"Ron, your wand! Wave your wand! Don't worry about aiming. Cast every spell you can think of!"
Luo Bin shouted.
"Oh, right!"
Ron stopped and was about to cast the Freezing Charm when a powerful stench hit him.
It was as if someone had filled the Black Lake with rotten eggs. A cold, sinister chill carried the stench straight into his face.
Ron immediately remembered the enormous three-headed dog that had lain on the Living Wood last year.
Now a Monster more than a thousand years old, one that could kill with a glance, was breathing right behind him. It was probably flicking its tongue, too.
Ron had no thought of casting a spell. He bolted, not caring where he was going!
Hiss, hiss! Scrape!
Hiss, hiss! Scrape!
The hissing grew fainter. So did the scraping. Most importantly, Ron's screams were fading too!
Luo Bin pulled off his blindfold. He saw a shimmering green tail disappear through the entrance to the hall.
"Tsk. Aren't you going after him, Robin Sear? Mr. Weasley's screams were every bit as pitiful as Miss Weasley's before she passed out! Harry Potter, are you still hiding behind that Stone Pillar? Wait any longer and your friend will be the Snake King's dinner!"
Harry took off his blindfold and stepped out from behind the Stone Pillar. He looked around but saw no sign of his friend. "Luo Bin, where are Ron and the Snake King?"
"The pipes. Ron ran into the pipes, and the Snake King went after him. We need to—"
Before Luo Bin could finish, Harry raced after them. Luo Bin glanced at Ginny lying on the floor, then at Tom's smug, vicious grin. He snatched up the Diary and ran out.
The two followed the trail left by the slithering creature deep into