Chapter 73: The Inner Sanctum
Disclaimer:
Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
I own nothing but the original characters I make.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
-Author notes-
Chapter 73: The Inner Sanctum
The circular door loomed before them, its carved lion head staring down with an open mouth that seemed to swallow all light.
Harry studied it in silence, his eyes tracing every detail. The lion's mane was intricately carved, each strand of stone appearing to flow in an invisible wind. Its eyes were chips of amber, and the open mouth was dark, like a void that seemed to lead into the stone itself.
Ginny stood beside him, her brow furrowed. "I don't understand. The password worked for the outer door. Why not this one?. Do you think we have to offer our blood or something?. I heard about some ancient doors made like that."
Harry didn't answer immediately. He circled the door, examining it from every angle. He ran his fingers along the carved stone, feeling for hidden mechanisms, for anything that might give him a clue.
Then he noticed something. The lion's mouth was not just a carving...it was hollow. A dark opening, just large enough to put something inside.
He thought about the things he had learned about Godric Gryffindor and the type of man he was.
He was both a knight and a wizard. Someone who valued courage over most things.
"It's a test..." Harry muttered as he looked at the lion's open mouth.
It was waiting for something. It was not blood or a key, but Something much simpler.
"It's a test of bravery," Harry said slowly. "Gryffindor wanted someone willing to face their fears. The door isn't asking for our blood. It's asking for our courage."
Ginny followed his gaze to the lion's mouth. "You think we're supposed to put our hand inside that hole?"
"I think that's exactly what we're supposed to do."
Ginny stepped forward, her expression determined. "Then I'll do it. I'm the Gryffindor here."
Harry grabbed her arm before she could reach the door. "No...I brought you here. I'm the one who wanted to find this chamber. If anyone should take the risk, it's me."
Ginny opened her mouth to argue, but Harry cut her off.
"I appreciate the offer, Ginny. But this is my quest. Let me face this test."
She hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Be careful. I dont think the Founder would want to harm one of his potential heirs, but..."
"I know..." Harry approached the circular door, his heart pounding. He raised his hand and looked into the lion's open mouth.
He took a deep breath and plunged his arm inside.
The stone was cool against his skin, smooth and polished. He expected to feel something sharp, something dangerous, like a trap, a blade, or some kind of curse. But there was nothing inside the lion's mouth. Just empty space.
"Harry?..." Ginny asked with concern on her face.
"I'm fine. There is nothing here."
"Did we get it wrong again?"
"Mmm...hold on." He felt around with his fingers, searching for anything that might be hidden within. And then he found something. It was a small, recessed button, barely noticeable beneath his fingertips.
"I think I found some kind of button." He pressed it without delay because he knew the more he thought about it, the more indecisive he would become.
A low grinding sound echoed through the chamber.
The circular door began to move, swinging inward with a groan of ancient stone, allowing some golden light to spill through the opening.
Harry pulled his arm out and examined it...he was completely fine. "I did it."
"You did it!" Ginny's face broke into a wide smile. "I knew it! Godric Gryffindor wouldn't want to accidentally hurt his heir, right? It was just a psychological test!"
Harry nodded, though a small part of him wondered. Gryffindor had been a warrior, a duelist, a man who had fought and bled for his beliefs. Would he really have made the test so simple?.
But he pushed the thought aside. They had opened the door. That was what mattered.
Beyond the doorway, a long corridor stretched ahead of them. The walls and floor were made of pristine white marble, carved with intricate scenes of knights battling against all sorts of beasts, like dragons, trolls, giants, and creatures Harry had never seen before.
It looked like a piece of art, a tapestry of stone that told the story of Gryffindor's greatest battles.
"It's beautiful," Ginny breathed. "I've never seen anything like it."
Harry agreed, but his eyes were fixed on the end of the corridor, where the marble seemed to shimmer with a mysterious light. "Come on. Let's see what's at the end."
He could already feel the treasure waiting for them at the end of this corridor.
They stepped through the doorway...
And the circular door slammed shut behind them with a loud banging sound.
"What?!" Harry spun around immediately. The door had closed, sealing them inside.
"Oh no...no..."He pushed against it, but it wouldn't budge. "We're trapped, Ginny, " he said, his voice sounding tight.
He had been too careless, too eager to get his prize, that he didn't even consider the possibility.
Ginny went to check as well, but the door was completely flat from this side. There was nothing to push or press. "Let's remain calm, Harry. Maybe there is another exit once we reach the end of the chamber. We should keep moving."
Harry nodded, forcing himself to stay calm. "Yes...you're right. Let's go." There was nothing to gain from freaking out now.
They could only move forward from here on.
