A Dance Through Thyme (Harry Potter)

Gift

Venom

The abandoned girls’ bathroom was as dank and uninviting as ever. Moaning Myrtle, not wanting to cause any trouble whilst Dumbledore was present had vacated the vicinity and seconded herself to a prefect bathroom; however this was not without the obligatory wailing and carrying on that usually accompanied Myrtle.

Hermione merely rolled her eyes at the flooded floor as she entered with Dumbledore and Madam Evangeline in tow.

Hermione was the first person to approach the sink and feel for the tiny snake that was etched into the cold-water handle. Fortunately it was there, and she stepped back so that Madam Evangeline would be able to see and feel for it as well.

Madam’s breath caught in her throat as her fingers traced along the carving.

“So the legend, it is true?” she gasped, turning to Professor Dumbledore for validation.

Dumbledore only had time to nod his head before Hermione spoke.

“We must hurry. I know that it is the summer holidays and there are no other students around to interrupt us, but I don’t think that some of the other teachers would approve of what we are doing. I believe that most of them do not even know that you are here Madam. Indeed, I think it would be a good idea to keep it that way. Many of them do not believe in the Legend either way.

Madam Evangeline morosely nodded her own head. “You know that there is no going back after this?”

Hermione felt her mouth press into a tight line whilst Dumbledore responded for her.

“We are aware Evangeline, and we are grateful for your services. People with your talents are hard to come by.”

“Thank you for your support, Albus,” replied Madam Evangeline, pulling the sleeves of her robes up her arms. “Shall we get started?”

Hermione pulled her wand from a pouch in her cloak before wrapping the fabric tighter around herself. She did not want it to get in the way, but she knew that the Chamber of Secrets was even colder and despairing than the bathroom they were currently occupying. A small cage was held in her left hand, and within it squirmed a white rat. It was the kind that she had read about in science-fiction novels: all red eyes and pink tail. Perfect for humans to intervene as they wished.

She was as ready as she was ever going to be.

Evangeline stood so that she faced the sink, and her hand reached out once more to feel the small silver snake.

“Open,” her mouth hissed. Hermione did not understand the parseltongue, however she knew from Harry that this was the password to enter to domain of the Basilisk.

All at once the bathroom fixtures began to move and separate. The halves of the wall slid out of sight allowing Hermione the space to step forward into a dimly lit chamber.

 The stone-carved serpents that rose from the ground the support the ceiling were exactly as Hermione remembered them. Hermione could hear the footsteps of Professor Dumbledore and Madam Evangeline behind her, and trusting they were following her, she put her feet one step closer to the giant stone face of Salazar Slytherin. The image was powerful and Hermione had to reassure herself when she imagined the wisps of his long, thin beard move slightly. Surely, it was a trick of the eye.