After several minutes on the new path, the darkness around Harry deepened—he was approaching the heart of the maze.
As he walked down a long, straight corridor, he spotted movement ahead.
His wandlight illuminated an utterly extraordinary creature—a sphinx. Orli had seen pictures of them in The Monster Book of Monsters. Its body was that of an enormous, terrifying lion: massive paws, a long yellow tail with a tuft of hair at the tip. But it had a woman's head.
"Orli, you really are brilliant," Harry muttered under his breath. On this side of the mirror, Snape cast a searching glance at Orli.
Harry cautiously approached the sphinx, who turned her long, almond-shaped eyes toward him. He raised his wand, hesitating. The sphinx didn't crouch to pounce; instead, she paced back and forth, blocking his path. Then she spoke, her voice low and hoarse.
"You are very close to your goal. The quickest way is to pass by me."
"Er... could you possibly let me through?" Harry asked.
Snape snorted again, as if amused.
"No," the sphinx continued pacing.
"Unless you can answer my riddle. Guess correctly—I'll let you pass. Guess wrong—I'll attack. Don't answer—I'll let you walk away unharmed."
"All right," Harry said.
"Can I hear the riddle?"
The sphinx sat back on her haunches, blocking the center of the path, and recited:
"First think of the person who always wears a mask,
Lives in shadows, lies with every breath.
Then tell me what's always mended and patched,
The middle of middle, the end of end.
Finally tell me what word is often spoken
When you can't think of what to say.
Now put them together and answer me—
What creature would you never want to kiss?"
Harry stared at her, mouth agape.
"Could you repeat that... a bit slower?" he asked tentatively.
She winked at him, smiled slightly, and recited the riddle again.
"All the clues together make an animal I wouldn't want to kiss?" Harry asked.
The sphinx only laughed mysteriously.
"Wears a mask," Harry stared at her, muttering to himself.
"Always lies... er... that's—imposter. No, that's not my answer! Is it—spy? I'll think about that later... Can you repeat the second clue?"
She recited the next two lines again.
"What's always mended and patched," Harry repeated.
"Er... can't think of it... 'middle of middle'... Can you say the last part again?"
She repeated the final four lines.
"'What word is often spoken when you can't think of what to say,'" Harry said.
"Er... it should be... er... wait—'er!' 'Er' is a word!"
The sphinx smiled at him.
"Spy... er... spy... er..." Harry paced as he spoke.
"An animal I wouldn't want to kiss... it's a spider!"
The sphinx smiled more warmly. She stood up, stretched her front legs, and stepped aside.
"Thank you!" Harry rushed past her. He broke into a run—ahead was another fork in the path.
"Point Me!" he said to his wand again. The wand spun and pointed toward the right path.
He ran along this path, but after just a few steps, he suddenly stopped. From a side path came the sound of someone else moving—unsteady footsteps.
Soon, a figure emerged from behind the hedge.
"Krum?" Harry relaxed slightly, but didn't lower his wand.
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