Shadows of Devil's Snare and a Heartbeat Invitation (Part 1)

Time crawled by in a suffocating silence for a few seconds. Hermione finally found the switch for her voice, letting out a short, weak: "...Huh?"

Linley's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, as if confirming she had heard. He repeated patiently, his tone calm and even: "The dance. Do you have a partner?"

"No, no!" Hermione blurted out almost immediately, her voice rising slightly with nervousness. She immediately regretted it, feeling she had answered too quickly and eagerly, appearing... foolish. She quickly lowered her head, pretending to tidy her not-at-all-disheveled sleeves, trying to hide her flushed cheeks and racing heart. The Moon White Stone pressed against her skin, sending waves of warmth and throbbing, as if echoing her pounding heart.

"Mmm," Linley replied, having received his answer with a simple hum. His gaze remained on Hermione's face, as if assessing something, or perhaps waiting.

The air fell into a subtle stalemate once more. Hermione felt her brain was about to explode with a jumble of chaotic thoughts: What did he mean by asking that? Simple curiosity? Or... No, no, impossible! How could Linley...? But if he didn't mean anything by it, why ask specifically? Could it be... A bold thought, one that made her heart tremble, surfaced uncontrollably.

Gathering the greatest courage of her life, she suddenly looked up, her eyes meeting Linley's deep, pool-like gaze. Her voice carried a subtle tremor she hadn't noticed herself: "Why... why are you asking that?" She regretted it the moment she asked, it sounded like an interrogation!

Linley seemed to have anticipated her reaction. He didn't answer immediately, merely took two steps forward, stopping in front of Hermione. The distance suddenly closed, and Hermione could even smell his familiar, clean and refreshing scent, like a forest after rain, mixed with the faint starlight of the Star Stone, instantly enveloping her. Her breath hitched involuntarily.

He lowered his head slightly, his gaze leveling with hers. In his usually calm, unruffled dark eyes, her shy and nervous little face was clearly reflected. Then, in an extremely natural and matter-of-fact tone, he said clearly:

"If not, then," he paused, as if stating a foregone conclusion, "come with me."

Not a request, not a question, but a statement.

Boom!

Hermione felt something explode in her mind, brilliantly beautiful. All the tension, speculation, and uncertainty were swept away by this direct, almost domineering "notification." A tremendous, ineffable joy instantly broke through all her defenses, surging from the deepest part of her heart and quickly spreading to her limbs, making her almost unable to stand. The Moon White Stone suddenly became scorching hot, transmitting her owner's uncontrollable excitement.

"Okay!" This time, her answer was without the slightest hesitation, crisp and loud, carrying a joy and certainty she hadn't even realized herself. Her bright brown eyes sparkled with pure, unreserved light, fixed on Linley, her cheeks flushed like ripe apples.

Linley looked at the girl's instantly illuminated expression. In the depths of his usually serene eyes, a faint, fleeting smile seemed to flicker. He nodded almost imperceptibly: "Mmm." It was as if he were simply confirming a scheduled arrangement.

The air in the practice room, from the tense stagnation moments ago, instantly became light and sweet. Outside the window, another magical paper crane flew by, scattering fine gold dust, like the fireworks blooming in Hermione's heart at that moment.

The joy of having a dance partner was like the sweetest honey, filling Hermione's practice sessions for the next few days with energy. She even felt that the light orbs of "Lumos Maxima" were brighter than usual.

Finally, the day of action arrived. Late one Friday night, as the entire castle slept, with only moonlight casting a clear glow through the tall arched windows, four figures squeezed under the Invisibility Cloak once more, like nocturnal ghosts, silently sneaking towards the forbidden corridor on the third floor. This time, besides nervousness, Hermione felt a strange sense of security—because Linley was by her side.

It was still the same eerie, silent corridor. The heavy oak door was shut tight, and a heart-stopping, heavy breathing sound emanated from the crack beneath it.

Ron took a deep breath and pressed the play button on the recorder with a trembling hand. Immediately, an extremely soft, soothing lullaby melody, like a mother's gentle hum, filled the silent corridor. The volume, amplified by the Amplifying Charm, clearly penetrated the thick wooden door.

Inside, Fluffy's thunderous snores and wet breathing sounds abruptly stopped the moment the lullaby began! Then, a strange, confused whimper sounded, interspersed with a few snorting "huffs" like sneezes. Heavy footsteps paced restlessly behind the door for a few moments, and then, the unsettling snores resumed, becoming deep and steady at an astonishing speed, as if a real baby had fallen into a deep sleep.

Harry carefully pushed the door open a crack. He saw Fluffy's massive body curled up in the center of the room, all three of his huge heads drooping to the floor, his six eyes closed, drool trickling from the corners of his mouths, forming a small puddle, rising and falling with his rhythmic, enormous snores. The power of music was truly magical!

"Quick!" Harry whispered, the first to squeeze sideways through the gap. Ron followed closely, carrying the recorder, ensuring the music continued to play. Linley shielded Hermione, and the two quickly slipped in.

The room was filled with the heavy, pungent smell emanating from the sleeping Fluffy. The three-headed beast was like a sleeping mountain of flesh, each breath causing vibrations. The four held their breath, tiptoeing around Fluffy's enormous body, their hearts almost leaping out of their throats. Hermione clutched her wand tightly, her fingertips icy cold. Linley's hand remained hovering behind her, maintaining a silent posture of protection.

Finally, they safely reached the entrance between Fluffy's hind legs, covered by a heavy trapdoor. Harry crouched down, grabbed the cold iron ring, and pulled it upwards with force!

Creak—

The heavy trapdoor was lifted, revealing the bottomless darkness below. A damp, cold wind, carrying the scent of earth and decaying plants, rushed towards them.

"I'll go first!" Harry said, and without hesitation, he leaped down. A dull thud echoed from the darkness below. "It's okay! Not high! It's soft down here!"

Ron jumped down next. Linley looked at Hermione, his eyes signaling. Hermione took a deep breath and nodded. Linley jumped down first, and upon landing, immediately turned around, extending his arms steadily: "Jump."

In the darkness, Hermione couldn't see clearly below, but Linley's steady voice and outstretched arms gave her immense courage. She closed her eyes, took a step forward, and leaped!

There was no sense of falling as she expected. Her feet landed steadily on something elastic and slightly damp. Her body tilted slightly forward due to inertia. A pair of strong arms immediately gripped her shoulders, steadying her.

"Are you okay?" Linley's voice was close, his warm breath brushing her forehead.

"Mmm," Hermione steadied herself. In the faint moonlight filtering through the trapdoor above, she could barely make out a small, cellar-like space. Her feet were treading on a thick layer of... dark green, slippery moss? No, that wasn't right! They seemed to be wriggling!

"What kind of hellish place is this?" Ron's voice was filled with disgust as he tried to pull his foot out of the slippery "moss."

Just then, the trapdoor above slammed shut with a bang! The last sliver of moonlight disappeared, plunging the entire space into complete darkness!

"Lumos!" Harry and Hermione shouted almost simultaneously, the tips of their wands lighting up.

However, the moment the light appeared, the "ground" beneath their feet suddenly came alive!

Those dark green, slippery vines, like awakened venomous snakes, coiled upwards with astonishing speed! Cold, slick, and carrying a nauseating scent of decay! They instantly wrapped around Harry's ankles and Ron's calves! The vines' strength was incredible, carrying a malice that seemed intent on dragging them into the depths of the earth!

"Devils Snare!" Hermione screamed, immediately recalling Quirrell's mark from Snape's book! She desperately tried to shake off the vines wrapped around her ankle, but they tightened, as if alive!