San Shao is Truly a Dog

The five of them pressed against the door, holding their breath as they listened to the sounds outside.

Filch's footsteps grew closer, mingled with Mrs. Norris's meowing.

"Bloody little brats, I know you're in here!" Filch cursed outside the door, yanking hard on the handle.

The door didn't budge.

Seeing that it wouldn't open, Filch assumed no one was inside and shuffled off, grumbling.

The footsteps faded into the distance, and only then did the five of them let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness, he's gone," Harry said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"We should get back to the dormitory quickly," Hermione whispered.

Just then, Neville spoke up, his voice trembling:

"Guys, take a look behind you."

The four of them slowly turned around and froze instantly.

A massive three-headed dog was glaring at them ferociously, each head as big as a bucket, six eyes gleaming in the darkness.

Sharp teeth bared from its mouth, drool dripping steadily down.

"Aaaaaah!"

Except for Charlie, the other four let out earth-shattering screams.

Charlie's eyes went wide, his mind racing with a stampede of thoughts.

Which bastard said Dumbledore wouldn't leave anything dangerous in the castle?

Faced with this situation, Charlie reacted almost on instinct, pulling out his wand.

"Flaming Bear!"

Blazing flames erupted in front of him in an instant, forming a wall of fire.

Charlie didn't attack the three-headed dog directly—he was afraid of provoking the beast—he just wanted to block it with the flames.

He turned to shield the others, only to look back.

Damn it, where'd they go?

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville had bolted, not even a shadow left behind.

"Bloody hell, what a bunch of traitors!" Charlie couldn't help but curse.

Just as Charlie was about to run himself, he noticed that although the three-headed dog looked terrifying, it hadn't moved an inch from its spot.

Was this thing not going to bite?

A bold idea popped into Charlie's head.

"Billy!" he called softly.

With a pop, Billy appeared before Charlie.

"Mr. White, what does Billy need?"

Ever since he'd given Billy a Galleon half a month ago, this house-elf had truly come whenever called.

Every morning when Charlie woke up, there was even a steaming hot breakfast by his bed.

"Get me a piece of meat, fresh," Charlie said in a low voice.

Billy vanished instantly and returned in less than ten seconds, carrying a large slab of beef.

Charlie took the meat and cautiously approached the three-headed dog.

"Here, big doggy, come on, come on."

He had no idea if dogs from another world responded to that, but he went for it anyway.

The two side heads of the three-headed dog instantly changed expression, drool pooling on the floor.

Only the middle head kept up a fierce look on the surface, but the tail wagging furiously behind it gave it away.

Charlie couldn't help but laugh:

"Got it, didn't I?"

"I knew old Dumbledore was reliable."

[Your Majesty bribes the treasury guard, indulging in reckless behavior. Tyrant Points +1]

On the other side, Harry and the other three ran a good distance before stopping, only then realizing someone was missing.

"Where's Charlie?" Harry asked, panting.

"Damn it, we left him behind!" Ron's face went pale.

Hermione wanted to alert a teacher: "We should go find Professor McGonagall right now!"

Ron pursed his lips: "By the time a teacher gets there, Charlie'll probably be nothing but bones."

Harry clenched his fists, guilt flashing in his eyes. "It's our fault Charlie got left behind. We have to go back for him!"

With that, he turned and ran back.

Hermione reached out, as if to say something, but the words died on her lips.

Gritting her teeth, she followed behind Harry.

At this moment, she wasn't lecturing anymore—a companion's safety mattered more than rules.

Ron and Neville exchanged a glance. Though both were terrified out of their minds, they still followed.

"Merlin's beard, I hope Charlie's still alive," Neville said, trembling.

The four of them returned to the door of that room and crept forward cautiously.

From inside came strange chewing sounds—crunch, crunch—unusually loud and clear.

Harry's face went deathly pale in an instant, and he froze on the spot. "It's over... Charlie, he..."

Ron covered his mouth, his eyes full of terror. "Bloody hell, Charlie's not making a sound anymore. That dog's just gnawing on his..."

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Though Hermione was scared to death too, she kept a cooler head.

She wouldn't jump to conclusions before seeing the truth.

Trembling, she pushed the door open a crack and peeked inside.

The next second, all four of them were stunned.

