chocolates to tempt the senses were presented by the dozen.

Being taken by surprise for but a brief moment, Minerva McGonogall regained her composure in an instance. This being not the first time that she had visited the Kitchens of Hogwarts but still it had momentarily slipped her memory what would occur upon her entering the inner workings of the Castle.

"Dobby, where is Dobby? I must speak with you at once!" Came McGonogalls slightly hoarse voice.

There was no answer as each of the House Elves before her jostled for position. Each hoping to entice the Professor with their foods. But each was to be disappointed when she once again called out the name "Dobby".

A ways back behind the mass of flopping ears and bulging eyes, glittering trays and ever so fresh and scent filled foods, sat one very lonely looking and seriously sad appearing house elf. She wore a filthy dress of Blue Gingham. It has stains down its front and the house elf had its head lowered. Its ears flopped over its eyes, tears ran down the hollowed cheeks and fell to the floor where they were met by a puddle of a million previous tears. Reflected in this pool was the face of Winky. She sat there shaking, her hands covering her ear opening. She wished not to hear the calls for Dobby. She wished not to remember Dobby or why she had come to be sitting here on this tiny three legged wooden stool. In front of this fireplace, its fire within having almost burnt out.

"You there, sitting on that stool, Yes, YOU! Where is Dobby. I know that you are Winky and have been a companion to him at times." Minerva called above the heads of the House Elves.

"Winky knows not, Winky has no idea. Dobby does not confide in Winky as he is no longer a trusted Elf in Winky's mind. Go away and allow Winky to drown herself in her own woes."

With this, Winky reached down towards the floor and picked up a partially spilled bottle of Butterbeer which had somehow fallen upon its side. Spilling much of its contents on the hearth before the stone fireplace.

Professor McGonogall waived her hand before herself and the hoard of house elves took this cue and separated into two groups with a wide passageway between them. This cleared way led directly from the Professor and Winky. There was no pretending to attempt to coddle Winky by the other house elves. Each of them turned their backs toward her. She in turn continued to cry and softly sob into the half empty bottle of butterbeer she now held.

As Professor McGonogall walked ever so elegantly toward the house elf in the filthy dress, her breath was restrained. She was attempting to gather her calm before she address the distraught house elf again.

"Winky, I can not pretend to understand what you have gone through as I have never lost my home, nor have I ever lost my family as you have but I must ask of you to help me now. You see, if I do not located Dobby, I may well understand your plight. I may loose my home, this castle. It has been my home since I came here as a child of 11 years old. The students and the staff and yes all of you house elves as well. Each and every one of you are my family. MY FAMILY!" Minerva's voice broke but a bit.

This was in fact her home. The only home she had known since she had moved from the home of her parents in the north of Scotland. Though she had the most fond of memories of them and that magical place, it is Hogwarts that held her heart. She was loyal to it as much as it was to her.

"Winky, please will you assist me in my search for Dobby? We must find him. Several of our students are in dire Danger. I fear for them and for the rest of us. Please Winky, if you have ever loved anyone or anything, understand what we all may be loosing here if things are not set right."

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within</font>

Chapter 29

Part 2

The Third Time is the Charm.

By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl


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It hurt, it hurt everywhere he could feel. The cold on the side of his face slightly numbed the fact that he was going to have a head ache in just a few minutes.

"Mr. Weasley, have you found yourself complete and whole?" Dumbledores voice seemed to come from a solid stone wall at Ron's feet. He just stared at the wall as if he had never before seen one. There was a small white light showing in the center of the wall.

"Now you have to be kidding me. There is just no way that I came through that tiny whole." Ron thought to himself as he began to take account of his parts.

He ran his hands over his chest, through his hair, took a good long look at both legs and even turned them over to make sure that his back side had come through the ordeal intact.. Yep, he was all there, thankfully.

With a little bit of a gasp, Ron responded to the wall before him while he propped himself up on his elbows and bent his knees upward.

"Sure, I think I am all here but next time, let Fred or George squeeze through that tiny opening. I really don't think my body would like the feeling again."

"Good job, well done," came Dumbledores response.

"Oh for Merlin's sake, where are you and get over to that door and open the blooming thing up already." barked Moody.

Ron looked very bewildered at the moment. He could not figure out exactly HOW to open up the wall. It just did not look like any door that he had ever seen before. Then there was a "POP" and Ron's head snapped almost one hundred and eighty degrees around to find him staring eye to eye with the weirdest little creature he had ever seen.

"Hello there, my name is Kokay. What may I do for the young master? Tea?" the house elf squeaked.

"Tea? are you barmy or sumthin?" NO, I don't want any tea, but how the heck do I turn this stone wall into a door?" Ron asked very sarcastically.

"Oh, easy peasy young master. This is no wall but a door that has been disillusioned to appear as a stone wall. See, if you put your hand right there next to that white light, young master will find a handle to pull." The house elf stated with great satisfaction.

Ron jumped to his feet and moved quickly to the wall. His outstretched right hand going to a spot just right of the white light that shown on his shirt as if a laser were pointed directly over where his heart beat heavily beneath the fabric and skin.

He felt something solid even though he could not see the object. He let his fingers fiddle and find their own pathway.

He wrapped those digits around something solid and cold and with a mighty pull and a grunt as he mustered all the strength he could, Ron felt what appeared to him as a solid stone wall to give way, and move with a force all of its own right towards him.

He suddenly lost his footing, his right foot having skidded upon the highly polished granite flooring and with a resounding "THUMP" Ron once again found himself sitting on his back side looking upward.

There before him stood Fred, George, Madeye and Dumbledore. Each one of them quickly moved into the hallway in which Ron had been sitting on the floor.

"Here you go, boy, now get yerself up and make yerself of some use." Madeye almost whispered as he pointed his gnarled walking stick toward Ron.

He grabbed the side of the wooden stick and pulled and pushed himself to a once again standing position.

"Very well done, Mr. Weasley, very well done." Dumbledore complimented.

"And may I ask who we have the pleasure of your company?" asked the Headmaster as he reached his hand out to shake the free hand of the house elf.

"Kokay, sir, oh dear, oh dear, Kokay is so sorry, she was not asked to respond, was she, oh dear, Kokay is so sorry, Kokay will make things right." as the tiny house elf reached for a small dustbin that she had been carrying when she had apparated into the hallway.

"No, no my dear, there is no need for any such self inflicted violence. I did in fact ask you your name. I do hope you will honor us with the knowledge of how to address such a lovely elf as yourself." Dumbledore assured the shaking house elf.

"Kokay, sir, Kokay is here at your pleasure sir.. Would sirs like some Tea?"

"Yes that would be very nice, Kokay, 5 sugars please if you will. I do have a sweet tooth that must be attended to." responded Dumbledore as the others just looked on at the conversation that was transpiring.

With yet another "POP" Kokay was gone in an instant.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 29

Part 3

The Third Time is the Charm.

By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"You must be Barmy!" spat out Moody.

"Nonsense Alistor, you see there is not real rush here. We are exactly where I had anticipated we might be." The Headmaster reassured the others.

"All right, does anyone think it might be a good idea to fill in the rest of us exactly where we are then?" Ron queried as he regrouped himself.

