Statues

July 22, 1993, Unknown Location

Adam Clarke

I stood frozen for a heartbeat, my wand clutched tight, as the ten small statues at the far end of the chamber lurched to life. I was no taller than their waist; they were carved from dark granite, their knightly armor etched with rivets and dents that caught the dim light.

Each gripped a weapon— swords with notched edges, polearms with wicked curves, maces bristling with spikes— and they moved toward us, stone feet grinding against the marble floor. Their helms hid their faces, but their eyes glinted, unblinking and cold, like they were alive in some awful way. Behind them, the giant statue loomed, thrice my height, its broadsword planted point-down, watching us with a weight that pressed on my chest.

Harry muttered a curse beside me, his wand already up.

“Reducto!” I shouted, flicking my wrist. A burst of blue light shot toward the nearest knight, its sword raised mid-step. The spell hit square on its chest; or, it should have. Instead, the statue swung its blade down fast, and the magic crashed against it, fizzling into nothing. My stomach dropped.

Harry tried next, a sharp “Expelliarmus!” blasting toward another, but its mace met the spell mid-air, absorbing it with a dull thud.

“They’re blocking them.” I hissed, backing up.

“Even the Disarming—”

“I saw!”

The statues didn’t flinch, didn’t pause— just kept coming, slow and relentless. The air filled with the scrape of stone on stone, a low rumble that set my teeth on edge. I dodged as a polearm swept toward me, its curved tip whistling past my shoulder. Harry ducked a mace swing, the spikes grazing his sleeve, and we scrambled apart, trying to keep them from boxing us in.

“Keep moving!” I roared, darting left. “Don’t let them catch you!”

My boots slipped on the dusty floor, but I caught myself, firing another Reductor at a knight with a notched sword. It smashed the spell away with a flick of its blade, barely breaking stride. Sweat beaded on my forehead. They weren’t fast, but they didn’t need to be; every step closed the distance, every swing forced us back.

I glanced at the giant statue, its shadowed helm tilted slightly, like it was judging us. Thank God it hadn’t moved. Fighting that thing on top of these ten would’ve been a death sentence.

Harry wove between two knights, his Banishing Charm bouncing uselessly off a raised polearm.

“They’re not stopping!” He shouted, voice tight with panic. I felt it too— fear clawing up my throat— but I swallowed it down, gripping my wand harder. We couldn’t just blast them head-on; they’d eat every spell we threw. My eyes darted around the chamber, the marble walls gleaming faintly, the statues’ shadows stretching long and jagged. We needed space, a plan, something. They were closing in, weapons gleaming, and I knew we wouldn’t last if they pinned us.

Harry and I circled back-to-back, the statues’ grinding steps echoing in the chamber. We’d figured out they could block our spells, but I wasn’t ready to give up.

“We hit one at a time.” I said, voice low but firm. “Keep the others off me— I’ll take the lead.”

Harry nodded, green eyes glinting with determination before he turned.

He darted left, shouting at two knights lumbering toward us. “Incendio!”

Flames erupted from his wand, streaking across the air, and both statues swung, one with a mace, the other a polearm, smashing the spell apart in a burst of sparks.

It worked; their stone helms tilted toward him, and they shifted course, giving me an opening. I zeroed in on a lone knight with a notched sword, its armored legs thudding closer.

“Depulso!” I snapped, aiming low at its knee. The spell flared, and the statue’s sword whipped down, negating it with a clang, but I was ready.

“Reducto!” I flicked my wand up, the blue jet slamming into its chest before it could recover. A crack split the air, stone dust puffing out, and I pressed the advantage, casting the Reductor Curse again, this time at its arm. The sword swung too slow— my spell hit, shattering the granite limb into chunks.

Harry grunted behind me, dodging a polearm’s wide arc.

“Incendio!” He yelled, a jet of fire licking at the two knights harrying him. They blocked it, but he kept moving, weaving between them, buying me time. I focused on my target, heart pounding.

Bombarda! I cast, aiming at its cracked chest. The explosion rocked the chamber, and the statue staggered, sword clattering down. One more— “Bombarda!”— straight to its helm. It burst apart, collapsing into a thousand jagged pieces that skittered across the floor.

I let out a shaky laugh, adrenaline surging.

“One down!” I called, spinning to check on Harry. He rolled under a mace swing, popping up with a breathless grin.

“Nice one!” He shouted, firing another Banishing Charm To keep his pair at bay. The other statues paused, just for a second, their helms tilting as if they’d noticed their fallen brother. I sidestepped as a third knight lumbered closer, its spiked mace raised, and flicked my wand.

Depulso!

It blocked the spell, but I was already moving, circling to its flank. We could do this.

“Let’s take two this time!” I said, pointing at a pair of knights— one with a polearm, the other a mace— edging closer together. He didn’t hesitate.

Harry lunged forward, wand slashing.

