HARRY AND HARPER RAN towards the Great Hall to tell Ron. His reaction was how Harper had predicted; shocked.

"You're kidding me."

Harper grinned and exchanged a glance with Harry.  "No, we're not."

"Seeker and Chaser?" he stammered. "But first-years never—you two must be the youngest players in the—"

"Century, yes," Harry interrupted him. "According to McGonagall."

"We'll start next week," Harper added, beaming. "Don't tell anyone, Oliver doesn't want anyone to know."

Suddenly two pairs of hands landed on her shoulders.

"Well done, Harp," Fred Weasley grinned. She turned around to look at her the twins.

"Wood just told us," George added. "We're on the team, too—Beaters."

Harper's eyes lit up. She had forgotten about that.

"I tell you guys, we're going to win that Quidditch Cup for sure this year," Fred said.

"You bet we are," Harper replied, grinning.

George smiled down at her. "We haven't won since Charlie left, but this year's team is going to be brilliant. You two must be good. Wood was almost skipping when he told us."

"Anyway," Fred continued, "we better go, Lee Jordan reckons he found a new secret passageway out of school. See ya Harp!"

Both redheads stood up and left the Great Hall to Merlin knows where. Harper shook her head but smiled. They were always up to something.

The three of them talked about the great news until Malfoy decided to show up.

"Having a last meal, Potters? When are you getting the train back to your muggles?"

Harper narrowed her eyes and tried to suppress the urge to punch him in the face right here, right now. Harry, who had obviously noticed the change in her behavior (not that it was hard to spot in the first place), put his hand on her arm to calm her and said, "You're a lot braver now that you're back on the ground and you've got your little friends with you."

Crabbe and Goyle cracked their knuckles and Harper raised my eyebrow, not intimidated by them in the slightest.

"I'd take you on anytime on my own, Potter," Malfoy said while directing himself to Harry. "Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only—no contact. What's the matter? Never heard of a wizard's duel before, I suppose?"

"Of course he has," Ron snapped up before Harper could. "I'm his second, who's yours?"

Malfoy looked between Crabbe and Goyle before deciding. "Crabbe. Midnight, alright? We'll met you in the trophy room; that's always unlocked."

After Malfoy left, Harper sat back down. "That git," she muttered under her breath. "Thinks he owns the school."

Harry looked sideways at her before asking, "What is a Wizarding duel?" He looked at Ron. "And what do you mean you're my second?"

"A second's there to take over if you die," Harper explained, looking away from Malfoy. She saw the horrified expression on Harry's face and Ron took over. "But people only die in proper duels, you know with real wizards."

Harper rolled her eyes. "And what are we? Fake?" She grinned when she saw the look Ron gave her and continued, "but Ron has a point, the most you and Malfoy will be able to do is send sparks at each other. Neither of you knows enough magic to do any real damage. I bet he expected you to refuse, anyway."

"And what if I wave my wand and nothing happens?"

"Throw it away and punch him in the face," Ron suggested while taking some meat.

"Works all the time," Harper added.

"Excuse me," a voice behind them said. They looked up and saw Hermione standing behind them with a stern expression.

"Can't a person eat in peace in this place?" Ron grunted. He still didn't seem to like Hermione.

Hermione ignored him and spoke to Harry. "I couldn't help overhearing what you and Malfoy were saying . . ."

"Bet you could," Ron muttered.

". . . and you mustn't go wandering around the school at night. You'll lose points from Gryffindor!" She turned towards Harper. "Tell them Harp! Tell them they shouldn't!"

"If we won't go, Malfoy will see us as cowards and I refuse to accept that, besides, Harry has a reason now to hex him. Not that you need one in the first place . . ."

Hermione looked at Harper with a disapproving look, seeming to think she thought Harper was better than that—but what could she say? She was her father's daughter.

Knowing she wouldn't be able to convince Harper, she turned back to Harry. "It's very selfish you know. Some people work hard to own those points!"

"And it's really none of your business," Harry replied shortly.

"Goodbye," Ron added, while standing up to leave.

Harper gave Hermione an apolitical look, though she wasn't very sorry about what they were going to do, and followed the boys out of the Great Hall, almost bumping into someone again.

"We have to stop meeting like this," a voice said playfully. She looked up right into the grey eyes of Cedric Diggory.

