Myriad realms store owner of Harry potter

"Look," Harry whispered, his voice tense. "Snape has already gotten past Fluffy."

Seeing the half-open door ahead, the trio fully grasped the challenge awaiting them.

"I won't blame anyone if you want to leave now," Harry said, his gaze shifting between them. "Take the Invisibility Cloak with you. I don't need it anymore."

Ryan shook his head. "We've come this far; there's no turning back now."

"Don't be ridiculous," Ron scoffed. "We're in this together."

"Let's go," Hermione urged.

Harry took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

A low growl rumbled through the air. Though the enormous three-headed dog couldn't see them, its noses twitched wildly, sniffing the unfamiliar scents.

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

"It looks like a harp," Ron replied. "Snape must've left it behind."

"That means it wakes up the moment the music stops," Hermione concluded.

Harry was about to take out the wooden flute Hagrid had given him when Ryan reached into his belt pouch and pulled out a small, ornate music box. The moment he turned the key, a soft, melodious tune filled the room.

As the notes drifted through the air, Fluffy's eyelids began to droop. The dog swayed slightly before collapsing onto the ground with a heavy thud, fast asleep.

Ryan smiled. "This music box plays for about three and a half minutes after winding it up. That should give us plenty of time to move ahead without distractions."

Hermione looked at the massive, unconscious beast in amazement. "Incredible! According to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a three-headed dog can match a dragon in strength. Yet, a simple lullaby from a music box put it to sleep. Does that mean dragons have a similar weakness?"

"Now's not the time for research, Hermione," Ryan reminded her. "The dog's going to wake up soon. Let's move!"

He hurried toward the trapdoor beneath Fluffy's paws and pulled it open. A dark abyss stretched below. Unlike what they'd hoped, there was no ladder or staircase leading down.

Ryan cast Lumos, but the enchanted light barely illuminated the void. Despite the uncertainty, he already knew what lay ahead.

"I'll go first," Ryan volunteered. "I'm best with the Levitation Charm. If something goes wrong, wait for my signal before getting help."

Without waiting for a response, he let go and dropped into the darkness.

The fall was long—at least four or five stories deep. Halfway down, Ryan cast Arresto Momentum on himself, slowing his descent. Moments later, he landed on something soft and springy.

As expected, it was Devil's Snare.

Before the others could jump, Ryan hurriedly pulled out a small dagger coated with a potion that weakened magical plants—he had discreetly collected it while helping Professor Sprout in Herbology. Using the dim light from the entrance, he quickly cut off several small twigs and stored them in a crystal vial.

Just as he finished, tendrils coiled around his ankle.

"Be careful when you jump!" Ryan called upward. "There's Devil's Snare down here. It'll break your fall, but you'll need a fire spell to escape if it grabs hold of you."

As soon as he spoke, three dark silhouettes plummeted toward him. Ryan instinctively rolled to the side, but one figure was still heading straight for him.

Reacting quickly, he cast Arresto Momentum again. The spell cushioned the impact, though he still felt a dull thud against his arm.

Two more bodies crashed down nearby.

"Sorry, Ryan! Are you okay?" Hermione's concerned voice came from the shadow that had collided with him.

"I'm fine," Ryan assured her.

Hermione immediately raised her wand, summoning small blue flames. The Devil's Snare recoiled from the warmth and released its grip on them. The vines twitched and slithered away, freeing the group.

"Ryan, you should scout ahead next time," Ron muttered, watching the retreating tendrils warily. "We don't want more surprises like that."

"Also, why'd you grab Hermione?"

Ryan smirked. "I was trying to slow the fall, but she happened to be the closest."

Before Ron could respond, Harry pointed forward. "Look, there's a passageway."

At the far end of the chamber, a stone corridor stretched into the unknown. It was the only visible exit.

With no other choice, the four of them carefully stepped into the hallway. The passage was eerily quiet, save for the soft sound of water dripping from the ceiling.

Ryan frowned. "I bet we're under the Black Lake now."

As they ventured deeper, a new noise emerged—a faint rustling mixed with a metallic clinking sound.

It sounded like a swarm of winged keys fluttering about.

Following the noise, they soon entered a brightly lit room with a high, vaulted ceiling. The chamber was filled with hundreds of small, glittering creatures, darting through the air.

They weren't birds. They were keys—each with tiny, shimmering wings.

Across the room stood a massive wooden door.

Ron eyed the keys warily. "These things won't attack us, will they?"

"Only one way to find out," Harry said.

He dashed toward the door, shielding his head with his arms.

The keys ignored him completely.

"Looks like they won't harm us," Ryan said, relieved.

The group cautiously made their way across the room, stopping in front of the heavy wooden door.

Harry pushed. Ron pulled. Nothing happened.

"Let me try," Hermione said, raising her wand. "Alohomora!"

Nothing.

Ryan took a steel rod from his pouch and attempted to wedge it into the hinges. When that failed, he struck the door hard against the frame.

Still nothing.

Frowning, he slammed the rod against the surrounding stone walls, but the impacts left no marks.

"This whole thing is magically reinforced," he muttered.

Harry looked up at the keys, then back at the door. "I think I understand. We have to solve the puzzle the way it was intended."

Ryan followed his gaze, realization dawning. "Which means... we need the right key."

He scanned the swarm of flying keys, searching for one that stood out.

"There!" Hermione pointed. A large, old-fashioned silver key with a broken wing flapped clumsily near the top of the room.

"It must've been damaged when someone grabbed it before," Ron observed.

"That means it's the one we need," Harry said.

Ryan grinned. "Then let's catch it."

Without hesitation, Harry mounted the nearby broomstick and kicked off into the air.

The chase was on.

FOR MORE CHAPTERS

patreon.com/STEPHENHART427