“Incendio!” A blast of fire roared out, washing over the two statues. They raised their weapons, the polearm slicing through the flames, the mace smashing them aside, but it forced them to huddle, their stone shoulders nearly touching. I seized the moment, sprinting to their right.

“Bombarda!” I bellowed, aiming at the gap between them. The spell detonated with a thunderous crack, granite shards spraying as both staggered, cracks webbing across their chests.

“Keep them pinned!” I yelled, dodging as a third knight’s sword sliced down, missing me by inches.

I rolled, springing up with a breathless Reductor Curse to its legs, which was blocked, but the move bought me space. Harry darted around the pair, firing a Banishing Charm at their backs. The mace knight turned, swatting the spell away, but the polearm one couldn’t keep up. I hit it again, aiming at its arm.

Bombarda! The spell crashed into its cracked arm, causing it to burst into a thousand pieces. I stepped back for a moment as the debris filled the air, and then followed up with another Reductor Curse to its helm. It shattered, collapsing in a heap.

The mace knight swung at Harry, a wide, crushing arc. He ducked, rolling across the dusty floor, and popped up with a shout. “Depulso!”

The spell caught its weapon hand, plunging the mace into the cracks I’d already started. I joined in with my own Banishing Charm, and the mace tore straight through the statue, roughly breaking it in two large chunks.

We didn’t stop. I spun, spotting a sword-wielding knight lumbering my way, and sidestepped its thrust, firing a Reductor at its knee. It blocked, but Harry flanked it, his own Disarming Charm forcing it to turn.

I hit it again.

Flipendo! The white spell slammed into it, and the statue stumbled.

“Bombarda!”

Shards flew, and the statue turned into yet another pile of rubble. Four down. Won’t be long now.

But then the remaining statues shifted. Two paired up— one with a polearm, the other a sword— moving in sync. I fired a Banishing Charm and the polearm knight blocked, while the sword one redirected Harry’s Reductor with a flick.

My gut twisted.

“They’re adapting!” I shouted, backpedaling as three others flanked us, their steps a low rumble. A mace swung at me; I dove, rolling to my feet, but they were closing in fast, cutting off our angles. Harry dodged a polearm jab, panting. “What now?”

I didn’t have an answer. The paired knights advanced, weapons flashing, while the others herded us toward the center. The giant statue’s shadow loomed larger, its silent judgment heavier than ever.

We’d taken four, but the fight had just turned against us.

I stumbled back, heart hammering as the five remaining statues tightened their trap. The two paired knights moved like they’d rehearsed it, stone feet thudding in unison.

I flicked my wand at the polearm knight, casting a spell.

It swung high, blocking the spell with a screech of stone, while the sword knight slashed low, parrying Harry’s Knockback Jinx. Sparks flared, but they didn’t slow. The other three flanked us— one with a mace, two with notched swords— herding us toward the chamber’s center, their weapons gleaming in the dim light.

“They’re boxing us in!” Harry yelled, dodging a sword thrust that grazed his shirt, ripping it.

I spun, firing a Banishing Charm at the mace knight lumbering my way. It raised its weapon, barely slowed, and kept coming, the mace’s spiked head swinging in a brutal arc. I ducked, the air whooshing overhead, and scrambled back, nearly tripping over a chunk of rubble.

Protego! I incanted, immersing myself in a shimmering shield, which flared to life just as the mace crashed down, the impact jarring my arm. The barrier held, rippling under the blow, and I gritted my teeth, holding it steady.

Harry slid beside me. “Flipendo!”

The spell flew through a gap at the sword knight on our left. It blocked with a flick of its blade, but it gave us a second to breathe.

“Keep them off the shield!” I gasped, sweat stinging my eyes.

The paired knights struck next. The polearm jabbed high, a sharp thrust that screeched against the shield, while the sword slashed low, carving a shallow arc across it. I winced as the magic flickered, straining under the double hit but then forcing it to hold steady.

Harry countered, shouting “Bombarda!” at the polearm knight’s legs. It shifted, blocking, but the blast kicked up dust, obscuring its helm for a moment.

Then the flanking swords struck, one after the other. The first slammed its blade down, a heavy chop that sent a tremor through the shield. The second followed, a diagonal cut that screeched against the magic. Five hits. Six. Seventh, with no signs of stopping. By the seventeenth— a crushing mace blow— my shield cracked, thin lines spider webbing across it. Fragments of light fizzled out, and I felt the strain in my bones, my arm trembling.

“Harry.” I said quietly, through the strain. “I’m not sure how long I can hold this!”

Harry, to his credit, continued fighting as he cast another spell. “Incendio!”

The torrent of flame forced the statue back, causing it to fall to the floor, but the others pressed in, weapons raised. The giant statue shifted then— just a twitch, its plume swaying— and my blood ran cold. We were pinned, the shield failing, and that monstrous thing was waking up. I tightened my grip on my wand, mind racing. We had to move, had to fight, but the cracks were spreading, and time was slipping away.

