Two days after receiving the thank you letters from the werewolf and vampire families and communities, Hogwarts felt strangely calm.
The excitement that had rippled through the castle since the announcement in the Great Hall had not disappeared, but it had softened into a kind of warm curiosity. Students still whispered about the inventions whenever Mira passed by in the corridors, but the frenzy of the first day had faded.
Saturday mornings at Hogwarts always had a different rhythm.
No classes.
No rushing through corridors with stacks of parchment.
No professors assigning essays that could fill entire libraries.
Instead, the castle moved slowly.
Students lingered over breakfast.
Others wandered the grounds.
Some explored secret passages or tucked themselves away in quiet corners of the library.
And that morning, two first-year students had decided to explore.
The Slytherin common room glowed with soft green light reflecting off the lake outside.
Draco Malfoy sat in a high-backed armchair near the fireplace, flipping through a wizarding magazine without much interest. Across from him, Mira Silverthorne sat at a low table surrounded by several small stacks of books.
She had been reading since breakfast.
Runic diagrams.
Magical ecology.
Beast-lore.
Her quill scratched quietly across a notebook as she copied a complex symbol.
Draco glanced at her, “You’re studying again.”
Mira looked up calmly, “I’m reading.”
“That’s the same thing.” Draco retorted, teasingly.
She smiled faintly.
Draco closed his magazine, “Don’t you ever get tired of books?”
“Not really.” Mira shrugged.
He leaned forward slightly, “You know what we should do instead?”
Mira tilted her head, “What?”
Draco grinned, “Explore the castle.”
Mira considered this.
Hogwarts was enormous.
They had only seen a fraction of it so far.
Hidden staircases.
Shifting corridors.
Entire towers they hadn’t visited yet.
“Yes,” she said finally.
Draco stood up immediately, “Brilliant.”
They left the Slytherin common room and climbed the stone stairs leading up through the dungeon corridors.
The castle above was already alive with quiet weekend activity.
A few students crossed their path.
Second-years heading toward the library.
A group of Hufflepuffs carrying picnic baskets toward the grounds.
Some Ravenclaws arguing enthusiastically about a magical theory.
Draco led them through several winding corridors, “Most people stay around the main staircases,” he explained, “But Hogwarts has dozens of passages no one bothers exploring.”
Mira glanced around thoughtfully.
The castle felt alive.
Old magic flowed through the walls like an unseen current.
Portraits murmured quietly as they passed.
One painting of a medieval wizard waved lazily.
“Good morning.”
Mira smiled politely.
Draco rolled his eyes, “Paintings talk too much.”
After nearly twenty minutes of wandering, they reached a section of the castle that felt noticeably older.
The stone walls were darker.
The torches burned with dimmer flames.
The corridor stretched long and silent, with tall windows overlooking a shadowed courtyard.
Mira slowed slightly.
She looked around.
Something felt different here.
Draco noticed, “What?”
Mira closed her eyes briefly, “Magic.”
Draco snorted softly, “Everything here is magic.”
“Yes,” Mira said, “But this is different.”
She walked a little farther down the corridor.
Then she stopped, “There’s a creature nearby.”
Draco blinked, “A creature?”
“Yes.” Mira confirmed.
He glanced around nervously, “In the castle?”
“Yes.” Mira concluded.
Draco frowned, “Should we be concerned?”
Mira tilted her head slightly, “I don’t think so.”
They continued walking until they reached a tall wooden door at the end of the hall.
A sign hung beside it.
OUT OF BOUNDS
Draco squinted, “That’s suspicious.”
Mira nodded thoughtfully, “Yes.”
She closed her eyes again.
The magical presence was stronger now.
Definitely alive.
Large.
Ancient magic surrounded it.
Something powerful.
But not hostile.
Draco folded his arms, “Well?”
“I think the creature is behind that door.” Mira suggested.
Draco raised an eyebrow, “And we’re not supposed to go inside.”
“Correct.” Mira agreed.
He looked amused, “That makes it much more interesting.”
Before they could approach the door, soft footsteps echoed behind them.
Mira turned.
A thin grey cat padded down the corridor toward them.
Her yellow eyes gleamed sharply.
Draco groaned quietly, “Oh no. Mrs. Norris.”
The cat stopped a few feet away and stared at them with suspicious intensity.
Mira brightened immediately, “Oh hello!”
Draco blinked, “You’re greeting Filch’s spy.”
Mira knelt down gently.
Mrs. Norris approached cautiously.
Mira extended her hand.
After a moment, the cat sniffed her fingers.
