Courage | Hermione Granger Lesbian Story

Department of Mysteries

As we topple out into the Atrium, the only sound to be heard is the steady rush of water from the fountain.

"Come on." Harry whispers, and the seven of us sprint down the hall with him in the lead.

Hermione grips my hand as we go; nobody says anything, but the absence of security or night workers is coming off as a bad omen.

Nobody says a word as we clamber into the elevator, or as it noisly moves along, nor as we step out into a sleek black corridor.

In fact, nobody says a word until Harry's hand is on the plain black door handle, and he turns and hesitantly suggests some people should stay behind.

Of course, it's instantly shut down, and he defeatedly swings it open and we march forward.

The room we walk into is large and circular, and entirely black. The only provided light is the ominous blue flame from the candles. Their ghostly reflections in the marble floor make me shiver, and Hermione squeezes my hand tighter.

Everyone silently surveys the twelve doors in front of us, but before anyone comes up with a solution, a great rumbling occurs and the walls start to rotate. The blue flames become neon lines until it stops.

"What was that about?" Ron questions fearfully, peering around Neville.

In a hushed voice, as though something may break, Ginny replies, "I think it was to stop us knowing which door we came through."

She was right - there was no telling where we'd entered from.

Neville shifts uncomfortably, "How d'we get back out?"

At that moment, I realise nobody's even told Neville what's going on, or that Sirius is even innocent. But he came anyway.

With nothing left to do, we decide to try a few doors.

The first room was almost empty, except from a few desks, and a strange looking tank right in the middle.

Large enough for us all to swim in and filled with a dark green liquid, we all curiously observe the pearly white things gently floating inside lazily.

Sounding repulsed but clearly unsure why, Ron asks, "What're those things?"

"Dunno." Harry shrugs.

Ginny lets out a half breath, "Are they fish?"

Luna excitedly starts on one of her Dad's theories, but Hermione cuts her off, her hold on my hand almost crushing now.

"No," her voice is odd, wavery, "They're brains."

We quickly left that one, Hermione marking the door with a fiery 'x' before the wall rotates again.

"Good thinking." Harry nods, sliding another door open. Nothing but a veil.

Ancient, crumbling, moving despite the lack of a breeze. I don't want to go any further in, but both Harry and Luna seem drawn to it. Apparently, they can both hear it.

"Nothing's there guys... come on." My hushed warning is ignored.

Harry and Ron circle it warily, Hermione ultimately releasing my hand as they ignore her pleas to leave it alone. She pulls their arms angrily, overcome with anxiety about the strangely captivating fabric, and firmly reminds them we're here for Sirius.

Another 'x' inscribed on a door, and they begin spinning again. I'm going to get very dizzy if we don't find the right one to illegally break into soon.

The next door we attempt is locked.

Excitedly, Ron joins Harry at it, "Bound to be that one then, isn't it?"