33 Surprise

"What!"

Artel couldn't believe his ears at the shocking revelation. Before Filch could even begin to investigate, piercing screams echoed from the room, and the door swung open abruptly. Three young wizards emerged in a state of sheer panic.

Behind them loomed three massive dog heads, each adorned with sharp fangs and menacing crimson eyes, which sent Filch, a Squib who had been at Hogwarts for years, into a state of shock with just one glance.

"Three... Three-headed dogs!" Filch cried out in sheer terror. Mrs. Norris, who was typically quite bold, was equally unnerved. She let out a loud yowl, leaped into the air, and skidded across the ground before hastily darting away.

"Close the door!" Hermione shouted, taking swift action. With the help of Harry and Ron, she managed to secure the wooden door, thankfully preventing the three-headed dog from escaping the room. It took great effort, but they finally managed to seal the door shut.

Phew! The trio breathed a collective sigh of relief. However, their respite was short-lived as they noticed a furious Filch behind them, his complexion darkening by the moment. They exchanged nervous glances, hoping to slip away unnoticed.

"Stop! I recognize all three of you! First-year Gryffindor students!" Filch barked menacingly. Mrs. Norris' initial fright had now translated into potential illness, for which they were likely to be blamed.

"Come with me to meet Professor McGonagall! You three will be held accountable for your actions!" Filch sneered before turning to leave.

Hermione appeared frustrated, giving Harry and Ron a disapproving look. This time, they were undoubtedly in deep trouble, and they feared the loss of a significant number of house points.

Thinking she might never have to deal with these two again, Hermione snorted and reluctantly followed Filch.

Harry and Ron exchanged a helpless look. Artel had no idea what would happen next. After witnessing Filch and the three Gryffindor students heading towards Professor McGonagall, he quietly returned to his dormitory.

Malfoy and his cronies were snoring like logs, especially Goyle and Crabbe, who had a peculiar talent for indulging in sweets without becoming overweight, and their snores filled the room.

Artel couldn't help but wonder how Malfoy had managed to fall asleep.

Back in his own bed, Artel let out a sigh of relief. He assumed that Gryffindor would lose a substantial number of points, but at least it wasn't on his conscience. He soon drifted off to sleep.

....

The next day, Artel arrived at the auditorium with the enthusiasm of a true Hogwarts aficionado. Eager to kick off the day, he secured a prime spot at the Slytherin table and tapped his plate twice with anticipation. Lo and behold, a sumptuous breakfast materialized before him as if by magic.

"Yo, why'd you skip the Gryffindor crew today? Trouble in paradise with your little girlfriend?" a sly and somewhat nasal voice teased from nearby. Artel turned to find the source, revealing none other than Pansy's mischievous sidekick.

She fixed her gaze on Artel, mischief dancing in her eyes, like a child who'd just found an unguarded cookie jar.

Artel, with a theatrical roll of his eyes, gave her the cold shoulder and devoted his attention to a perfectly fried egg. This woman, he concluded, had an odd penchant for drama that rivaled the most elaborate potions at Hogwarts."

....

In the dimly lit corner of the bustling Hogwarts cafeteria, an air of tension hung between Pansy and Artel. Pansy, still perturbed by their last confrontation, couldn't help but notice that a certain young woman seemed to be receiving more attention from Artel. With a perplexed furrow of her brow, she let out a haughty, indignant "Humph!"

Pansy's displeasure didn't escape Artel's attention. He could sense her frustration but chose to remain focused on his meal, pretending not to notice. Meanwhile, Pansy, not one to be easily ignored, clenched her fist and let out a disdainful snort. She decided to channel her frustration into her meal, angrily spearing a piece of fried sausage with her fork and taking a bite.

Just as the tension seemed unbearable, the entrance of the auditorium swung open, and Hermione, disheveled and flustered, hurriedly entered. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for Artel. In no time, she spotted him seated with the Slytherin students and took a seat beside him without a word.

Hermione's distress was palpable, and she wasted no time in expressing her frustration. "I'm furious!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with intensity. "I'll never bother with them again!"

Artel, now fully attentive to her, couldn't help but notice the signs of fatigue on Hermione's face, suggesting she might not have had a restful night. He reached for a glass of milk, handed it to her, and gently wiped her mouth with a napkin before inquiring, "What's wrong?"

Tears welled up in Hermione's eyes as she began to explain her ordeal. Her voice quivered, and she sniffled, "I... I made Gryffindor loose fifty points last night! Woohoo!"

Artel's hand trembled for a moment, a brief look of surprise crossing his eyes. He quickly composed himself, cleared his throat, and gently patted Hermione's head. "Why? Were you out for a nighttime stroll last night?" he inquired, trying to understand the reason behind her actions.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the table, Pansy couldn't help but witness this emotional exchange. She tossed her fork onto the table with a loud clatter, pushed her meal aside, and snorted disapprovingly. With a disdainful glance, she decided to make her exit. "Nervous wreck, don't eat and disturb others!" she muttered as she left the scene.

As Artel wiped away Hermione's tears, she continued her story with a couple of sobs, "I, I overheard Harry and Ron talking last night. They were planning to confront Malfoy at night, and I wanted to stop them, but... they went out anyway. I was afraid something would go wrong, so I went with them."

"Turns out, Malfoy didn't show up. Instead, he reported us to Filch. We heard Filch's voice, panicked, and ended up on the fourth floor. To evade Filch, we entered a room."

A shiver of fear passed over Hermione's face. She lightly clung to Artel's arm and whispered, "There was a massive three-headed dog in that room. It was fierce. After we fled, we encountered Filch outside the door, and he caught us."

With a sense of dread, she continued, "Professor McGonagall said we not only ventured out at night but also trespassed into the restricted area, which warrants severe punishment. Each of us had fifty points deducted from our house... Plus, we're all going to be confined."

"Harry and Ron have to clean Filch's trophies, and I have to help Madam Pince organize those old books in the library..." Hermione concluded with a heavy sigh, her eyes reflecting the weight of the consequences that lay ahead.

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