They began to walk down the marble corridor, their footsteps echoing in the silence.
The carvings on the walls seemed to watch them as they passed, the painted eyes of the knights following their every move.
And then Harry heard it...a low cracking sound, like stone breaking apart.
He stopped. "Did you hear that?"
Ginny stopped beside him, her eyes wide. "Hear what?"
The sound grew louder, and Harry turned just in time to see one of the marble knights step out of the wall.
It was tall and imposing; its stone armour reflected the light from the torches. In its hand, it held a sharp-looking sword.
"Oh no...I think it's a golem!" Ginny exclaimed. "I read about those. Some old wizards used them as guardians to keep their treasures safe."
"A golem..." Harry's mind raced. Ginny had said that Godric Gryffindor wouldn't want to hurt his potential heirs. But now he realised how wrong that statement was. This was a bloodthirsty wizard who had fought and killed for his beliefs. He wouldn't have hesitated to set a deadly test for those who sought to obtain his treasure.
This was his legacy and would be given to those unable to fight for it. That is what Godric Gryffindor wanted...an heir who could fight as he did in the past.
He pulled out his wand, his heart pounding. "Get behind me. I'm going to try something, but if you find a chance...go past the golem and try to find an exit."
Ginny nodded; her hands were trembling. "Okay."
The golem advanced, its stone feet grinding against the marble floor. Its sword was raised, ready to strike.
'Too bad I didn't have the chance to learn anything new from the grimoire this year, but...at least I still remember what I learned.'
Harry had no time to think. The golem was right in front of him.
He aimed his wand at the magical construct and focused all his intent.
"Verbero!"
A powerful concussive blast of force shot from his wand, slamming into the golem's chest.
The creature staggered backwards while cracks spread across its marble surface. But it didn't fall just yet.
Harry cursed under his breath. The spell had worked on training dummies, but this was much different from those. The golem was bigger and heavier. This was a real enemy.
He aimed again, pouring all his magic into the spell. "VERBERO!"
This time, the blast was far stronger than before. The golem stumbled backwards, its legs giving way. It crashed to the ground, shattering into a hundred pieces.
Harry lowered his wand, breathing hard. "That... that was close."
Ginny stared at him, her eyes wide. "Whoa!. Where did you learn that spell? That was incredible!"
Harry smiled, though his heart was still racing. "It's from an old book. I found it last year."
He was too excited about his victory, so he didn't notice the glint that flickered in Ginny's eyes as he responded to her.
He was too focused on the corridor ahead, where more grinding sounds were beginning to echo.
"I don't think we're done yet," he said grimly. "There are more of them."
He was right. Three more golems stepped out of the walls, their stone swords gleaming in the torchlight.
Ginny raised her wand, her expression determined. "I can help. I know a few spells."
"You do?" Harry nodded. "Okay, but stay close to me. I'll take the lead."
"Not a chance," Ginny said, stepping beside him. "We're in this together."
Harry didn't have time to argue. The golems were advancing, their stone feet grinding against the floor.
Ginny aimed her wand at the nearest golem. "Depulso!"
A burst of force shot from her wand, shoving the golem backwards. It slammed into its companion, sending both of them stumbling.
Harry seized the opportunity. "Verbero!"
His blast caught one of the golems square in the chest, shattering it into pieces. Ginny followed up with a tripping jinx, sending the second golem crashing to the ground.
Harry finished off the third with another Verbero, and the corridor fell silent once more.
Harry lowered his wand, breathing hard. "That was... impressive. Where did you learn to fight like that?"
Ginny shrugged, her expression suddenly guarded. "I've been practicing. My brothers always said I was a natural."
Harry nodded, though something about her answer felt off. She had moved with an unnatural ease...her spells were extremely precise and powerful. She had barely seemed to be trying.
For a first-year who had barely started her magical education, she felt too at ease while casting spells.
But he pushed the thought aside. They had survived the attack, and that was what mattered right now.
They continued down the corridor, their footsteps echoing in the silence.
At the end of the corridor, they emerged into a vast chamber.
Harry froze.
The room was enormous and magnificent. The walls were lined with towering stone statues, each one depicting a different beast. Lions, tigers, bears, wolves, and at the far end, two massive dragons, their stone wings spread wide.
In the centre of the chamber, a circular platform rose from the floor.
And on the platform, resting on a stone altar, was a single, gleaming object.
Harry felt his breath catch. "This is it. This is what Gryffindor left behind."
Ginny stepped beside him, her eyes fixed on the altar. "What is it?"
Harry didn't answer. He walked towards the platform, his heart pounding.
"Let's go find out."
He had found it. The treasure of Gryffindor was his.
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