When Aiden and Astoria emerged from the castle, troubling news was already spreading like wildfire throughout Hogwarts.
Sirius Black had broken into the school.
Aiden paused mid-step. "..."
Astoria glanced at him, their unspoken understanding allowing her to sense the truth immediately.
"You helped him?" she asked quietly.
Aiden remained silent, which only confirmed her suspicions. Astoria's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Are you insane? Do you have some grudge against Harry Potter that you'd endanger him like this?" Her tone carried perfectly simulated shock and concern.
"I just taught you not to show off in front of high-sequence beings of the same pathway," Aiden said gently, flicking her forehead with his finger.
"Sirius Black's situation is... complicated. Here, see for yourself."
As he spoke, Aiden extracted a silvery strand of memory from his mind and passed it to Astoria. The beauty of the Spectator pathway was that one could use oneself as a living Pensieve.
After several minutes, Astoria finished absorbing the memory, her expression cycling through confusion, shock, and understanding.
"Professor Snape... Sirius... Professor Lupin..." she stammered, struggling to process the interconnected web of secrets and betrayals.
Finally, having digested the information, she found her voice again. "How are you going to deal with that rat?"
"Deal with him?" Aiden's smile turned predatory, the expression both seductive and dangerous on his delicate features. "Little miss, you realize he's been living peacefully beside a Spectator for twelve years, don't you?"
Astoria looked at Aiden's expression and shivered involuntarily, silently sending her condolences to a certain doomed rat.
Due to the security breach, Dumbledore ordered the castle sealed. All students were required to spend the night in the Great Hall under the watchful eyes of professors and ghosts.
"Oh, Aiden, my dear student," Dumbledore approached with his characteristic twinkle, "do you have any insights about Sirius Black's intrusion?"
"No, Professor," Aiden replied with the practiced innocence of a skilled performer.
"How unfortunate. The young wizards will be sleeping together in the Great Hall tonight. Anyone caught wandering after hours will lose quite a few house points."
Dumbledore's tone carried mock regret as he delivered this warning, then turned and walked away.
This meddlesome old fool, Aiden thought, sending cordial mental greetings to his headmaster.
The presence of Sirius had drawn the Dementors closer to Hogwarts, making Aiden increasingly uncomfortable. He felt like a volcano that had been building pressure for too long, ready to explode at any moment.
On Thursday morning, Harry was carrying his textbooks to Defense Against the Dark Arts when he overheard what sounded like Snape and Dumbledore conversing around a corridor corner.
"Sirius Black—quite impressive, breaking into Hogwarts single-handedly without leaving a trace," Snape's voice carried pointed meaning.
"Indeed," Dumbledore replied neutrally.
"Do you remember that before the term started, I expressed concerns about the professor you appointed? That he might—"
"No professor would allow Sirius Black entry," Dumbledore interrupted firmly. "I trust them completely."
The headmaster departed quickly, leaving only Snape's cold snort echoing in the empty corridor.
Not wanting to be caught eavesdropping, Harry hurried into the classroom to wait for the lesson to begin.
But instead of Professor Lupin, the students found themselves facing a familiar black-robed figure.
SLAM! The classroom door shut with finality as Snape entered, his wand already moving to close the windows with sharp, decisive gestures.
"Turn to page 394," his cold voice cut through the classroom like a blade.
"Um, Professor, where is Professor Lupin?" Harry ventured.
"Excellent question. Ten points from Gryffindor—but it's none of your concern," Snape replied, descending from the podium with predatory grace.
"Did something happen to Professor Lupin?" Harry persisted.
"Mind your studies, Mr. Potter. Five more points from Gryffindor." A slight smile curved Snape's lips as he activated the magical projector.
"Werewolves," he announced, "are among the most repulsive creatures in existence."
"But sir, we haven't covered werewolves yet," Hermione interjected from beside Harry.
"Silence." Snape ignored her completely, continuing his impromptu lesson. "Now, who can tell me the difference between werewolves and Animagi?" He paused at the podium. "No one? Then I—"
"Animagi transform voluntarily; werewolves are forced to transform during full moons. They lose control, harm friends and family, and can be summoned by the calls of their pack," Hermione recited.
"Thank you, Miss Granger. That's the second time you've spoken without permission. Can't you control yourself, or do you simply enjoy being an insufferable know-it-all?"
The cruel words struck Hermione like physical blows, tears springing to her eyes despite her efforts to contain them.
"Oh, come on!" Ron exploded. "You asked a question, she knew the answer, so she answered it! If you don't want responses, why ask in the first place?"
The classroom fell silent. Everyone knew Ron had crossed a line. Snape approached with deliberate slowness, bending down to study Ron's defiant face.
"Detention, Weasley."
After class, the golden trio became a duo as Ron was dispatched to scrub bedpans in the hospital wing.
The afternoon brought Potions class, forcing Harry and Hermione to face their least favorite person: Draco Malfoy.
As the "injured party," Draco spent the entire period cradling his arm and whimpering dramatically. To accommodate the wounded student, Professor Snape assigned Harry and Ron to prepare Draco's potion ingredients.
"Keep pretending," Ron muttered under his breath.
"Oh really?" Draco's voice dripped with satisfaction. "My father is already filing complaints with the Ministry. Soon that oaf Hagrid and his dangerous beast will be expelled from Hogwarts together."
"You—" Ron's face flushed with anger.
Suddenly inspired by malicious creativity, Ron began deliberately cutting Draco's ingredients into wildly uneven pieces.
Unfortunately, Draco noticed immediately. "Professor! Weasley is deliberately sabotaging my materials!"
Snape glided over to inspect the damage. "These materials will end up in your cauldron, won't they, Weasley?"
Under Professor Snape's withering glare, poor Neville's nerves finally snapped, causing him to ruin his own potion spectacularly. Snape ordered the terrified boy to feed the failed brew to his toad, but Hermione's quick intervention saved both Neville and Trevor from disaster.
After class, Ron and Harry shared Lucius Malfoy's threats with Hermione.
"Hermione, Malfoy said his father is already taking action. They're going after Hagrid," Harry said, anxiety clear in his voice.
"We should warn Hagrid immediately," Hermione suggested.
The three friends hurried to Hagrid's hut, where they found the groundskeeper in unusually low spirits.
"Hagrid! Malfoy is planning something against you!" Ron announced without preamble.
"Oh, it's you three. I already know," Hagrid's voice was heavy with resignation. "They're arranging a hearing for me."
"A hearing?" Harry asked.
"Before the Wizengamot. To investigate magical creatures causing harm to wizards," Hagrid explained.
"What can we do to help?" Harry pressed.
"We should research relevant laws and help Hagrid prepare his defense," Hermione said, her mind already working. "But where can we find someone with that kind of legal knowledge?"
"Wait—a hearing!" Ron's face lit up with sudden inspiration. "Last year, Aiden and Dad went through one too. Remember all that trouble?"
"Of course!" Harry exclaimed. "Let's go ask the brilliant Aiden for help."
The trio set off with renewed purpose, hoping their resourceful friend could provide the expertise Hagrid desperately needed.