"Ah Yes, Mr. Weasley, Oh I am sorry, Mr and Mr. and yes of course Mr. Weasley<" the headmaster almost laughed out. "Apparently during our little trip through the tunnel you have forgotten that we were just outside a large home and a tall protective wall. Well, that wall surrounded none other than the home of the Malfoy Family." Dumbledore stated with a smug look upon his face.

With another POP Kokay reappeared amongst the grouping, presenting a large tray with 5 porcelain cups and saucers and a Sheffield Silver Pot and accompanying silver serving pieces. There was a clinking as 5 sugar cubes were levitated into one of the porcelain cups, and then the large gleaming tea pot poured out a dark brown tempting brew that caused the headmaster to tilt his head back, close his eyes and express his pleasure with a long winded "AHHHHHHHH"

"Yes, thank you Kokay. This will surely hit the spot.. Tea Alistor? Mr.s Weasley? You see the comforts of life should never be overlooked or undervalued. When there are those who have worked so hard to make our existence little more than mere child's play."

Moody moved past the house elf and his presentation of the gleaming tray and porcelain cups. His false leg clopping along making an echoing sound throughout the hallway.

"Nice, very nice how Lucius and his brood live. Nothing like this in that dump that I call home Albus." snorted Moody as he picked up a silver hand mirror that lay upon a small hall table. He looked into the mirror and a sudden sound of cracking glass was heard by all.

"Yeah, like I really care/" Moody said to the mirror as if it had just pronounced its opinion upon Moody's physical appearance.

"Tut, tut, Alistor, I doubt that the mirror was giving its personal opinion. Maybe you just have a firm grip, no?" With this Moody threw the mirror back to the surface of the table and walked promptly away from the spot of his embarrassment.

Fred and George both sniggered to themselves but obviously Moody had heard them as he turned and cast a sudden spell which barely missed the twins, as a bright red light sped past them, nearly clipping their hair as it disappeared through the false doorway.

Back in the tunnel, Lupin was suddenly hit with the spell which Moody had cast. He fell to his side, clutching his ribs as a large sore spot developed causing him great discomfort.

"OH NO! What was that?" Tonks screamed as she left Harry's limp side and rushed to Remus.

She quickly put her hand to his forehead and then removed his hand from his side. She looked at the spot where the spell had hit him. It was larger than she had anticipated. A red section of his side showed as the fabric of his shirt had been away leaving a pulsating section of him that was obviously in dire pain.

"Hermione, Remus has been hit. I have to get him to St. Mungo's. I am so sorry but there is really nothing we can do for Harry right now without the help of Dumbledore. I have to get Remus to the Hospital and I will be right back to see if I can get Harry out of here and transported to medical care in just a moment."

With this, Tonks took Remus in her arms and the two of them had suddenly apparated.

"What? No, you can't" came Hermiones voice just a little too late. They were already gone.

Hermione sat there upon the dampened flooring with Harry's unconscious head laying upon her knee for support.

"Well, if she could have apparated all this time, why did she not think to take Harry to St. Mungo's before?" Hermione thought to herself. "Blast her!"

Now it was just the suffering Harry and Hermione alone in the semi darkness of the tunnel. She looked around herself. Fear has started to creep into her veins. A shiver started at the bottom of her spine and spread upward toward her head.

"No, I will not give in to this. What would Harry say if he thought that I was actually afraid. Ron would never let me forget it." as the thoughts ran over and over in her mind.

"Professor Dumbledore, Professor Moody, Ron, Fred, George, anyone! Can anyone hear me?"

By this time the group in the hall had moved far enough away from the doorway to no longer be able to hear Hermione's pleas for assistance.

Fred and George had both dived in opposite directions to avoid being hit by the spell that Moody had cast and Ron had run toward the headmaster to use him as a shield.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Now, Alistor, that was truly uncalled for. We are all here and we can be civil you know. Why not save that bit of spell casting for anyone or anything that we might encounter upon our inspection of this Manor" Dumbledore assured.

A grumbling sound is all that could be heard coming from Moody as he proceeded to walk toward a large stair case at the end of a long banister railing. He stood there at the precipice of the stairs. His blue patched eye swiveling in its socket first left, right, up, down and then right and left once more.

"No one. There is not one single sole on the next floor Albus. Where to now?" Growled Moody.

"Alistor, of course there would be no one on the main living floors of this handsome home. I doubt even in the Malfoy Family that it is customary to torture ones captives in the Salon or the Library. Might I strongly suggest that we look for a staircase to a basement?" Dumbledore nodded and winked over his half moon glasses.

Moody promptly began to descend the staircase with a loud clopping. Fred and George decided to keep a little distance between the angry ex auror and themselves as they forcibly pushed Ron ahead of themselves. He stumbled off the top step and fell a few until he hit the solid back of Moody.

All Moody did was turn his head and stared into the face of the trembling and flushed face of Ron.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 29

Part 4

The Third Time is the Charm.

By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




Weasley, if you can not walk on your own two feet, don't think that i am here to carry your sorry carcass." scowled Moody.

A small whimper escaped Ron as he regained his composure.

Fred and George, just a step behind their younger brother laughed to themselves until the Headmaster walked up behind them and placed a hand on each of their shoulders. They froze on the spot, while Albus Dumbledore address the group.

"Very well, very well. Now that we have that out or our system, I hope we can all focus on the task at hand. I believe that one of our friends from the Order has fallen prey to some of Voldemorts Death Eaters."

Ron, Fred, George and even Mad Eye Moody, cringed at the name that came their way. Moody took his staff and clicked it upon the step ahead of the descending group and without another word, they were once again on their way to find out who or what was going to surprise them next.

As they came to bottom step and then walking into the expansive Great Hallway with its heavy doors off to both side, close and concealing who knows what sort of horror, Mad Eye just let his magical blue eye swivel to and fro in its socket. It searched the walls and doors as if they were made of mere vapor.

"There, behind that door at the end of the hallway, there it is. A staircase Albus." Moody stated as his staff rose into the air pointing the way to which door he was speaking of.

"Ah, I believe that we must find our way into the bowels of this manor. To find what lies beneath the Great Rooms floor. I do fear though for our young friends here, that this will not be a simple walk on the grassy lawns of Hogwarts. No, we most likely are going to be met with horrors beyond our imagination. I must insist at this time, if any of you feels unable to proceed or to follow through with our little adventure, then please turn back now and join the others in the entrance tunnel." Dumbledore stated with a dry and almost drawling voice.

Three sets of eyes darted from one to the other brothers. No one made a sound, no one moved though. All were in agreement, they were in this together and if Albus Dumbledore could move on forward, then they being strapping young men could surely keep up with him.

Albus took the lead and began to walk towards the door with almost a reckless abandon. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wand.

"Alohomora"

The click and the slow opening of the creaking ancient door was enough to send chills up Ron's spine. His hair now standing on end.

A series of torches began to come to life, one by one down into the cavernous depths of the underworld of Malfoy Manor.

A whimper could be barely heard. Far off in the distance from the sound of it, but it was obvious that someone or something was ALIVE down there.

Albus once again too the lead, and began to descend the well worn creaking stairs. The torches creating ghostly shadows that revealed a Cavernous series of chambers and hallways. Each hallway leading off into as dark and unknown a direction as the next one.

