Chapter-7 — The Trap of Shadows
James, Rose, and Scorpius stepped cautiously into Bellatrix's room, only to find it empty and silent. But something unnatural floated at the center—a book suspended in mid-air, wrapped in a glowing green aura that lit the darkness like a lantern. Rose stared at it, puzzled. Scorpius wondered aloud what would happen if they took it, remembering the rumors that Bellatrix was protecting something important—perhaps to her, or even Voldemort himself. Rose agreed it might be.
Scorpius took a step toward the book, but Rose suddenly shouted for him to stop. A deep uneasy feeling crawled through her. Bellatrix was supposed to be here, yet she wasn't. Why would she leave the very thing she was said to be guarding? Why was there no protection around it? It felt wrong. It felt like a trap.
James supported her instinct and picked up a stick from near a chair. Rose and Scorpius prepared their wands as James aimed to throw the stick at the book. But Rose stopped him again. She pointed out that the book looked too new to be Slytherin's and that anything this easy in the magical world usually meant danger. Her instincts were sharp, and James agreed, though they still needed answers.
James threw the stick anyway. Instantly, the green glow around the book faded and complete darkness swallowed the room. Rose and Scorpius cast light with their wands, revealing two monstrous shapes emerging from the shadows—a dragon named Thornclaw and a massive basilisk. The three stepped back in fear. Scorpius muttered that this was definitely a trap… possibly watched by the Dark Army from afar.
A cruel, echoing laugh filled the room. Bellatrix's voice taunted them, mocking their foolishness for thinking they could take what she protected. Their deaths, she said, would be gifts to her Lord. Rose's anger erupted as she screamed that she would never forgive Bellatrix for stabbing Hermione and Professor McGonagall. Bellatrix only laughed and lunged toward Rose, grabbing her neck.
James reacted instantly—Expelliarmus blasted Bellatrix away. He conjured a phoenix Patronus to shield Rose, while Scorpius added another Expelliarmus to push Bellatrix further back. Furious, Bellatrix commanded Thorn claw and a second basilisk to kill them all. She tried to curse James, but Rose spun around and cast Sectumsempra, slashing Bellatrix's arm. Bellatrix screamed, but a strange dark mark on her body began regenerating her arm instantly. With a wicked smile, she fled into the shadows.
Meanwhile, Scorpius fought bravely against Thorn claw and the basilisk, distracting them to protect James and Rose. The basilisk almost struck him, but Rose froze its eyes and body with Glacius just in time. The three fled but soon encountered Thorn claw and another basilisk blocking their escape.
James told Rose and Scorpius to distract them while he handled them one by one. Rose provoked Thornclaw, and the dragon roared, preparing to breathe fire. Scorpius leapt onto the basilisk's head. James struck it with Stupefy, injuring the creature, then summoned his phoenix Patronus, which attacked the basilisk fiercely.
Rose cast Expecto Patronum, summoning a unicorn that guarded her and confused Thornclaw. Two Dark Army men appeared suddenly, but Rose defeated them with swift Stupefy spells and kicks. She noticed they too carried a "V" mark, though in different places. As she fought, Rose wondered: Is this mark the reason Bellatrix keeps healing? Is it protecting the Dark Army?
Meanwhile, the dragon turned and blasted Basilisk Two with fire, killing it instantly. Scorpius sighed in relief. James quickly took out his flute and played a soft, enchanting melody to calm the raging dragon. Thornclaw froze, soothed by the music. James climbed onto it and cast Obliviate, erasing its memory before continuing his tune.
Rose heard the flute and whispered to herself, Is that really James? The Dark Army men had covered their ears—they couldn't bear the pure, joyful sound. Rose knocked them out and wondered again about the mysterious marks.
Scorpius praised James as a hero, but James insisted that Scorpius was the true hero for protecting them during the chaos. Scorpius smiled, saying he would protect his best brother and best friends a thousand times over. He went to attack Thorn claw, but James stopped him. Thornclaw didn't deserve to die.
James approached the dragon and discovered its ear was injured by a sharp object. Scorpius worried that stopping the music would make Thornclaw dangerous again, but James revealed he had already frozen the creature with magic. He gently removed the object and cast Episkey to heal the dragon's wound. Thorn claw cried softly, tears falling from its eyes as James assured it they were not enemies.
Rose and Scorpius smiles proudly at James seeing his greatness.
When the trio approached the floating book again, Scorpius realized it was fake. James put the duplicate into his bag. Scorpius sighed deeply and said Rose had been right—this mission would not be easy. There were too many paths, too many mysteries: saving Albus, discovering the truth, and defeating Voldemort once and for all. But he promised he would stand with James through it all.
Rose continued thinking about the mark. What magic is behind it? Why is Bellatrix reborn again and again? Is it truly dark magic?
James also fell into thought. Why did Bellatrix place a duplicate book here? How did she know they would come? And how did Voldemort and his destroyed army return? Are the rumors about the Slytherin book true? Or another trap?
Scorpius tapped James and Rose back to awareness. Both apologized.
James remembered the moment Amelia had given him the original Gryffindor sword, glowing when he touched it. She had warned him to use it only when the time was right. Hagrid had said she could see the future—but what future awaited James? And why had Voldemort kidnapped Albus instead of him?
The three walked forward, carrying their weapons, their fears, and their determination. And as they moved through the dark corridor, Scorpius silently remembered the promise he made to Harry Potter—one he intended to keep, no matter the cost.