Arya was running as fast as she could to reach the Entrance Hall. She needed to deliver the news to Albus and Scorpius as soon as possible. When she arrived, the hall was nearly empty. The last group of students was just exiting the doors, heading toward the Quidditch pitch. Today's match was between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw.
Arya spotted Albus and Scorpius in the crowd and rushed to them, panting heavily when she finally reached them.
"Where were you?" Scorpius asked, sounding surprised.
"McGonagall's office," Arya gulped, catching her breath. "I need to tell you something."
They stepped out of the Entrance Hall, and Arya recounted the situation in detail. Both boys looked stunned.
Albus gasped, "Hold on, you're saying the students are in danger?"
Arya huffed. "I don't know, but it's clear things are out of McGonagall's control," she whispered, lowering her voice. "And whatever was in that chest… it's escaped."
The three exchanged worried glances and kept walking. Along the way, Arya noticed small clusters of students carrying blue and red banners, all seeming calm and cheerful. She could almost picture their terrified faces when McGonagall announced the danger.
A group of red-clad players passed by. Albus called out, "Good luck, Rose!" Rose waved back.
When they reached the Quidditch pitch, there was barely room to stand. Arya spotted a group of Slytherin students and joined them, all clutching blue banners. None seemed thrilled about Gryffindor's lead. Arya remembered her own team's rivalry with the Thunderbirds—they played so fiercely they'd rather die than lose.
The commentator, a slender Ravenclaw girl, began announcing the Gryffindor team: "James Potter, Rose Weasley, Elisa McCartney, and—"
Arya suddenly thought, Merlin, it feels like the whole school's overrun with Potters and Weasleys! How are there so many of them?
A few seconds later, she realized she'd said it out loud— Two sets of startled green eyes were staring at her. Scorpius and Albus, who had squeezed in beside her, looked baffled.
"Sorry," Arya muttered. "Didn't mean anything by it."
But deep down, she wasn't sorry. She was still furious at Albus for dismissing her curiosity. Now, it turned out she'd been right all along.
When the Bludgers and Quaffle were released, the match began. Arya borrowed a pair of Omnioculars and focused on the game. Rose Weasley scored the first goal, and cheers erupted across the pitch. Ravenclaw's Chasers weren't far behind—one of them, moving with incredible speed, dodged the defenders and scored a stunning goal. Arya couldn't help but admire her.
Twenty-five minutes in, the Quaffle remained largely with the Chasers. Just the one injury so far—positively civilised compared to the brutal matches at Arya's old school.
When the commentator called out ' Gryffindor leadsixty to fifty!', Arya's gaze shot to the far end of the pitch. James Potter was racing across the field—he must've spotted the Snitch. The Ravenclaw Seeker noticed and shot after him.
James effortlessly dodged the Bludgers. His speed and technique made Arya compare him to Sara—Sara was undoubtedly faster, but James seemed more technical. Still, Arya knew if Sara were here, she'd have caught the Snitch by now.
James kept flying, but at the last second, he pulled his broom upward, soaring into the sky. The Ravenclaw Seeker, still chasing, crashed hard into the ground. A loud thud echoed, followed by angry shouts from Ravenclaw supporters, though their protests were drowned out by Gryffindor's cheers.
James had caught the Snitch.
By dinnertime, the Great Hall's tables groaned under heaps of food—tempting even to those without appetite. But Arya, Scorpius, and Albus sat at the Slytherin table, picking at their plates. They were waiting for the announcement.
Arya glanced at the carefree, cheering Gryffindors, then back at her friends. Albus looked tense, his earlier nonchalance gone.
" Merlin's beard, what's she waiting for?" Arya muttered.
"Maybe you heard wrong," Albus said, pushing peas around his plate.
"No, I'm sure."
Suddenly, Professor McGonagall stood. Her face was grim.
"Students, I'm afraid I have grave news. A magical creature from Hagrid's collection—housed in my office for safekeeping—has escaped. This creature is infused with Dark magic and could be lethal if encountered."
Gasps rippled through the hall.
"We've tracked it to the Forbidden Forest," McGonagall continued. "Security barriers now encircle the forest—no student is to cross them." Her sharp gaze swept the room. "Unless you fancy a trip to the Hospital Wing."
The murmurs died into silence. Only the faint clinking of cutlery from the staff table remained.
"If you see this creature, do not engage. Flee immediately and alert a professor. However," she added dryly, "it's unlikely to still be in the castle. This is merely a precaution. You may now return to your dormitories. Goodnight."
For minutes, no one moved. Students exchanged shell-shocked looks—except for Arya, Albus, and Scorpius, who'd expected this. As prefects began ushering everyone out, Arya noticed Albus slipping toward the Gryffindors. Probably reassuring his siblings, she thought bitterly.
Half an hour later, in the Slytherin common room, Arya stared out the window at the Forbidden Forest. The security barrier was invisible, but she guessed it was enchanted. Scorpius pretended to do homework, though his eyes kept flicking to her.
Arya sat beside him, still puzzling over the connections. What did Father's chest have to do with this? She grabbed a quill—she'd write to him directly. If anyone knew about these creatures, it'd be him.
Albus arrived moments later.
"Where've you been?" Arya snapped.
"Gryffindor Tower. We had a birthday surprise for Lily," he said, dropping onto the sofa. "Though the mood was… grim."
"You could've told me! I'd have sent a card!"
Albus scowled. "Oh, now you want to talk? After you ignored me for days?"
Arya's cheeks burned. "You owe me an apology. I was right!"
Silence. Even Scorpius didn't mediate. Finally, Albus sighed.
"Fine. You were right. Happy? Now—what do we do?"
Scorpius leaned forward. "We go into the Forbidden Forest."
Three pairs of eyes locked in understanding.
They agreed to meet at the forest's edge at six the next day—before curfew, but late enough to skip Potions, Arya's worst subject. It seemed futile—McGonagall's barrier was unbreachable—but Arya had ideas.
At dusk, they slipped past the manicured lawns to the forest. Cold wind bit their cheeks as they halted at the tree line.
"Who tests first?" Arya asked.
Albus and Scorpius stared at her.
"Some barriers can kill you," she explained. "But McGonagall wouldn't use those here… probably."
Albus, not listening, reached out—his hand hit an invisible wall. Arya cast Revelio! The barrier shimmered, towering into the canopy.
Exhausted after trying every spell, Scorpius groaned. "We can't get through. McGonagall's right."
But Arya's voice was steady. "I can."
Two heads whipped toward her:" what do you mean?"
"I'm an Animagus."
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