Malfoy's Scheme

Back in the dormitory, Harry and Ron Weasley only dozed for a while. After recovering a little energy, they immediately climbed out of bed.

Neville, Moxi, and Andy were sleeping deeply. The two did not disturb them and quietly left the dormitory.

In the common room, Harry and Ron found Hermione Granger waiting for them.

"Why didn't you go back to sleep?" Ron asked Hermione.

Ron did not want Hermione involved in a wizard's duel like this. It was a little too cruel for a girl.

"I'm worried about you," Hermione said hesitantly.

Ron smiled faintly, raised his wand, and said, "I'm an Earth Elemental Magic user. I can cast earth spikes. Malfoy and Crabbe can't possibly be our match."

"So you should go back to sleep."

Hermione shook her head and said firmly, "No, I have to go with you. Even if you lose in the end, I can avenge you. At the very least, if something really happens, I can call a professor."

"I don't think Malfoy would really do something like that."

Seeing this, Harry said, "All right, then let's go together. Ron, take care of Hermione."

With that, Harry strode outside.

Ron looked at Hermione and whispered, "You should have faith in us."

Then he followed Harry, with Hermione close behind.

Having already snuck out several times to study with Professor Katelyle, Hermione, who should have been the one to obey the rules, had instead grown fond of the feeling.

The three walked briskly along the corridor. Moonlight streamed through the high windows, stretching across the floor in strips and giving them a little light.

Even so, they moved carefully, afraid that every turn might bring them face-to-face with Argus Filch and Mrs Norris on their nightly patrol.

Once they were exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Whew, we're really lucky. We didn't run into Filch or his cat," Ron said with a sigh of relief.

"Maybe he's asleep in some corner, hugging his cat," Harry joked quietly.

Before long, the three reached the fourth floor and quietly entered the Trophy Room.

It was frighteningly quiet inside, without a single sound.

In the darkness, trophies, shields, medals, and statues gleamed silver and gold beneath the faint moonlight, adding a touch of warmth to the silence.

Even so, Harry and the others cautiously kept to the walls, six eyes carefully searching every possible hiding place.

Malfoy was a sly little snake. Perhaps he and Crabbe were hiding in some corner right now, ready to launch a sudden attack.

However, time passed bit by bit. After the three had searched the small Trophy Room from end to end, they realized there was no one there at all.

"I can say for certain that Malfoy got scared and didn't dare come."

"After all, he was frightened by you in flying class today, Harry."

Ron relaxed and said happily.

Harry frowned slightly at that, then said in a low voice, "We may be in trouble."

"Why?" Ron asked instinctively.

"Malfoy tricked us. This is a trap," Hermione said furiously through gritted teeth.

Ron's expression changed at once, and panic rose in his heart. "Then let's get back quickly."

Just as Ron finished speaking, a terrifying voice came from the room next door.

Someone they feared, and did not want to see, had appeared.

"Darling, sniff carefully. They must be hiding in some corner."

Filch's voice rang out, and Mrs Norris's shadow stretched long beneath the moonlight, looking somewhat feral.

"That bastard Malfoy!" Harry's face darkened. He lowered his voice and hurriedly said, "Go, get out of here."

Harry now understood Malfoy's scheme. Filch was so certain they were here because Malfoy must have tipped him off.

The three silently moved toward the door farthest from Filch. Just as Filch entered the Trophy Room, they slipped out.

"I know you're in here, Harry Potter."

"Trying to hide is useless. My Mrs Norris will find you."

Filch scanned the dark Trophy Room with a sinister expression, a smile curling at his lips as he spoke.

Filch loved catching students. Sometimes, he even liked setting traps for them. He found it very amusing.

Now, he was toying with Harry Potter and the others.

Outside, Ron was bent over as he ran. He stepped on his robe and accidentally tripped himself, and Hermione, following closely behind, crashed into him.

Bang!

"Ow!"

The thud of something heavy hitting the floor, along with the pain of Ron landing on his backside, made him cry out. Filch, inside the Trophy Room, immediately noticed something.

"Quick, quick, Mrs Norris, they got out!"

Holding up his lamp, Filch hurried outside and called out at the same time.

"Run!" Harry's expression changed as he growled.

Harry pulled Ron up, Ron grabbed Hermione's hand, and the three raced down the corridor without daring to hesitate or look back.

They rounded pillars and ran through corridor after corridor. They no longer knew where they were, only that they had run very, very far.

Then, at a corner, a figure suddenly rushed out of the darkness.

In that instant, Harry and the others felt their hearts stop, and their breathing seemed to freeze.

"Waaah, waaah, waaah!"

"Look at that, annoying little first-years wandering around in the middle of the night. What terribly naughty children!"

"Ohoho, Filch will catch you! Heeheehee!"

It was Peeves!

After the initial fright, Harry and the others recognized Peeves and let out sighs of relief.

Hermione glared at Peeves angrily and shouted, "Shut up, Peeves! You nearly scared me to death!"

Hermione was brave and bold, but she had truly been terrified just now. For a moment, she had even thought she was about to be expelled from school.

That would have been utterly unbelievable, even despairing.

Hearing Hermione, Peeves not only failed to shut up, but looked even more pleased. With a mischievous grin, he said, "Really? So you were frightened? That's so much fun."

"That proves my scare tactics are effective. Correct, even."

"You should feel honored, shouldn't you?"

"Damn it, you're so annoying!" Ron was enraged by Peeves and immediately reached out to grab him.

Peeves dodged Ron's hand, floated higher, and cried mockingly, "Damn Filch, where are you?"

"There are students here who aren't sleeping! They're so naughty—they're bullying a ghost!"

Harry wanted nothing more than to throw a fireball at Peeves and teach him a painful lesson.

But he did not have time. He could hear Filch's voice.

"Where are they? Naughty Peeves!"

"In the corridor where they teach Charms!" Peeves answered loudly.

"Go!" Harry cursed under his breath and hurried them onward.

They ran all the way to the end of the corridor and slammed into a door.

It was locked and would not open!

Ron looked back. Firelight appeared around the corner at the other end of the corridor. Filch was about to arrive.

For a moment, Ron was utterly despairing. "What do we do? We're finished."

"Alohomora!" Hermione took Harry's wand, tapped the lock, and cried out.

Harry and the others were instantly overjoyed. They quickly slipped inside and shut the door, then pressed their ears against the wall, trying to listen to the sounds outside.