"Hang on," Harry called. "I'm coming down."
And he jumped, praying that the armour would brace his fall enough to save him from a broken kneecap or two. It would not look good for the new hope of the generation to be limping along.
But the armour did not merely brace his fall, it made Harry actually slow down as he touched the ground.
What else can this thing do? Harry vaguely wondered. First and foremost, it was time to leave before any of Voldemort's traps got them. "We'd better go. Where's the way out?"
"We thought you knew." Ron said pointedly.
"Oh, right."
And Harry forced his mind to calm down, to find the way out.
Nothing happened, no matter how hard Harry concentrated.
Becoming increasingly frustrated, Harry opened his eyes to tell them that he couldn't remember, but was amazed as a little glow on his helmet visor indicated the next step.
"Incredible." he muttered.
"Wha' is?" Hagrid said.
Harry snapped back to reality. "Tell you later. This way."
Sure enough, as soon as they reached the blinking spot, another showed up. Without knowing how he knew, Harry understood that the strange arcane map imprint would lead them out entirely.
A spell glanced off his armour, Harry barely feeling a small scuffle. Death Eaters were in an upper passageway raining spells down.
"Selphius!" Harry roared, pointing his wand.
Normally, a standard silver arrow spell would go off with a bang; Harry's thundered like a cannon and a stunningly large arrow more like a ballista bolt struck the very tier where the Death Eaters were. The stone was enchanted and did not even leave a scratch. Nonetheless, the tier shook dangerously and everyone there was either knocked unconscious or off their feet, momentarily stunned.
"Let's go! That way!" Harry said, suprising himself by how authorative he sounded. He didn't want to take any chances; no one else had the advantage he had, so he adamantly refused to go first, lest the Death Eaters recover quickly.
They managed to reach the Hallway of Darkness which Harry navigated once more, and out through the Entrance Chamber.
We're almost home free, Harry thought, his heart leaping. But it immediately sank as an ominous shadow loomed before them.
It was as tall as a giraffe, the width of two automobiles, and had the musculature of a rhinoceros.
A feline cat snarled at them, yellowed fangs dripping saliva which radiated steam when they connected with the ground. Its skin was a deathly, chitinous black. The legs were scaled more and seemed replilian more than mammal-like; the tail was incredibly large and smooth; it seemed more like the tail of an extinct dinosaur.
A Nundu.
Everyone stopped dead in their tracks, fearing to run. However, the monstrosity needed no time, it took a deep breath.
"No!" Harry cried. Expecting something awful, he utilized raw will and threw up a Shield Charm as powerful as any he had ever created.
A huge wave hit them, and the edges of the shiled shimmered brilliantly. It was holding. If Harry had not reacted, the acidic breath would have probably dissolved everyone except for him.
The thing snarled again, no doubt preparing for another attack...
...and growled in outrage as something huge, elegant, and green hit it. Huge glowing golden eyes fixed upon Harry, and he knew that they were to run from the battle.
It was a dragon, but unlike any that Harry ever seen. It far outshone the rest of its species in terms of beauty and sleekness, and he knew instinctively that it must be enchanted as well, and that this was a female. Her name was Nrsera.
And Harry knew that it - she - was bound to him. It would serve him until one of them lef this world forever.
She roared and the nundu responded in kind. Too close to use acid breath or dragonfire, both beastly combatants were reduced to claws, teeth, and wrestling.
"Run!" Harry said. He ran smack-on into a broad figure, and swore. "Hagrid, let's move! You'll see her when this is over! I promise!"