Hermione's doubts hadn't dissipated, so she leaned forward again and asked:
"Besides the Cerberus level, what are the other levels like? You should at least give me a hint."
Draco looked at her earnest expression and was about to tease her a bit more.
Just then, hurried footsteps came from the doorway of the common room.
The two turned around and saw Harry and Ron, who had just run out to retrieve the Invisibility Cloak.
The two were panting heavily, their hair disheveled, and their cheeks red from the cold, clearly having run a long way around the castle.
Ron collapsed onto the sofa as soon as he walked in, shrugged, and looked utterly dejected.
"Damn it, we found nothing! The classroom by the Magic Mirror is completely empty, not a soul in sight, and your Invisibility Cloak... it's gone!"
Harry nodded, a hint of disappointment and unease in his expression. He stood to the side with his hands at his sides and whispered:
"We searched everywhere, front and back, even the corners, but we definitely didn't find it."
Hermione, who had just been asking about the level, was startled and quickly stood up, looking at Harry with concern:
"How could it be gone? That was your Invisibility Cloak!"
Draco, seeing Harry and Ron's dejected looks, sat up straight and casually remarked:
"There's no use in you two being anxious. Why don't you go ask Old Dumbledore? Wasn't he there in the Magic Mirror classroom just now?"
Upon hearing this, Ron was taken aback for a moment, then slapped his thigh. "That's right! How could we forget about the professor!"
Harry looked up, a glimmer of hope rekindling in his eyes, and whispered, "Maybe... the professor helped put it away."
Hermione listened intently, fully aware of what was happening, and secretly glanced at Draco.
This guy clearly knows everything, but he insists on pretending it's none of his business, leading others step by step to figure it out for themselves.
He's almost become Professor Dumbledore Dumbledore...
She inwardly scolded him, but her face remained impassive, and she simply nodded slightly.
" Draco is right. Professor Dumbledore is always meticulous; perhaps he was worried it wouldn't be safe to leave it there, so he's keeping it for you."
Draco met Hermione's gaze and secretly winked.
His innocent look infuriated Hermione, who gritted her teeth in anger, but there was nothing she could do about it.
When Ron heard that he had to ask Dumbledore, he panicked and started scratching his head in worry.
"If the headmaster really took it, then... then he knows the secret of the Invisibility Cloak? It'll be so much harder for Harry and me to sneak out at night from now on!"
Harry's face tightened, and his eyes, which had just brightened, dimmed even more.
This concerned his only personal possession, so he couldn't help but feel uneasy.
She both longed to find the cloak and feared that her only remaining privacy would be exposed.
Hermione knew perfectly well what was going on with them, but she could only play along and try to appease them.
"The principal is always very prudent; even if he found out, he certainly wouldn't make things difficult for you."
Draco, seeing the others genuinely troubled, couldn't resist his mischievousness and said in a serious tone:
"Just relax, maybe that cloak will grow legs and stroll back on its own."
Upon hearing this, Ron immediately glared at him and angrily shouted, "Do you really think we're fools? How can you say such nonsense!"
Draco immediately spread his hands, looking completely innocent, and turned to Harry and Hermione, solemnly disclaiming any wrongdoing:
"I didn't say that, so it doesn't count."
Hermione was both exasperated and amused, while Harry simply pretended not to see his expression.
When Ron saw him trying to cheat, he immediately panicked and quickly waved his hand to salvage the situation. "Stop trying to pull this off!"
Draco said slowly and deliberately:
"Isn't there a precedent for this? The Mirror of Erised can talk to me, so it's reasonable for an Invisibility Cloak to grow legs and run around on its own, right?"
Ron roared, "Reasonable my foot! There's absolutely no logic to it!"
Harry sighed softly, his tone calming down. "It's alright, we can ask the professor later."
Then he lowered his voice and voiced the question he hadn't finished asking earlier:
"When I went to the classroom where the three-headed dog was, besides seeing the monster, I also found a Trapdoor guarding its feet. It was dark underneath, as if it led to some secret place."
After speaking, he looked at the three of them, his tone becoming more serious:
"Thinking back to the news about the Gringotts robbery, Hagrid and I happened to have taken a small item from there that day..."
"I suspect that what someone is eyeing is probably hidden under that Trapdoor, guarded day and night by the three-headed dog."
Ron's eyes widened, and he leaned forward, urgently asking:
"What kind of treasure is that? Someone would dare to take such a huge risk to rob Gringotts in the Wizarding World? How valuable must it be!"
Hermione stood to the side, her face completely expressionless.
She subtly turned her head, her gaze gently falling on Draco. In just one glance, Draco understood her meaning.
Draco shook his head slightly, indicating that the time was not yet right.
Hermione immediately understood, looked away, and gently shook her head at Ron:
"I'm not sure either, but something that's so dangerous must be something important to guard."
Draco casually chimed in, "If you're really curious, why don't you try getting some information out of Hagrid? He's not a tight-lipped guy; he'll probably let some information slip."
Hermione gave him a deadpan look when she heard that.
Ron paused, pointed at himself and Harry, and asked with a puzzled look, "Us?"
"Hmm," Draco responded.
Ron was even more puzzled, turning to stare at him. "And you? Aren't you even a little curious about what's hidden down there?"
Draco leaned back in his chair, looking relaxed. "I'm not curious. Too much curiosity kills the cat."
Ron was speechless for a moment.
Hermione coughed softly, breaking the silence:
"It's getting late. Don't go out tonight. The Forbidden Forest and restricted area are heavily guarded at night. If Filch catches you, being locked up is a minor matter, but getting into other trouble isn't worth it."
Harry nodded, though he was anxious, he knew Hermione was right:
"You're right. I'll visit Professor Dumbledore again tomorrow morning to ask about the Invisibility Cloak."
Ron chimed in, "I'll go with you! Having another person will give us courage, and it'll prevent the professor from getting too angry."
Draco listened quietly, a faint smile playing on his lips, without interrupting.
They only occasionally exchanged a glance with Hermione before silently looking away.
Seeing his confident demeanor, Hermione subtly touched his shoe with her toe, while Draco gently pressed down on the back of her hand.
Their subtle interaction went unnoticed. Suddenly, Ron slapped his forehead:
"By the way, Hagrid might be heading to the edge of the Forbidden Forest tomorrow. Why don't we stop by and have a chat? He's the most soft-hearted guy; a couple of Butterbeer and he'll tell us everything."
Harry's eyes lit up. "That's a great idea."
Draco nodded and said, "Go ahead, just remember not to push him too hard. Hagrid may seem careless, but when it really matters, he might not back down."
Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "You talk like you've actually tried it."
Draco smiled, neither confirming nor denying.