Originally posted by DarkC
"There, 'Arry?" Hagrid grunted, pointing his enormous finger toward the arch at the end of the gigantic hall."Yes." said Harry, who started walking. Everyone followed, and Dumbledore gently reminded him that he should not be in the forefront.
So Harry fell behind and lost himself in his thoughts.
So he was here at last. Harry wasn't sure whether to feel apprehensive; it wouldn't have been a bad idea to do so. One could never be too cautious when descending into the unknown.The prescence was making itself known again. Harry looked at his companions, but if they also felt it, they gave no indication. Harry nudged Ron next to him.
"Can you feel them?" Harry whispered.
"Feel who?"
"There's something else in here other than us."Ron's helmet twisted, looking around.
"Well, I can't see anyone."
"No, I can't see either, but you can feel them."Ron walked in silence, and Harry had no doubt that Ron was extending his awareness of their surroundeds. After several moments, he shook his head.
So he was the only one who knew of whatever was guarding the Pyramid. An unbidden memory floated up from his subconscious.
Hearing voices no one else can isn't a good sign, even in the wizarding world.
But these were no voices he heard.
They passed through the archway, and were instantly cast into darkness.
Someone panicked behind him, ran into Harry's back, and crashed to the floor with a squeal. Hermione.Everyone froze, unsure of what to do next. There were several attempts to light wands, but nothing penetrated the darkness.
"We must rely on you now, Harry." Dumbledore's deep voice came. "If I am correct, I believe that you are the only one who has felt the Tidal Guardian at your back?"
Harry nodded, the total blackness hiding his suprise.
"Then extend your awareness...let go of your physical form, and let your mind wander where it will. That is where we go next."Harry, at first, was of course skeptical. But he cleared his mind and extended his mind elsewhere, willing it to take him somewhere. It was like being back into Occlumency lessons.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, he began to move. Yet no one was possessing him. Harry just knew where to go.
"Follow me." his voice said. It sounded far away.
"Now what?" Ron said, not with a little skeptism.
Harry opened his eyes and saw a winding labyrinth of stone. Crude stone stairways looked crumbling, but instinctively he knew that they were not about to fall. The chamber in which they were in was huge, but the labyrinth dominated all. There were dead ends, blank walls, and seemingly unscalable faces.
Dumbledore turned his steely blue gaze on Harry, who could not have understood more plainly if Dumbledore had told him out loud clearly.
He delved into his mind again, letting it take him where it would. In his head, he saw a rush of colors and a blinding path through the maze of passages. However, he remembered each turn clearly enough that it was as if he had been studying it his entire life.
Once again, he said, "Follow me."
Several looked amazed that he could possibly locate the right way through the tangle of columns and unnerving beams, but one by one took his lead.
Left....right...up a wall by levitating others up. Harry shut his eyes tight and felt himself being lifted up by at least several Wingardium Leviosa spells. He was quite glad to have his feet back on solid ground.
It seemed like hours before they emerged in a round arched hallway. Bright green flames roared in the door frame, blocking any passage through. The runes inscribed around it glowed intensely as they approached, and Harry felt his neck hairs rise again. They were being watched.
"What do they say?" Harry asked. He felt a strange sense of familiarity about the engraven glow even though he could not read them.
It was not Dumbledore who spoke this time, but Hermione. "Those who are worthy to enter will pass through these flames without harm."
Everyone looked at Harry, who could instantly feel his insides squirming like fish. "Me?" he croaked. "Walk in that?"
Dumbledore nodded.
"Isn't there some easier way of committing suicide?" Harry said doubtfully. Everyone chuckled nervously, but it was clear that no progress would be made unless Harry stepped through the flames.
He felt a strong hand on his shoulder. "I have confidence in you, Harry." It was Dumbledore.
Harry nodded, his body in near turmoil but his mind eerily calm. He looked back at his escort, meaning to say something. His mouth failed, but Hermione ran up and gave him a big hug. "Be careful, Harry." she whispered.
"I will." he reassured her. Harry broke away, and without looking over his shoulder, walked straight into the raging flames.