Dark Wings Over Hogwarts

Harry's POV

The past three weeks had been eventful, to say the least. Ever since Draco Malfoy had insulted Neville and challenged Harry to a midnight duel, it had been all Harry could think about.

Ron had been thrilled, constantly talking about how they would show Malfoy his place. Hermione, on the other hand, had been relentless in trying to stop them, repeating over and over that sneaking out past curfew was against the rules.

Neville, ever the timid one, had somehow worked up the courage to want to come along. After all, the whole fight had started because of him.

"I won't let you get into trouble because of me," Neville had insisted.

It had taken some convincing, but in the end, even Hermione had given in—though not without great reluctance.

"If you're going to break the rules, at least do it with someone who can help keep you out of trouble," she had huffed, crossing her arms.

So, at midnight, the four of them carefully slipped out of the Gryffindor dormitory, making their way toward the Trophy Room. The corridors were eerily quiet, the flickering candlelight casting long, distorted shadows against the stone walls.

As they reached the Trophy Room, Harry felt his heartbeat quicken. Was Malfoy really going to show up?

Five minutes passed.

Ten minutes.

Something wasn't right.

Then—

"Did you hear that?" Ron whispered.

A voice echoed from a nearby corridor, unmistakably belonging to Argus Filch, the school caretaker.

"Little troublemakers out of bed… I know you're here…"

Harry's stomach dropped.

"It's a trap!" Hermione gasped.

Malfoy had set them up.

"Run!" Ron hissed, and they took off down the hallway.

---

Isla's POV

The Forbidden Corridor on the third floor. That was where the answers lay.

For weeks, Isla Rosier had been trying to uncover the mystery surrounding Zane Falconer. She had never heard of him before this year, and that in itself was strange. Hogwarts didn't just admit random students, especially not in Slytherin.

Then, there was the matter of Dumbledore. The Headmaster was hiding something in that third-floor corridor—something so important he had banned all students from going near it.

And Isla hated being kept in the dark.

She had planned to investigate earlier, but her packed schedule had made it difficult. Tonight, however, she finally had time.

A letter from her uncle had arrived that evening, vaguely warning her to be careful this year. He didn't say why, only that Hogwarts was becoming... interesting.

That was enough reason for her to move. If Dumbledore was hiding something, and if Zane Falconer had shown up at the same time, they had to be connected.

So at midnight, she quietly left the Slytherin dormitory and made her way to the third floor. The castle was silent, save for the occasional gust of wind against the windows.

When she reached the door to the forbidden area, her fingers brushed over the handle. This was it.

She took a deep breath, steeling herself—

Then she heard footsteps. Quick, panicked footsteps.

She turned sharply, her wand half-raised, just in time to see four figures rushing towards her.

Harry Potter. And his friends.

She didn't remember their names, but it didn't matter. They were just first-years. What were they doing here?

Then she heard another sound—closer now.

Filch.

He was coming.

Isla cursed under her breath. She had no choice. If she hesitated, she'd get caught too.

Without a word, she threw the door open and yanked them inside.

---

Inside the Forbidden Corridor

The door clicked shut just as Filch's voice grew louder outside.

For a moment, the room was completely silent, all five of them holding their breath. Then, as the sound of Filch's footsteps faded, Ron let out a shaky laugh.

"That was way too close."

Harry nodded, still catching his breath. He turned to look at the person who had just saved them.

A senior student, probably from Slytherin.

Now that he got a good look at her, he vaguely remembered seeing her at the Slytherin table during meals. Isla... something?

But before he could say anything, Hermione spoke up.

"Why did you help us?"

Isla crossed her arms, leaning against the door. "Because I had no choice. If I let you get caught, I would've been caught too."

"That doesn't explain what you're doing here," Harry pointed out, narrowing his eyes.

For a moment, Isla hesitated. Then, she smirked.

"I could ask you the same thing, Potter."

Harry frowned but didn't press further. Instead, he looked around the room.

It was dark, lit only by the faint glow of moonlight from a high window.

And then—

A low growl.

Ron turned, his face going pale. "Blimey…"

There, lying on the floor, was a massive, three-headed dog.

It was sleeping. But not for long.

Because as Ron stumbled backward, his foot hit a loose stone—

Click.

The sound was deafening in the silence.

And just like that, all three of the dog's heads snapped awake.

Six glowing eyes locked onto them.

For a second, no one moved.

Then—

It roared.

"RUN!" Isla barked, shoving Harry aside just as the beast lunged.

They barely managed to scramble out of the way as the massive creature's jaws slammed shut where they had been standing moments ago.

Hermione was the first to react. "Back to the door! Now!"

They bolted for the exit, Isla dragging Neville along before he could freeze in terror. Harry threw the door open, and they all tumbled out. Isla slammed it shut behind them.

Panting, they exchanged nervous glances.

"That," Ron gasped, "was a three-headed dog."

"Obviously," Isla said dryly.

"But why is there a three-headed dog inside the school?" Hermione asked, eyes wide.

Harry frowned.

Then he remembered something.

As the dog had lunged at them, he had seen something beneath its giant paws.

A trapdoor.

The dog wasn't just there.

It was guarding something.

He turned to Isla. She was looking at the door, deep in thought.

"You knew," Harry said slowly. "You knew something was here."

Isla didn't respond right away. Then, she shrugged.

"Maybe."

Harry narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

Isla's smirk deepened, a spark of mischief in her eyes. "Let's just say, Potter, I have a habit of chasing mysteries… and this one's too good to ignore."