FicWad

This is my first time sharing with others, so reviews would be wonderful! All characters and HP related things are not mine.
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One bright, Saturday morning, Harry Potter, Ronald(Ron) Weasly, and Hermione Granger sat outside under a tree. It was only about ten in the morning, so it'd still be about three hours before they could go to Hogsmeade. Harry was unnaturally quiet as he sat, leaning against the tree, stareing at the shimmering surface of the lake. Hermione and Ron had been chatting for some time, and hadn't seemed to notice Harry's somber mood.

After about an hour of his silent thinking, Harry stood, attracting the attention of his friends. They were about to stand when Harry shook his head. "I'll be back. I just wanted to...talk to Dumbledor real quick." He flashed a fake smile before heading off. Truthfully Harry just wanted to be alone for a bit. After last years Twizard Tournament and everything. He felt like Cedricks death was all his fault.

Harry sighed, walking into the castle. For a bit he didn't really know what to do. He began walking around and found himself in an unfamiliar corridor. He glanced around before heading down it with a shrug. What did he care? As he passed an odd, metal door on his left, he heard a knock come from it. He stopped, back-tracked, and gazed at it, curious as to what was inside but also cautiously. After a moment of nothing, Harry turned to continue on when there came a knock, again.

Harry turned, hesitated, then reached out. He trurned the knob, surprised that it was unlocked. He stepped inside and glanced around. "DON'T LET IT CLOSE!" A voice called from a wall. Harry spun towards the door in time to see it slam shut.

Harry pulled out his wand. "Lumos." He murmered, lighting up the room. A different wand lit up a candle, then a figure took the candle and lit each of the other candles. Harry put out his wand. "Who are you?" He asked, softly. The figure unrecognizeable in the dim light, espechially with it's back to him. "And what just happened?" He added as it accoured to him.

The figure turned, candle in hand, to face Harry, who gasped. "Recognize me now, Potter?" Draco Malfoy snarled before setting the candle down. He sighed. "I found this room by just wondering around. I couldn't sleep. Anyway, it was around two and I heard someone coming. I also heard someone knocking. As the footsteps grew closer, I began checking the doors. This was the only one unlocked. I came in and glanced around. The door closed on it's own and I've been locked in here since." He sighed, streatching.

Harry glanced around, tested the door, and conjored more candles which he lit, hoping for more light as he listened to Malfoy's story. "Why would anyone want to lock students up?" He thought aloud. He continued to look around for anything they might be able to use. It wasn't much use. There were only old desks piled from floor to celing against the far walls, and an old teacher's desk beside the door.

Draco watched Harry, silently, for a little bit. When it seemed Harry was just about to give up, Draco spoke up. "You know, I'm not as stupid as you may think. I checked everything out before you showed up. After all, I'm not the one who locked us in here!" He shook his head with a sigh. "Even trying magic on the walls, celing, floor, and door didn't work. It's almost like thr room nulifies all magic thrown at it." He only informed Potter of this because he really didn't want Potter suggesting it, although he doubted he would, now that he thought about it a bit more.

Harry rolled his eyes. "And I'm supposed to belive you didn't set this up yourself, Malfoy?" He shook his head, turning to look some more. It seemed hopeless. He sank down against a wall, greatfull that he could expect someone to come searching for him. He just didn't know how long it would take.

Draco rolled his eyes in responce. "Why would I willingly lock myself up with /you/, Potter?" He snarled. "Besides, how would I have known you would be the person to come and not someone else?" He growled, wishing he could just keep his mouth shut once in a while. He had no reason to prove himself to Potter except, perhaps, to keep Potter from curseing him.

Harry sighed realiseing Malfoy was right. There was no reason for him to lock them up. Well, together at least. He leaned back, closing his eyes. He must have dozed off because the next thing he knew, he jolted awake at the sound of stone grinding against stone.

Both boys stood up, on guard for what was to come next. They spun to gaze at the far wall which had just opened up to a torch-lit corridor. The two boys glanced at one another before turning back to the new corridor. Harry stepped forward, cautiously. Draco followed, not wanting to seem scared. All that could be seen was a grey-stone corridor with a polished wood door at the end and torches every few feet. The two boys stepped down the corridor, cautiously.

Once they reached the door, they found words carved into it's front. Harry read them out loud: "To enter into the maze of challenges, and continue on through back into Hogwarts, you must first start calling one another by your first names. Then you shall be permitted to enter into the room of knowledge that shall explain everything you need to know. Good luck with your adventure."

Draco turned to gaze at Harry. "I'm not stupid, Potter. I can read." He rolled his eyes.

"Then perhaps it would be best to call each other by our first names so we can at least find out what's going on here." Harry replied with gritted teeth, pushing against the door, half-heartedly. He sighed, resigned. "Alright, this isn't too bad." He murmered to himself. "Draco." He choaked out, unhappily. A click sounded within the door.

Draco gazed at the door. He pushed it, himself, after the click. No luck. "Fine, Harry. This had better work." He growled and the door clicked, once again. The boys pushed against the knob-less door and it swung open.