Even as I thought this, my shield cracked further, spider webbing with light, and I knew it wouldn’t last another hit. But watching the statues’ movements had given me an idea— the unpaired ones were powerful but predictable. Their weapons could block a direct spell, but what if we didn’t attack head-on?

“Harry, cover me!” I shouted, dropping to one knee.

He didn’t question, just pivoted in front of me with a forceful “Protego!” as his own shield flared to life.

I let my shield dissipate, closed my eyes for a half-second, visualizing what I needed, then swept my wand in a wide circle.

“Odgovor!” Silver light erupted from the tip, coalescing into dozens of thick, gleaming chains that whirled around me like liquid metal. I rose, arms spread wide, focusing on the three unpaired knights— mace and two swords— as they lumbered closer. The chains responded to my thoughts, morphing and interlinking into a vast, flexible net with barbed ends.

“Now!” I yelled, thrusting my wand forward. The chain net soared out, unfurling like a metallic wave. It crashed over the three statues, the barbed ends sharpening into wicked spikes that plunged into the dark granite with a screech of metal on stone. The knights staggered under the weight, their weapons caught in the mesh.

“They’re pinned!” I grunted, sweat pouring down my face as I magically tightened the chains, forcing the net to contract. The knights thrashed, their stone limbs grinding as they struggled against the bindings. Sparks flew as notched swords and spiked mace slashed uselessly at the metal, the clang of stone against chain filling the chamber.

Harry didn’t waste the opportunity.

“Incendio Maxima!” He cast, aiming at the chain-wrapped knights. Flames erupted from his wand, engulfing the metal cage in a roaring inferno. The chains glowed red within seconds, heat rippling the air around them.

Stone crackled from the thermal shock as the superheated chains pressed against cold granite. My arms trembled from the effort of maintaining both the chains and their morphed shape. Every thrash of the statues sent jolts up my spine, but I held firm, teeth gritted.

“It’s working.” I said, watching the cracks spread as I caught my breath. Behind the flaming cage, the paired knights— polearm and sword— continued their synchronized advance, weapons gleaming ominously in the firelight. They’d slowed, perhaps evaluating this new threat, but they were still coming.

“The others.” Harry warned, nodding toward the pair. I knew we couldn’t let them reach us or free their trapped companions.

The caged trio weakened under the heat, their movements growing sluggish as the chains glowed white-hot against their stone, with small chunks already falling away. They weren’t finished, but they were contained. I turned my attention to the real threat— the paired knights moving in perfect sync, their polearm and sword raised in unison.

“Keep feeding fire to the cage.” I told Harry. “I’ll break their rhythm.”

I gritted my teeth.

Focus!

Flicking my wand again, I drew a fresh surge of silver light that formed into thinner, more flexible chains. “Odgovor!“

The spell responded, morphing into two coiled lassos that hovered at my sides. The paired knights quickened their pace, as if sensing my intent, their weapons rising for a coordinated strike.

I snapped my wrist, sending both whip-like chains flying out. They uncoiled in midair, snaking toward the knights’ weapon arms. The first wrapped around the polearm knight’s wrist, the second snagged the sword knight’s elbow. I yanked hard, throwing all my weight backwards.

The unexpected pull disrupted their perfect synchronization. The polearm knight stumbled forward, its thrust veering wide, the weapon’s tip burying into the marble floor. The sword knight’s slash faltered mid-arc, pulling it off-balance. Their stone helms turned toward their trapped limbs in what almost looked like confusion.

“Now, Harry!”

Harry ended his spell before he darted forward, wand raised. “Confringo!“

The spell blasted into the polearm knight’s chest, no longer protected by its weapon. Granite exploded outward, cracks racing across its torso. It staggered and fell, down for the count.

I morphed the lasso gripping the sword knight, transforming it into a spiked whip that I cracked across its helm with a flick of my wand. The sound echoed through the chamber like a thunderclap, stone chips flying as the spikes tore through the granite. The statue swayed for a moment before it, too, fell over.

Sweat drenched my clothes, and all I wanted was to stop, but I couldn’t let up.

The mace knight and its two sword companions had all but stopped moving inside their glowing cage, the heat having turned their stone brittle and cracked. I tightened the chains with a grunt, compressing the net further until it bit deeper into their granite bodies.

“Finish them!” I called to Harry, who turned from the paired knights with a determined nod.

He circled the fiery cage, wand slashing through the air with precise movements.

“Reducto! Reducto! Reducto!” Each spell lanced through the gaps in the chain mesh, striking the weakened statues with devastating accuracy. The mace knight went first, its helm shattering into dust, followed by one sword knight’s chest caving in, then the final one’s legs crumbling beneath it. They collapsed into piles of rubble inside the cage, weapons clattering uselessly to the floor.

