Rock crunched under Draco’s boots as he took one tentative step onto the rock walkway. Satisfied with its solidity, he crossed the path with six more quick, confident steps. The uneasy glance he made over his shoulder at the pitch black opening behind him was not unnoticed by Hermione, who followed closely behind him. Even with the flashlight, the path was darkly shadowed. The meager beam of light emanating from the small battery-powered flashlight hardly penetrated the dark corridor. All that was visible were two stone walls, leading parallel into pure blackness.  