At Last//Harry Potter [1]

26

Miles under the school, it was pitch black. There were occasional torches, but the light wasn't bright enough to see a few feet ahead of them, let alone how long the hallway was.

After a few moments of walking, Ron whispered, "Can you hear something?"

Autumn focused on the sound. A soft rustling and clinking seemed to be coming from up ahead. "Do you think it's a ghost?"

"I don't know. . . sounds like wings to me," Harry commented. "There's light ahead. I can see something moving."

The four walked into a greatly lighted room with many flying gold objects. The room felt warmer than the last, but not in a comforting way.

"Curious. I've never seen birds like these," Hermione wondered as they all stared with interest.

Autumn stared at the winged objects in awe. How could something so little fly so fast? Then, the bird flew past Autumn --no, not a bird! A key! "They're not birds!" Autumn told, reaching her hand out towards them, "They're keys! And I'll bet one of them fits that door."

The four all pause when they see a broomstick floating in mid air around Harry.

"What's this all about?" Hermione asked.

Harry spoke in a low voice, "I don't know. Strange."

Ron tried to open the door. Nothing happened. "Alohomora!" When nothing happened, he turned towards the others. "Well, it was worth a try."

"Ugh! What're we going to do? There must be 1000 keys up there!" Hermione exclaimed.

Autumn clutched her necklace subconsciously and twiddled with the bottle at the end of it. The bottle could easily fit in the palm of her hand; it was about the size of a normal ocean shell. It felt cold against Autumns chest tucked under her shirt. She had been wearing it ever since she got it for Christmas.

"We're looking for a big old fashioned key. Probably rusty like the handle," Ron said, inspecting the door.

"There! I see it! The one with the broken wing!" Harry exclaimed.

Autumn looked up at the key, then looked at the broom. A worrisome expression had found its way across her face.

"Autumn?" Harry asked, noticing her look.

"I don't have a good feeling about this one, Harry," Autumn explained, staring around the room.

"I know. It seems too simple," Harry replied, looking around as well.

"Oh, go on, Harry! If Snape can catch it on that old broomstick, you can! You're the youngest seeker in a century!" Ron cheered, putting a smile on Harry's face.

Harry walked in front of the broomstick and held his hand over it, waiting for some sort of confidence to flow through him. As soon as he grabbed the broom, all the keys suddenly go one direction, right at Harry. He climbs on, swiping at them.

"This complicates things a bit!" Ron yelled.

"You think?!" Autumn shot back at Ron, searching the room for Harry.

It wasn't hard to find him, with every key flying towards him and everything. He flew through the air majestically -- or as majestically as he could. After all, he was being chased by small dagger-like objects.

After a few moments of flying, Harry had the key. "Catch the key!" Harry threw the key towards the three.

Due to the fact that he was flying for his life, his aim was a little off. Autumn decided to forgive him for that as she dove for the key, landing flat on her stomach.