We stood there for a moment, elated by our victory before I froze, noticing movement from behind Harry. The polearm knight, chest cracked from Harry’s earlier spell, had been playing possum, it seemed. It made one final lunge, raising its weapon high and bringing it down in a vicious arc toward Harry’s head. I reacted on instinct, morphing my remaining chain into a single, piercing lance.

“Depulso!” I roared, propelling the lance forward with all my remaining strength. It shot through the air like a silver arrow, impaling the knight’s helm just as Harry rolled aside from the polearm’s strike. The stone head shattered, the body swayed for a heartbeat, then collapsed into fragments.

Dust settled around us as we stood panting, my chains fading as I lowered my trembling arm. The chamber fell silent save for our ragged breathing and the soft patter of stone fragments still rolling across the floor. Piles of rubble surrounded us— all that remained of the relentless knights.

“That was a close one.” I said, trying to catch my breath as I kept my eyes on the giant statue looming above, still unmoved throughout the battle, its broadsword planted firmly before it.

“Yeah.” Harry said. “Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.” I said as I met Harry’s gaze, both of us victorious but wary.

“Do you think— ” Harry started, nodding toward the giant.

“I don’t know, but I hope not.” I whispered.

Even as we spoke, the air shifted— thickened, like a storm was brewing in the chamber. Harry and I froze, our wands still raised, as the giant statue at the far end stirred.

Fuck.

Its massive broadsword, planted point-down in the earth, groaned as it pulled free, granite scraping against marble with a sound that vibrated in my bones. The blade rose high, gleaming dully in the dim light, and the statue’s helm tilted; it was a slow, dismissive gesture, like it barely registered us as threats. Across its armored chest and arms, ancient runes flared to life, glowing a sickly green that pulsed with every shift of its towering frame.

A gust of wind hit us as it brandished the sword, a rush so strong it nearly knocked me off my feet. I stumbled, catching myself against a cracked pillar, and felt the raw power rolling off it— heavy, oppressive, like standing too close to a fire that could swallow me whole. My skin prickled, every hair standing on end, and my wand hand trembled despite my grip tightening.

“How do we even fight that?” Harry asked, his voice tight, eyes wide behind his glasses as he stared up at the colossus. It was at least ten times our height, its armor plates overlapping like scales, the plume on its helm sweeping back in a frozen arc.

I forced a grin, shoving down the knot of doubt twisting in my gut.

“It’s just like the others, but bigger.” I said, loud enough to sound sure. He shot me a look, half-hopeful, half-skeptical, but I couldn’t meet his gaze for long.

Inside, I obviously wasn’t so certain. My eyes darted over the statue, searching for anything— a crack, a seam, some hint of weakness we could use. The smaller knights had been tough, but they’d shattered under enough pressure. This thing, though? Its sword alone was many times longer than I was tall, and those runes… they hummed with power I couldn’t place, something ancient and unyielding.

I flexed my fingers, feeling the ache from summoning chains earlier, and wondered if they’d even dent this monster. The way it stood, legs planted wide, shoulders squared— it looked invincible, a guardian carved to outlast us all.

The chamber seemed to shrink under its presence, the marble walls pressing in as its shadow stretched toward us. I swallowed hard, tasting dust and sweat, and glanced at Harry. He was still waiting for me to say something, to lead.

I didn’t waste another second staring up at that hulking statue— doubt wouldn’t help us now.

“Chains first!” I shouted to Harry, already raising my wand. He nodded, stepping to my left as I summoned them— massive, reinforced chains bursting from the floor in a clatter of silver.

Thank you, Professor!

They coiled upward like living things, thicker than my arm, and I swung my wand hard, sending them snaking toward the giant statue’s legs and sword arm. The links wrapped tight, grinding against its granite with a screech, looping around its knees and pinning that monstrous broadsword mid-lift. My shoulders burned with the effort, the metal straining as I poured everything into holding it fast.

“Hit the joints!” I called, and Harry was on it.

“Reducto!” He yelled, wand slashing. A flash of blue light streaked toward the statue’s knee, exploding in a burst of sparks that lit the chamber.

“Bombarda!” Another blast, this one aimed at its elbow, the concussion echoing off the walls. I gritted my teeth, watching the spells slam home— granite dust puffed out, and for a heartbeat, I thought we had the makings of a strategy to beat it rolling.

Then it moved.

A low rumble shook the floor, and the runes flared blinding green. The statue flexed— its legs bending, arm twisting— and the chains groaned, metal links snapping like brittle twigs. A burst of runic energy erupted, sharp and electric, slamming into me like a fist. I flew backward, crashing hard against the marble, my wand nearly slipping from my grip. Pain shot through my ribs, and I gasped, scrambling to my knees as the broken chains clattered around me.

