Waltz of Sinners

9

'No safer place in the world than Hogwarts, huh'

So safe that it would be perfect to safeguard the philosopher stone at. So the question remained where? But the answer was found quickly when you ask the right question. If she remembers correctly there was a rumour around school that on the third floor there was a large three headed dog. She had dismissed it thinking that Ron Weasley was making this up but it seems that was a mistake on her part one that she would not do again. From what she had gathered Cerberus were considered as aggressive and temperamental and would serve best as a guard for something precious like the philosopher stone. Something that Voldemort desperately needed to revive himself and that was something Sera couldn't afford. He was a man-if he could even be called that, hell bent on killing her and Sera would like to delay his revival as much as possible because she knew that while she was strong, she was still learning and wasn't ready to take on Voldemort yet.

Sera skipped back to her common room. She had just finished her last exam and Sera was pretty sure that she had done extremely well. She had left her court by the lake and had to start packing soon but before this year ends she had one more matter to settle. She enjoyed the small dinner with her court before going to bed. It was late at night that she decided to sneak out. Quickly changing her night clothes in favour of some pants, a jacket and t-shirt, she made a mental note to buy more clothes before tucking her wand in her holster on her waist. She quietly slipped out to make her way towards the third floor.

She didn't bother asking her court while they were strong they were also eleven and unlike her, they had grown up in a world where they were allowed to be children even if it was for a short time.

As Sera stepped through the door rumbling growls met her ears and then she finally caught sight of the Cerberus. Its three massive heads were growling dangerously, spittle hanging for sharp white teeth. There was a harp in the corner but it had long since stopped playing. She quickly casted the charm on the harp again and watched as the massive dog fell back to sleep. She soundlessly made her way towards the trap door and winced when it creaked as it opened. She eyed the dog and sighed in relief when the dog didn't wake.

She peered through the door there was no sign of the bottom just endless darkness. She would have to jump there was nothing else for it. Her hand drifted to her wand just for reassurance as the music started to slow down.

Sera jumped. Cold, damp air rushed past her as she fell down, down, down and -- FLUMP.

With a funny, muffled sort of thump she landed on something soft. She sat up and felt around, her eyes not used to the gloom. It felt as though she was sitting on some sort of plant. The very plant that was now starting to twist snakelike tendrils around her ankles before they could wrap around her waist she quickly pulled her wand out of the holster.

While herbology wasn't her favourite subject the devils snare-because that was the only thing it could be, was in the first year course book so Sera had an idea what to do about this situation. Before the plants could squeeze her any more she quickly casted a high powered lumos maxima.

The plants were quick to pull away from her and Sera quickly rolled herself to cushion her fall. She gripped her wand tightly as she got up. The hallway descended into pure darkness. She quickly casted lumos again and carefully made her way through the stone passage way, which was the only way forward. All she could hear apart from her soft footsteps was the gentle drip of water trickling down the walls. The passageway sloped downward, and Sera was reminded vividly of Gringotts. With an unpleasant jolt of the heart, she remembered the dragons said to be guarding vaults in the wizards' bank. She took a deep breath to calm herself and listened carefully.