Spectre: The Dark Riddles #1

14: Cerberus*

[Chapter warning: reference to death]

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"These three-headed beasts are remarkably rare. They are large and fearsome but cannot resist falling asleep to the gentle sound of music. So grand, popularly believed to be mythological, these magical beasts are the symbol of loyalty."

-- excerpt from A Beast's Heart: The Compendium, Elastra N. Malfoy, 2010

***

I'm buried deep in the library Saturday midafternoon when Professor Sprout finds me. She's a delightful little woman, always smiling, one of Hogwarts' best teachers. Today she wears simple pants and a shirt already battered with dirt along with her signature patched hat. She's likely been elbow deep in the greenhouse all morning.

"Hello, dear Ella." She beams as she stops a foot away from my table, noting the piles of books and parchment. "I thought I might find you here. Your brother claims you come here often."

I look up from my charms textbook, slightly dizzy from reading about defensive spells for so long. "Oh, yes, I'm just trying to catch up on some studying."

Theo had left for his birthday trip late last night, and since Rowena is in Hogsmeade with the Weasley twins for the day, I'm on my own for charms work. Even with Enzo teaching me a few handy spells, I can't seem to wrap my mind around the subject.

Professor Sprout looks severely out of place inside the tidy, freshly dusted library. "I was sent to fetch you."

"Fetch...?" My face falls. There are only a few reasons my Head of House would be sent to fetch me, and none of them are good. "You mentioned my brother. Is everything alright?"

She presses her mouth into a thin line, a poor attempt at a smile. "You'd be best to just come with me."

I begin to collect my papers and books, but she insists that she'll have one of the Hufflepuff Prefects bring my things back to my dorm. That's not a good sign. The only thing Professor Sprout ever rushes are the handling and care of mandrakes. A sinking feeling settles in the pit of my stomach.

She leads me through the castle, rambling on about how her venomous tentaculas are coming along in the greenhouse. My nerves only grow. She doesn't normally talk this much, unless she's nervous herself.

"Professor," I pipe up as we pass the Great Hall, "is my brother hurt?"

She opens her mouth, closes it, then tries again. "The headmaster has given me direct orders not to speak on the matter until you're in his office."

My hands are shaking by the time we step through the entrance to Professor Dumbledore's office. The headmaster is sat behind his desk. Draco stands in a corner, occasionally stealing mistrusting glances at Professor Snape, who stands beside Dumbledore's desk and looks ready to inflict punishment.

I rush over to my brother. "Are you alright?" I throw my arms around him, relieved to see him in one piece. "Professor Sprout wouldn't tell me what happened. I didn't know if you had—"

"I'm fine, El." His tone is dismissive, but when I pull away, he shoots me a quick, grateful look. He looks guilty of something. There are circles under his eyes. He hasn't shaved in a few days. Blonde stubble litters his jaw. In sixteen years, I've never seen my brother unkempt like this.

"What happened?" I whisper. "Please tell me it wasn't another fight."

Before he can tell me, Dumbledore speaks up. "Thank you, professors. I will speak with the Malfoys privately now."