“Adam!” Harry shouted, but he didn’t have time to check on me. The statue swung its sword— a horizontal sweep, fast and brutal, the blade slicing through the air with a whoosh that turned my blood cold. I dove flat, hitting the ground as the massive edge passed inches above my head, the wind of it tugging at my cloak. Harry dropped too, rolling to the side, and the sword carved a deep, jagged groove into the wall behind us, marble chips raining down like hail. Dust choked the air, and I coughed, pulling myself up, my heart hammering.

The statue straightened, its helm tilting again, like it was mocking us.

My chains lay in twisted heaps, useless now, and Harry’s spells hadn’t left a scratch— just faint scorch marks on its joints that faded as the runes pulsed. I wiped sweat from my brow, meeting Harry’s wide-eyed stare.

“That… didn’t work. What now?” He said, voice shaky.

I forced a nod, ignoring the ache in my side. It had shrugged us off like flies. The sword rose again, slow and deliberate, and I knew we had to try something else before it cut us in half.

I scrambled to my feet, brushing off the sting of failure with an ease borne of experience.

“Elemental next.” I said, voice rough, glancing at Harry. He nodded, wiping dust off his glasses, and we split apart— him circling left, me right. We’d cracked the smaller ones with heat and force; maybe this thing wasn’t so different.

Harry moved first, wand slashing.

“Incendio Maxima!” A torrent of fire roared from the tip, bright and fierce, hitting the statue’s chest dead-on. The granite glowed red-hot under the flames, and he kept it coming, weaving around its legs to spread the heat— arm, shoulder, knee.

“Now, Adam!” He shouted, voice cutting through the crackle of the blaze. I thrust my wand up, summoning water— freezing jets that burst from the air, hissing as they struck the same spots Harry had torched. Steam exploded outward, thick and scalding, and I heard it: sharp cracks, like ice splitting, echoing through the chamber.

For a moment, I thought we’d done it. Thin fissures snaked across the statue’s chest, steam pouring from the seams, and Harry grinned, firing another “Incendio!” at its elbow. I followed with more water, aiming for the cracks, the cold snapping against the heat. The statue shifted, its plume swaying, and I held my breath— maybe thermal shock could break this beast apart.

Then the runes flared brighter, a searing green that swallowed the steam. The cracks stopped spreading, the granite knitting itself back together like the stone was alive. My stomach sank.

“It’s healing!” I yelled, but before Harry could answer, the statue moved. It slammed its sword point-first into the ground, a thunderous crash that shook the floor. A shockwave of strange energy— sharp, tingling— ripped outward, hitting me like a wall. I stumbled, legs buckling, and went down hard, my wand skittering across the marble. Harry hit the ground too, a groan escaping him as he clutched his head.

The air buzzed, heavy and draining, like the magic in my veins was leaking out. I dragged myself up, dizzy, my limbs sluggish as I grabbed my wand. Harry rolled to his knees, panting, his face pale. The statue pulled its sword free, slow and deliberate, the runes pulsing stronger now.

We’d thrown fire and ice at it, and it just shrugged us off— worse, it’d hit back harder. My head spun, but I forced myself to focus as Harry began to speak.

“I’ll keep it busy.” He said, voice low but firm, pushing himself up. “You’re the brains here, so figure something out, yeah?”

I nodded automatically, though my mind was blank, still reeling from that shockwave. Harry gripped his wand tighter, determination flickering in his eyes despite the sweat streaking his face. The statue’s helm tilted toward us, sword rising again, and I knew we were out of second chances— I had to find a way, fast, before it crushed us both.

I leaned against a cracked pillar, catching my breath as the statue’s runes pulsed, its sword gleaming in the dim light.

Harry didn’t hesitate.

“I’ve got this.” He muttered, and then he was off— his body flared with electric white energy, a crackling aura that lit the chamber. He dashed forward, a blur of motion, faster than I’d ever seen him move with that spell. The air snapped with power, his signature move from those ancient magic tricks he’d picked up, and I couldn’t help but stare for a second as he zipped around the giant.

He appeared near its left leg, wand flashing. “Reducto!” The spell blasted out, hitting the statue’s ankle with a burst of blue light, dust puffing up. Before it could react, he was gone— vanishing in a streak of white, reappearing on its right. “Confringo!” Flames erupted against its shoulder, scorching the granite. The statue swung its massive sword, a slow, arcing slash, but Harry was already moving, leaving an afterimage that flickered out as the blade smashed through it, carving a chunk from the wall in a spray of marble.

I shook off the daze, forcing myself to watch— not just gawk. Harry kept it up, a whirlwind of hit-and-run strikes. He’d blink in near its knee, fire a “Depulso!” that rocked it back a step, then vanish before the sword could counter, reappearing across the chamber to blast its chest. The statue’s swings grew wilder, frustration in every move— its blade crashed into the floor, sending tremors through the ground, then clipped a pillar, shattering it into rubble. Each miss left cracks in the walls, dust raining down, but Harry stayed untouchable, a streak of lightning taunting the colossus.