There it was again, that low groaning moan. But from which passage had it come from. The echo in the catacombs depth made it near impossible to decipher.

"Albus, why don't you take the youngest Mr. Weasley here and head off to the right while I take our duplicates here and we will search the passageways to the left?" Moody suggested.

"Yes, I do believe that by dividing our numbers we will have twice the chance of finding our friend in time."

"In time, in time for what?" squeaked out Ron's voice.

"Well, let us just say, in time for another round of Tea Mr. Weasley/" Albus Dumbledore answered with a quick wink of his eye.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 30

Part 1

The Million Galleon Question

By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl


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The swishing of the heavily cloaked figure, black was all one could see for the most brief moment.

The outreaching of his elongated fingers as he felt the edge of the ancient stone work. His fingers running down along the lines of cement that separated the closely placed blocks of granite.

Just moments before a single spell was cast. "Muffliato". It was whispered so that Madam Pomfrey would not hear it being cast.

"Are you sure that this is the exact place? I have no time for Tom foolery and if you are in any way trying to protect your former master, believe me, it will be the very last thing you will ever do. Alive that is." Severus Snape snarled out into Dobby's face.

"Sir, Dobby knows of this place as do all House Elves that work here in Hogwarts. The castle itself speaks to us in the voices of those who founded this castle, they do." Dobby re-assured the disgruntled appearing Snape.

Snape continued to run his fingers deftly around the stones. He gently applied pressure, here, there and anywhere he felt some sort of change in the surface of the cement grouting.

Then there was the sudden sound of stone sliding upon stone and the wall fell away from the tips of Snape's fingers. It swung slowly in a wide arch into a darkened tunnel. No light came from the depths that it revealed.

Snape now reaches into his inner cape and retrieves his wand. Holding it defiantly on the very tips of his fingers the word "LUMOS" passed his lips as if hissed by a snake.

The very tip of his wand burst into a violent and bright light that cast itself well down into the very low passageway. The ceiling height of this passage could not have been any higher than two and a half feet while the walls of the tunnel were of almost equal width.

"This is not what I had expected from your description, you filthy creature. You said that there was no problem moving about through this Labyrinth!" Snape growled back once again in the face of Dobby the Free Elf.

"Sir, we house elves have no problem walking about in these tunnels, Dobby did not consider that Sir was of a much larger size than we house elves. Sorry." as Dobby turned slightly sideways, trying almost in vein to hide the smile that had crossed his face.

With a broad sweeping hand, the black cloaked arm of Severus Snape caught Dobby off guard and cast the house elf tumbling down, way down through the tunnel. One could hear Dobbys squeals and howls as he bounced off the walls and ceiling of the sarcophagus shaped tunnel.

Snape took a deep breath, reaching his lit wand out ahead of himself and proceeded to force his lengthy frame into the tunnel.

Still in her office, Madam Pomfrey was none the wiser. She was anxiously attempting to gather all the medicines and bandages she could muster. It was apparent to her that should an invasion of the Castle take place as Professor McGonnagall had informed the staff, there would surely be casualties and it was she who would be the last Bastian between life and death. She was determined to cheat death at every cost.

The sound of stone sliding once again upon stone and the suffocating realization that he was now sealed in what could potentially become his final resting place, Snape forced himself to keep his mind focused on the task at hand. He continued to wiggle and crawl and push his way through the ever tightening walls and ceiling of the tunnel.

It was happening, it was impossible, but it was happening, the tunnel was becoming less roomy and more of a squeeze for Snape's body to travel through. He could feel his own face now, just inches above the rough stone surface of the tunnel flooring. His breath rebounding back again to his open mouth. He forced himself to close his mouth and breath through his widening nostrils.

The air was putrid and it burnt the insides of his sinus. His eyes began to tear up, making the sudden feeling of Claustrophobia all the more relevant.

Hideous thoughts strolled across his psyche.

" What if I were to become stuck, could I move backward but then again, I heard that stone doorway close. What lay before me? Is it possible that it will become smaller and smaller until I find myself suddenly and hopelessly trapped. What if under all this strain, my own body begins to swell from the anxiety? Causing me to become less capable of moving in either direction. What if this blasted ceiling has a loose section and caves in on me. Blasted, Blasted, Blasted, MY NOSE ITCHES!"

"SIR!"

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 30

Part 2

The Million Galleon Question

By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"What is it you blasted elf, what is it?" snarled Snape as he worked feverishly to extract himself from his present entombment.

"Sir, you are almost there, here just take Dobby's hand and Dobby will pull you to freedom and space." came Dobbys reassuring voice.

Severus Snape extended his outreached hand. His fingers trembled as he attempted to make his limb grow as long as possible. Then there it was, a touch, the feeling of a leathery set of fingers quickly wrapping themselves around Snapes own somewhat soft hand.

There was a mighty tug and Snape thought that his arm would surely be ripped from his body. That this was just absurd! What was this disgusting elf thinking bringing him into this situation in the first place.

Snape felt his entire body become free from its constraint. He slid effortlessly out of the tightening tunnel and found himself sitting in a large chamber. Torches began to light themselves one by one, revealing a maize of tunnels and anti chambers leading in all directions. One looking no different than the next. None less or more inviting the the other.

There he sat, the house elf was beside him, breathing somewhat heavily when he heard the noise.

There it was again, it was obvious that there was someone or something coming down that terrifying tunnel. It was an on again, off again, low rumbling sound echoing from above.

It crossed Snapes mind that the Castle had been breached and this secret amongst secret places of Hogwarts had been discovered. He then thought to himself that maybe he had been careless. That he had been followed or seen by perhaps Madame Pomfrey!

There was that sound again. It was becoming more consistent, louder, more insisting. It was now joined by yet another sound. That of footsteps. Surely Someone was following him but who, or rather what?

The sound became louder and louder. Severus began to look around the room in an attempt to make a choice of which passage to follow, when Dobby's voice broke the tension.

"WINKY!" as Dobby ran from Snape's side and grabbed the stumbling little filthy house elf. Just as her figure produced from the opening to the tunnel, she stumbled and fell directly upon Dobby, knocking his head against a stone that lay on the earthen floor of the chamber..

Dobby's eyes widened suddenly to the size of grapefruit and then the color rolled back into his head. Just the whites of his tennis ball sized eyes was left in view. His breathing became shallow. He was out for the count for sure.

Winky rolled over and looked into Dobby's face. She began to sob uncontrollably. He eyes welled with tears, her voice became silent, her breathing, suffocatingly stifled.

Then the sound from withing the tunnel became even more pronounce. Snape's head snapped from the sight of the unconscious form of Dobby to the tunnel once more. For Merlin's sake, what is that blasted sound.

It became evident in a moment. The echoing of the Purring form that strode from the darkened tunnel. The Tabby Markings evident as Severus slammed his fist into the soft earthen floor.

"Minerva, what do you think you are doing following me?" Spat out Snape.

The form of the cat began to expand, distort, its features staying very much intact though. Its limbs shortened and lengthens, the tail retracting and fur seemingly growing backward into what now became aged wrinkles of flesh.

