"Huff... huff..."
Ducking into a dim classroom, Harry scooped the little black cat off his head and into his arms, gasping for breath to calm his rattled nerves.
Just moments earlier, as they were carefully exploring, a beastly roar shattered the silence behind them. Heavy footsteps thundered in pursuit, closing in fast, almost catching them. Thankfully, maybe because they'd sprinted so wildly, the monster eventually gave up and lumbered away, leaving the corridor peaceful once more.
After a few minutes, Harry's breathing finally slowed. He took a look around.
Shrouded in fog, he could barely make out his surroundings, but the layout was familiar. This should be the fifth-floor Divination classroom. The room was empty except for a single crystal ball perched on the lectern, quietly waiting in the mist.
Curious, Harry crept closer. Just as his hand hovered above the crystal ball, a low growl echoed once again from just outside the room.
It seemed the beast couldn't break through the classroom walls. It didn't rush in, but its ragged breathing lingered by the door, intent on waiting them out.
Harry glanced at the inferior Philosopher's Stone in his pocket, hesitation flickering across his face. Crushing the stone would probably drive the monster away, but the reward was simply too valuable to waste on a single obstacle.
After a brief moment of tension, he shook his head, let go of the stone, and shifted his focus back to the crystal ball.
Maybe, if they simply waited, the monster would lose interest and wander off on its own.
He placed his hands on either side of the crystal ball and leaned closer to peer through the swirling fog. Suddenly, a thin, silvery line of text shimmered into view.
…
Elsewhere in the mist, three people made their way forward with three magical creatures in tow.
Two of them stuck close together at the back, whispering intimately. That left the broad-shouldered Gryffindor leading the way on his own, plodding silently.
Wood, cradling a Puffskein in one arm and gripping his wand in the other, was deeply conflicted.
At first, when he found two teammates, he genuinely felt lucky.
This test clearly needed magical creatures, and his Puffskein's abilities were limited. He was eager for friends to help solve anything tricky.
And the two he'd found... for a moment, fate seemed to smile. Percy and Penelope, both prefects and top students, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor working together. Perfect partners for brainy puzzles. Percy was even his good mate! Wood thought this would be a breeze.
So why... why had it turned out like this?
First time pairing up for an adventure with his best mate, only to find Percy had discovered true love in the process: two happy things that shouldn't, by any logic, leave him feeling so thoroughly alone.
He risked a glance behind at the happily chatting couple, feeling himself shrink a little more. Was he even part of this group anymore?
"Did you get Professor Kahn's badge?" Penelope asked, her eyes sparkling as she leaned in closer to Percy.
"Professor Kahn's badge?"
"Yes, a badge appeared after I solved a puzzle, and it called itself a seal fragment." Penelope opened her hand, revealing a badge adorned with adorable cartoon magical creatures. "But it looks a lot like the Magical Creatures Club badge, doesn't it?"
"It should be. I remember Professor Kahn using that mark," Percy replied, gazing right back at her as the distance between them vanished.
"If it is the club badge, you'll be able to join after this is over."
"No, I won't join alone." Penelope's voice dropped, earnest as ever. "I want to get a badge for you too. If you can't join, I won't, either!"
"Penelope, you're amazing."
"Percy, there's no one around... how about a..."
"Mmm..."
The two blushed and leaned closer, faces so near their glasses nearly tapped.
Meanwhile, Wood scouted out front, hyper-aware and thoroughly ignored. Was he just invisible to them now?
Am I even a person to you? Do I even exist?!
…
After drifting from corridor to corridor for a full ten minutes, Evans's frown only deepened.
He'd checked with Professor Flitwick. Aside from the very start of the assessment, neither of them had seen Hermione anywhere.
At first Evans figured she might be hiding out in a classroom or behind a stack of shelves, but even the most elusive student would leave a clue if you looked closely enough.
She couldn't possibly have gone to the dungeons. He'd told her specifically to bring Nana, and there were no official puzzles set down there. Why would she break off from the regular route?
Perplexed, Evans paused at the castle doors, glancing down at the silver markings on the back of his hand. The mark pulsed, then slowly brightened.
He focused, trying to sense its paired position. His brow furrowed as the location dropped. Lower. Even lower, until it was well beneath the castle foundations.
No way. That isn't even under the school itself. That's outside the boundary. Deeper underground?
A cold feeling crept up Evans's spine. He suddenly remembered Nana's greatly improved ability to sense treasure... and how she'd nearly dug up a wizard's grave the other day.
Then another, even more disturbing thought struck.
Before he helped Nana move the golden tree, this spot had been a major Niffler nest.
Nifflers always settled where treasure lay, never where there wasn't any. If a whole colony nested in one spot, there had to be something more than just the golden tree.
He'd assumed it was the tree that attracted them. After all, the golden tree was a rare magical plant, one of the only ones that produced true gold. Of course Nifflers would want to dig under its roots.
Nana had even said the tree felt warm, like home.
After he moved the golden tree, the Nifflers vanished shortly afterward, without protest.
Now, with Nana's treasure-sensing at a new level, able to reach nine metres or more... and the memory of McGonagall expanding the castle basement when she conjured the "Cat Castle", creating even more empty space underground... it all lined up too perfectly.
Did those two actually go and dig up a grave?
Alarmed by the possibility, Evans quickly told Flitwick to keep watch over the other students. Without hesitation, he pointed his wand at his own feet and muttered,
"Reducio!"
He shrank down, silver-white robes gleaming, and shot off toward the dungeons like a silvery blur.