The Girl Who Never Lived¹ | h. potter

💎Chapter 18💎

Their footsteps echoed through the empty halls.

The halls, which were usually filled to the brim with students making their way to classes, were now void. While that alone put the four students on edge, after their run in with Neville, their nerves were running high. Suddenly, it was as if every statue's shadow looked like Filch, every distant breath of wind sounded like Peeves swooping down on them.

A sudden meow traveled through the halls and they froze. Mrs. Norris was laying on the first step, cleaning herself.

As quietly as they could, they scooted their way around her. Mrs. Norris stared at them with her lamp like eyes, but made no move to alert Filch. And after that, much to their relief, the way to the third floor corridor was quiet.

It was only when they were on the third floor, getting ready to turn into the corridor that held the room with Fluffy when they spotted Peeves, who was loosening the carpet so that people would trip.

"Who's there?" he called, jerking up suddenly, narrowing his wicked black eyes. "Know you're there, even if I can't see you. Are you ghoulie or ghostie or wee student beastie?" He grinned wickedly and began floating in the air. "Should call Filch, I should, if something's a-creeping around unseen."

"Peeves," Harry said in a hoarse voice, causing Ciara to nearly jump out of her skin. "The Bloody Baron has his own reasons for being invisible."

Peeves almost fell out of the air in shock. He caught himself in time and hovered about a foot off the stairs.

"So sorry, your bloodiness, Mr. Baron, sir," he said greasily. "My mistake, my mistake — I didn't see you — of course I didn't, you're invisible — forgive old Peevsie his little joke, sir."

"I have business here, Peeves," Harry croaked, "Stay away from this place tonight."

"I will, sir, I most certainly will," Peeves groveled, rising up in the air again. "Hope your business goes well, Baron, I'll not bother you."

Then he dashed off as fast as he could.

"Brilliant, Harry!" Ron whispered.

They turned back towards the door and Ciara's heart fell to her stomach.

The door, the door that led to Fluffy, was already ajar.

"Shit," Ciara swore.

"Well, there you are," Harry said quietly, "Snape's already got past Fluffy."

Before they could walk in, Harry turned.

"If you want to go back, I won't blame you," he said. "You can take the Cloak, I won't need it now."

"Harry," Ciara frowned.

"Don't be stupid," Ron said.

"We're coming," Hermione said.

Harry pushed the door open.

Low rumbling slipped out of the room as they eased the door open. All of Fluffy's heads sniffed the air in their direction madly, but they didn't attack, as you couldn't attack something you couldn't see.

A harp laid abandoned at the dog's feet.

"Snape must have left it there," Ron mumbled.

"It must wake up the moment you stop playing," said Harry. "Well, here goes nothing..."

He put Hagrid's flute to his lips and blew. Ciara cringed, It wasn't really a tune, but from the first note, the beast's eyes began to droop. Slowly, the dog's growls ceased — it tottered on its paws and fell to its knees, then it slumped to the ground, fast asleep.