Text Cut: Iris Harden
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sweetpinkpixie 
Iris inclined her head with a quiet, "Thank you, Professor," unable to suppress the small, jocund flicker of satisfaction that warmed her smile. Nonverbal magic had become something of a personal challenge over the past year ― specifically the moment she had laid her quill down after her final OWL exam. Every successful spell cast without a spoken incantation felt less like a triumph and more like another carefully placed stone in a path she intended to keep walking.
As the concealed doorway revealed itself, however, her attention shifted entirely. Not the activity she had expected them to partake in, but quietly chasizing herself for not anticipating it. Their professor had, after all, provided more then substantial evidence pointing towards something like this.
Her fingers instinctively found the handle of the silver mirror once more, turning it over in her palm as Professor Amstern explained its purpose and review of the threatening presence that was a basilisk. Not that she'd needed the reminder — few creatures inspired quite as much obsessive reading as one capable of killing with a glance — but habits of review had never hurt anyone.
She rose with the rest of the class and moved towards the entrance. Ordinarily, Iris would have welcomed an exercise like this alone. There was a certain comfort in relying solely upon the ordered chaos of her own thoughts, free from interruption or compromise. She had spent years convinced that her own mind made for the best company she could ask for.
Yet... since the summer, she'd found herself reluctantly revising that conclusion. There were, it turned out, distinct advantages to another perspective —another pair of eyes to notice what she'd overlooked (though she would all too often deny she had done so), another mind willing to challenge her assumptions before they calcified into certainty.
It was an adjustment she still wasn't entirely accustomed to making, but one she wasn't entirely sure she minded anymore.
The realization lingered only briefly before curiosity reclaimed its rightful place at the forefront of her thoughts ― though she did glance around to see if there was anyone migrating in her direction to pair or group up with.
Checking which direction the mirror faced for reflexive use, Iris stepped through the round doorway and into the tunnels, her grip on the silver frame tightening ever so slightly as the shadows swallowed her. If history had taught her anything today, it was that legends were at their most dangerous when people forgot to treat them as real. Even an animated statue, she suspected, deserved the courtesy of caution.
Once you reach the other side, you find yourself in a tunnel that branches off into three directions - one to your left, one that continues straight ahead, and one to your left. A cold light reminiscent of bluebell flames lights up the paths, though no flames can be seen on the walls. The stone floor looks damp, with small shallow puddles pooled in random spots every few meters or so.
A faint
hisssssssssss can be heard coming from the tunnel to the right. No other sound comes from the other two tunnels, except for perhaps a quiet
drip, drip, drip of water.
Which path will you choose?
Text Cut: Idris Grunt
Quote:
Originally Posted by
FearlessLeader19 Idris Ace Grunt absolutely took the moment to bask in the thrill of heading down that pipe. Ever so often, there was a WHEEEEE penetrating the air, echoing through the pipe. Who knows, maybe they even meet either end so that the persons there would hear him. Paully surely would have since he wasn’t too far behind, hopefully.
All too soon - and much to the young man’s disappointment - he shot out of the pipe, landing on his butt. His lips were formed in a pout as he sprang to his feet, but that quickly vanished as he bounded out of the way so that the boyfriend could make a clear landing. While Id waited, he eagerly surveyed the three paths. He shivered slightly - not from cold - but from the fact that the hue of blue lights only served to pique his interest in each path.
UGH!
This is going to be a difficult decision to choose! 
His eyes narrowed at the small pools of water on the ground as Paul’s journey through the pipe ended. “Look!” Probably without giving the poor Hufflepuff too much time to get used to their new surroundings, he pointed to the pools. “We need to be careful with those. It’s an excellent surface for a Basilisk’s eyes to reflect.” As if to back up his words, an ominous hiss filled the air. Iddy made a face. “I do NOT fancy meeting that!’’ Even though it wasn’t a real creature! 
And so, the quick discussion with Paul about which path to take ensued. A key point that was raised was the hiss could have been a trick of the tunnels; it need not necessarily come from the middle one. But in the end, the pair decided on the left side.
With his mirror clutched tightly, Idris headed down the path. He was careful not to take too long of a look at the puddles before him.
Quiet descends upon your surroundings as you continue through the tunnel. It twists and turns before dividing into two paths to the right and left. Both paths look similar, short tunnels that also appear to branch off into even more winding pathways.
And then you hear it from behind you - faintly at first as if quite a distance away, but gradually creeping ever closer...
Ssssssssss...