Hidden In The Shadows Part 1- Harry Potter Story

Into the Corridor

"Penny! PENNY BLACKWOOD!" Hermione's voice caused Estella to whip around. Her friend looked frantic as she ran down the corridor, her hair flying out behind her. It would have been rather funny if not for the harried expression on her face.

"What is it?" Estella asked urgently.

Hermione was breathing heavily. "Harry found out," she gasped "that Snape knows how to get past Fluffy. You just have to play music."

"Music?" Estella repeated dumbly.

Hermione nodded frantically. "And Dumbledore's away on business and Snape was acting rather odd today. We're going down the trapdoor." Hermione fixed her with a stare. "Tonight."

Estella once again stood anxiously waiting for her Gryffindor friends. She snorted as she heard Ron and Hermione's voices carrying down the corridor, arguing about something. As the trio threw off the cloak Harry caught her eye and rolled his eyes at their friends' antics. Estella suppressed a grin as she looked at the door nervously. She had yet to see the dog for herself. "Ready?" she breathed.

"Let's go," Harry looked determined.

"Alohomora," Estella whispered, unlocking the door.

"How do you know that too?" Ron looked annoyed.

Estella raised an eyebrow, amused as Hermione shot him a smug look. "Standard Book of Spells, chapter seven."

Ron's grumbling stopped as Estella pushed open the door and froze. A three headed dog stood snarling, almost filling the room. Drool glimmered from its jaws while it's eyes flashed menacingly.

"Snape's already been here," Hermione gestured toward a harp learning on the floor.

Harry quickly took out a small wooden flute. "From Hagrid," he quickly explained at Estella's questioning gaze. The boy blew several notes and Fluffy's eyes began to droop. The other three hurried forward and opened the trapdoor, which led to darkness.

"On three," Estella breathed. "One. Two. THREE!"

The students plunged into darkness. Estella landed on something soft but quickly scrambled back against the wall. She had been warned many times not to trust anything. As her eyes adjusted to the dark, she gasped. Coils of plants curled along the walls, moving smoothly. "Get up. GET UP!" she cried.

Ron looked at her as if she was crazy. "Why? It saved us."

Hermione's eyes widened as she came to the same realization. "It's Devils Snare, it'll strangle you to death Ronald!"

Instantly the boys began to struggle, but it was too late, the plant just began to wrap tighter. "Relax!" Estella cried as she felt her body go limp and she plummeted through the plant tendrils to the ground. She groaned as she landed hard on her shoulder, scraping the side of her face. Hermione landed beside her after a few moments.

"PENNY!"

"HERMIONE!"

Ron and Harry's voices mingled together in fear.

"JUST RELAX! TRUST ME!" Estella yelled pleadingly, anxiously fiddling with her wand. To her relief, Harry fell from above and she quickly scrambled to help him up. "Is Ron listening?" she breathed, annoyed. Harry gave her a sarcastic look and she rolled her eyes. "Of course not." She pointed her wand upward, remembering what her parents had taught her. "LUMOS SOLEM!"

The plant shriveled under the light, relinquishing its hold on Ron. The ginger boy fell to the ground with a shout and as he stood up, he sheepishly brushed off his shirt.