I gripped my wand, studying it through the chaos. The statue was fast for its size, but clumsy when it turned— its weight shifted hard, always onto one leg, then the other. My eyes narrowed on its knees, the way they flexed under that massive frame.

They’d taken Harry’s blasts earlier, and mine too, even if the runes had patched them up. There— when it pivoted to chase Harry’s latest blur, the left knee buckled slightly, granite creaking. A weakness, maybe. If we could hit it hard enough, focus everything there, it might give.

Harry zipped past me, pausing just long enough to shout. “Got anything yet?” before darting off again.

The statue’s sword slammed down where he’d been, missing by inches, and I nodded to myself.

“The knees.” I muttered, flexing my fingers. Harry could keep it spinning, keep it off balance— I’d get in close and break it apart. The chamber shook as another swing cratered the floor, but I had a plan now, and Harry’s distraction was buying me the shot I needed.

I tightened my grip on my wand, the chamber trembling as Harry’s latest “Reducto!” sparked off the statue’s shoulder. He was a blur, keeping it spinning, and I saw my chance. The left knee— our ticket to bringing this thing down. I darted in while its sword arced after Harry’s afterimage, summoning chains as I ran.

Odgovor!

They burst from the floor, thin and wiry at first, but I morphed them mid-stride— twisting them into drill-like spikes, sharp and dense, glinting in the eerie rune-light.

I skidded to a stop near its leg, ducking a wild gust from its swinging plume, and drove the first chain-spike into its knee with a yell. My wand arm burned as the metal bit into the granite, grinding against stone with a high-pitched screech. The statue jolted— its first real flinch— and I grinned, hammering another spike into the same spot. Chips flew, dust stinging my eyes, and I felt it give, just a little.

The runes flared, green light pulsing, but I didn’t stop, slamming a third spike in, deeper this time.

It roared— a soundless, shuddering thing I felt in my chest— and swung its leg to shake me off. I leapt back, narrowly dodging as its foot stomped down, cracking the marble where I’d stood.

“Harry, now!” I shouted, waving him over. He zipped in from the right, white energy crackling, and slid to a stop beside me.

“Bombarda!” He roared, aiming at the knee I’d weakened. The blast hit hard, a thunderclap of force that sent fissures racing up its leg. I followed with another chain-spike, morphing it thicker, driving it into the cracks like a wedge.

The statue staggered, its helm tilting as if in pain, and I pressed the attack further— two more spikes, one after the other, each strike sinking deeper into the shattered joint. Harry matched me. Reductor after Reductor pounded the same spot, granite crumbling under our onslaught. The knee buckled fully then, a thunderous crack splitting the air as it gave way. The colossus lurched, its sword arm flailing— it smashed against a pillar, the blade snapping off in a spray of stone, clattering uselessly to the floor.

Its other leg couldn’t hold the weight. It twisted, groaning, and collapsed to one knee, the chamber shaking as it hit. Dust billowed up, choking the air, and I coughed, stepping back with Harry at my side. The runes still glowed, defiant, but its balance was gone— half its arm, its sword, all broken. I wiped sweat from my brow, meeting Harry’s wide-eyed grin.

“Knew you’d get it.” He said, breathless. I smirked, though my heart still raced. It was down, crippled, but it certainly wasn’t out of the fight.

I barely had time to catch my breath before the statue moved again. It dragged itself forward with its one good arm, granite clawing at the marble floor, faster than anything that broken should’ve been. The runes on its chest pulsed wildly, green light flaring with desperate intensity, and a wave of that strange energy ripped out again— sharp and cold, like needles in my veins. I dove behind a chunk of rubble, the blast washing over me, sapping the strength from my wand arm.

My next “Odgovor!” fizzled, weak and stuttering, and I cursed under my breath.

Harry rolled behind a fallen pillar, popping up to fire a Reductor— it sparked off the statue’s shoulder, dimmer than before, barely chipping the stone. Another wave hit, and he ducked, grimacing as it drained him too. The statue kept coming, its cracked helm looming closer, dragging a trail of dust and debris. I peeked out, heart pounding, and saw its arm rear back— another blast incoming. “Move!” I yelled, scrambling to a new spot as the energy crashed where I’d been, splintering the rubble into shards.

My legs burned, my breath came in ragged gasps, and every spell felt like pulling water from a dry well. Harry darted between cover, his torn clothes now singed, firing an Explosion Curse that flickered out mid-air. The statue’s runes throbbed, relentless, and I realized it was wearing us down— each wave weaker, but enough to keep us on the ropes. We couldn’t outlast it like this, not with our magic fading fast.

