After pushing open the door, the three girls could only use the faint glow from their wands for light. Heavy breathing echoed in the darkness, along with the smell of animal droppings, masking the scent of garlic.
This was a hall enlarged with an Undetectable Extension Charm. As they ventured farther inside, they saw a huge dog lying on the ground.
The three of them were startled. They all recognized it as a Three-Headed Dog, an extremely ferocious Magical Creature. Even if it could not bite them, one bark from it would surely draw other professors here.
But the next second, they realized something was wrong with the dog. It should have noticed the three of them long ago, yet it still lay on the ground, panting heavily.
"Don't go over there, Hermione. It'll bite your neck off." As Hufflepuffs, Susan and Hannah knew far more about Magical Creatures than Hermione did. The chubby girl immediately stopped her friend, who was approaching the dog with her wand raised.
Hermione crouched down and touched the liquid on the ground. Under the blue glow from the tip of her wand, it looked black. The thick fluid had already submerged the soles of their shoes.
"It's blood." Hermione shook her hand. Two of the three girls were cooks, while the other was a new killer who had given up caring after last night. None of them were particularly bothered by blood. "This Three-Headed Dog is injured, and badly."
Hannah moved closer, but the huge dog did not even have the strength to lift its head and look at them. It could only keep panting.
Several enormous, horrifying wounds covered its body. Even for a dog of this size, they were undoubtedly severe injuries. One of its heads was practically about to fall off.