The Fox In A Snake Pit!

The Trap Door!

Out on the stone steps, Harry turned to the others. "Right, here's what we've got to do," he whispered urgently. "One of us has got to keep an eye on Snape... wait outside the staff room and follow him if he leaves it. Hermione, you'd better do that."

"Why me?" asked Hermione defensively.

"It's obvious," said Ron. "You can pretend to be waiting for Professor Flitwick, you know."

Ron attempted to imitate Hermione's voice, "'Oh Professor Flitwick, I'm so worried, I think I got question fourteen B wrong...'" 

However, Hermione quickly shut him down. "Oh, shut up," she said, clearly unamused by Ron's antics.  Despite this, she agreed to accompany them and keep an eye out for Snape.

"And we'd better stay outside the third-floor corridor," Harry told Ron and Jade.

Jade firmly expressed her decision, stating, "No, I'm going with Hermione because I can't stand being around the two of you for very long." Without wasting any time, she quickly followed Hermione, as she couldn't comprehend how Harry's plan would work if he merely stood outside the door with Fluffy behind it. 

Determined, Jade urged Hermione, saying, "Come on." Little did she know at that moment, but later on, she would realize just how right she had been to disagree with Harry's plan.

~with Harry and Ron~

No sooner had they reached the door separating Fluffy from the rest of the school had Professor McGonagall turned up again and this time, she lost her temper. The usually composed and stern professor was clearly frustrated and her anger was palpable. Her voice echoed through the corridor as she berated the two boys for their reckless behavior.

"I suppose you think you're harder to get past than a pack of enchantments!" Professor McGonagall stormed up to them. "Enough of this nonsense! If I hear you've come anywhere near here again, I'll take another fifty points from Gryffindor! Yes, Weasley, from my own house!"

Harry and Ron returned to the common room after their encounter with Snape. As they entered, Harry couldn't help but express his relief, stating, "At least Hermione and Jade are on Snape's tail." Just as he spoke those words, the portrait of the Fat Lady swung open, revealing Hermione and a hesitant Jade standing outside.

Jade seemed unsure about entering the common room and asked Hermione, "Are you sure I'm even allowed up here?" 

Irritated, Hermione replied, "Just come in." With Hermione's assurance, Jade finally hesitantly stepped into the trio's shared space.

Jade cautiously stepped into the Gryffindor trio's common room, and her blue eyes immediately met with a sight that overwhelmed her senses. The room was a visual explosion of gold and red, with every inch of the walls and furniture adorned in the vibrant colors of the Gryffindor House. Lions, the emblematic creatures of Gryffindor, were positioned in various forms, seemingly guarding the room from every angle. Jade's stomach churned as she was overwhelmed by the overpowering display of Gryffindor's spirit in the room. 

The sea of red and gold was almost suffocating, making her question whether Slytherins were truly the ones with excessive house pride. She couldn't help but think to herself, 'And they say the Slytherins have too much house pride?'

"I'm sorry, Harry!" Hermione wailed. "Snape came out and asked us what we were doing, so we said we were waiting for Flitwick, and Snape went to get him, and we've only just got away. I don't know where Snape went."