"Follow you? How dare you accuse me of following you? This house elf has led me to this place. Where ever it is?" firmly stated Minverva McGonagall, now standing proudly in her Witch form.

"Actually, where or should I say, what is this place Winky" inquired the Witch of the sobbing and slobbering house elf.

Winky moved her head to stare into the face of the Witch.. She hiccuped and then hiccuped again. She raised her hand, lifting her skirt to cover her face and promptly blew her nose on her filthy gingham outfit.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 30

Part 3

The Million Galleon Question

By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




Severus sat facing Professor McGonagall. His stare burning into her eyes, her own stare burning right back into his. It was a very uncomfortable moment in time while these two participated in a game of Mexican standoff.

From beneath Winky, Dobby began to stir. A moan escaped his lips as his unfocused eyes opened up. His pupils constricted by the sudden flood of light into them. The outline of something above him and others surrounding him caused him to attempt to sit up all too quickly.

The weight upon his chest was unexpected. He had to exhale just as quickly as he had inhaled. Not knowing what was upon him Dobby began to scream out loud for Harry Potter..

"Harry Potter Sir, please, Harry Potter, help poor Dobby, please"

"Shut up you foolish creature. Harry Potter is not here and eve if he were I doubt that he would be in any position to help you!" spat out Snape.

"What?" asked McGonagall. "What do you mean he would be in no shape to help? What do you know Severus and do not dare to try and lie to me. As great as you believe you are at Occlumency, I believe I am a more formidable force with Legilimens." Minerva stated forcefully.

"Minerva, I believe we are in this together. I have no intention to attempt to mislead you. This may well be the moment that we all either defeat or fall prey to the Dark Lord." Snape said with the utmost passion.

Winky sat there upon Dobby's chest. She hiccuped once more and then tumbled off Dobby, landing in a heap at the feet of Severus Snape.

Snape first looked at the mess of a house elf at his feet. For but a brief moment the urge to kick her flooded his veins. Then he looked up into the dark and scolding eyes of Minerva McGonagall and the flood of feeling seemed to drain out of his body as quickly had it grown.

"We must follow Dobby Minerva. He knows the passages of this Labyrinth. Something I doubt your impaired elf could navigate, even at the best of times."

"Then Severus, proceed. I will place our destiny in your hands. But let it be known, if you do anything that puts those children into any more harms way than they are right now, well, well, I can not put into words what I will do to you Severus. But let us put it this way. Pain would be a welcome friend to you if you are not on the up and up."

Severus just sneered at Professor McGonagall. He then rose as well as he could, brushing off his now soiled cloak. Clearly disturbed by the fact that he no longer was crisp and sharp in his appearance.

"Get up you. If you wish to save your precious Harry Potter, then get your feet into action and lead us through these tunnels." Snape snarled at Dobby.

Dobby, rose to his feet, blinked his eyes a few times, raised his dirty sock from his right foot and wiped his brow and eyes clear of any sleep that had developed.

Dobby began to descend into one of the darkened tunnels. All the tunnels appeared to be the very same. Dobby had no doubt though as he began to walk with purpose. He turned his head over his shoulder and motioned to the others to follow him.

As Dobby entered the passage, torches began to light themselves one by one. The tunnel was now being flooded with light, revealing the earthen walls.

The group of Snape, McGonagall and a bumbling, bobbing and weaving Winky followed Dobby down into the tunnel.

The air became thicker, heavier, more difficult to breath. The humidity in the tunnel accompanied by that closed in feeling that one can only experience at the worst moments of their lives fell upon each of them.

The breathing became labored but the passageway was still open before them, so they continued to follow Dobby.

The Tunnel began to become a little wider, the smell of grass and water permeated the senses. Were they beneath the lake? But why the smell of grass. Grass? Then the tunnel opened up to an underground cave. A Grotto. Glowing Brilliant Blue, almost NEON. It glowed from beneath as if a massive light bulb was beneath the surface of the water.

There, along the shore of this underground lake was a skiff, pulled up upon the earthen shore.

"Here, we must get in here," Dobby stated.

Neither Snape nor McGonagall wasted a single second. Snape grabbed the hand of the dawdling Winky and roughly tossed her into the small boat.

McGonagall gave Snape the evil eye. He could not return her glare. He then commanded of Dobby to proceed.

There they were upon the surface of the most placid of lakes. The glow from the watery depth below them caused haunting images to be reflected upon the Stalactite littered vaulted ceiling of the cave.

The only sound was that of water dripping from those Stalactite and finding its way into the watery surface.

The boat navigated itself. It headed to what appeared to be a solid stone wall.

Snape now extremely concerned turned to Dobby and asked, "Are you Sure of this?" to which Dobby just nodded his head up and down in affirmation.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 30

Part 4

The Million Galleon Question


By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




The two professors, not convinced that Dobby had in fact steered them in the right direction braced themselves by grasping the edges of the small craft with all the might they could each muster.

Winky raised her hands to her bulging, bloodshot eyes and let out a gasp!

Dobby, sitting at the bow of the craft actually took to his legs and stood up upon the tips of his toes.

Just as the Professors had thought the craft would surely crash into what appeared to be a solid wall in directly in front of the now fast closing craft a light breeze caused the view of the wall to ripple, just the tiniest bit.

Snape saw the sudden ripple in the wall-scape before them as did Professor McGonagall. Now very intrigued they both leaned slightly forward as the bow of the boat and Dobby disappeared before their very eyes.

Now plunged into total darkness, Snape felt the as if he was being caressed by billowing sheets of satin fabric. The moans of some far off voices caused Professor McGonagall to catch her breath, turning her head from left to right in a futile attempt to catch a glimpse of who or what was making the ghostly sounds.

Then just as quickly as they were plunged into total darkness, they inhabitants of the tiny skiff were thrust into the brilliant sunlight and fresh air.

The view before them was magnificent. There they were in this tiny skiff floating on a placid lake.. It was obviously not the lake that bordered the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This was a vast lake, what appeared to be in the shape of a persons anatomical digestive system. Just off in the distance but shortly before the where the water met the land and sky met them both one could barely make out where the lake narrowed.

"Onward and Forward," yelled out Dobby in his most jubilant voice.

The small craft took to wave.. Suddenly the professors and Winky were thrust back into their seats as the speed of the craft which was so unexpected took off towards the horizon.

Snape turning his head back to where they had just come from saw for but a brief moment how the view behind them rippled just a bit as if a curtain billowing in the wind and then it all blended into the rear horizon as well as the tiny craft sped through the dark almost black water upon which the boat pounded.

"No, no, Winky no likes, Winky no likes!" came the fear riddled voice of the tiny house elf.

"Shut up you filthy li........" came Snapes voice which was suddenly broken off again mid slur by the most demanding glare that Minerva could muster.

"One more time Severus and you will find yourself being transfigured into a Gold Fish without a voice and I will personally throw your scale covered body into this lake and watch as what ever lives in there deals with you once and for all. Have I made myself clear?"

Snape, now snarling like a watch dog on a very short leash just glared back at the old witch. Not a single word escaped him. Not one. All that could be seen was a slight raising of his chin towards the sky. As if to show his disgust and indignation but clearly no argument was to be engaged in at that moment..

