Chapter 131: Gryffindor's Treasure (Part 1)
Fred said excitedly,
"It's like that Muggle weapon called a flashbang Dad once mentioned. Just give us the signal at the right time."
Phineas nodded, confirming they were all on the same page.
"Instead of standing here theorizing, we might as well press on and see for ourselves. Thanks to the Portkey Boots, we can return to Hogwarts at any moment—as long as we have enough time. But this time, our goal is Gryffindor's treasure."
After Lee Jordan lit his wand, he added,
"Exactly. We're all here now—let's find out what's inside."
Without needing to say more, George and Fred lit their wands and followed them into the darkness ahead.
Under the light of the Lumos spell, they could see their surroundings clearly. Fortunately, they didn't run into any particularly dangerous creatures. Only a few common bats, startled by the sudden light, flew toward them—but they were easily repelled by the group's magic.
After all, they weren't magical creatures. Even without using powerful spells like the Shadowless Blade that Phineas favored, basic spells like Diffindo, Depulso, Petrificus Totalus, or Somnus could easily take care of them.
They walked for quite a while, well beyond the reach of the fireworks' light from earlier, until they came upon another stone wall.
"Is this place completely sealed off?" Lee Jordan asked, disappointed, as he eyed the walls in front, left, and right.
George shook his head.
"That can't be. If it were, where would the air we're breathing come from?"
Phineas nodded.
"George is right. If there's air—and bats—then there has to be an exit. This place can't be completely closed off."
He looked up at the stone ceiling above them. It was sealed as well.
Fred stared at the wall ahead in confusion. After examining it for a while, he stepped forward and cautiously touched it.
"Guys!" he called, excited.
"Come over here—I found something!"
The others hurried over and saw Fred touching the stone wall, his eyes gleaming like he'd made a thrilling discovery.
George quickly reached out and touched it too. His expression brightened. He glanced at Fred and turned to Phineas and Lee Jordan.
"You two have to try this—it feels incredible."
Lee Jordan was unnerved by the weird looks on George and Fred's faces. He hesitated, too spooked to move.
Phineas, puzzled, reached out and touched the wall. But his hand didn't feel anything solid—there was no wall at all.
Of course, the twins had been joking. There was no real stone wall here—just an illusion. But seeing their mischievous expressions and Lee Jordan's nervous face, Phineas grinned and turned toward him with a sly look.
"Lee, come give it a try. It's... an unforgettable experience."
Seeing Phineas fall for the same thing, Lee panicked, tripped, and landed on the ground in fear.
George, Fred, and Phineas exchanged glances, their expressions growing even stranger as they turned to Lee again.
"Lee, come on—touch the wall!" they urged.
Unable to bear the suspense any longer, Lee let out a terrified scream and tried to scramble back the way they'd come.
At that, the others burst out laughing and collapsed to the ground.
Having shared a dormitory with George and Fred for a term, Lee Jordan quickly realized he'd been pranked.
"You lot nearly scared me to death!" he shouted angrily.
"Hahahaha!"
All three kept laughing.
Seeing them laugh so hard, Lee couldn't help but chuckle, too.
"Alright, alright. So what did you actually find?"
Even Lee knew by now they must have found a way forward—otherwise, they wouldn't be joking around.
Phineas came over, grinning, grabbed Lee's arm, and guided it through the illusion.
Lee froze again—was it another prank?
But as his hand passed through what should've been solid stone, he understood what the others had discovered. He looked at them, speechless.
"I get it when those two pranksters act like this... but you, Phineas?"
Phineas smiled and waved it off.
"It was fun—and it lightens the mood."
And indeed, the joke broke the tension in the cave. The dark, ominous atmosphere had been replaced by laughter and ease.
After a while, they all stood up and walked forward. When they reached the illusory wall, they didn't hesitate—they stepped through it.
"Is this like the magic used at King's Cross Station?" George asked.
Phineas shook his head.
"No, the station's enchantment only activates if you run straight into it. This one doesn't even respond to touch—it's a simple illusion. The station uses a more advanced version of this spell."
George nodded in understanding. Fred's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"George!"
"Fred!"
"I've got a brilliant idea!"
They shouted in unison, then hugged each other like they'd struck gold.
Phineas and Lee Jordan exchanged a helpless glance and turned their attention to the space ahead.
The place was far larger than the cave behind them. A broad, circular platform stretched out before them. A narrow stream of water separated the outer edge from the center, cutting off the way forward.
From where they stood, they could see a grand throne and a treasure chest standing on a raised dais in the middle, surrounded by the watery ring.
"That must be Gryffindor's treasure," Phineas said. "But it looks like there could be something dangerous in that water. Stay alert."
George looked at the circle of water thoughtfully. Then he lit a firework and tossed it in.
The burst of light illuminated the water—and revealed what lay beneath.
Mermaids. The same kind that had attacked them earlier. And something else—long, writhing tentacles.
"It's mermaids—and an octopus," Lee Jordan said.
Phineas narrowed his eyes.
"Do you think those tentacles belong to the giant squid in the Black Lake? In other words, are we looking at Gryffindor's tentacles?"
George stared, stunned.
"You mean... Gryffindor has been guarding this place all along?"