Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?

[kitchen_maid]

In contrast to the candlelit ballroom, the corridor is dim, lit weakly by a few (generously spaced) torches. There are door down both sides, all closed, and placed almost randomly along the way. The hallway runs away from the ballroom at an angle, and either the lighting or just its sheer length make it impossible to see where it ends.

It's clean, completely free of dust and cobwebs, either because the spell has kept them from accumulating or because someone (or something) has tidied recently.

It is almost perfectly silent, save for the quiet hiss of the closest torch.

Comments

[parkerlee]

Parker would eat her hat (you know--if she was wearing one) that the pendulum and the key are connected. And if one is halted, maybe the other will be.

She doesn't even attempt to argue--just automatically raises her forearm to protect her eyes against a flare of magical light.

There's a near deafening sound like the grinding of gears.

Or possibly clockwork.

"Well, I'm pretty sure that made it unhappy," she says, lowering her arm.

Now, let's just hope that it's unhappy in a way that's good for them.

[alsoagreengrass]

The approaching guards stumble at the grinding of the gears, one with her arm outstretched toward Parker, and Scorpius winces at the deafening sound.

An eerie silence follows.

"I don't think - "

He glances at the pendulum behind them, still swinging but only from momentum now. It's already starting to slow.

"Actually, I think it did work," he amends, only to be drowned out by an equally deafening chime.

[parkerlee]

The clockwork guards are starting to jerk about very erratically. Parker gives the one closest to her a firm shove and it topples, taking out three more on its way down.

The chime is like being on the inside of a bell being struck by a giant sledgehammer.

"I wonder if that means 'time's up,'" Parker says, raising her voice to be heard over the reverberation.

[alsoagreengrass]

Scorpius' ears are ringing something fierce. He takes a moment to undo the Supersensory Charm he'd used.

"What?" he yells, nose scrunched.

Then, "Oh, never mind, I think our time is up!"

He reaches for Parker, stepping over toppled guards.

"Do you think Amy and the others are okay?"

[parkerlee]

"Let's hope so."

Parker grips Scorpius's hand tight. It won't be good to get separated now. Not when it looks like everything around them is starting to literally fall apart.

They pelt back through the castle, heading for the exit, Parker keeping an eye out for any of the rest of their merry band along the way.

It's with great relief that she looks ahead and sees Laura and Bruce, and (Yes!) Amy just a little ways ahead.

Parker can't help but grin.

"All right. Halfway home."