Inside the small stone room, a podium with one lonely book sat in the middle. Harry stepped into the room with Draco following, cautiously. Harry flipped open the small, leather-bound book and jumped back as a shape began to materialize next to the podium. Both boys raised their wands as the whitish fog turned into a young woman, barely at the age of eighteen.

The young woman was dressed in blue robes as if she were a Ravenclaw. However, this young woman's robes didn't look quite right. She smiled. "Hello, my name is Rowena Ravenclaw. This maze of challenges has been created for two people at one time. The two who have been spotted, you two, will be the only ones allowed within the maze at one time. And you two are," she paused as a white light shined over the two. "Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter. Sworn enemies since your first train ride. Too bad you'll have such a hard time with this." She grinned.

Harry swallowed, glancing out the corner of his eyes towards Malfoy. 'Too bad you'll have such a hard time with this.' What did that mean? Harry wondered, absently as he had a sinking feeling about all of this.

Rowena gazed at the two boys, silently. "As I have said, this is a maze of challenges. However, this maze was created with a little bit of Salazar Slytherin's help. The two spotted must have some sort of very strong feelings towards each other, but that could be hate, too. The challenges are ment for two people to get closer to one another." She paused, glancing from one boy to the other. "Closer as in more like spouses." She added, calmly.

The two looked at one another in horror. They'd have to treat each other like spouses to get out of here? No way! "But, can't an exception be made? We hate each other! There's no way we'd treat each other like spouses!" Harry cried, astounded.

Rowena shook her head. "I'm sorry, but if you can't learn to at least fake it...which will still bring you closer, then you wont be allowed to leave. There is nothing I can do. But, there is more, as you manuver throughout the maze, there are different routes you can take, some shorter, others longer. However, if you fail to complete a task, for example, if one of you calls the other by their last name, you both will be transported back to the begining of the maze, before that door." She pointed to the door they had come through.

"So, you're saying that if we...don't get along, not only will we not be able to leave, but we'll also have to start all over?" Draco asked, incredulously.

Rowena nodded. "Yes. So, it would be a good idea to remember what the challenges you face are, or learn to like each other so much that you'll continue doing the tasks so that you can get out. Of course, I know you two well enough to know that I will probably see you many more times. However, I wish you luck and bid you farewell." She smiled, motioning towards a door across the room.

Draco stepped forward, towards the door. As he reached the door, however, he realised that Harry hadn't followed. He turned around to find Harry staring at him. "Well, are you coming, Potter?" He asked. A gasp escaped his mouth as purple light engulfed the two. The next thing he knew, he was bent over, shaking with pain while Harry stood next to him, seeming fine. He shook his head, took a deep breath, and spoke in a low and even tone. "Harry, would you mind opening the door?"

Harry stared at Draco for a moment. "Draco." He murmered and pushed the door. However, Harry noticed that Draco had stopped shaking and had even stood up when he had spoke his name. He stepped into the room and glanced around.

Draco strutted into the room and flipped the book open with a bit of force. Rowena appeared. "I didn't think I'd see you two again so soon." She said with a smile.

Draco glared. "Wipe that smile off your face and tell me what you neglected to tell us before. What else happens when we 're-start'?" He hissed, his voice dripping with ice. If Harry wasn't so used to it, he might've shuddered.

Rowena's smile only grew, however. "I wanted you to learn it on your own. Whoever breaks the challenge will be in excruciating pain until the other does their part to open the first door. That is, says the other's first name, of course. It's not quite as bad as the Crutio Curse, luckily." She smiled.

Harry stared at her in disbelif. He shook his head. Would this be so easy, now? He sighed. "Fine. Let's get this over with and get back to our normal lives, Mal- Draco." He corrected himself, glancing around. When nothing happened, he let out a silent breath of relif, moving over to the only door they had not yet been through.

Draco scowled. This might get interesting. He might just get his chance to get at Potter. Nice. He smirked.

Rowena spoke up, quickly. "I warn you, if one of you dies, the other will as well. You will each fill the other's pain. If it is because you...failed a challenge, you wont feel it until a minute after."

Draco nodded in understanding, moving over to stand next to Harry beside the door. He read the words upon the door out loud. "Only the chosen may pass. As you have made it this far, you must be quite entangled, spiritually. To move along, however, you must touch each other in some kind of loving way." Draco glanced at Harry. "A loving way, huh? Pft. Really easy, huh?" He snickered.

Harry growled, reaching out. He hoped it didn't mean too 'lovingly'. He clasped Draco's hand. He smirked at Draco's unease and surprise, but returned the surprise as Draco clasped his own hand. Harry pushed the door open and they stepped through.

Harry hesitated for a moment before letting go of Draco's hand, slowly. They glanced around. When nothing happened, Harry, again, let out a breath of relif. He glanced around, the low celing making him a bit nervous. The room was empty, although the walls were adorned with designs. The wood had different carvings etched into it. The two boys stepped further into the room, stopping and pulling out their wands as the walls began to shimmer.

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Okay, there's the first chapter! ^^ Tell me what you think, please. ^^

Next chapter has not yet been written so it'll take me a bit of time.