I caught Harry’s eye across the chamber, crouched behind a toppled pillar. He looked as wrecked as I felt— sweat streaking his face, glasses smudged— but when our gazes locked, something passed between us. A nod, a spark, no words needed. We’d fought too hard, come too far, to let this thing win now. I clenched my jaw, shoving the fatigue down, and he mirrored me, gripping his wand tighter.

“Together.” I rasped, forcing myself up. He nodded again, and we broke cover at the same time. I summoned one last chain— thin, shaky, but I morphed it into a jagged spear, which Harry doused in flame with a shout of, “Incendio!”

I hurled the red hot spear at the statue’s cracked helm. It struck, lodging in a fissure, and Harry followed.

“Glacius!” The freezing spell struck the statue’s head, and the fissure deepened and cracked the statue further and further.

“Now’s our chance!”

“Bombarda!” Harry and I roared as we sent our spells at its head; the resulting explosion rocked the chamber, the helm splitting wide, green light flickering out as granite rained down.

The statue froze, arm half-raised, then slumped forward, its runes fading to black. Silence fell, heavy and complete, broken only by our panting. I dropped to my knees, wand clattering beside me, and Harry sank down too, grinning through the exhaustion.

“Told you.” I muttered, voice raw. “Just… bigger.”

He laughed in response; it was a weak, shaky sound, but we sat there, victorious, amidst the wreckage of a guardian that almost broke us.

I crawled for a bit and slumped against a broken pillar, my chest heaving, every muscle screaming as the dust settled around us. The giant statue’s rubble lay scattered across the chamber, its runes faded to black, but the air still buzzed with leftover magic.

I wiped sweat from my brow, glancing at Harry; he looked as wrecked as I felt, sprawled on the floor, catching his breath. Then he stiffened, pointing. “Adam, look!”

I followed his gaze, squinting through the haze. Broken chunks of the statue’s granite— jagged pieces of its arm, its helm— were trembling, then lifting off the ground. They floated toward the left wall, slow and deliberate, slotting into recessed spots like puzzle pieces. A low hum started, and runes flared at each point, green light sparking to life.

The glow spread, tendrils of energy linking up, racing across the marble until they met in front of us. The wall shimmered, and a massive black door morphed into existence. It was tall and imposing, its shiny surface reflecting the eerie runes like a dark mirror.

My legs wobbled as I pushed myself up, gripping my wand tighter. Harry staggered to his feet beside me, his face pale.

“Another fight?” He asked, voice hoarse, eyeing the door like it might spit out more statues. I forced a shrug, though my bones felt like lead.

“Hope not. You got anything left?”

He gave a weak laugh, shaking his head. “Not a spark. You?”

I flexed my aching fingers, the strain of those chains still throbbing in my arms.

“At my limit.” I admitted, but my eyes stayed on the door. “Doesn’t matter. We’ve got no choice.”

He nodded, grim but steady, and we shuffled forward together, boots scuffing through the dust and rubble. The door loomed bigger with every step, its surface smooth as glass, the rune-light dancing across it. I half-expected it to zap us, or demand some password, but when we pressed our hands against it— Harry on one side, me on the other— it swung open without a sound. Light as a feather, despite its size, like it wanted us to come in. My stomach twisted, but I stepped through, Harry right behind me.

Inside was a simple room— bare walls, no statues, no traps.

Just a portrait hanging dead center, a man with shoulder-length hair and a neat goatee staring down at us. The air felt still, heavy, and I let out a shaky breath, glancing at Harry. He raised an eyebrow, wand still up, but neither of us spoke. Whatever this was, it wasn’t over yet— and after that fight, I wasn’t sure we could handle another round. Still, we’d made it this far.

No turning back now.

I stepped into the room, the black door whispering shut behind us, sealing out the chaos of the chamber. The air was cooler here, still, like time had stopped. My boots echoed faintly on the bare floor as Harry and I edged toward the portrait dominating the far wall. The man in it was striking— shoulder-length hair framing a sharp face, a well-cropped goatee giving him an air of refinement, like some noble from a history book. His dark eyes locked onto us, narrowing as we got closer, and I felt a prickle down my spine, like he was peeling me apart with that stare.

“Who are you?” He demanded, voice crisp, cutting through the silence like a blade. Harry shifted beside me, clearing his throat.

“Harry Potter.” He said, standing a little straighter despite the exhaustion dragging at him. I followed suit, forcing my voice steady.

“Adam Clarke.”

The man’s lips twitched, a faint sneer curling them as he leaned forward in the frame, his eyes flicking between us.

“You’re not Blacks.” He said, flat and cold, like it was an accusation. I glanced at Harry, then back at the portrait.

“We were adopted into the family.” I explained, keeping my tone even. “Sirius Black took us in.”

The man’s face tightened, a flush of irritation creeping up his neck, and he straightened, his refined features twisting with something close to disgust.

“Adopted?” He spat, like the word tasted foul. “Into my line?”

Oh great… Another Walburga.