The enormous three-headed dog was lying comfortably on the floor, all three heads buried in a huge chunk of beef, chewing with relish.

And Charlie?

He was sitting leisurely beside the three-headed dog, stroking the middle head.

"Good dog, San Shao. What a good dog."

Charlie's voice came out, gentle as if he were praising his own pet.

The two side heads also leaned over and rubbed against Charlie's arm, almost like they were begging for affection.

Charlie chuckled and patted the other two heads too.

"Good boys. All good boys."

Harry's eyes went wide. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Charlie! You're okay!"

He was so excited he nearly rushed in, but Ron grabbed him.

The dog might not attack Charlie, but the four of them? No guarantees.

Hearing the noise, Charlie turned around and saw the four returning. He felt a bit relieved.

After all, it meant these guys hadn't truly abandoned him—they still had a conscience.

The three-headed dog also noticed the four at the door, but only glanced at them before going back to its meat.

Hagrid's orders were to guard the trapdoor beneath it. As long as these little wizards didn't come in, it was fine.

Hermione let out a sigh of relief, but a new doubt crept into her mind.

"Charlie, where did you get that piece of meat?"

"Magic, duh," Charlie said casually.

Ron's eyes lit up.

"Charlie, you can conjure food!"

But Hermione wasn't so easily fooled. She frowned and said, "No, Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration clearly states that food cannot be conjured out of thin air."

Charlie sighed inwardly. A little girl who knew this much really wasn't cute.

"Fine, you got me."

"It was sent by the House-elves in the castle."

"But more than that, don't you think we should focus on something more important?"

He pointed at the spot beneath the three-headed dog.

"Like, say, the trapdoor that San Shao is sitting on."

Though Hermione was very curious about the House-elves Charlie mentioned, the three-headed dog was clearly more pressing.

Everyone followed his finger and indeed saw the three-headed dog lying on a wooden trapdoor.

Harry blinked.

"What's underneath that?"

"Who knows?" Charlie rubbed his chin, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.

"But since Dumbledore went to all this trouble to have San Shao watch it, there must be something good down there."

At that moment, the three-headed dog seemed to understand what they were saying. It sped up, devouring the large chunk of beef until nothing was left.

It let out a satisfied burp, then straightened up, all three heads staring straight ahead as if it hadn't just been eating meat.

"San Shao." Charlie patted its hind leg.

"Move aside for a bit, will you? I want to take a look down there."

The three-headed dog acted as if it hadn't heard, standing perfectly still.

"Don't pretend. I know you understand." Charlie kept persuading.

"Just one look. I'll be right back up."

The three-headed dog still ignored him.

Charlie gritted his teeth and pulled out his wand:

"Do you believe I'll hit you with a Stupefy?"

Hearing this, the three-headed dog finally reacted. It slowly turned its middle head and looked at Charlie with disdain.

Given a three-headed dog's resistance, even an adult wizard's spell would struggle to take it down.

The atmosphere turned awkward in an instant.

Charlie coughed dryly and silently put his wand away:

"Just kidding, just kidding."

Just you wait. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west!

Harry and the others covered their mouths, holding back laughter, not daring to let it out.

Charlie couldn't beat the three-headed dog, but he could still beat them.

Unable to withstand Charlie's persistent wheedling, the three-headed dog simply lay down on the Trapdoor, burying its heads and pretending to sleep.

"Screw you!"

"Finished eating and now you don't know me. You're a real San Shao, aren't you?"

Charlie was so angry his teeth itched. He kicked the three-headed dog once, then turned and left.

On the way back to the dormitory, Hermione started her nagging mode again.

"I told you all before, we shouldn't have gone out for a night stroll!" she said indignantly as she walked.

"It nearly got us killed, or even worse—it nearly got us expelled!"

Ron muttered quietly behind her.

"Hey, does she not know which consequence is worse?"

Charlie and Harry couldn't help but laugh at that.

"Alright, Professor McGonagall Jr., stop nagging," Charlie said with a grin.

"My ears are about to grow calluses."

Hermione turned back and glared at these four carefree boys, but the nickname "Professor McGonagall Jr." secretly pleased her.

Professor McGonagall was her idol, and she had always held herself to the same standards.

Suppressing the little pride in her heart, Hermione lifted her chin and walked ahead.

"Hmph, you heartless lot don't understand the importance of academics at all!"