Harper grinned. "Yeah, we should."

His eyes went to the Slytherin table and back to her. "I saw you had some troubles with Malfoy. Everything alright?"

"Yeah, sure," she replied, not wanting to lie to him but she couldn't tell him the truth either. He looked at her for a second and smiled then. "Well then, have a nice day."

Harper smiled up at him. "Thanks, you too."

· · ───── · ☆ · ───── · ·

THAT EVENING, HARPER quietly descended the stairs. The three of them had planned to meet in the common room before heading out to meet Malfoy. She glanced at her watched as they arrived. "Half past eleven," she muttered. "Come on . . ."

They were about to climb through the portrait hole, when a familiar voice stopped them.

"I can't believe you are going to this." A lamp flickered on and they were met with the angry eyes of Hermione Granger.

"You!" Ron said furious. "Go back to bed!"

"I almost told your brother," Hermione snapped. "Percy—he's a prefect, he'd put a stop to this!"

"Come on," Harry muttered to them. He pushed the portrait hole open and climbed out. Ron and Harper followed him, but so did Hermione.

"Don't you care about the other Gryffindors?" she hissed. "Do you only care about yourselves?"

Harper didn't want to offend Hermione but she was testing her patience.

"I don't want Slytherin to win the House Cup, and you'll lose all the points I got from Professor McGonagall for knowing about the Switching Spells."

"Go away!" Ron hissed back.

"Alright, but I warned you, you just remember what I said when you are on the train home tomorrow, you're so—"

Hermione stopped on her sentence and Harper frowned, turning around. The Fat Lady was gone from her portrait. Hermione was locked out of the Gryffindor Tower.

The three of them continued walking until Hermione caught up with them. "I'm coming with you."

"No, you're not!" Ron snapped.

"Do you think I'm just going to stand out here and wait for Filch to catch me? If he finds all four of us, I'll tell him the truth, that I was trying to stop you, and you can back me up," Hermione said.

"Shut up, both of you!" Harry and Harper hissed simultaneously. Oh Merlin they could argue like a married couple . . .

"I heard something," Harry suddenly said.

Harper gestured at the others to stay where they were before she quietly made her way forward to see where the sound was coming from. It was like a snuggling sound . . .

"Harper, no!" Harry hissed, moving forward to stop me.

"Mrs Norris?" Ron whispered in panic.

Fortunately for them, it wasn't her.

"Neville?" Harper asked, narrowing her eyes. It was Neville. He was curled up on the floor, fast asleep but jerked awake when she touched him.

"Oh thanks Merlin!" he cried quietly when he recognized them. "I've been out here for hours. I couldn't remember the new password to get to bed."

"Keep it down, Neville," Harper said, looking around to see if someone had heard him. "It's Pig Snout, okay? But you can't go back because the Fat Lady is gone."

"How's your arm, anyway?" Harry asked.

"Fine," Neville replied, showing them his arm. "Madam Pomfrey mended it in about a minute."

"Great," Harper said. "Look Neville, we need to be somewhere. So we'll see you later—"

"No!" Neville exclaimed. "Don't leave me!" He scrambled to his feet. "I don't want here to stay here alone. The Bloody Baron has already passed me twice."

Ron looked at his watch, then glared at Hermione and Neville. "If either of you get us caught, I'll never rest until I've learned that Curse of the Bogies Quirell told us about and use it on you."

Harper looked at Hermione, who was about to say something in return, and shook her head. "Don't even start."

They arrived at the trophy room five minutes later. It was almost midnight. They waited but Malfoy and Crabbe never showed up.

"He's late," Harper murmured.

"Maybe he chickened out," Ron suggested.

Harper shook her head. "No, he won't do that. There is something else."

That something else made a noise in the next room what made them jump. Harry raised his wand and Ron and Harper followed his lead.

A voice spoke—and it wasn't Malfoy's.

"Sniff around, my sweet, they might be lurking in a corner."

Harper looked at Harry and mounted with her mouth, "Filch."

She grabbed Hermione and Neville's hands while he took Ron's. They dragged them out of the room.

They hid in the corner when Filch voice grew nearer.

"They're in here somewhere," they heard him mutter. "Probably hiding."

"This way," Harry guided them.

Quickly, they began to creep down a long gallery full of suits of armor. Harper could feel the sweat coming up as Filch grew nearer and nearer.

