Dark Wings Over Hogwarts

Harry and his friends stood frozen in place, their bodies tense from the lingering adrenaline of their near encounter with the three-headed dog. The once-familiar corridors of Hogwarts now felt colder, more ominous. Their hurried footsteps echoed off the stone walls, a harsh reminder that they weren't supposed to be here.

No one spoke. They were still processing what had just happened. The massive beast was obviously guarding something—but what? And why had Isla Rosier, a senior Slytherin student, been there at the same time as them?

Harry stole a glance at Isla, but her face was unreadable. He had no idea what she was after, but one thing was clear—she hadn't just been wandering around for fun.

Just as they neared the corridors leading back to their dormitories, a voice sliced through the silence.

"What are you doing here at this hour?"

The voice was calm. Too calm. Smooth, but heavy with something unspoken. A weight that sent a chill down their spines.

Harry and his friends stopped dead. Slowly, their heads turned toward the source of the voice.

A tall figure stood beside a stone pillar, half-shrouded in shadows.

Professor Zane Falconer.

For a brief moment, Harry felt relief—it wasn't Snape. If it had been, they'd be in much deeper trouble.

But then he noticed Isla.

She wasn't just startled—she was terrified.

Not the way they were, afraid of getting detention or losing points. No, this was different.

This was something far worse.

Because Isla had walked past that pillar just seconds ago.

Yet she hadn't sensed him at all.

A shiver ran down her spine. How? She was a Rosier—trained in awareness and survival since childhood. No one, not even a seasoned professor, should have been able to get that close to her without her noticing.

Yet Zane Falconer had done it effortlessly.

Had he been watching them the entire time?

The Gryffindors exchanged nervous glances, unsure of what to say. Before they could even attempt an excuse, Zane spoke again.

"What are you doing here at this hour? Don't you know the curfew times?"

Isla was the first to recover. She straightened, masking her unease with her usual confidence. "We're sorry, Professor. We were just taking a stroll."

Zane arched a brow, a hint of amusement flickering across his face. "A stroll?"

He stepped closer, gaze flicking between the Gryffindors and Isla before letting out a low chuckle.

"Interesting. A Slytherin covering for Gryffindors. And a Rosier, no less."

Something in his tone made Isla's fingers twitch. A subtle movement, but Harry caught it. She was irritated—but why?

Her lips pressed into a thin line. Just for a second, her mask slipped, revealing something sharper beneath—something dangerous.

Zane noticed.

His smirk widened, as if amused by the reaction.

Before Isla could respond, Hermione spoke up.

"Professor, we weren't doing anything bad," she said quickly. "We just got lost, that's all. We'll go back to our dormitories now. Please don't punish us too harshly."

Zane studied her, then sighed.

"I admire the effort, but rules are rules." His tone was smooth, but final. "Ten points from each of you."

Hermione looked devastated. Losing points so early in the year was practically a disaster for her.

Ron groaned. "Seriously?"

Neville, on the other hand, just looked relieved that the punishment wasn't worse.

Isla remained silent, jaw clenched.

"Now," Zane continued, his voice shifting, turning sharper. "Go back to your dormitories. And do not let me catch you wandering again."

They turned, eager to escape.

But just as they were about to step away—

"One more thing."

The shift in his tone made them all stop.

Something had changed.

The teasing amusement was gone.

His voice was cold now.

When they turned back, Zane was watching them carefully. His eyes were sharper, his presence heavier.

"Curiosity is dangerous when you don't have the power to protect yourself."

It wasn't just a warning.

It was a challenge.

A statement of absolute truth.

Isla felt another chill crawl up her spine.

Harry frowned. What was that supposed to mean?

Ron, still grumbling about lost points, didn't seem to care. But Hermione looked thoughtful, as if trying to decipher the meaning behind his words.

Isla, however, understood immediately.

That wasn't something an ordinary professor would say.

That was something a fighter would say.

Someone who knew what it meant to be weak—what it meant to lose because of that weakness.

Her gaze lingered on Zane, searching for something beneath his expression.

But his face had returned to one of casual disinterest.

"Go."

This time, they didn't hesitate.

Isla stayed for half a second longer, debating whether to say something.

But then she simply turned away, following the others.

As they disappeared down the corridor, Zane watched them go.

His smirk returned.

"Interesting," he murmured to himself before stepping back into the shadows, vanishing as silently as he had appeared.

---

Back in Gryffindor Tower

By the time they reached the safety of the common room, Harry collapsed onto the couch with a sigh.

"Well," Ron muttered, "that was not how I expected tonight to go."

"Of course not!" Hermione snapped, pacing. "Because you thought sneaking out was a good idea!"

"I didn't think Malfoy was going to trick us!"

"You should have thought of that!"

"Alright, alright, calm down," Harry interrupted. He turned to Hermione. "What do you think Falconer meant?"

She frowned. "I'm not sure. But it didn't feel like a simple warning. It felt... deeper than that."

Harry nodded. He had felt it too.

Ron stretched and yawned. "Honestly, I don't care. As long as we don't run into him again at night, we're good."

Neville, who had been quiet, finally spoke.

"I think he's really strong," he said hesitantly. "The way he appeared out of nowhere… it was almost scary."

No one disagreed.

A silence settled over them.

Then Harry spoke.

"We need to find out what's under that trapdoor."

Hermione shot him a look, but this time, she didn't argue.

Because deep down, she knew he was right.

Something was happening at Hogwarts.

And it was only the beginning.