The Art of Deception

Chapter 10

The five of them were walking up the staircase in the Grand Staircase tower, their footsteps echoing off the high walls of Hogwarts. As they climbed, a railing suddenly slid out from the wall with a creak. Hermione glanced at it briefly but kept walking, unaffected.

"I'm telling you, it's spooky," Ron muttered, glancing at Harry with wide eyes. "She knows more about you than you do."

Harry, ever the skeptic, shrugged. "Who doesn't?"

Aurelia rolled her eyes, her sharp gaze landing on Ron. "Boys are idiots," she muttered under her breath, loud enough for Daphne and Hermione to hear. They both nodded in agreement, though Hermione's expression remained thoughtful as always.

Suddenly, the staircase gave a violent shudder beneath them. Everyone grabbed onto the railing for balance as the stone steps began to shift and move, twisting around. The group stumbled, trying to stay steady as the staircase twisted.

"What's happening?" Harry asked, looking more confused than concerned.

Aurelia groaned, the irritation clear in her voice. "Sometimes I wonder if I took all the brain from you," she muttered, shooting him a playful yet exasperated look.

Hermione, ever the scholar, quickly spoke up. "The staircases change, remember?" she said, looking around as the stairs finally came to a stop, leading them into a dark corridor.

Harry tapped Ron on the shoulder. "Let's go this way," he said, taking a quick step toward the hallway.

"Before the staircase moves again," Ron added, his voice tinged with a nervous edge.

Daphne glanced at Aurelia with a raised eyebrow. "Your brother's not the smartest, right? I mean, we could just wait here until the staircase changes back."

Aurelia sighed, her expression softening slightly. "Don't question it. He's excited, I think..." She trailed off, not sure if she was entirely convinced herself.

They all hesitated at the door but finally opened it, stepping into a cold, spooky corridor. The dim light barely illuminated their path as they walked deeper into the deserted hall.

"Does anyone else feel like we shouldn't be here?" Harry said, his voice low and uneasy.

"We're not supposed to be here," Hermione replied, her eyes darting around nervously. "This is the third floor. It's forbidden."

A chill ran down Aurelia's spine as they stepped further into the corridor. She could feel the weight of something unnatural in the air, but she didn't speak up. Instead, she exchanged a look with Daphne, her expression unreadable.

Just then, a flame flickered to life on a tall stone pillar, casting eerie shadows against the walls. The group paused, startled. Then, from the shadows emerged Filch's cat, Mrs. Norris, slinking into view with a low, eerie meow that echoed through the corridor.

Everyone jumped, a collective gasp filling the air.

"Let's go," Harry whispered urgently, already backing away toward the door.

Mrs. Norris' head snapped toward them, her eyes glinting in the dim light, and another loud meow echoed in the hallway.

"It's Filch's cat!" Hermione shouted in a panic.

"Run!" Harry cried, grabbing Aurelia's arm and pulling her with him. Aurelia stumbled for a second before instinctively reaching out and grabbing Daphne's arm, pulling her along too.

They bolted down the corridor, feet pounding against the cold stone floor. Behind them, Mrs. Norris' menacing eyes followed their every move, her yowling echoing off the walls as she took off after them.