Harry Potter and the Prince of Slytherin

"Petrificus Totalus!" she cried, pointing it at Neville, but to everyone's amazement, Neville dodged the spell pointing his wand at Ron, "Locomotor Mortis"

Ron who was surprised couldn't even move from the shock and the spell hit him. His legs sprang together. His whole body rigid, he swayed where he stood and then fell flat on his face, knocking him out.

Neville looked shocked, not thinking Ron would get really knocked out. "Are you okay? Ron?" he said in a worried tone.

Hermione was shocked as well but she quickly recovered and used the spell quickly, "Petrificus Totalus!"

Neville who was busy looking after Ron got hit by the spell, having his arm and legs stuck together, where he fell onto his face as well, completely getting knocked out.

"What've you done to him?" Harry whispered worried, "And Ron?"

"It's the full Body-Bind," said Hermione breathing a bit heavily. "Ron's probably knocked out by smashing his head on the ground."

Both of them checked on Ron who was grunting on the ground from the pain.

"Look's like he's okay!" Harry said sighing in relief, He looked at the time and said, "You take care of Ron, I am going there alone."

"No, Harry!" Hermione quickly said, "I am coming with you, help me put Ron on the couch."

Harry sighed as he quickly helped Ron on the sofa and both of them went towards the door.

"I didn't think Neville had it in him," Harry said crossing over Neville who was still on the floor. "He was always scared, I wonder why?"

"It's probably Draco or Theodore." Hermione said crossing over as well, "They have been helping out Neville a lot, the leg binding curse is Theodore's favorite curse, I always wondered why and now I know."

Harry was more surprised since Neville was worse than him and considering the difficulty of the spell he felt a bit ashamed.

"Don't worry Harry, his spell wasn't perfect." Hermione said quickly seeing Harry's dark face, "Ron's leg wasn't fully binded causing him to trip over and fall, I am sure with a little bit of practice you can learn it as well."

Harry nodded grimly, both of them under the darkness went out towards the third floor.

--------------------------------------------

Draco was already out of his bed walking to the third floor when he suddenly heard some sound coming behind him. He pointed his wand behind his back and asked,

"Who's there?"

"It's me." Daphne's voice came out as she came out of the corner herself.

"What are you doing here?" Draco asked, "You know what, nevermind, go back to the bed, I don't want you to get in trouble."

"I should be asking you the same thing." Daphne said coming forward, "I followed you out of the common room since you were acting very sneaky from dinner."

"Sigh! It's nothing, go back." Draco said, "I will come back in a while."

"Draco!" Daphne caught Draco's hand, "I am coming with you."

"No!" Draco said, "It's dang-- its private." He was sure if he said it was dangerous then Daphne surely wouldn't let him go.

"What is it?" Daphne said, "Tell me."

"Go ba--" As he was about to say something he heard Filch's voice.

"Who's out there?"

"Shit-- come with me." Draco said dragging Daphne quickly.

After running for a while they finally reached the third floor.

"Why- Why are we here?" Daphne said panting, she remembered Hermione telling them about the three-headed-dog who stayed there.

Draco, on the other hand, was considering whether he should knock out Daphne but rejected that idea since anything could happen and he didn't want to put Daphne at risk.

"Sigh! I am going inside but you have to listen to me." Draco said.

"Why?"

"Don't ask too many questions." Draco said, "Either you go back, which I am sure you are not going to do or come with me."

Daphne looked at Draco's eyes for a while and gave up, "Fine but you have to tell me later on."

"Follow my lead and don't act on your own." Draco nodded, "Take out your wand and be cautious all the time."

Daphne quickly took out her wand and nodded replying, "I am good."

"Draco, what are you doing here?" Hermione and Harry came from the side, removing the invisibility cloak.

"Great timing." Draco mumbled a bit annoyed, "The same as you."

Harry and Hermione looked at each other.

