Below the trapdoor was empty space, with Devil's Snare at the very bottom.
This was a magical plant that loved dark, damp environments, possessed a certain degree of consciousness, and could use its tough, powerful vines to strangle prey to death. Wizards skilled in Herbology would specially cultivate it as a weapon to guard treasures. It was considered a fairly powerful magical plant.
However, when Dudley came down, all the Devil's Snare had shrunk back against the wall edges, clearly having experienced an unpleasant encounter with light. Devil's Snare feared light and heat—these were its natural enemies. This was its only weakness, and also its greatest weakness.
Like humans who became vampires after wearing the Stone Mask, they would suffer massive burns upon contact with sunlight. The best way to deal with Devil's Snare was to use spells related to light and heat.
Dudley surveyed his surroundings and found them completely empty—no sign of Harry and the others. Obviously they had already left ahead of him.
"Wonder which challenge they've reached."
As he said this, Dudley's left foot began to slowly descend at an angle, while his right foot stepped out in the opposite posture. Moving with a strange gait, slowly, slowly, his entire body seemed to meld into the darkness and vanish from sight.
Zoldyck family assassination technique—'Shadow Step', a skill that could hide oneself in darkness without making any sound. Quite practical.
Where Dudley had walked using Shadow Step, the ground gradually showed complex and intricate patterns. Transmutation circles.
At this moment, Harry and the others had already found the correct key among a swarm of flying keys and opened the door ahead.
"This is way too easy."
Whether it was the Devil's Snare or finding the key, both were ridiculously simple. The former just required paying attention in Herbology class, while the latter needed basic Charms knowledge or the ability to ride a broomstick.
It just so happened that Herbology had recently covered how to deal with Devil's Snare, and Professor Flitwick had just taught them how to use spells to distinguish real from fake. What a coincidence!
They even suspected that the three-headed dog Dudley faced outside was actually the most difficult challenge. That thing simply wasn't something a few first-years could handle—not even these "first-year completion" students who could challenge higher levels.
"Should we really not wait for Big D?"
Harry looked back at the pitch-black room behind them and asked his companions.
"Let's go further ahead." Hermione held up her wand seriously. As the most skilled with Charms among them, she had distinguished the real key with a single spell: "We can't disappoint Dudley's expectations. If possible, we should complete these tests before he arrives."
"We can't always depend on him. He needs companions, not dead weight."
Having been unable to help at all when facing the three-headed dog left Hermione very dissatisfied with herself—none of her knowledge had been useful.
"Well then, Potter, what are you waiting for?"
Malfoy said with slight impatience, pushing past Harry to open the door ahead. Whether it was the Devil's Snare or these keys, he hadn't been useful at all, while this Potter had actually ridden a broomstick to get the real key.
No way, I'm definitely making a move in the next round.
The others exchanged glances and followed him in.
This was a special room, larger than they'd imagined. They now stood at the edge of a giant chessboard, with huge black chess pieces in front of them—pieces that towered several heads above them. At the other end of the room, facing them, were white chess pieces.
"Wizard's Chess?"
Malfoy muttered under his breath, clearly recognizing what these pieces represented. He looked at Ron with ill intent: "Tsk, Robert, looks like we're on your home turf. It seems we have to finish this game to get through here."
Ron was the most skilled at Wizard's Chess among them.
"Call me Ron!"
Fists clenched! Fists hardened!
That damned Malfoy was definitely doing this on purpose! Ron angrily waved his fist at Malfoy, but the latter didn't take him seriously at all. Just little Ronnie.
"It's Transfiguration—must be Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration." Hermione spoke up again, seeming to have found the key point: "The Devil's Snare represents Herbology, definitely Professor Sprout's arrangement. The fake keys had Duplication Charms on them, so that's Professor Flitwick. I think we'll still face challenges from Professor Snape or Professor Quirrell."
There were only so many subjects for young wizards, and only so many professors left.
"Was the first challenge's three-headed dog Professor Kettleburn's work?"
Neville seemed to catch on too. Kettleburn was the Care of Magical Creatures professor.
"I don't think so." Malfoy curled his lip. "The three-headed dog is obviously not on the same level as the later challenges. Someone who'd put such a dangerous creature there would be that reckless big guy, Hagrid."
Since Hagrid got the dragon egg, Malfoy had been visiting his hut frequently. Once, when Hagrid was bragging about his nurturing abilities, he'd casually mentioned having raised a three-headed dog. Malfoy hadn't paid attention then, but Hermione's reminder brought it back.
By now Ron had been observing the chessboard for quite a while: "Hey, guys, listen to me. I think I know how to get through this challenge. Three pieces are missing—I need three people."
Chess—only by finishing the game could they pass this challenge. Actually, there was a faster method. If they could use spells to destroy these pieces, they should be able to pass too, but they obviously couldn't do that—they hadn't learned such powerful spells yet.
Since they couldn't break the rules, they'd join the rules and use them. This was something Dudley had once told them.
"Let me be the first one." Neville stepped forward voluntarily. "My brain isn't as good as yours, and I'm not as skilled with spells, but I think I can still be useful, like now."
"I'll be second." Harry also stepped forward.
Ron thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll be third—"
"I think..." Malfoy cleared his throat, pushing past Ron to step forward: "The third should be me."
This move surprised everyone—they all looked at Malfoy with astonishment.
"Why are you all looking at me like that? Think I wouldn't step forward?"
Though he said this, Malfoy looked like he'd expected this all along, shrugging, "No way! I won't let you Gryffindors hog all the glory."
"But..." Ron hesitated.
"No buts. As the chess player, you can't participate directly. You must stay completely calm, or you won't be able to perform at full capacity. Miss Granger is right—we don't want to be dead weight. So let's prove it to him, prove it to Big D!"
Malfoy said seriously.
"I don't want to lose. Let us win, Rophus!"
Ron had been somewhat moved, but that final "Rophus" instantly killed all his goodwill.
"Say it again—my name is Ron! Ron Weasley!"
"Very well, Mr. Wetherby."
"Malfoy, you son of a—"
[Chapter Complete]
***
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