The wind swept through Snapes hair causing it to flow in greasy strands behind himself. He almost looked as if he were a blur of sorts. One could not really tell where his long pointed chin and nose began and the tips of his hair ended.

Minerva was holding tightly to the side of the craft with one hand and pushing down upon her hat with the other, her eyes watering from the force of the water cooled wind as it stung her eyes.. Tears falling down like rain..

Winky too had tears falling in sheets, but for yet a completely different reason. Winky was in dire fear for her life.. She hated only heights as much as deep water.

Dobby on the other hand stood tall at the bow of the craft. His arms spread out in what appeared to the others to be a cross position. His pointed ears flapping so violently behind him that they made a clapping sound. As if in a theater at the end of a magnificent performance...

"Dobby," came a shout from Severus Snape, "Where are you taking us?"

"Dobby turned his head slightly, looking over his shoulder, wide eyes gleaming in the brilliant sunlight..

"To Harry Potter Sir, to Harry Potter of course."

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 31

Part 1

The Tunnel of Love?

By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Hermione continues to wipe Harry's forehead in the hopes that Remus or the Headmaster would soon return and assist her.

No matter how schooled or Library savvy Hermione is, she knows that there are some medical spells that are far better left to professionals than to be attempted by those whose only contact with the spell itself was having read it upon the parchment of some old dusty parchment of a Library book.

All that would come to her mind was the image of Gilderoy Lockhart as he liquefied all of the bones in Harry's arm during their second year at Hogwarts. For fear of turning Harry's brain into a bowl of Jell-O, she decided to just continue to sooth his burning forehead with a dampened handkerchief.

No sounds were coming through the stone wall that separated them from the rest of their group. Hermione wondered what had become of the others.

The others were in the throws of a great dilemma themselves. The labyrinth of identical passages before them served to cause so much confusion and trepidation that there just was no consensus on which tunnel to proceed through.

"Ah, I believe our young Mr. Weasley may well be onto something. Ones first impression is often the correct one I have always found," came the calm tones of Albus Dumbledore.

"How can we be sure Albus. Taking the direction and lead of a Student, is that what you wish for us to do?" growled Moody.

"Yes, that is exactly what I am suggesting Alastor. Proceed Mr. Weasley."

"But, but, but, I was only suggesting." but Ron was cut short as a nudge from both of his brothers caught him off guard and he was suddenly being propelled down the tunnel that he had suggested investigating.

Quickly, the torches on the sides of the carved stone walls of the tunnel lit the way. A set of well worn stairs led downward into utter darkness.

"Does anyone else have that sinking feeling in their stomachs?" Ron asked.

"Get on with it Ginger. If you are going to be our leader then shut up and get on with it." Moody spat out.

Ron place his left hand against the stone wall to stabilize his own footing as he began to descend the stairs into the unknown. Each step came slowly and deliberately until there was the sound of a low moan that seemed to echo from the darkness below.

"What was that?" Asked a clearly shaken Ron....

"Well, I can guarantee you that it was not our Mother calling you for dinner, little brother," Fred chortled.

"Ha,Ha,Ha, thanks a lot for mentioning Food, Fred. Now beside the fact that I think I may have wet myself, my stomach is growling from starvation. You know, It has been hours since I have had anything to eat yah know.?

Professor Dumbledore began to chuckle as he entered the passageway and heard Ron's complaints of hunger and possible wetness.

"Mr. Weasley, should the tunnel become tighter, you will be very glad that you have not eaten in some time for it may find a way back out that you would be most uncomfortable with." Dumbledore snickered.

Ron came to an abrupt stop. There was a door in front of him. It was made of simple wood and had a very simple latch handle.. He reached his left hand out and attempted to open the door.. but to no avail It was magically locked.

Ron took his wand out from within his robes and pointed it at the latch..

"ALOHOMORA," Ron stated as matter of fact as possible.

The latch made a quick click and the door opened itself into a large stone chamber.

There hanging from the wall was none other than Dedalus Diggle. His feet pointing downward inches above the floor. His head laying haplessly upon his shoulder. His robes were torn and soiled with unspeakable looking stains.

Ron was quickly forced aside by Moody, who promptly had his wand out and was casting spell after spell after spell until he came to Difindo and the binds that held Dedalus to the wall released him.

Diggle slid to the floor now and lay in a crumpled heap of Wizarding flesh and bones.. His moans of pain coming a bit louder now..

"Dedalus my dear friend, who did this to you?" implored Dumbledore as the Twins both leaned over his shoulder to get a better look at the figure that lay upon the floor.

"POP", suddenly Kokay now stood along side the writhing body of Dedalus Diggle.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 31

Part 2

The Tunnel of Love?

By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Kokay began to mop Diggles forehead with a cool dampened cloth. His eyes opened and stared at the small house elf and a tiny smile passed momentarily across his face.

Then he turned his head back toward Dumbledore and Moody.. The Gryffindor students stood still waiting for what ever was to come from his lips. They feared for the worst and then it came.

"VOLDEMORT! Albus he is truly back as you and the Potter boy have said. He is BACK!. He has his death eaters at his side doing his bidding. They, they, they have been using the Cruciatus Curse upon me for I know not how long now... It has all blurred into one excruciatingly painful burst of White light." came Dedalus Diggles horror struck voice.

"Yes, I am aware that he has returned Dedalus my dear friend, but why has he targeted you?" Albus queried.

"Don't be a fool Albus," spat out Moody. "You know as well as anyone else that He who must not be named does not need a reason to attack anyone. He does it as pure sport. For his own selfish pleasure. As if it were nothing more than a day in the thicket hunting deer or elk." Moody stated matter of fact.

"No, no, no, you do not understand.. There is something that he wants. Something that he covets. He wants and needs the secret that has been passed down in my family from eldest son to eldest son for over a thousand years." now came a quivering Dedalus Diggle.

"What is this secret, what could possibly be so important to Voldemort that he would keep you alive even after torturing you so severely." questioned Dumbledore who's face now seemed a bit flushed.

"Albus, this is going to nearly kill me to tell you this... Truly it will. The secret when passed from father to first son also is wrapped in a curse that is so strong that it may well cause the implosion of ones being. My entire self will inwardly collapse upon itself. My organs and bones will become one horrid bubbling goo. Once a living being and then the next nothing more than a bowl of gruel." now violently shaking was Dedalus Diggle.

Albus Dumbledore approached the Diggle as he lay upon the floor. With great care, he himself lay down next to the figure of the torn and tortured friend.

Moody shushed loudly as the Weasley brothers began to speak in whispers to each other. Not a single sound was to be heard now other than that of Kokay dipping the soft cloth into the basin filled with cool water and then gently cleansing Diggles brow.

Dumbledore seemed to almost fall asleep, but his body then began to make sudden small movements. His closed eyelids showing signs that his eyeballs were rolling back and forth and up and down beneath them with violent speed.

The Headmasters body clenched tightly, he lay suddenly rigid along side that of Dedalus Diggle, and then as quickly as this episode had begun the headmasters eyes opened wide.. There was absolute panic in the blue surrounded by the whites of his now bulging eyes... His gold half moon spectacles askew and digging into his cheek were corrected by a series of crooked long fingers..