Suddenly she heard a squeak, and then—

BANG!

Harper twirled around and her eyes widened when she saw Neville and Ron sprawled on the floor with a suit of armor all in pieces.

"Run!" Harry yelled.

They run to a deserted corridor and stood against the wall.

"Have we lost him?" Harper asked, breathing heavily. "Please say we lost him."

"I—told—you," Hermione said while leaning against the wall.

"Malfoy tricked you," Harper realized. "He tricked us. He was never going to meet you—Filch knew something was going to be in the trophy room, Malfoy must have tipped him off."

Harry shook his head, stupid that he believed that git and was about to look around the corner when Peeves decided to show up, singing.

He stopped when he saw them and Harper pleaded with her eyes not to give them away.

Peeves chuckled. "Wandering around at midnight, Ickle Firsties? Tut, tut, tut. Naughty, naughty, you'll get caughty."

"Not if you don't give us away, Peeves, please," Harry almost begged.

"Should tell Filch, I should," Peeves said ignoring Harry. "It's for your own good, you know."

"Get out of the way! Ron snapped and Harper closed her eyes, knowing he had gone too far.

"STUDENTS OUT OF BED!" Peeves shouted. "STUDENTS OUT OF BED DOWN THE CHARMS CORRIDOR!"

She grabbed Neville and Hermione once again while Harry grabbed Ron. They ran under Peeves to the end of the corridor where there was a door. Harry tried to open it but it was closed.

"That's it!" Ron moaned, glancing back at Peeves. "We're done."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh, move over!" she snarled, pushing Harry and Harper out of the way. She took her wand out and pointed the tip towards the door knob.

"Alohomora!"

The door opened and they all ran inside, quickly closing the door behind them.

"Do you think Peeves will tell him where we are?" Harper asked quietly.

"We're about to find out," Harry whispered back.

The five of them pressed their ears against the door to see what Peeves was going to say.

"Which way did they go, Peeves?" Harper could hear Filch ask. "Quick, tell me!"

"Say 'please'!"

"Don't mess with me, Peeves, now where did they go?"

"Shan't say nothing if you don't say 'please'," Peeves sang very annoying.

"Alright—please?"

"NOTHING! Ha ha! Told you I wouldn't say nothing if you didn't say 'please'! Ha ha! Haaaa!" Peeves voice grew softer when he flew away and Harper could hear Filch cursing.

Was he having a bad day—not as bad as theirs as she would soon find out.

"Get off, Neville!" Harper heard Harry hiss. "What?"

The four of them turned around to see what Neville was fussing about and Harper's eyes widened when she saw that they weren't the only ones in the room.

A brown three-headed dog stood before them, ready to tear them apart.

"AAAHHH!"

They ran for their lives. Harper quickly opened the door and everyone scrambled out as the dog barked loudly. She shut the door, getting some help from the others, while Hermione closed it again.

None of them stopped running until they arrived at the Fat Lady. Harper was happy to see that she had returned.

"Where on earth have you all been?" she questioned, looking at the five of them who where breathing heavily.

"Never mind that—pig snout, pig snout," Harry replied while wiping the sweat off his forehead.

The Fat Lady looked at them suspiciously but opened anyway. They all scrambled through the portrait hole and into the common room, collapsing on a couch.

Harper stared at the ceiling. Was it even legal to hold a three-headed dog in a school?

"What do you think they're doing, keeping a thing like that, locked up in a school?" Ron finally asked. "If any dog needs exercise, that one does."

"You don't use your eyes, do you?" Hermione snapped up at him. "Did you see where it was standing on?"

"I wasn't looking at his feet, Hermione," Ron argued back. "I was a bit preoccupied with the heads. Remember there were three."

"It was standing on a trap door," Harper replied, ignoring Ron. She, too, had noticed that small detail. "The dog isn't there by accident, it was guarding something," she stated.

"Guarding something?" Harry repeated.

"Yes," Hermione nodded. "Now, I'm going to bed before any of you come up with another plan to get us killed—or worse, expelled."

She turned around and made her way to our dorm room.

It was quiet for a while until Ron spoke up.

"She needs to sort out her priorities."

· · ───── · ☆ · ───── · ·

November 1st 2021
I hope you enjoyed it and tell me what you think of it! :)