THE HEIR.

HARRY LEADS WHERE?

Siddarth, Emily, Daphne, and Tracy were walking back to the Slytherin common room after a long day of classes. As they rounded a corner, they spotted Harry, Nyla, Ron, and Hermione huddled together, whispering urgently at the top of a flight of stairs. The stairs suddenly began to move, and the group stumbled, almost falling as they were carried away to another part of the castle.

"What's gotten into them?" Emily asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No idea," Daphne replied, her curiosity piqued. "But they looked pretty spooked."

"Let’s see what they were looking at," Siddarth suggested, leading the way.

The four Slytherins crept up the stairs and followed the path Harry and his friends had taken. They soon found themselves in front of a large, wooden door. Siddarth cautiously pushed it open, revealing a dark room.

As they stepped inside, a low growl echoed through the chamber. Suddenly, three pairs of glowing eyes appeared, and they realized they were staring at a massive, three-headed dog.

"Merlin's beard!" Tracy gasped, taking a step back.

Siddarth, keeping his composure, studied the creature. "It’s guarding something. Look at the trapdoor beneath it."

"Guarding what?" Emily whispered, her eyes wide.

"I don’t know," Siddarth said, "but it must be something important."

They slowly backed out of the room, closing the door quietly behind them, and hurried back to the Slytherin common room. Once inside, they gathered around a table, their faces illuminated by the flickering firelight.

"Did you see the size of that thing?" Daphne said, still in shock.

"Yeah, but why would Hogwarts have a three-headed dog?" Emily pondered.

"It’s obviously guarding something," Siddarth said, thoughtful. "And if it's something worth that kind of protection, it must be significant."

"The Philosopher's Stone?" Siddarth repeated. "The one that grants immortality and turns any metal into pure gold?"

"Yes," Tracy confirmed. "It was created by Nicolas Flamel. I read about it in 'A History of Magic.'"

"It makes sense," Siddarth mused. "Dumbledore is known to be friends with Flamel. If anyone could create something worth guarding with a three-headed dog, it would be him."

"So you think the dog is guarding the Philosopher's Stone?" Emily asked, intrigued.

"It’s a strong possibility," Siddarth nodded. "But we should keep this information to ourselves for now. If we’re right, it could be very dangerous."

The friends agreed to keep their discovery secret and continued to speculate on what else might be involved in guarding such a powerful artifact. As they talked late into the night, their bond grew stronger, united by the mystery they had uncovered and the adventures that lay ahead.

DARCO AND HARRY'S PUNISHMENT

It was a crisp, clear night when Harry, Nyla, Ron, and Hermione decided to pay a visit to Hagrid at his hut. The cozy light spilling from Hagrid’s windows created a warm glow in the otherwise dark forest. Inside, Hagrid was serving them tea and large rock cakes, which they politely nibbled on while listening to his stories.

Meanwhile, back in the Slytherin common room, Draco Malfoy approached Siddarth, his face lit with a mischievous grin. "Valentine, come with me. There's something you need to see."

Curious but cautious, Siddarth followed Draco out of the castle and into the night. They silently crept through the grounds, finally arriving at the edge of Hagrid’s hut. From their hiding spot, they could clearly see and hear Harry and his friends through the open window.