Then she rubbed her head against Mira’s palm.
Draco stared, “She likes you.”
Mira smiled, “Animals usually do.”
Mrs. Norris purred softly.
Draco looked deeply offended, “She never purrs.”
Mira scratched gently behind Mrs. Norris’s ears, “I was hoping you could help us.”
Draco whispered urgently, “You’re asking a cat for permission to break a rule.”
Mira ignored him.
She spoke softly to the cat, “There’s a magical creature nearby.”
Mrs. Norris flicked her tail.
Mira nodded toward the door, “I think it’s behind there.”
The cat glanced toward the door.
Then back at Mira.
Mira continued gently, “Could you show us?”
Mrs. Norris hesitated.
Her ears twitched.
For several seconds she remained perfectly still.
Then she turned.
And began walking down the corridor.
Draco blinked, “Did the cat just agree?”
Mira stood up, “Yes.”
Mrs. Norris padded quietly toward the large wooden door.
Her tail swayed as she walked.
Draco followed cautiously, “I feel like this is how people get expelled.”
Mira smiled slightly, “Possibly.”
Mrs. Norris stopped in front of the door.
She looked up at it.
Then back at Mira.
Mira reached for the handle.
The wood felt warm.
Ancient protective magic pulsed faintly across the surface.
Draco whispered, “Last chance to turn around.”
Mira opened the door which creaked slowly.
Beyond it lay a large chamber lit by flickering torches.
And inside that chamber—
Something enormous shifted.
Draco froze.
Three heads turned toward them simultaneously.
Three pairs of glowing eyes.
Three rows of massive teeth.
The creature rose slowly from the floor.
Draco’s voice cracked, “…what… is that?”
Mira blinked in amazement, “A Cerberus.”
The gigantic three-headed dog stood easily twelve feet tall.
Each head stared at them curiously.
Its massive paws rested on the stone floor like pillars.
Its fur was thick and dark.
Its breathing echoed through the chamber.
Draco whispered, “That thing could eat us.”
One of the heads tilted curiously.
Then another.
Then the third.
The dog took a slow step forward.
Draco instinctively moved behind Mira, “Please don’t move suddenly.”
Mira stepped forward instead, “Hello.”
The Cerberus lowered one head slightly.
Mira reached out slowly.
Her hand touched the creature’s fur.
The dog blinked.
Then its tail began wagging.
Draco stared in disbelief, “You’re petting it.”
Mira smiled softly, “You’re beautiful.”
The Cerberus let out a deep rumbling sound.
It sounded suspiciously like a happy growl.
Draco whispered, “That’s the most terrifying puppy I’ve ever seen.”
Within moments the enormous dog lowered all three heads toward Mira.
Each head nudged her gently.
She laughed softly, “You’re friendly.”
One of the heads licked her hand.
Draco stepped closer, “Is it safe?”
Mira nodded, “Yes.”
He cautiously extended his hand toward one of the heads.
The dog sniffed him.
Then sneezed loudly.
Draco jumped.
The Cerberus wagged its tail again.
Mira scratched behind one of its ears, “Does it have a name?”
Draco glanced around the chamber.
A large harp stood in the corner.
A massive trapdoor rested beneath the creature’s paws.
Draco frowned, “I think I heard Hagrid mention something…” He snapped his fingers, “Fluffy.”
Mira looked delighted, “That suits him.”
Fluffy barked happily.
All three heads at once.
The sound echoed through the corridor like thunder.
Draco winced, “Well,” he said, “everyone knows we’re here now.”
Mira laughed softly.
And Fluffy wagged his tail even harder, clearly pleased with his new friend.
After several minutes of petting and playing with the enormous guardian, Mira stepped back slightly.
Fluffy whimpered softly.
“I’ll visit again,” she promised.
The Cerberus tilted his heads.
Draco shook his head, “You’ve befriended a three-headed monster.”
Mira smiled, “He’s not a monster.” She looked back at Fluffy, “He’s a guardian.”
Mrs. Norris sat quietly near the door, watching everything with calm approval.
As Mira and Draco stepped back into the corridor, the door closed behind them with a quiet thud.
Draco exhaled slowly, “Well.” He looked at her, “That was the most dangerous adventure I’ve ever had.”
Mira smiled, “Fluffy is very sweet.”
Draco stared at her, “You are the only person on earth who would describe a Cerberus as sweet.”
Down the corridor, Mrs. Norris flicked her tail and walked away.
And somewhere behind the door, the three-headed guardian settled down happily, dreaming of the small witch who had greeted him like an old friend.
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