The three walked back along the shadows of the corridor, the oil lamp in Harry's hand swaying slightly, casting an flickering light on the stone steps ahead.
Herman's shoulder was still throbbing; although the Cerberus's claw hadn't landed squarely, the area it grazed was already burning and swollen.
He was about to say something to ease the silence when Draco's voice rang out first, carrying a more relaxed curiosity than before. "Such a big dog, what do you usually feed it? What do you think it wants to eat? I'll go buy some."
Before Herman could reply, Harry's voice drifted over, her tone flat. "I didn't know before, but now I'm sure it wants Herman Horace the most, and all three heads will fight over him."
Herman opened his mouth to retort, but Draco added, "Yes, and he even tried to poison it with chocolate. That's a grudge now."
Herman paused for a moment, then emphasized, "That was a suggestion, not an instruction to poison it with chocolate. Besides, it doesn't understand."
Harry didn't even turn her head. "Don't worry, if it really dies, I'll definitely tell it to settle its score and become a ghost to haunt you."
Herman patted his shield in displeasure. "Listen up, I saved your life, and this is how you treat your benefactor?"
Harry waved her wand in her other hand and replied, "Don't forget, I saved your life too."
The three of them walked along, exchanging casual banter, the atmosphere much more relaxed than when they arrived.
As the light from the oil lamp shone around the corner, Herman suddenly sensed that Harry's steps faltered.
Then he heard it too. The crisp sound of footsteps came from the other side of the corridor corner, tap, tap, tap, the sound of boots striking the stone surface was particularly clear in the empty corridor.
Then came a low murmur of conversation, the sound carrying through the walls.
Herman held his breath and looked up at Harry.
Harry's expression didn't change, but she stopped walking and tilted her ear slightly toward the direction the sound came from, as if confirming the distance and location.
The three of them fell silent at the same time, standing still against the wall, even their breathing became soft.
The sounds from the other side of the corner grew clearer, and Herman quickly identified one of them.
One voice was gentle and unhurried, exactly the same as when lecturing in class. The other voice was colder, spoke faster, and carried a sense of detachment.
Quirrell said, "What a coincidence, Professor Malin, you're still awake?"
Marlene's voice followed. "I had some research to finish, and I happened to hear some noise on the third floor, so I came out to check."
Quirrell nodded. "Let's go take a look. After all, that thing is very precious, and I think even professors would find it hard to resist its allure."
Herman's heart tightened, and he quickly glanced around.
The corridor was wide and long, with a stone pillar every few steps on both sides, but the pillars were no thicker than an arm's length and could not block people at all.
If they turn around and run, the nearest fork in the road is fifty meters away, and it will take at least ten seconds to get there. Quirrell and his companion will probably turn the corner in a few more seconds.
He looked at Harry, his eyes seeming to say only one thing: King of the Night, it's your turn to perform.
Harry didn't speak, but her hands moved faster than any answer.
She took the roll of gray silk that had previously covered the Hand of Glory from her clothes, gave it a gentle shake, and the silk made a barely audible rustling sound as it unfurled in the air.
Before Herman could even get a good look at how big the silk was, the silvery-gray fabric had already fallen down like flowing water, completely covering the three of them from head to toe.
Herman looked at the silk fabric flowing like mercury in the air and immediately realized that it was Invisibility Cloak.
As the edge of the Invisibility Cloak touched the ground and covered the soles of his feet, Herman felt as if the surrounding air had been blocked by something, even the light from the oil lamp was completely absorbed.
The space beneath the Invisibility Cloak was just the right size, enough to fit three figures pressed tightly together; any larger and they would have been exposed.
Draco's mind was still tense, afraid of being discovered by the professors. She only came to her senses the moment the fabric fell, and subconsciously opened her mouth, about to cry out in surprise.
Herman glanced at the lingering teeth marks on his hand, hesitated for a moment, and didn't reach out.
Harry reached out and firmly pressed her hand against Draco's lips, the movement clean and swift, without even the fabric swaying.
Draco was stunned for a moment when her hand was covered, and subconsciously looked at Herman, thinking that it was Herman who did it again.
Herman raised his hand to show the wound on his hand, roughly meaning: I can't cover you like that anymore.
Draco's eyes widened in anger, and she slammed her elbow into Herman's stomach.
Herman silently bent over, only one thought remaining in his mind: Why is it that no matter who covers it, I'm always the one who gets hurt!
Fortunately, as the footsteps drew closer, Draco quieted down and stopped attacking her younger brother Herman, who had overstepped his bounds.
The three of them huddled under the fabric, Herman's left shoulder pressed against Harry's right shoulder, his right arm against Draco's back, and they could feel the warmth of their bodies emanating from beneath the fabric.
He had to admit that the Invisibility Cloak was of really good quality; it even seemed to have its own ventilation and cooling function, so it wasn't hot even when he was so close to it, except that it was a bit small.
Of course, it might have been designed for adults to use alone, so it would be quite a challenge to fit three well-developed children into the Invisibility Cloak.
Herman tried to tilt his head to relax, but his face brushed against Draco's earlobe and then against Harry's nape.
Harry subtly shrank her neck, Herman could feel her body temperature; her breath, reflected through the fabric, reached him slightly.
He wanted to say something to explain their close position and the feeling of being almost touching, but he opened his mouth and then closed it again.
Saying anything now could reveal your location.
He could only signal to Harry and Draco with his eyes that he didn't mean it, but at such close range, the effect of eye contact was obviously diminished. Instead, because he kept turning his head back and forth, brushing against the two girls' skin, a more subtle movement was heard under the fabric.
Harry released her hand from Draco's mouth, then placed it lightly on the spot on Herman's shoulder that had just been scratched by Cerberus's claws.
Herman froze as if struck by lightning, wincing in pain but unable to utter a sound. He could only silently mouth a few words, and it was unclear whether Harry understood them.
Draco, standing nearby, noticed Herman's expression and a slight smile played on her lips; she seemed quite pleased with Herman's disheveled state.
The footsteps grew closer.