human again / hp.

Chapter 11

The fire crackled in the Gryffindor common room as we huddled near the window, our faces lit by the warm glow of the flames and the excitement of whispered secrets. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had just shared with me the details of their startling discovery on the third floor.

"A three-headed dog?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "You're sure?"

"Yeah," Ron said, leaning closer as if the walls themselves might overhear us. "Huge thing. Nearly took Harry's leg off when we accidentally ran into it."

"And it's guarding something," Harry added, his green eyes serious. "There's a trapdoor under it."

"What could be so important that it needs that kind of protection?" I asked, trying to wrap my head around the idea.

Hermione sat up straighter, her tone matter-of-fact. "Whatever it is, Dumbledore must have put it there for a reason. I mean, it's not exactly normal to keep a beast like that inside a school."

"But then why was Snape near the third floor during the troll attack?" Harry asked, his voice full of suspicion. "And did you see his leg tonight? He's limping. He must've been bitten or something."

Hermione frowned, her brows knitting together. "It does seem odd. Professor Quirrell said the troll was in the dungeons. Why would Snape be anywhere near the third floor unless he was... up to something?"

"The day I was at Gringotts, Hagrid took something out of one of the vaults. He said it was Hogwarts' business, very secret. Maybe thats what the dog is protecting"

I felt a shiver run down my spine. I'd grown up around plenty of scheming wizards, but the idea of a Hogwarts professor—Snape no less—doing something sinister was unsettling. "You think Snape let the troll in? To... to distract everyone?"

Harry nodded firmly. "It makes sense. The teachers were all busy with the troll, and Snape had a chance to sneak past that dog. He's after whatever's under that trapdoor."

Ron leaned back with a groan. "Great. We've got a three-headed dog, a dodgy professor, and a secret we can't talk about. Welcome to Hogwarts, Celeste."

I chuckled nervously, glancing between them. "This is... a lot." And it was, but at the same time, I felt a thrill. For the first time in my life, I was part of something that wasn't tied to my family's legacy—something that was mine.

Hermione softened. "We didn't mean to drag you into this. If it's too dangerous—"

"No," I interrupted. "I want to help. You're my friends. If you're in this, so am I."

They exchanged surprised but pleased looks. Ron gave me a grin. "Well, that settles it. You're officially part of the group."

"Part of the group," I echoed, feeling warmth spread through me at his words.

The next morning, the buzz in the Great Hall was all about Harry's first Quidditch match. The match was against Slytherin.

"I can't believe you're already on the team," I said as we made our way to breakfast. "First-years never make it."

"Tell me about it," Ron muttered, shoving a piece of toast into his mouth. "You'll be brilliant, Harry."

Harry shrugged, looking a little overwhelmed by the attention. "I just don't want to fall off the broom."

"You won't," Hermione said confidently. "You've been practicing nonstop. And besides, you've got a Nimbus Two Thousand now." She gestured to the sleek broomstick propped beside him. Harry had unwrapped it that morning, a gift from Professor McGonagall herself.

"I still can't believe she gave it to you," Ron said, a mix of awe and envy in his voice.

"It's amazing," I added, eyeing the broom. My father would not approve of me cheering for Harry, but right now, I didn't care. "You're going to be incredible."

Harry smiled, a bit more at ease. "Thanks."

As the conversation turned to strategies and rival players, I couldn't help but glance around the hall. Draco sat at the Slytherin table, his sneer as prominent as ever, but for once, it didn't bother me. He was a reminder of the world I'd left behind—a world of expectations and prejudices that didn't matter here.

What mattered now were the people sitting beside me, the secrets we shared, and the adventures waiting ahead.