Hello, I'm the Doctor

Count the Shadows

Chapter 7- Count the Shadows

Ron's POV

I ran off to find the TORDIS, or whatever the Doctor called his wicked house. Where was it anyway? And what did he mean about it having lots of hallways and rooms? The Doctor didn't make any sense. I just hoped he had a plan up his sleeve, and soon.

I spotted the British icon from years past. I pushed on the doors, then frowned. Why weren't they opening? Then I read the small sign next to the handles. Pull to Open, it stated. I shook my head with a sigh and swung the doors open to reveal the box's interior.

I was just as amazed as the first time I had entered the room. My mind fought, trying to keep track of the time, but wanting to explore forever. In the end, I decided to take a speedy tour. To be honest, I had forgotten the directions, so it was probably easier to wander around until I found it. Couldn't be too hard, right?

I was mistakenly wrong. Just as the first room was bigger than it looked, so the rest of the hallways and paths were as well. My eyes kept flickering to every part of my surroundings, which continued to amaze me as I walked though the skinny hallways.

I quickened my pace, hurrying through the halls. I still didn't understand how I was going to find the room. Hopefully, I'd find it soon enough; dead skeletons were never a good sign.

It was probably about five more minutes before I found it. In that lapse of time, I also found a kitchen, a library, and a swimming pool. The weird thing was that the library was in the swimming pool. I guess his books are waterproof.

I opened the door to the storage room. There were many knickknack items simply strewn about all over the floor, as well as stacks of boxes. The messy organization didn't seem to end. Luckily, I remembered the Doctor's more specific instructions. 'Look inside the old wooden box' he had said. Many of the boxes looked old at first sight. As I neared closer, however, there was one that stood out from the boxes around it. I approached it carefully and opened its lid.

Flashlights were among the several objects that I found in the box. I grabbed the muggle devices, then made my way out the door. The task was more difficult than one would think, however, due to the massive piles of boxes. I was lucky to only knock one over; all that fell out was a crystal ball. I shook my head. Did the Doctor believe in seeing the future like Professor Trelawney? Hopefully not.

I turned my attention back toward the sphere. I wanted to place it back where it was, except I didn't know if it was safe to do so. The ball could have special powers or a curse. So I quietly exited the room, leaving the crystal ball on the floor where it fell.

Although it took me twice as long to find my way back (the corridors seemed to have changed), I made it. The Doctor seemed to be discussing a tactic plan with Harry and Hermione. I hurried along to hand over the flashlights. I really hoped the Doctor had a good idea.

"Thank you," the Doctor said sternly as he took the flashlights in his grasp. "Hermione, please fill Ron in on what he missed." The Doctor instructed as he turned the flashlights on and began to pass them around. Hermione spoke very quickly, but I could pick up the majority of what she was saying. The Doctor was about to tell us how to defeat whatever we were dealing with.

"Everyone got a flashlight? Good." the Doctor asked. "We must count the shadows. Anywhere you see a shadow, stay away from it. If it starts moving to you, yell and run." "Doctor, what do the shadows do to you?" Harry asked curiously. The look on my friend's face didn't resemble terror, although it doesn't represent happiness either. The Doctor sighed, then replied, "Eat you alive."