The weeks that followed passed surprisingly quietly.
At least on the surface.
The investigation into the missing items continued, but despite everyone's efforts, they seemed no closer to finding answers than they had been the day the thefts were discovered.
The boys hadn't lost a single thing from their dormitory. Not one sock. Not one book. Not one photograph.
Nothing.
But Hermione and Sloane weren't nearly as fortunate.
Hermione's missing belongings had left everyone just as unsettled as Sloane's had.\ It wasn't the monetary value that bothered them. It was what had been taken.
Her favourite copy of Hogwarts: A History. Not the newest copy. Not the most expensive copy. Her favourite copy. The one she'd practically memorised cover to cover. The one she'd read during holidays and rainy afternoons. The one that had travelled with her through years of adventures.
The book had been worn at the edges from use. Loved. Treasured.
Then there was the locket her mother had given her. A simple piece of jewellery. Nothing flashy. Nothing particularly valuable.
Yet Hermione had worn it for years.
And finally, the blanket. The one her grandmother had helped her knit before she'd left for Hogwarts. That one upset Hermione the most. The blanket had never left her dormitory.
Never.
It wasn't even something people knew about. Not really. It had been tucked away safely amongst her belongings. A comfort item. A piece of home. A reminder of family. And somehow whoever had taken it had known exactly where to find it.
That was what bothered everyone.
Not just that things were missing.
But what was missing.
Sloane's stolen belongings had sentimental value. Hermione's stolen belongings had sentimental value.
Items that couldn't easily be replaced. Items tied to memories. To people. To love.
It almost felt personal.
Deliberate. Calculated.
As if whoever was responsible hadn't simply been stealing.
They'd been choosing.
Selecting.
Studying.
And that thought made Sloane's skin crawl.
The camera footage had only made things worse.
Because it showed absolutely nothing.
No intruders.
No students sneaking around.
No staff entering the rooms.
No animals.
No suspicious movement.
Nothing.
It was as though the objects had simply vanished.
Which, unfortunately, only led to more questions.
Questions nobody could answer. Questions that left even Hermione frustrated.
So they adapted.
They became cautious.
More aware.
Everyone kept their heads down.
Everyone watched each other's backs.
No one travelled the castle alone anymore.
YOU ARE READING
The Hollow Beneath Hogwarts
FantasyThe Hollow Beneath Hogwarts When the war ended, Hogwarts was supposed to be a place of healing. Instead, it became a place haunted by grief. Sloane Sage arrives at Hogwarts carrying scars no one can see. After losing her family in the war, she dedic...
