Chapter 17: The Magical Orb

Snape couldn't believe his eyes when he entered through the door. It was like some sort of Greek temple. The place was littered with pillars and a sculpture of a mans face dominated the forefront of the room, it stared blankly into the arena like room. Snape looked down from it and saw a pale body lying rigidly there. But before he could rush over Shona pulled him aside.

"What are you doing?" Snape growled.

"Shhh, there seems to be someone there!" Indeed there was. Harry seemed to be arguing with a young man. They hid behind a concrete pillar and heard some of the conversation.

"It's Lord Voldemort!" Shona whispered as she spoke to Snape. They crept a little closer to inspect the scene.

"And who's Zuc the mighty..."

"Wait, did I hear the word half brother?"

But before they could talk anymore. They watched helplessly as a massive basilisk came out of the carved mouth. It twisted and curled as it slithered after Harry, who ran for his life.

"Don't look!" Shona said quickly as Snape covered her eyes and his own. "I can cover my own eyes you know." She sighed at Snape.

"Oh, sorry I..."

"Did you just apologise?...What's happening to you count Snape!" She looked shocked but Snape was more. Why had he done that?

"It doesn't matter, we need to think of a plan to help Potter. And with your help I think you'll make it that little bit special. But I need to rethink the bit where you jump out," Snape whispered.

"Ey?" But then she noticed a little smile. "Oh, ha! Ha! But seriously, tell me this devious plan..."

*

Harry was sprinting for his life. He didn't dare look back in case he would get killed. He found himself back in the arena. How could he have got here? He could see Lucy in the middle and ran over to her.

"Lucy, can you hear me?" He asked. "Where's Snape and Shona?" He asked aloud. Harry heard a sudden shriek and felt fear in his throat he ran away eyes closed but he was unsure whether it would find him. He felt his legs give way as he was slashed off his feet as the tail of the basilisk swiped under him. He felt his glasses smash against the floor. Harry cried out in shock but dared not open his eyes.

"Yo, Snakey! Say hello to my little friend!" Shouted Shona, appearing behind a pillar. She whistled loudly and Fawkes the Phoenix flew out to the rescue. He stabbed the basilisk's eyes which badly blinded it.

"Damn you, girl!" Shouted Tom Riddle.

"Harry you can look now!" Shona shouted and grabbed the hat from Fawkes, thanked him and he flew away. Shona threw the hat at Harry, who caught it and brought out the sword of Godric Gryffindor.

"Nice!" Harry said and started to run around away from the snake. But the snake didn't move much before he went into attack.

"Oi! Don't forget me! I know I'm a girl but I understand you don't want your arse kicked! Unless you don't have an arse..." Her voice trailed off but the snake turned to her instead.

"Snape has a big nose!" Shona shouted randomly and pelted around the arena, as soon as the beast cornered Shona she sped away somewhere else. Harry was about to help until Snape dragged him back.

"Give me the sword," Snape spat.

"Why?"

"Don't worry, Potter, you'll get it back," he said before the basilisk drowned out the last words. "This is all part of McGuire's plan."

When Harry didn't reply Snape snatched the sword and made his way up to the stone mans chin.

"Harry you need to climb!" Shona shouted as she jumped out of the basilisks way as it stabbed its fangs to where she had been previously been standing a second ago. Harry obeyed instantly and started to climb the mans ear. Tom watched this feeble attempt to destroy his pet and laughed.

"It's like watching a circus!" The young Voldermort laughed menacingly at them. The snake shifted too and throw but was finding it difficult to catch Shona. But Tom knew she would run out of breath soon. Meanwhile Snape continued to scale up the mans nose. Snape's feet started to slip as he balanced out on the brim and had to reach a drawn wrinkle beside of him.

He was just about to reach the wrinkle but was left dangling for dear life. This would seem slightly odd to anyone who would just happen to pop in to watch but to be honest it's hard to climb with one hand holding a sword and the other hand struggling to cope with the extreme pain of rock climbing! Even harder since Snape didn't climb mountains for a hobby, not even an old mans face.

With both hands on the rock, Snape took a deep breath and swung to the ledge of the stones vast eye. He placed his feet quickly after the big jump and steadied himself before having to cope with another problem. Snape had thought this wasn't too bad until he realised the steepness of the face. Snape breathed hard and forced himself onto the forehead. He gingerly climbed upwards then balanced himself again. He was on an eyebrow now. He was sweating like a pig and would openly admit to anyone he was afraid to get off. He looked down and realised he was level with the basilisk scaly head. His head was thumping as he saw a girl with brown hair run around, trying to avoid a gruesome death. He tossed his head back to get rid of his sweaty hair and continued to look for a way up. There wasn't one.

Snape was stuck.

'No,' He thought, defeated. Snape trembled as he felt his toes go numb. He was only standing on one inch thick cement and there was nothing else to cling onto. He was too high to drop and there was no way he could find another way up before Shona would collapse on the floor. But the snake wasn't his only problem. Tom Riddle had noticed the mad man trying to climb the face's concrete head.

