chapter 24

It turned to night, Harry, Key, Hermione, and Ron walked through the common room.

"What are you doing?" said a voice from the corner of the room. Neville appeared from behind an armchair, clutching Trevor the toad, who looked as though he'd been making another bid for freedom.

"Nothing, Neville, nothing," said Harry, hurriedly putting the cloak behind his back.

Neville stared at their guilty faces.

"You're going out again", said Neville.

"No, no, no," said Hermione. "No, we're not. Why don't you go to bed, Neville?"

"You'll get Gryffindor in trouble again", said Neville. "I'll...I'll fight you".

"Neville, i'm really really really sorry about this", said Hermione.

Hermione gets out her wand, points to Neville, and says "Petrificus Totalus!" 

Neville's arms snapped to his sides. His legs sprang together. His whole body rigid, he swayed where he stood and then fell flat on his face, stiff as a board.

"What did you do?" asked Harry.

"She petrified him, but no time for that we must go", said Key.

They leave and meet Betty, Devin, Makai, Li, Qin, Gem, and Keni.

All the faes put an invisibility spell on Harry, Hermione, and Ron.

The faes automatically turn invisible.

"So, Gem is going to deal with Mrs. Norris", Betty told Key.

"Good", said Key.

"Go on, Gem", said Betty.

Gem zooms off.

"Somebody there!" called Peeves.

"Oh,I got this", said Devin.

Devin summons a blue aura that works as a ball that catches Peeves attention.

"Alright, let's go", whispered Keni.

"I have to stay, the aura won't last without my presence here", Devin whispered.

"Fine, we'll be back", whispered Betty.

A few seconds later, they were there, outside the third-floor corridor -- and the door was already ajar.

"I wouldn't blame you if you want to go, I can handle this on my own", said Harry.

"Harry", replied Key.

"That is out of the question", said Hermione.

"We have come so far", said Keni.

"We would never abandon you, besides there are too many traps for you to handle alone", said Makai.

"Yeah, you aren't getting rid of us, that easily", said Ron.

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.

"That dog scares", whispered Makai.

"I think we all feel the same", Key whispered.

Everybody else nodded.

"Look! A harp!" Betty pointed out.

"That could stop playing any moment, and I have a solution", said Harry, showing Hagrid's flute.

"I'll play it, while you go to the trap door", said Betty.

"Alright", said Harry, then handed Betty the flute.

Betty plays the flute, as Key, Makai, Qin, Li, and Keni move Fluffy's paw.

They open the trap door.

"It's all black, I can't see anything", said Key.

"Should one of us test what is down there?" asked Keni.

"Qin and I can do it", said Li.

"Be careful", said Key.

"Don't worry", Qin winked.

Qin and Li transform into birds and go down and see Devil's Snare.

"There's Devil's Snare", said Qin.

"Devil's Snare! Oh my", said Hermione.

"I have something perfect for that", said Keni, then jumped down .

"Keni!" called Key and the others.

Keni started to get surrounded by Devil's Snare rots, then an aura glows around her hands and keeps Devil's Snare at a bay.

"You can come down now", said Keni, while holding off the Devil's Snare.

Makai,Qin, Li and Key help Harry, Hermione, and Ron comes down safely.

Once they come down, Keni releases a bright aura that knocks the Devil's Snare out.

"Let's go", said Keni. "Come on, Betty".

Betty flies down with the Flute, and walks with her friends.

A soft rustling and clinking seemed to be coming from up ahead.

"What is that?" asked Qin.

"I don't know", said Hermione.

"Let's go", said Li.

They reached the end of the passageway and saw before them a brilliantly lit chamber, its ceiling arching high above them. It was full of small, jewel-bright birds, fluttering and tumbling all around the room. On the opposite side of the chamber was a heavy wooden door.

"Do you think they'll attack us if we cross the room?" said Ron.

Betty moves to the door with quick speed, then makes it to the door untouched.

"I guess that answers our question", said Ron.

"Is it open?" asked Harry.

"No! It's locked", Betty answers Harry's question.

"Maybe a spell could work", Keni suggested.

"No, look at these birds aren't birds, their keys, we need to unlock the door with one of those keys", Key pointed out.

"That makes sense", said Hermione.

"But, which one? There are about a thousand keys there", Qin pointed out.

"The one with the broken wing", said Harry.

Harry notice the broom.

"Go, Harry", said Key. "Wait, I sense something".

Key touches the broom making the keys attack her, so gives Harry a thumbs up, and flies.

Harry gets on the broom and grabs the broken key, then gives it to Betty.

Betty unlocks the door.

They all exit out of the door, Key gets Harry off the boor,  they fly out of the door, and Betty closes the door immediately.

The next chamber was so dark they couldn't see anything at all. But as they stepped into it, light suddenly flooded the room to reveal an astonishing sight.

They were standing on the edge of a huge chessboard, behind the black chessmen, which were all taller than they were and carved from what looked like black stone. Facing them, way across the chamber, were the white pieces.

 Harry, Ron, Makai, and Hermione shivered slightly.

Qin, Li, Keni, Key, and Betty are calm.

The towering white chessmen had no faces.

"So, Probably to get through we need to play across the room", said Ron.

"Makes sense, but I'm afraid there's too many of us", said Makai.

"Can faes past through without playing?" asked Li.

Betty flies through the chess piece and nothing happened, she flies around the chess pieces, but they don't attack.