"You are here to catch Professor as well?" Harry asked in doubt.

"Yes." Draco nodded, 'But my professor has two heads.' he said the later part to himself.

Hermione came over to them and whispered in Draco's ear, "Harry's a bit hot-headed now, take care of the situation will you."

She looked at him with a little bit of hope in her eyes, Draco rolled his eyes, 'Am I a babysitter now?'

"Sigh, let's go in." Draco said walking towards the door which was already opened. The surprise was written all over Harry's and Hermione's face seeing the open door. "All of you have your wand ready right?" Draco asked again.

Everyone nodded and Draco pushed the door open. As the door creaked, low, rumbling growls met their ears. All three of the dog's noses sniffed madly in their direction, even though it couldn't see them.

Daphne was shocked since it was her first time seeing the Dog, on the other hand, Draco who was recently more interested in magical beasts, was fascinated by it. 'I don't know what happens to the dog after it's duty here is done, I could maybe convince Hagrid to give it to me.' Draco thought to himself.

"What's that at its feet?" Hermione whispered.

"Looks like a harp," said Daphne looking closely. "Someone must have left it there."

"It wakes up completely the moment it stops playing," explained Harry. "Well, here goes..." he said taking out a flute.

"What are you doing?" Draco asked weirdly.

"Playing the flute, didn't you hear me? The dog will wake up if the music stops." Harry said.

"No need for that." Draco said waving his wand making the harp play a bit more actively and loudly, "It will play for more than an hour now."

Slowly, the dog's growls ceased -- it tottered on its paws and fell to its knees, then it slumped to the ground, fast asleep.

Harry awkwardly put his flute back. All of them then slowly crept toward the trapdoor. They could feel the dog's hot, smelly breath as they approached the giant heads. "I think we'll be able to pull the door open," said Harry, peering over the dog's back.

"Want to go first, Hermione?" Draco joked.

"No, I don't!" Hermione quickly shook her head.

"All right." Harry gritted his teeth and stepped carefully over the dog's legs. He looked at Draco, "A little help?"

Both of them bent over and pulled the ring of the trapdoor, which swung up and opened.

"What can you see?" Daphne said anxiously.

"Nothing -- just black -- there's no way of climbing down, we'll just have to drop." Harry said, "I will go first."

"Wait we don't know what's in there!" Hermione said worriedly.

Draco rolled his eyes, "In the name of Merlin, be quick will you." he said jumping down.

"Draco!" Daphne said worried and followed by jumping down soon both Hermione and Harry came jumping down as well.

Cold, damp air rushed past Draco as he fell down, down, down and -- FLUMP. With a funny, muffled sort of thump, he landed on something soft. He sat up and felt around, his eyes not used to the gloom. It felt as though he was sitting on some sort of plant.

Draco quickly chanted, "Lumos."

Soon all of the others landed as well.

What's this stuff?" were Harry's first words.

"Dunno, some sort of plant thing. I suppose it's here to break the fall." said Hermione

"We must be miles under the school," Daphne said. "Lucky this plant thing's here, really,"

"Lucky!" shrieked Hermione. "Look at you both!"

She leaped up and struggled toward a damp wall. She had to struggle because the moment she had landed, the plant had started to twist snakelike tendrils around her ankles. As for Harry and Daphne's, their legs had already been bound tightly in long creepers without their noticing.

"Stop moving!" Draco ordered them. "It's Devil's Snare! just be calm for a moment."

Harry and Daphne couldn't help but panic a little but they still tried to remain calm, Draco quickly chanted, "Incindio."

The plants started lighting on fire. In a matter of seconds, the two of them felt the plant loosening its grip as it cringed away from the light and warmth. Wriggling and flailing, it unraveled itself from their bodies, and they were able to pull free. Draco had to wait for them to land to use the spell otherwise they might really hurt themselves.

'Doing it alone is actually much better and easier.' Draco thought to himself, "Let's go."