"Sla ze mar sse en!" Tom shouted. The snake stopped chasing at his masters command and looked around him, although he couldn't see he could sense the fear behind him. Tom could see the fear in Snape's eyes even though he was hundreds of feet up. The white cuffs on Snape's shirt were stained with blood from a cut. If Snape hadn't been wearing black his clothes would have visible red blood almost everywhere. Tom knew Snape's fear had mounted to overload, this brave man was about to be made into a begging wreck, Tom thought.

Snape flinched as the snakes head slowly elevated into view. Even though the snake couldn't see him, the only thing he could hear was the harsh panting of the potions master.

"Kill him!" Voldermort screamed.

At these words the basilisk shot at Snape, fangs bearing. Snape turned onto his back which slightly moved him out of the way. There was a crunching sound as the snakes fangs embedded into the stone. It shrieked as it pulled out its fangs, spraying blood and leaving a massive hole in the concrete head. Snape ducked as the snake rammed into where he was standing, he was holding on by his fingers from a broken piece of concrete and his toes were perched and were going numb. Snape was seeing black and realised he was looking into the basilisks mouth. This was crazy! It stunk of meat and Snape could see right down its throat.

"Expelliarmus!" Snape yelled.

The basilisk started to yank itself out of the statues head. Snape could see a strange glow at the back of the basilisk's throat. Snape's confused face was met by the dingy light as the snake ripped his head back. Snape stumbled as the head crumbled around him. The minor ledge his toes had been on began to break under his weight.Without warning Snape felt his feet slide and to his upmost terror he was left dangling. He was holding on with his fingers and his legs were waving uncontrollably as Snape struggled for control. In his panic he dropped the sword of Gryffindor, 'damn!' Snape thought and cursed under his breath.

"GOODBYE!" Tom shouted to a dangling Snape. The basilisk raised to Snape's eye level. Easy, it though in its mind he could sense the man clinging on for dear life and knew he couldn't miss.

"Snake stairs, level one!" Shouted a voice from below. It was Shona, and had jumped on to the snake's tail, clutching the sword of Gryffindor. It was engrossed in the irritating girl as she climbed quickly and surprisingly keeping grip. She eventually got to its neck.

"Okay then let's see how good you are at rodeo!" Shona joked just as the snake started to swing. It was like having an annoying itch on your back that wouldn't cease. 'How stupid' Snape thought. 'But clever.'

Harry was on top of the head now. He could see the snake, bounding around strangely. He didn't know the plan but guessed that the snake must be able to sense stuff. That was it! Harry thought to himself. Since the snake was blind Snape would be mistaken for Harry! No wonder the snake was confused.

The snake shook violently now and Shona was finding it hard to stay on. She looked up to see Snape was still there, and had found some concrete to balance on, reducing the strain on his arms. But before Shona could make a remark she felt herself being thrown off. Screaming, Shona smashed into a wall below.

"SHONA!" Harry shouted.

Tom was fed up now, he was quietly tutting until he saw the snake rise up again, shaking its head. But Snape still couldn't move. But just then a flash of metal was seen flying through the air. The sword of Gryffindor was thrown just above Snape with great force. Using it, Snape used it as a ledge. He hoped this would work. Luckily it did, he pulled the sword imbedded in the head and Snape soon joined Harry. He approached the boy.

"Here..."

"Look out!" Harry cried as the basilisk snapped at them. Snape swung the sword to and fro and caught the beast on the nose, blood sprayed out and Snape handed Harry the sword.

"Only a Gryffindor can use the sword to it's full power!" He yelled over a roar. Harry stepped forward and stabbed it through the mouth. More screams and the basilisk sunk and lay still. Snape quickly sent a spell at Voldermort and then told Harry to approach. Confused, Harry confronted Voldermort.

"It all ends here, Tom Riddle," Harry said. He took out a black book. And in his hand he had a basilisk fang. He opened the book to a random page and stabbed the book with the fang. He looked up at Voldermort and saw his body was splitting in to two. Light was coming out of him.

Harry did a few more pages before closing the book and stabbing the book cover, at that point Tom Riddle's face was being split, more light shining out. Until Tom Riddle had disappeared and all that was left was the scabby old black book and a basilisk fang.

*

"Lucy!" Snape ran over to Lucy but there was no reply. Lucy opened her eyes but closed them tightly. She rolled onto her back and Snape knelt down next to her.

"Don't ever scare me like that again!" He cried. Hugging Lucy lovingly, she secretly smiled and hugged him back.

Snape turned as he saw a looming figure from the smashed wall.

"Shona! You're alive!" Harry gasped.

"That was fantastic!" She roared at them, she ran over, clutching her arm. "I used a blocking spell to take impact, but I think I've sprained my wrist..." But Shona stopped she was staring at the snake. It's mouth was strangely glowing.

"McGuire, don't you dare — "Snape stared, but Shona had already pushed the mouth open. She walked in and soon came staggering out.

"Phew! That guy needs a mint!" Shona joked. "But yeah look at this!"

It was a sphere. Swirling with blue and other swirling colours. It was the most beautiful thing Harry had ever seen.

"Come on lets go" Snape said impatiently. He picked up Lucy, who was too weak to carry herself, and went into a full jog. The students followed and finally came back to the rock wall. They could see a small opening, where Ron and Lockhart were they walked back, Lockhart talking all the way.