Dumbledore stood tall once more. His robes being brushed clear of the dust and dirt and grime which he had lay upon. Kokay looking up into Dumbledores face now had massive tears filling her eyes.. She seemed to understand the pain that the headmaster had seen.

"My dear friend, I am to leave you now in the trusted hands of Kokay here. She will have you cleaned up shortly as Moody here will accompany her and you to Hogwarts.. I am sorry, I do not trust St. Mungo's at the moment. It is all too possible that the Voldemort has indeed infiltrated its hallowed halls as well.

"Albus, you have to off your rocker if you think I am going to leave you to take this on by yourself." snapped Moody.

"Alistor, though I do enjoy a good sit upon a porch rocker from time to time, I do not find myself laying prone to it now or ever in my past, so if you would be so kind as to assist Kokay and Dedalus, I am sure that you will have more than your fair share of obstacles to overcome." the headmaster calmly stated.

"Buh, buh, buh, wah bout us?" Ron finally had found his own voice again.

"Ah, yes, my dear Mr. Weasleys,, you shall be accompanying me back to the entrance cave.. I do believe we will find your fellow Gryffindors in need of assistance that you will be more than capable of supplying." Dumbledore said matter of fact.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 31

Part 3

The Tunnel of Love?

By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Hermione meanwhile was sitting with her back pressed against a large outcropping of stone that lined the wall of the cave. The torches still flickering and casting ghostly shadows across the walls and flooring of the earthen tunnel.

She turned to Harry who was now showing signs of movement.. Not awake, but clearly he was showing signs that he might well be coming out of the almost catatonic state in which he had been in all this time.

A moan escaped his lips and Hermione noticed that his eyes once again began to dance below his eye lids..

Another groan and Harry's fingers twitched upon the earthen floor of the tunnel. Digging into the softened soil as if attempting to grab at something.

"Harry, oh Harry, can you hear me?" demanded Hermione of her friend.

She now was on all fours with her frizzy hair hanging round her face as she looked at Harry for any sign of response to her query.

Another groan escaped Harry from deep in his throat.. His lip moved just for the briefest of moments. His tongue barely licking at his the inner top lip and then his mouth opened. Nothing for a moment, no sound, nothing.

"Gin,,,,,,,,Ginn,,,,,,,," came the graveled and slurred sound from Harry...

"Harry, it's me, Hermione.... Can you hear me? Do you know where you are? Oh Harry!" cried Hermione.

Harry's eyes began to open. Clearly unfocused and unable to handle the bright lights cast by the torches, Harry turned his head away from his friend in an attempt to shield his vision from the bright intrusion of light.

"Expelliarmus!"

The vicious voice of a female came with a flash of Red Light which hit Hermione full force... Her wand was expelled from her grasp and she was thrown hard against the stone that she had been most recently rested against.

Having had the wind knocked out of herself, Hermione found herself incapable of responding..

Harry was still far too dazed and out of his own senses to realize what was happening just a matter of a few feet before him.

There coming through the stone wall/doorway was none other than Bellatrix Lestrange, closely followed by two large figures. One with a crop of short blond hair and a brutish face and the other, dark haired with a stone sharp face and hands the size of ham shanks.

Wands pointing directly at the two and no way to defend themselves, the tunnel was suddenly filled with the hideous laughter of Bellatrix.

"Looky, looky what we have here... A two little rodents seem to have found their way into the tunnel.." came the taunting voice of Bellatrix.

The sound of multiple laughs and snickers was to follow her words.

"Petrificus Totalus!" echoed through the tunnel.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 31

Part 4

The Tunnel of Love?

By Madame Snape and Duddah the Great Barn Owl


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



"Petrificus Totalus!" echoed through the tunnel.

The sudden blasting of spells bouncing off the walls of the tunnel made it appear to be a celebratory fireworks display.. This unfortunately was no such fun event.

Remus Lupin came running into the tunnel from where the troop had originally entered. His wand flourishing in front of himself and spells were barely missing him by fractions.

The full body binding spell that he had originally cast had clearly struck Yaxley as he momentarily stood still as if nothing had happened and then fell face forward into the soft earthen floor. His blond hair barely brushing along Hermione's leg.

Hermione recoiled even tighter towards the stone that protruded from the wall of the tunnel.

Bellatrix could be heard laughing her hideous laugh as spells were shot from her direction toward Lupin and also from the other figure that now stood behind a small outcropping of stone from the earthen wall..

Unfortunately Hermione was unarmed and Harry obviously was still in a bit of a daze but regaining his consciousness by the moment.

Then there were blasts of spells and screaming voices coming from just above the fallen body of Yaxley, as Hermione spun her head to now look at the solid stone wall/doorway.

There appeared a wand first and then a hand and then it was, it was RON! Ron ran into the tunnel, looked quickly around, ducked a brilliant Green shot of light that zipped just by his ear... Causing him to hear the word echoed in his head of the spell that was cast.. He realized that the spell was the killing curse...

He had no time to wast. Ron quickly threw his body across Hermione and spread his arms over Harry's prone form.. He began spell casting of his own as more hands and wands poked through what had appeared to be a solid stone wall.

In a brief second, Fred, George and Albus Dumbledore burst through the wall.

More spells were being cast in all directions, front, back, up, down. Most were absorbed by the soft earthen walls or floor but every once in a while once would ricochet off solid stone or blast a whole into it all together.

The companion figure of Bellatrix Lestrange appeared to have taken a hit.. It was not obvious who had cast the spell which hit him but he crumpled to the floor of the tunnel as if his legs were turned to liquid.

A loud POP and Bellatrix was GONE!

Ron lay still covering his friends. Shielding them with his own body... He had clearly defended them and began to realize what he had done...

Hermione reached out her shaking hand, grabbed Ron around his neck and forcefully pulled him toward her... She bumped her own head against his and a quick kiss was planted on the side of his face...

Ron jumped to his feet as quickly as he could... He stuffed his wand into his pocket and began to nervously press his palms down upon the sides and fronts of his pant legs. Brushing dirt off them and turning away, clearing his throat all the while...

Fred and George now realizing that no more spells were being cast, look over at their embarrassed brother... They both raised their hands into the air and gave a mighty High Five that echoed through the now quiet space of the tunnel.

"Remus, what has occurred here?" asked Albus Dumbledore.

"I am not absolutely sure Albus, I have just returned myself having had to have brought Tonks to St. Mungo's for treatment" replied Lupin.

Ron now turned toward Lupin and moved forcefully with purpose in his stride... He struck out his hand which landed directly in Lupin's chest.

"You did WHAT? You left them here alone? YOU did WHAT? They could have been killed, she, I mean they might not have survived that attack!" screamed Ron with a voice that none had previously heard come from him.

Even Fred and George were taken aback and each furrowed their brows as they first looked at Lupin and then in tandem glared at the Headmaster.

"Now, now, everyone is here.. We all have ten fingers and ten toes, I do hope." came Albus Dumbledores reassuring voice.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 32

Part 1

The Maze of the Minataur

By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The skiff continued to carry Snape, McGonagall, Winky and Dobby at a pace with caused the bow to rise slightly out of the surface of the mighty lake..

