Red dragon

82

Harry entered the door, but the second it was closed, the door had vanished. He was trapped. Not the best feeling in the world.

He was in a clearing of a forest. The trees were dense, but Harry could still see the sky. It was suddenly morning. It had been almost lunchtime when he entered. Quite strange, but magic could do amazing things.

Harry moved over to the table waiting for him. It held two things. A small round ball, It was Smokey and had a label on it. 'Smash me'. The other was completely clear and more egg shaped.

Harry hesitantly smashed the Smokey ball on the end of the table. The smoke whirled out, becoming a person. One rather familiar to Harry.

"Hermione?"

"Harry, your task is ahead." The voice was not quite Hermiones. "You must deliver the egg to the base of that mountain."

"The glass one."

"That's right." She nodded and pointed to the path to her right. "There will be many tasks for you to complete. If the egg is not with you when you reach the mountain you will fail."

"You're not Hermione, are you?"

"No." The image answered. "You have until sunset. None of the tasks will harm your outside body. Good luck." The image disappeared.

Outside body. That must mean he wasn't really here, just a magical illusion. Every time he thought he finally understood the wizarding world, he was surprised all over again.

Harry looked around and picked up the egg. It was very light. "Come on, it's going to be a long day."

Harry entered the only path available. It wasn't dark, he could see the sky through the trees. He walked a short while before noticing a fork in the road.

There was a tall candlestick holder in the centre of the split. On top of it was another smoked ball. Harry reached up and smashed the ball on the floor. Ron appeared out of it.

"Your first challenge." Out of his hands came a man to stand at each side. They were identical images of Bill Weasley. "A test for your brain. One of these paths will lead towards the mountain. The other will lead to a swamp. A dead end. Once you start on a path you may never turn back. You may ask one question. One man will lie; the other will tell the truth. Take care with what you ask."

Harry thought hard. This was the sort of thing Hermione, Luna and Genevieve could help with. He had no help. He needed to think. Think like Hermione.

There was only one question. Which way to the mountain? If he asked the liar, he would be sent down the wrong path. He couldn't ask who the liar was, he only had one question. He needed to think of a question that they would both say the same answer. He pondered it for a moment, when it occurred to him.

"Right, okay you." He turned to the Bill to his left; taking a large risk. "If I asked the other guy, which path would he tell me leads to the mountains?"

"He would say it was mine." The man answered.

If first Bill lied, then he would say the opposite of what the truthful Bill would say. If first Bill told the truth, he would say exactly what the liar would say. Either way both Bills would send him the wrong way.