Enclosed

Chapter Thirty-Two: Sacrifice

As they descended the staircase, Rose and Draco were extra cautious to not make a sound. Their breaths were labored. Out of anxiety or from so many stairs, Rose couldn't tell. Going into enemy territory was so much easier when it was still being planned. Actually, walking down the steps knowing you were about to be surrounded by people who all wanted to hurt you was not as easy.

Rose's wand shook slightly. Draco nudged her arm, drawing her attention. They locked eyes, an understanding passing between them. 

The polyjuice potion had slowly started to fade. Draco's white blonde hair was peaking out and shortening back to the original length. She debated making them take the potion again, but thought against it since they were hidden under the cloak.

They rounded the last step and stopped, as they stared out into an empty hallway stretching out before them. At the end of the hall pulsing lights and the echo of voices. Many voices all talking over one another.

Similar to the stairway, the hall was made up of stone with purple lanterns acting as the only source of light. There were black doors on every side of the hall. Each door held a different set marking in the center of it. Upon closer inspection, Rose realized they were Ancient Ruins spelling out names. She recognized some of the names of suspected Reformed members.

Casting a detection charm around the hall, she was surprised to find the rooms empty.

"Nobody is in the hall." Rose whispered, not wanting to chance it. "They've been living down here. This is where they've been hiding out since Pious was broken out of prison."

"How have they managed all this? They've been under the Ministry's nose this whole time."

"Pious must have been building his following for way longer than we originally thought. This lair would have taken him longer than five years to create." 

Draco shook his head in disgust, "How did the Ministry let him build a following this big? They should have been on this."

"They didn't know about him until a few years ago." Rose said defensively, "How can our Auror's track down a madmen when he doesn't make himself known? When he first started causing trouble it was just small attacks. They saw him as a minor threat."

"They said that about Voldemort as well." Draco snarled darkly. 

Rose shuddered and let the argument drop. 

"We need to keep moving." She quickly changed the subject and pointed to the end of the hallway. "Let's follow the voices."

"Always a great idea." Draco muttered apprehensively. 

They tiptoed to the end of the hall, the voices growing louder and louder until they were reverberating off the stone walls. 

"Are they chanting?" Draco asked suddenly.

"What?"

"Listen."

Rose held her breath, preening her head to focus on the voices.

"Pious! Pious! Pious!"

Over and over again they chanted his name, like they were cheering for their favorite singer at a concert and not for the most notorious wizard since Voldemort himself. 

"This can't be good." 

They forged ahead and reached the end of the hall. Rose couldn't help the gasp that slipped through, as she took in the humongous dome cavern that extended nearly 200 feet. 28 levels with archways were carved throughout the cavern, resembling the Roman Colosseum. Floating green banners with Pious's face on them waved from every archway. Purple and green lights probed at a rapid pace, as the Reformed chanted along to the beat of the lights.