Snape realizing that the ripple to which he had just witnessed was in fact a gateway. But where in Merlin's Beard were they?

Minerva cast a very worried look back at the potions master. He had a truly stoic expression on his face. A slight sneer turning the left corner of his mouth down from his sour looking smirk to a grimace.

Winky turned at the site of seeing Professor McGonagalls apprehensive look and was rudely grabbed hold by the gaze of Severus Snape...

"Not one word, do you understand me? Not one word out of that filthy little face of yours." spat Snape.

Minerva's previous facial expression had now abruptly changed to one of utter disgust as she began to stare Snape down into submission, something that had never actually seemed to have occurred by anyone against him.

Then Snape's eyes opened wide as if a giant monster had stood up and burst from the top of Dobby's head...

There before the speeding boat was another ripple in the sky. Then a burst of several objects that appeared to be of no more solid than heavy smoke erupt from the ripple itself..

His eyes glued upon the situation before them, Dobby too saw the tear in the sky. The object coming directly towards them at such a tremendous speed that they could not be accurately identified, even as they drew so very close to the members of the skiff.

Then just as they had appeared, they had passed them. Dobby and Snape turned their entire body's around to get a better view of who or what was this thing.

Winky now suddenly surprised by the figures as the passed the stern of the boat, fell over backward in a full out faint..

Minerva McGonagall let out a shout, which sounded more like the scream of a cat on a hot summer night.

Then the passageway that this group had come to the lake via was opened as the vista behind the boat rippled, not unlike a sheet billowing in the summer breeze.

Then the fast moving things were gone... The ripple once again blending into the background and unseen by the naked eye.

"STOP, STOP this blasted thing at once!" Screamed Snape.

Minerva pulled out her wand and cast "Arresto Momentum" to which the boat came to a sudden stop.. Laying calm on the soft waves of the surface of the lake...

Now Snape had his wand out, casting several spells which caused the boat to rise up out of the water, turn itself around mid air and then proceed with great speed towards that rip in the sky...

Not knowing if they were going to crash into some invisible force, if they would just pass right through and find nothing more than the approaching distant shore or find themselves back in that Tunnel.

It all ran through Snape's mind in but a moment. Without care or fear, the group proceeded toward the site where the smoke figures had seemingly been engulfed by the ripple in the sky...

The boat once again rose its bow slightly out of the water...

Dobby let out a loud "Wah hoo!" while the transfiguration master grabbed his shoulder and pushed him forcefully back down onto the front bench of the boat.

The spot approached quicker than they had expected and suddenly everything went BLACK!

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 32

Part 2

The Maze of the Minataur

By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Both Snape and McGonagall had closed their eyes upon the approach to the ripple in the sky. When they reopened them, they were both pleasantly surprised and astonished that they had once again appeared on that cavernous lake.

The light that shown from beneath the waters continued to reflect upon the glistening moisture of the Stalactites and Stalagmites. The walls reflecting as if covered in faceted Diamonds.

Then the tiny boat came to an abrupt stop with a mighty thump... It had run aground and was a mere foot from the stony shore once more.

Dobby grabbed Winky's hand and progressed out of the boat as quickly as he could...

A cackle and a scream was then heard from off in the direction of the sloping tunnel from which this group had already experienced a less than comfortable ride...

Again, the scream and a blast of light...

"Expecto Pa.....N O!!!! Put me down you filthy, Avad.......NOOOOOO!!!!!"

The screams echoed throughout the tunnel and across the lake, reverberating and then coming back in a whimper...

Snape and McGonagall quickly got to their feet on land and were at full run.. Their wands held firmly before held out before them.

"LUMOS", first came Snape and then McGonagall in turn.

Then before them was a sight that they had not expected... There was a Minotaur.. An honest to goodness Minotaur! Held firmly in its arms was the squirming form of Bellatrix Lestrange... Screaming and yelling at the top of her lungs..

"What is this? Get off me you filthy beast! LET ME GO AT ONCE! Why can't I apparate?" spat out Bellatrix.

Then it all happened. Bellatrix laid eyes upon Severus Snape.. Snape did not move one step closer to the beast and Bellatrix... His arms stretched out holding back Professor McGonagall and Dobby who was still holding tightly to Winky.

"Well, well, well, Bellatrix... I see that you have finally found the man of your dreams...." sneered Snape in what he obviously felt was a sly humorous moment.

"Get this thing off me at once Severus!." yelled Bellatrix.

Snape stood still. His wand still in his hand, the tip light showing brightly on the scene before him. He did not make a move, not a single itch of movement to protect Bellatrix Lestrange...

A tiny upturn to the corner of his mouth produced a snear that would make boiling water freeze in a flash.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 32

Part 3

The Maze of the Minotaur.


By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Severus!, Do something! You can't just let that THING rip her to pieces." screamed McGonagall.

Snape turned his head toward his colleague. A look of utter bewilderment seemed to have created a stunned looking mask upon his face.

It was obvious that Snape had not the slightest clue as to how to fight such a mighty, magical creature. He had believed that they were actually extinct or had possibly been nothing more than myth or lore. But there before this little rag tagged band of Professors and House Elves was the creature in full fury.

A live Minotaur, standing well over 10 feet tall. Ferocious and beastly. Its roar echoed throughout the tunnel causing sections of the delicate ceiling to break away and drop into the water surrounding the small boat in which the Professors still stood.

"Get this thing off of me! EEEEEOOWWWWW!" Bellatrix pleaded.

A massive hooves shaped foot came slamming against the side of her head, knocking her unconscious. Bellatrix's head dropped to one side as a line of dark red blood ran down her forehead and over her high cheek bone and then onto the sleeve of her black cape.

"Severus DO SOMETHING!!" growled McGonagall.

With this, Snape rose his hand, wand gripped as tightly as he could...

"Expelliarmus!"

A brilliant white light left the tip of Snapes wand and within a split second ricocheted off the chest of the Minotaur. As a matter of fact it made the creature even more angry than it had appeared to be before.

The beastly monster released Bellatrix. Her limp body falling from a height of about 7 feet above the floor of the tunnel and crumbling into a heap at is furry feet.

The eyes of the creature opened wide as saucers. Its mouth opened, its teeth bared. and then a sound, the likes that had never been heard before seemed to cut through the tunnel with such ferocity that the interior of the tunnel itself seemed to become alive.

The ceiling was in fact now falling in massive chunks, crashing into the water, smashing onto the stone shore line where the lake and the tunnel met. A large boulder crashed with a sickening sound into the center of the boat, causing it to be split in two and sink just as quickly..

Snape jumped from the skiff as his half disappeared under the surface of the lake.

"Wingardium Leviosa"

Snapes words came as quickly as he could muster them. the stern of the tiny boat was suddenly lifted from the surface of the lake and followed to the shore where Snape was now pointing his wand at.

It was too late. He did not have enough time to react as the back half of the skiff and his fellow Professor along with Winky and Dobby were roughly placed upon the dry stone shore with a deafening thud!

The creature had him in its grasp before he knew it was upon him. Snape could feel its filthy breath on the nape of his neck as its teeth were sharply being driven into his flesh.

