Re:HP-A New Life

I am 15 chapters ahead on my patreón, check it out if you are interested.

https://www.patréon.com/emperordragon

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Chapter Thirty: The Midnight Encounter

The castle was bathed in the soft glow of moonlight, casting long shadows across the ancient stone corridors. The stillness of the night was broken only by the soft whispers and hurried footsteps of four first-year students making their way toward the Trophy Room. Rose Potter led the way, her wand illuminating their path with a faint glow. Behind her, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Neville Longbottom followed, each grappling with a mix of excitement and apprehension.

"Are you sure about this?" Hermione asked, her voice barely a whisper, laced with doubt. "This could be a trap. Draco Malfoy isn't exactly trustworthy."

Rose glanced back at her friend, her hazel eyes reflecting both determination and a hint of nervousness. "It'll be fine, Hermione. We can handle Malfoy."

Ron, ever eager for a bit of adventure, grinned. "Yeah, it's not like Malfoy can actually beat us in a duel."

Neville, who was visibly nervous but determined not to back out, nodded. "I'll do my best."

As they approached the Trophy Room, the air grew thick with anticipation. The glass cabinets lining the room gleamed in the moonlight, their polished surfaces reflecting the anxious faces of the young Gryffindors. They stepped inside cautiously, their eyes darting around the room in search of Malfoy and his cronies.

"He's not here," Hermione observed, her tone wary. She scanned the room, her brow furrowed. "I don't like this."

Ron shrugged. "Maybe he chickened out."

But Hermione's instincts proved correct. Before they could react, the unmistakable sound of footsteps echoed from the corridor outside, followed by the sinister meows of Mrs. Norris, Filch's ever-vigilant cat.

"It's a trap!" Hermione hissed, her eyes widening in alarm.

Panic surged through the group as they turned and fled, their footsteps a frantic clatter against the cold stone floor. Filch's voice, gruff and threatening, echoed behind them. "I know you're there! Come out, come out, wherever you are!"

The four friends darted down a series of hallways, turning corners at random, their hearts pounding in unison. They raced up a flight of stairs, hoping to outmaneuver Filch in the labyrinthine corridors. Finally, they found themselves on the third floor, gasping for breath in front of a large, imposing door.

"It's locked!" Ron exclaimed, tugging futilely at the handle.

Hermione, ever prepared, pulled out her wand. "Alohomora," she whispered. The lock clicked, and they slipped inside, closing the door quietly behind them.

The room was shrouded in darkness, the only light coming from a narrow window high above. As their eyes adjusted, they became aware of a massive form in the center of the room. A low, menacing growl rumbled through the air. Standing before them was a gigantic three-headed dog, each head fixed on them with a predatory gaze.

"Fluffy," Rose murmured, remembering the creature Hagrid had mentioned in passing. The dog's eyes glinted dangerously, its sharp teeth bared in a silent warning.

For a heartbeat, the four friends were paralyzed by fear. Then, as one of the dog's heads snapped toward them, they broke into motion. Scrambling backward, they flung the door open and bolted down the corridor, the sound of Fluffy's barks reverberating through the hall.

They didn't stop running until they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, their lungs burning from exertion. "Password?" she asked, her voice tinged with irritation at being woken.

"Caput Draconis," Rose panted, and the portrait swung open, allowing them to tumble into the safety of the Gryffindor common room.

They collapsed onto the sofas, gasping for breath, the adrenaline still coursing through their veins. For a moment, no one spoke, the weight of their near-escape settling over them.

Hermione was the first to break the silence, her voice a mix of anger and relief. "I told you it was a trap! Malfoy set us up!"

Ron, still catching his breath, scowled. "Yeah, well, we didn't exactly expect a three-headed dog either!"

Rose nodded, her face flushed. "Hermione's right. We should've known better."

Neville, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, spoke up, his voice shaky but thoughtful. "Did anyone else notice the trapdoor? The dog was standing on it."

A heavy silence fell over the group as they exchanged uneasy glances.

"A trapdoor?" Hermione echoed, her mind already working through the implications. "What could be under there that needs guarding by a creature like that?"

The gravity of their discovery began to sink in. Whatever lay beneath that trapdoor was important—possibly dangerous. Rose's mind flashed to Hagrid's offhand comment about Fluffy being the perfect guard for something valuable.

Hermione, though still fuming, couldn't hide her curiosity. "We need to find out what it's guarding."

Ron groaned, leaning back against the cushions. "Great. More danger. Just what we need."

Despite his sarcasm, there was a spark of excitement in his eyes. The lure of mystery and adventure was hard to resist, even if it meant risking another encounter with a three-headed dog.

Rose sighed, the weight of responsibility pressing on her. "Whatever it is, we have to be careful. No more midnight duels."

Hermione nodded firmly. "Agreed. But we can't ignore this. We need to be smart about it."

As the fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the room, the four friends sat together, united by the thrill of discovery and the unspoken promise of danger ahead. The mystery of the trapdoor and the formidable guardian loomed large in their minds, a puzzle begging to be solved.

They knew that whatever lay beneath that trapdoor was not just a school secret—it was something far more significant. And though the path ahead was fraught with peril, their bond was stronger than ever, forged in the crucible of shared fear and unwavering curiosity.