Harry Malfoy's Trials | Book One

| Grandfatherly Meetings

Harry, Draco, Ron, and Hermione found themselves standing in the right-hand corridor on the third floor. The Gryffindors just barely got out of the dormitory, having to get past Neville who refused to move. Draco was waiting for the three just outside as they reached the door, which was now open. There was a sound of low rumbles coming from the three-headed dog as it slept, a harp playing next to it by itself. Fearing that the harp would stop, Harry pulled out the whittled flute Hagrid gave him for Christmas and started to blow into it. It wasn't really a tune, but the dog continued to sleep as, just as Harry feared, the harp stopped playing.

"There, under it's paw," Draco whispered, pointing towards a dark-wooden trap door. "Ron, help me lift it. Harry, keep playing." Ron, Hermione, and Draco went to lift and move Fluffy's heavy paw. When it was clear, Ron grabbed the ring and opened the trapdoor.

"What can you see?" Hermione said anxiously.

"Nothing—just black—there's no way of climbing down, we'll just have to drop."

Harry, who was still playing the flute, waved at Ron to get his attention and pointed to himself.

"No, you're not going first," Draco said immediately. "Give the flute to Hermione," he added when he saw Harry's annoyed look. Harry thrust it at Hermione, who continued to play it.

Harry climbed over the dog and looked down through the trapdoor. "Yes I am," he said. "If anything happens to me, do not follow. Go straight to Dumbledore, send Hedwig to get him. He's the man my grandfather is afraid of."

"Right," Ron said.

"No, you are not going first," Draco argued.

"We don't have time for this!" Harry growled. "Fine!" He grabbed Draco's hand and pulled, hard. They both fell down, down, down until—

FLUMP. With a funny, muffled sort of thump they landed on something soft. Harry sat up and looked around, his eyes not used to the glooms. It felt as though he was sitting on some sort of plant.

"I hate you," Draco grumbled as he sat up as well. "Get down here you lot!" he yelled into the darkness.

Ron followed right away. He landed, sprawled next to Harry. "What's this stuff?" were his first words.

"Dunno, some sort of plant," Harry said. "I suppose it's here to break the fall. Hermione! Come on!"

The music stopped. There was a loud bark from the dog but Hermione had already jumped. She landed on Harry's other side, next to Draco.

"We must be miles under the school," she said.

"Lucky this plant thing's here, really," Ron said.

"Lucky? Look at you three!" Hermione shrieked. She leapt up and struggled toward a damp wall. She had to struggle because the moment she had landed, the plant had started to twist snakelike tendrils around her ankles. As for Harry, Draco, and Ron, their legs had already been bound tightly in long creepers without their noticing.

"What is this thing?" Draco demanded as the boys tried to fight the plant off of them, but the more they strained against it, the tighter and faster the plant wound around them.

"Stop moving!" Hermione ordered them. "I know what this is! It's Devil's Snare!"

"Oh, I'm glad we know what it's called, that's a great help," Ron snarled, leaning back, trying to stop the plant from curling around his neck.

"Then hurry up and light a fire!" Draco yelled.

"Yes—of course—but there's no wood!" Hermione cried, wringing her hands.