Snape could only feel his spine stiffen as the pain ripped through his skull. The teeth of the creature were surely going to be the last thing that ever crossed his mind.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 33

Part 1

To Be or Not to Be.


By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Albus Dumbledore turned to the group in the Tunnel and with his index finger laid firmly along side his long and crooked nose and with a wink of his blue eye, a Flash of brilliant white light and all had left the tunnel. Nothing left but darkness itself.

With thuds and the groans of sudden sickness the Hogwarts Students were all bent over in the throws of sickness. Only Remus Lupin, Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter stood erect.

"What the? How did we get here?" asked Fred Weasley.

"Ah Yes, a group side along apparation. Very tricky, very tricky indeed. Had I not had the assistance of Remus here, this large of a group would most likely have been splinched and sent in pieces through out the hill side." Dumbledore responded.

Ron stood up with a moan and leaned upon Hermione's still bent low back.

"RON, will you get off of me!" Hermione shouted.

Ron jumped up and stood tall at her side. Not wishing her wrath any more than the attention he was suddenly getting from everyone else.

Now the group were all standing up and looking at the large Stone Pillars with the Hogswarts Hogs atop them. The Iron Gates magically locked.

The Headmaster raised his right hand with his wand firmly in its grasp. A few passes of his hand from left to right and then from north to south, a loud creaking noise and then the gates themselves began to move ever so slowly to reveal the pathway to the castle.

"Come, we have to get to our Potions Master I believe. He will be in dire need of our assistance," Dumbledore stated with a bit of urgency in his voice.

"Wha? How does he know what Snapes been up to?" Ron's befuddled voice filled the air.

"Oh Ron, Dumbledore has abilities that would make your mind turn to mush, that is if it not mush already," as she nudged her friend in the ribs with her elbow.

Harry still astonished by the sudden apparation to the gates of Hogwarts, ran up to keep up with the very sprite Headmaster. Remus walked up behind the twins and nudged them both forward in an attempt to get the group on the move.

A short time on their way, the Castle came into full view. It was now late evening and the lights that filled each and every window of the castle spread ghostly shapes upon the lawns surrounding Hogwarts.

The Massive oak and Iron doors were coming into view next. The group broke into a bit of a faster walk, Professor Dumbledore apperated to almost float across the path. His gate so smooth, so very even and fast that the others were almost breaking into sprints to keep up with him.

Ron has small pools of sweat breaking out on his brow and running down the sides of his face. Several ran right down his nose and there hung a brazen droplet at the very tip of his long nose.

"Come on you," came Harry's voice.

They approached the doors in but a few moments having crossed the lawns in what seemed to be just seconds.

The heavy doors opened promptly and there stood Argus Filch, holding Mrs. Norris and petting her head with great care.. The cats red eyes casting an upsetting stare upon the students as each of them passed by her.

Then without warning a Water Balloon exploded right in front of them. Each student ran right into the one in front of them, causing a falling Domino effect of student laying upon student on the cold stone floor of the entrance hall. Just short of the well worn staircase that led directly up to the Great Hall.

"PEEVES!" came Filch's angry, broken voice as Mrs. Noriss was tossed to the ground and ran up the stairs in the direction of the Poltergeist.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 33

Part 2

To Be or Not to Be.


By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"That will be ENOUGH", came the booming voice of Albus Dumbledore.

Peeves seemed frozen in space just between the top of the doorway to the Great Hall and the high vaulted stone arch ceiling of the entrance hall itself. His eyes wide a saucers and the expression of shear terror was plastered upon his face.

Without a word from anyone the sudden appearance of the Slytherin House Ghost, the Bloody Baron took hold of Peeves and dragged him through the stone steps upon which the Headmaster himself was standing upon. Seemingly solid as the stone that they were cut from but with not one bit of resistance to the two semi transparent figures as they disappeared with a howl of horror coming from a shocked Peeves.

"That will do." stated the Headmaster.

"Now Mr. Weasley, will you please escort Miss Granger here to the Great Hall and inform our Grounds Keeper and the other Professors of our return." spoke Headmaster Dumbledore with a very gentle yet firm touch to his voice.

Hermione turned towards Harry with the look of utter bewilderment as she turned from one young man to the other. Now looking directly at Ron as if to warn him of the very thought of his laying a single hand upon her to direct here anywhere. Hermione was capable of escorting herself anywhere in the castle and could not comprehend why Headmaster Dumbledore had felt it best to assign Ron of all people to accompany her, not just accompany her, but to "ESCORT HER!"

Anger built up deep inside her and her blood rushed to her cheeks and the tips of her ears. Luckily her wild and frizzy hair covered her ears and much of her cheeks. She would not wish for the Headmaster to see that she was angered and somewhat disgusted by his suggestion.

Hermione turned abruptly upon her heels and headed straight up the stone staircase, leaving Ron to try to struggle to gain his composure and to catch up with her.

Ron shot back a look at Harry of confused but absolute resolution to just do as he was told.

"There you go little brother, catch up with your crush if you can..."shot out George.

"She would not have him if he were dipped in ink and spread across every library table on Madam Pince day off" came back Fred.

The two began to laugh and bent low in their own amusement.

"Ah Yes, our pranksters.." Dumbledore now directed to the twins.

"I wish for the two of you to go directly to the Dungeons and see if you can not find your brother and inform him that I wish for all of the students to be brought directly to the Great Hall and await my return and not to create a panic along the way.

The twins raised their right hands high in the air, clapping them together and then setting off down a long and darkened hallway. Their screams of joy and excitement was to echo on for an extended period of time. The suits of armor along the way, each began to clang and chatter while the paintings lining the walls began a murmuring that turned shortly to a buzz which could be heard traveling in patches throughout the castle.

The Headmaster now turned to Argus Filch and spoke;

"Ah, Mr. Filch. I find I may require you to gather Madame Pomfrey and any student so unlucky to be in need of her specialized skills at the moment. Will you please bring them all to the Great Hall and await the return of Mr. Potter and Myself and most hopefully the company of several of our beloved staff members."

"Mundane step and fetch, that is what I am.. What do they think I am?" came the mumbles of Argus Filch as he too walked up the stone staircase, not even returning a comment directly to the headmaster but a low group of quips and complaints were clearly and audibly heard..

Mrs. Norris followed up the stairs after her master. Her burning lamplike eyes turning from side to side as if she fully expected to be attacked by some unknown creature at any moment.

"Professor, what do you wish for me to do?" Harry's voice broke the sudden silence that found himself and the headmaster standing alone just inside the Great Entrance way.

"Yes, well you see Harry, I do believe that a full on assault of Hogwarts itself may be in the making by those who wish to destroy what it has taken centuries to achieve." Dumbledore answered.

Harry just stood and turned his head slightly to one side. A sudden burst of abject and shear PAIN shot through his scar. The blinding Green burst of light before his eyes left him momentarily blinded.

The next thing Harry realized was that he was down upon one knee with his hands cradling his head and tears streaming down his cheeks in burning torrents.

"Yes, Harry, I do believe that we must no longer waste a breath. Time is not upon our side and I do believe that our Potions and Transfiguration Masters lives at this very moment are balance in the trembling hands of two very confused House Elf.

Harry looked at the Headmaster and just one word escaped his lips.

"DOBBY?"