It was early.
The sun had only just begun to rise through the windows of the east tower, casting pale gold across the floor. In the center of the room, Nathael poured tea from a silver pot into three small cups. Celestia, lounging on the windowsill, licked a paw with her usual grace. And in the armchair nearest the fireplace, Hermione Granger sat with her hands clasped and eyes bright from lack of sleep.
"So," Nathael said, handing her a cup, "tell me what happened last night."
Hermione took a deep breath.
"Draco challenged Harry to a duel. Midnight. In the Trophy Room."
"Oh," Nathael said, sitting down. "I see."
"I tried to stop them," Hermione continued. "When they were about to leave the Gryffindor common room, I told them it was madness—that they could be expelled. But they wouldn't listen."
"Of course not," Celestia said without opening her eyes. "They're children. And children think they're invincible."
"I followed them," Hermione said. "Even after they left the common room. But they ignored me. And when I was about to go back… the Fat Lady wasn't in her portrait. So I couldn't get in."
"What did you do then?"
"We kept walking… and we ran into Neville. He'd forgotten the password and was lost, so he came with us."
"We got to the Trophy Room.
Draco was alone, smirking.
'I thought you wouldn't come, Potter,' he said when he saw us. 'Are all Gryffindors cowards now?'
But Harry came—or rather, we came.
And the duel began."
"It was… chaotic," Hermione said. "Draco shouted 'Tarantallegra', and Harry started dancing like a puppet. Ron tried to help, but Draco hit him with 'Flipendo', and he fell."
"And you?" Nathael asked.
"I was about to step in," Hermione said. "I was going to cast 'Finite Incantatem' to stop it. But then… we heard footsteps."
"Filch," Celestia said.
"Yes. So I cast the spell. Harry stopped dancing. And we ran. Draco went one way. We went another."
"We ran into Peeves in the third-floor corridor—the right-hand side," Hermione added. "He almost got us caught—but then, indirectly, he helped us escape… just to annoy Filch."
"And then…" Nathael said with a knowing smile, "you found the forbidden corridor."
Hermione nodded, eyes wide.
"Yes. The third-floor corridor on the right—the one Professor Dumbledore said was off-limits during the Welcoming Feast."
"And what did you see?" Celestia asked, finally opening her eyes.
"A dog. Huge. Three heads. It was standing over a trapdoor in the floor. Growling, barking… furious."
"Cerberus," Nathael said, as if he'd expected it.
"You know it?"
"Not personally," he said. "But I've heard of guardian hounds like that. They're ancient. Very powerful."
"But… what's under that trapdoor?"
Nathael took a slow sip of tea.
"And what do you think?"
"Something worth protecting," Hermione said.
Nathael smiled.
"You had quite an adventure, Hermione."
"This wasn't an adventure!" she said urgently. "We could've been expelled! Draco went too far this time!"
"Beyond sneaking out at night," Nathael said, "what rule did they actually break? Draco issued a challenge. Harry accepted. They dueled. Draco won. No dark magic. No blood. No lasting harm."
He paused.
"So really… they only did what wizards have done for centuries: test their courage in a duel."
He leaned back in his chair.
"Besides…" he added with a faint smile, "I'm a good teacher."
Celestia purred dryly.
"Don't let it go to your head."
Hermione opened her mouth to speak again, but Nathael gently interrupted.
"You're at Hogwarts—a castle full of secrets, shadows, and mysteries. Sometimes… breaking the rules is the only way to uncover the truth."
Hermione looked at him, thoughtful.
Then she stood.
"Thank you for listening."
"Always," Nathael said.
She left, the empty teacup resting on the table.
When the door closed, Nathael's smile faded.
"Only one part of her story mattered," he said quietly.
"The trapdoor," Celestia said.
"Yes. A three-headed dog doesn't guard an empty room. Something valuable is down there. Something Dumbledore wants protected… but also tested."
"Do you think it's a trap?" Celestia asked.
"Of course it is," Nathael said. "Dumbledore isn't a fool. When he forbids a place, it's not just to protect it—it's to draw out those who shouldn't be there."
"That's why we didn't go," Celestia said. "We don't want to play his games."
"Exactly," Nathael said. "He's the most powerful wizard of this age. And the games of the powerful always come with a price."
But now…
"Now," Celestia said, "curiosity has been awakened."
Nathael nodded.
"Hermione doesn't know what she saw. But we… we know it's a treasure."
Just then, an owl approached the window.
It carried a rolled letter on one leg… and a small package tied to its back.
Nathael watched it, eyes narrowed.
"It seems," he said, "it's going to be a long day."