The night winds curled around the high towers of Hogwarts Castle, whispering along the stone ramparts like ancient voices.
Inside the castle, the corridors were quiet.
Most students had long since gone to their dormitories. The only sounds were the occasional crackle of torches and the distant murmur of enchanted portraits chatting softly to one another.
But one place in the castle was not quiet.
The third-floor corridor.
More specifically—
The chamber at the end of it.
The chamber that guarded something very important.
Standing at the doorway was Albus Dumbledore.
His long silver beard rested against his robes as he peered into the room.
The massive wooden trapdoor sat exactly where it should.
Locked.
Protected.
Unmoved.
But something else was missing.
Dumbledore adjusted his half-moon spectacles.
“Curious,” he murmured.
The chamber was empty.
The enormous, three-headed guardian that normally lay across the trapdoor—
Was gone.
The guardian in question was none other than Fluffy, the gigantic Cerberus entrusted to Hogwarts by Rubeus Hagrid.
Normally Fluffy occupied the entire chamber, three massive heads snoring peacefully as they guarded the trapdoor.
But tonight—
The room echoed with emptiness.
No giant paws.
No rumbling snores.
No drool pooling on the stone floor.
Just silence.
Dumbledore stroked his beard thoughtfully.
“Well,” he said quietly, “that is most unusual.”
He stepped fully into the room, examining the floor.
The door had not been broken.
No signs of forced magic.
No struggle.
Which meant only one thing.
Fluffy had left willingly.
Dumbledore chuckled softly.
“I believe,” he murmured to himself, “I know exactly where you’ve gone.”
Moments later, the Headmaster descended the moving staircases with calm determination.
Students who happened to glimpse him passing through the corridors assumed nothing was wrong.
Dumbledore always seemed to be wandering the castle at odd hours.
But tonight his destination was very specific.
The dungeons.
More precisely—
The entrance to Slytherin Common Room.
As he approached the familiar stretch of damp stone corridor, another figure appeared from the shadows.
Black robes.
Pale face.
Dark, suspicious eyes.
Severus Snape.
Snape stopped short, “Headmaster.” His voice was calm but faintly puzzled, “What brings you to the Slytherin dungeons at this hour?”
Dumbledore smiled pleasantly, “Good evening, Severus.”
Snape folded his arms, “You didn’t answer my question.”
Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled, “Fluffy is missing.”
Snape blinked once.
Then twice.
“The Cerberus guarding the third corridor?”
“Yes.”
Silence fell between them.
Then Snape sighed.
“I believe,” he said slowly, “I know where you intend to go.”
Dumbledore smiled wider, “As do I.”
Snape raised an eyebrow, “Miss Silverthorne.”
Dumbledore nodded, “Precisely.”
Snape pinched the bridge of his nose, “Of course.”
The two professors exchanged a look of mutual understanding.
Over the past months, Mira Silverthorne had demonstrated an extraordinary… tendency.
She attracted unusual creatures.
Invented strange magical devices.
And possessed a heart far too kind to ignore a lonely beast.
Dumbledore chuckled softly, “I suspect Fluffy has discovered a new playmate.”
Snape muttered dryly, “He will destroy the dungeon.”
Dumbledore gestured politely toward the entrance wall, “Shall we?”
They reached the stone wall that concealed the Slytherin common room.
Snape leaned close to the serpent carving, “Integritas.” he said quietly.
The stone slid aside with a low rumble.
Inside, the common room glowed softly with green firelight.
A few late-night students lounged near the fireplace.
They immediately froze upon seeing the two professors.
Draco Malfoy’s usual seat was empty.
Dumbledore scanned the room, “Good evening,” he said warmly.
The students greeted him nervously.
Snape spoke sharply, “Where is Miss Silverthorne?”
One student pointed toward the Serpent's Wing, “In her room, Professor.”
Dumbledore nodded, “Thank you.”
The professors walked over to the narrow archway illuminated by pale blue light. The door was slightly open.
Snape pushed it wider.
The room was empty.
But something unusual sat beside the bed.
A large, intricately designed suitcase.
Dumbledore smiled knowingly, “Ah.”
