sfftmom: the round room--the city of dis

At last, Buckbeak landed in front of a plain black door.   As soon as he dismounted, however, he jumped back.  For at his feet slithered three enormous snakes.  Hissing violently, they seemed to be communicating to one another.  Then, from the opposite end of the corridor came a low, loud slithering sound.

“Basilisk!  Quick--open the door, Potter!  DO NOT LOOK UP!”

They entered the room and found themselves in almost complete darkness.  The only light came from a few blue-flamed candles interspersed throughout the room.  Straining his eyes, Albus noticed that the room was round in shape, and entirely black.  In the round wall were a dozen black doors, all looking exactly like the one from which they had just entered.  Around the edge of the room strolled what looked like a great lion--except that it had the head of a woman.  Albus recognized the creature as a Sphinx.  The Sphinx wore a mysterious look on her face.

“I know which door you seek.  But you may not enter it unless you can solve my riddle.”

Albus looked up at Snape.  It seemed that they had no alternative.  “All right.  Let’s hear it,” Albus said warily.

The Sphinx smiled and sat directly in the middle of the room.

“At the beginning, it sounds like a light

But the candles alone don’t make it that bright.

To follow it up is one higher than friend

A teacher, a leader, to get to the end.

Put all together, a kiss may be won

But one that’s unwanted; it puts out the sun.”

Albus breathed deeply.  “‘At the beginning . . .’  Ok, it’s the beginning of something.  But-- ‘sounds like a light’?”

“Try the second part of the clue: ‘higher than friend,’” advised Snape.

“Teacher . . . leader . . . mentor?  ‘All together, a kiss may be won.’  Oh my!”  Chills went down Albus’ spine as a horrible thought came to him.  “You don’t think it means ‘dim-mentor’? Like a Dementor’s kiss?!”  He turned toward the Sphinx.  “That’s what it is, isn’t it?  A Dementor’s kiss.”  Smiling, the Sphinx moved toward the edge of the room and the door directly across from them swung open, revealing a long, rectangular room.