Harry.realised.at.once.she.was.right:.he.could.no.sooner.identify.the.exit.door.than.locate.an.ant.on.the.jet‐black.floor;.and.the.door.through.which.they.needed.to.proceed.could.be.any.one.of.the.dozen.surrounding.them..
.How.re.we.going.to.get.back.out?..said.Neville.uncomfortably..
.Well,.that.doesn.t.matter.now,..said.Harry.forcefully,.blinking.to.try.to.erase.the.blue.lines.from.his.vision,.and.clutching.his.wand.tighter.than.ever,..we.won.t.need.to.get.out.till.we.ve.found.Sinus.‐..
.Don.t.go.calling.for.him,.though!..Hermione.said.urgently;.but.Harry.had.never.needed.her.advice.less,.his.instinct.was.to.keep.as.quiet.as.possible..
.Where.do.we.go,.then,.Harry?..Ron.asked..
.I.don.t.‐..Harry.began..He.swallowed...In.the.dreams.I.went.through.the.door.at.the.end.of.the.corridor.from.the.lifts.into.a.dark.room.‐.that.s.this.one.‐.and.then.I.went.through.another.door.into.a.room.that.kind.of….glitters..We.should.try.a.few.doors,..he.said.hastily,..I.ll.know.the.right.way.when.I.see.it..C.mon...
He.marched.straight.at.the.door.now.facing.him,.the.others.following.close.behind.him,.set.his.left.hand.against.its.cool,.shining.surface,.raised.his.wand.ready.to.strike.the.moment.it.opened,.and.pushed..
It.swung.open.easily..
After.the.darkness.of.the.first.room,.the.lamps.hanging.low.on.golden.chains.from.this.ceiling.gave.the.impression.that.this.long.rectangular.room.was.much.brighter.though.there.were.no.glittering,.shimmering.lights.as.Harry.had.seen.in.his.dreams..The.place.was.quite.empty.except.for.a.few.desks.and,.in.the.very.middle.of.the.room,.an.enormous.glass.tank.of.deep.green.liquid,.big.enough.for.all.of.them.to.swim.in;.a.number.of.pearly‐white.objects.were.drifting.around.lazily.in.it..
.What.re.those.things?..whispered.Ron..
.Dunno,..said.Harry..
.Are.they.fish?..breathed.Ginny..
.Aquavirius.Maggots!..said.Luna.excitedly...Dad.said.the.Ministry.were.breeding.—..
.No,..said.Hermione..She.sounded.odd..She.moved.forward.to.look.through.the.side.of.the.tank..They.re.brains...
.Brains?.
.Yes….I.wonder.what.they.re.doing.with.them?..
Harry.joined.her.at.the.tank..Sure.enough,.there.could.be.no.mistake.now.he.saw.them.at.close.quarters..Glimmering.eerily,.they.drifted.in.and.out.of.sight.in.the.depths.of.the.green.liquid,.looking.something.like.slimy.cauliflowers..
.Let.s.get.out.of.here,..said.Harry..This.isn.t.right,.we.need.to.try.another.door...
There.are.doors.here,.too,..said.Ron,.pointing.around.the.walls..Harry.s.heart.sank;.how.big.was.this.place?.
.In.my.dream.I.went.through.that.dark.room.into.the.second.one,..he.said...I.think.we.should.go.back.and.try.from.there...
So.they.hurried.back.into.the.dark,.circular.room;.the.ghostly.shapes.of.the.brains.were.now.swimming.before.Harry.s.eyes.instead.of.the.blue.candle.flames..
.Wait!..said.Hermione.sharply,.as.Luna.made.to.close.the.door.of.the.brain.room.behind.them...Flagrate!..
She.drew.with.her.wand.in.midair.and.a.fiery..X..appeared.on.the.door..No.sooner.had.the.door.clicked.shut.behind.them.than.there.was.a.great.rumbling,