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Night had fallen, curfew had passed, and Hogwarts was silent. Aiden, holding Lada in his arms, slipped quietly out of the Ravenclaw common room.
Elsewhere, in the Gryffindor common room, Harry and Ron were preparing to sneak out for their midnight meeting in the trophy room.
"I suggest you don't go," Hermione said, her voice softer than usual. After Aiden's advice, Hermione had tried to change her approach, though it was only a slight improvement.
"We already promised Malfoy. A wizard's duel is sacred," Ron replied, his tone less sharp than before when he realised Hermione was not being bossy.
"Fine, I'll go with you too," Hermione decided.
"Whatever," Harry muttered.
*****
The three of them crept through the castle, slipping past the moving staircases, until they reached the door of the trophy room.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed behind them. The three turned, nerves on edge.
In the darkness, a pair of heterochromatic vertical pupils glimmered, like a predator watching its prey. Ron recognised the eyes and called out with relief, "Aiden, we're here!"
Hearing Ron, Aiden quickened his pace and joined them at the door.
"Aren't you going in?" Aiden asked.
"I'm worried they're waiting to ambush us inside, so I was waiting for you," Harry admitted.
Aiden grinned. "So you want me to go in first and take the hit for you?"
Ron jumped in, "We just trust you, that's all."
Aiden laughed. "Alright, let's go." He pushed open the door and led the way into the trophy room.
Inside, elegant display cases lined the centre of the room, each crafted from fine walnut and inlaid with golden patterns. Rows of trophies gleamed under the moonlight, each one telling a story from Hogwarts' long history.
The room was empty. Malfoy had clearly set them up.
Aiden, who already knew Malfoy's plan, said nothing. He wanted his cousin to learn this lesson for himself.
"Looks like Malfoy tricked us," Aiden said, glancing at Ron and Harry with a wry smile.
"I knew it," Hermione said, arms folded.
"But you came along too," Ron retorted.
Harry sighed. "Alright, we've been tricked. Let's go back."
As they left the trophy room, they ran straight into Filch's cat.
"It's Filch's cat," Harry whispered.
"Lada, distract it," Aiden commanded, pulling the group towards the moving staircase.
Just as they stepped onto the staircase, Aiden felt a strange surge of magic.
Old man, is this your doing? he thought.
"It's not even Friday. Why is the staircase moving?" Hermione asked, confused.
"Never mind that. We need to get away," Harry said, leading the way.
Aiden had no choice but to follow as the four of them hurried down the corridor. The cat's meow echoed behind them.
"Locked", Harry said in frustration as they reached the end of the third-floor corridor.
Aiden, exasperated, said, "Maybe we shouldn't go in."
But Hermione, panicked, wasn't listening.
"Move aside. Alohomora!" she cried.
The door clicked open, and Harry and Ron rushed inside. Hermione grabbed Aiden, who was debating whether to use a Disillusionment Charm, and dragged him in too.
The door slammed shut just as Filch arrived in the corridor. The faint light of his lantern flickered across the walls as he peered around, and then, seeing nothing, he moved on.
Inside, Ron stared at Hermione. "Alohomora?"
"Standard Book of Spells, Chapter Seven," Hermione replied, lifting her chin.
"Guys, you need to see this," Harry called from the front.
The moonlight revealed a massive creature, larger than a house. It was an adult Cerberus, its three heads resting on enormous paws.
The Cerberus woke with a yawn, all three heads blinking open. When it saw the intruders, it let out a low, threatening growl.
"Ahhh!" The three of them screamed at once.
The Cerberus pretended to lunge. Aiden stepped forward and used his deterrence ability. The Cerberus recoiled, as if faced with a dragon, and backed away in fear.
Still, the beast did not abandon its post. It glared at Aiden, baring its teeth.
Aiden's intervention gave Harry and the others enough time to react. They flung the door open and bolted out, escaping back into the corridor.
*****
Once clear of the forbidden area, the group hurried towards the fourth floor.
Ron grumbled, "Are they mad, keeping that monster in the school?"
Hermione shot back, "Are you blind? Didn't you see what it was guarding?"
"Guarding what?" Harry asked, starting to piece things together.
They reached the entrance to Gryffindor Tower.
"So, what's the password?" Aiden asked, glancing at the others.
"Aiden?" the three said together, surprised.
"Why are you here?" Ron asked, still catching his breath.
"Filch is patrolling on the fifth floor. I couldn't get back," Aiden replied with a smile, though it was a little white lie. In truth, he just wanted to see the Gryffindor common room.
Hermione stepped forward and gave the password. The portrait swung open, and Aiden followed them into the common room.
The Gryffindor common room was warm and inviting. The walls were sturdy stone, covered with portraits of past Gryffindors. In the centre, a circular area surrounded a roaring fireplace, its orange glow filling the room with comfort.
Plush sofas and armchairs, upholstered in red and gold, ringed the fire. A beautiful chandelier hung from the ceiling, its lampshade decorated with gold thread and rubies. At night, it filled the room with soft light.
The thick carpet was patterned with a lion and the Gryffindor crest, soft underfoot.
Percy was sitting on the sofa, writing a letter. When the group entered, Percy looked up.
"You went out for a night-time adventure?"
"Yes, Percy, Senior, let us explain..." Hermione started, but Percy waved her off.
"Forget it. I'm not a prefect or a professor. Just go to bed and don't break the rules again."
Then he noticed Aiden. "Aiden, why are you here?"
"I'm visiting Gryffindor Tower. I wanted to see if I could find the treasure the Gryffindor Head left behind," Aiden replied, grinning.
"Don't even think about it," Percy said with a smile. "But since you're here, help me out."
"I'm staying here tonight. Pretend you didn't see me, and I'll do you a favour," Aiden bargained.
"Alright. Take this letter to Penelope Clearwater in your house. I have some questions about magic for her," Percy said, sealing the letter and handing it to Aiden.
"Don't open it. I put a spell on it," Percy warned.
"Understood," Aiden replied, raising an eyebrow at Percy.
The deal was struck.
"Aiden, where are you sleeping?" Percy asked.
"I'll stay in the common room," Aiden said.
"Alright, rest well." Percy got up and headed to his room.
Aiden used Transfiguration to conjure bedding and a pillow, settling in for a night in the Gryffindor common room.
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