I swallowed, unease settling heavily in my gut. The man didn’t move, didn’t blink, just stared, his silence louder than any rant. I shifted my weight, the ache in my legs screaming louder with every second he didn’t speak.

“We’ve given you our names.” I said, sharper than I meant to. “But you haven’t told us yours. That’s a bit discourteous, don’t you think?”

His eyes flashed, a spark of indignation, and he opened his mouth— probably to snap back— but I cut him off, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.

“I’d guess you’re Cassius Black, though. Right?” Harry’s head jerked toward me, surprise flickering across his face, but I kept my gaze on the portrait, waiting.

The man’s jaw tightened, his silence stretching thin, and I braced myself for whatever came next. This wasn’t just some painted snob— he was tied to this place, to those statues, and he wasn’t happy we’d stumbled in. My heart thudded, loud in the stillness, and I wondered if we’d just poked something we couldn’t handle.

I held my ground as the portrait’s dark eyes bored into me, his jaw clenched so tight I thought the paint might crack.

“Cassius Black.” I pressed, nodding toward Harry. “That’s who you are, isn’t it? The one who wrote the journal we found in the secret room at Grimmauld Place.”

Harry caught on quickly, his tired face lighting up with recognition.

“Yeah.” He said, voice rough but sure. “That explains it— it is him.”

The man— Cassius— finally spoke, his voice low and bitter, confirming it with a sneer.

“Cassius Black, indeed. And what a state my ancient and most noble family has fallen to— tainted by a Potter and a Mudblood masquerading as kin.” The words hit like a slap, sharp and venomous, and I felt my ears burn, anger flickering under the exhaustion.

Harry stiffened beside me, his knuckles whitening around his wand, but Cassius wasn’t done.

“Leave.” He snapped, his tone final. “I’ll not waste words on such scum.”

The wall beside him shimmered, turning translucent— a way out, back to Grimmauld Place. I blinked, caught off guard, but Harry stepped forward, his voice rising.

“You put us through hell with those statues guarding this place!” He shot back, gesturing at the sealed door behind us. “We nearly died out there!”

Cassius’s sneer softened, just for a second, into something like grudging respect.

“You defeated my traps.” He admitted, his eyes flicking over us. “A feat, I’ll grant you. But I’ll only deign to speak with a Black— a true Black. Not you.”

I grabbed Harry’s arm mid-rant, his words cutting off as I tugged him back.

“Wait.” I said, low and urgent, the pieces clicking in my head. Cassius’s last bit— only a Black— rang clear.

“He means Sirius.” I muttered, loud enough for Harry to hear but not the portrait. Cassius tilted his head, watching us, and I forced a tight smile, dipping my head.

“Thanks for the chat.” I said, already pulling Harry toward the shimmering wall. He resisted for a second, his glare still fixed on the portrait, but I tightened my grip. “Come on.”

We stepped through, the cool rush of magic washing over us as the black door vanished behind. I let go of Harry, my legs shaky, and leaned against the secret room’s wall, the faint glow of runes pulsing in the corners. Cassius’ voice still echoed in my ears, that smug dismissal, but I’d caught the key— Sirius was our way in.

Harry’s fists clenched, his breath short, and I knew he wasn’t done being mad. Still, we’d survived, and now we had a lead. I just hoped Sirius could handle that pompous git better than we had.

I stumbled through the translucent wall, the secret room in Grimmauld Place snapping back into focus as the black door sealed shut behind us with a faint hum. The air here was musty, familiar, a sharp contrast to the sterile chill of Cassius’s chamber.

My legs gave a final wobble, and I slumped against the rune-etched wall, the cold stone biting through my cloak. Harry spun on me the second we were clear, his face flushed with frustration.

“Why’d you stop me?” He demanded, voice cracking. “He deserved a piece of my mind after everything!”

I held up a hand, catching my breath, the ache in my ribs flaring with every word.

“He said he’d only talk to a Black.” I said, keeping my tone steady. “A true Black. That’s Sirius, Harry. Not us.”

His eyes narrowed, glasses glinting in the dim light, and I could see the gears turning behind them. The anger didn’t fade, but it shifted— simmered down into something grudging.

“So, what.” He muttered. “We just drag Sirius down here to deal with him?”

“Exactly.” I said, pushing off the wall, though my body begged me to sit. “He’s the key. Cassius won’t budge otherwise.”

My arms still throbbed from the chains, my head pounded from that energy drain, but I forced myself to focus.

“We’ve got to get him, then.” Harry said finally, stopping to face me.

I nodded, rubbing the back of my neck.

“Yeah. If anyone can handle that pompous git, it’s him.” Harry snorted, a tired half-laugh escaping his lips.

“All right, let’s go get Sirius.”

“Get me for what?” Sirius’ voice came from behind us.

The scream that came from our mouths would likely haunt us for ages. He would certainly never let us live that down.