Snape sighed, “The sanctuary suitcase.”
Mira’s magical invention.
Inside the suitcase existed an entire enchanted dimension filled with forests, lakes, and magical habitats.
Perfect for magical creatures.
Dumbledore approached it calmly, “I suspect we will find our missing guardian inside.”
Snape muttered darkly, “Of course we will.”
Dumbledore opened the suitcase.
The interior shimmered with dimensional magic.
They stepped through.
And entered an entirely different world.
Moonlight bathed a vast forest clearing.
Tall silver trees swayed gently in the breeze.
A sparkling stream flowed nearby.
And in the center of the clearing—
Sat the enormous form of Fluffy.
The three-headed Cerberus wagged his tail enthusiastically.
But Fluffy wasn’t alone.
Sitting in the grass were Mira and Draco Malfoy.
Around them were Mira’s familiars.
Pip the Niffler.
Emberlyn the Fire Ferret.
Blazefur the Sentinel Fox.
Kairo the Luminara.
And several other magical creatures that had made the sanctuary their home.
They were playing.
With Fluffy.
One of the Cerberus’s heads rolled happily onto its side while Mira scratched behind its enormous ear.
Another head chased Pip’s coin.
The third head licked Draco enthusiastically.
Draco sputtered, “Stop—stop drooling on me!”
Mira laughed, “You’re encouraging him!”51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9C0FPiZUB6
Snape cleared his throat.
Loudly.
Mira froze.
Draco slowly turned.
They both stared.
Standing at the edge of the clearing were Dumbledore and Snape.
Watching the entire scene.
Fluffy wagged his tail even harder.
One head barked happily.
Another barked louder.
The third tried to lick Snape.
Snape stepped back immediately, “Absolutely not.”
Mira scrambled to her feet, “Professor! Headmaster!”
Draco stood too, “Hello.”
Dumbledore clasped his hands behind his back, “I believe,” he said calmly, “we have found our missing guardian.”
Fluffy barked proudly.
Mira winced slightly, “He followed Pip.”
Pip waved his coin proudly.
Snape sighed deeply, “Of course he did.”
Draco added quickly, “He seemed lonely.”
Mira nodded, “So we thought we’d let him play.”
Dumbledore chuckled softly, “I must admit, he appears quite happy.”
Indeed, Fluffy rolled onto his back with his tail wagging.
Snape stared at the enormous Cerberus.
Then at the peaceful sanctuary.
Then at the two first-years responsible.
“You allowed a three-headed guardian beast into your pocket forest.”
Mira hesitated, “Yes?”
Snape closed his eyes briefly, “I require a stronger headache potion.”
Dumbledore smiled warmly, “Well, Miss Silverthorne, I believe Fluffy should return to his post.”
Mira nodded quickly, “Of course.”
She patted the giant dog, “Wait here, Fluffy.”
The Cerberus stood eagerly and sat down.
Draco wiped drool from his sleeve. “Next time we bring towels.”
Mira nonverbally used a spell to clean the drool off Draco. He looked over at Mira with relief.
"Thank you, Mira." Draco thanked her.
Snape muttered, “There will not be a next time.”
Moments later they exited the sanctuary and walked through the corridors.
Finally they reached the third-floor chamber. Mira knelt down and placed her sanctuary suitcase down. She opened it and Fluffy came out. Then Fluffy returned to his spot above the trapdoor.
Three heads settling down comfortably.
Within seconds—
He began snoring.
Dumbledore smiled quietly, “Problem solved.”
Snape glanced at Mira and Draco, “Detention tomorrow.”
Mira nodded sheepishly.
Draco groaned.
But Dumbledore added gently, “Perhaps only a small one.”
He looked thoughtfully at the students, “After all…”
He glanced back at the sleeping Cerberus, “Fluffy does look considerably happier tonight.”
As they left the corridor, Snape shook his head, “Only at Hogwarts.”
Dumbledore chuckled softly, “Yes.”
Then he added thoughtfully, “And only with Miss Silverthorne.”
Far below the castle, Mira’s sanctuary remained peaceful.
And somewhere inside that enchanted forest—
A giant Cerberus had discovered something new.
Friends.
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