Harry Potter and the Cataclysm

Carnie noticed a sheen of sweat on Professor McGonagall's forehead as she cast him a stern look. Without hesitation, he stepped through the school gates.

Harry and Ron were already waiting inside, looking unsettled. This attack was anything but ordinary—if it were, Harry wouldn't have experienced that sharp pain in his scar.

"Harry! Are you alright?" Carnie asked, his tone laced with concern. "What happened back there?"

"I'm fine. My scar just suddenly started hurting," Harry replied absentmindedly, rubbing his forehead.

"Harry! Are you okay?" Hagrid's booming voice echoed across the grounds. He had seen the commotion from the Quidditch pitch and had rushed over as fast as he could. Panting heavily, he checked Harry from head to toe. "Let me take a look! You're not hurt, are you?"

"I'm fine, really. Thanks to Carnie, he held it off long enough for Professor McGonagall to arrive," Harry said, still looking shaken as Hagrid patted him on the shoulder.

"Hmph! The creatures in these mountains are gettin' more restless by the day!" Hagrid huffed, his thick beard twitching with frustration.

"Enough, Hagrid. Go and check the surroundings thoroughly, especially the Forbidden Forest," McGonagall instructed. With a sharp pop, she disapparated, taking the transformed rabbit with her.

"Thanks, Carnie!" Hagrid said, sighing in relief. "Alright, you lot get inside. I need to make sure the other creatures around here don't start actin' up."

Carnie followed the others back to the common room, where Hermione and Neville immediately rushed toward them.

"You're okay, right?" Hermione asked, concern evident in her voice. "I heard from some students outside that you were attacked by a—what was it—dog-headed, eagle-bodied, blue-tailed beast?"

"Yes! That one!" Seamus chimed in. "I heard it came out of nowhere and went straight for Harry."

Hermione, ever the bookworm, still found time for a quick lecture. "The dog-headed, eagle-bodied, blue-tailed beast typically resides in mountainous regions. Fully grown, its wingspan can reach two meters, and it can control cold air. It has very few natural predators."

"Yeah, yeah, Hermione. Maybe let Harry get some rest first?" Carnie interrupted.

"I'm fine," Harry reassured them, though he still looked rattled. "I think I'll skip dinner, though. Could you bring something back for me?"

After Harry went upstairs, the common room fell into an awkward silence.

"Hogwarts is in chaos now," Seamus muttered as he returned from outside. "Everyone's saying the school's security is failing."

"The Slytherins are even planning to report it to the school board," he added with a scoff. "Said Dumbledore's too old to keep the school safe anymore."

First the troll, now a magical beast attack—what would be next?

Carnie couldn't say for sure, but he was certain that Quirrell was involved. This was far from how things played out in the original story, making him realize just how lax he had been.

The previously lively excitement over the upcoming Quidditch match was gone. That very evening, an official announcement was posted—the match was postponed indefinitely.

The school had decided to reinforce the magical barriers around the Quidditch pitch before rescheduling the event. The match was always a major attraction, drawing in students' families, influential figures from the wizarding world, and even reporters from the Daily Prophet.

Normally, Hogwarts operated on a strict closed-campus system, but Quidditch matches were an exception.

Had this attack happened during a match, with an audience full of students and visitors, the consequences could have been catastrophic. If the school couldn't guarantee safety, Hogwarts itself might not last much longer.

With the recent incidents piling up, fear and unease spread throughout the castle. During dinner, the Great Hall was filled with hushed conversations, everyone whispering about the attacks.

Students were writing home in droves, all complaining that Hogwarts was no longer safe.

Draco Malfoy, smug as ever, loudly declared, "My father's on the school board. He's already been informed of everything. Now that this has happened, Dumbledore's going down! And Potter—what a lucky escape."

He made no effort to lower his voice since neither Dumbledore nor McGonagall was present at the staff table. Even Snape was nowhere to be seen.

Hagrid, overhearing Malfoy, could only glare furiously at him. The gamekeeper had long since had his fair share of trouble from the Malfoy family.

Meanwhile, Professor Quirrell sat silently at the staff table, eating without a word. If Snape had been there, he might have at least made an effort to engage him in conversation.

Thankfully, Harry wasn't at dinner; otherwise, Malfoy would have undoubtedly tried to taunt him directly.

Carnie felt conflicted. He was now absolutely certain that Quirrell was behind this. And earlier that day, hadn't Quirrell approached Harry, offering to teach him defensive spells?

Harry had turned him down, convinced that Hogwarts was safe.

Yet mere hours later, he was attacked.

Harry was probably considering Quirrell's offer now. The timing was far too convenient.

The battle replayed in Carnie's mind. That damn creature's claws… Even now, he still felt a chill down his spine.

If Voldemort, in his current state, could orchestrate something like this, what would come next? A dragon? A giant?

"I'm heading to the Room of Requirement. I won't be back tonight," Carnie told the others before leaving. That fight had given him some new ideas—he needed to test them immediately. He had to get stronger.

Eighth Floor

Carnie paced back and forth in front of the wall six times.

Nothing.

The Room of Requirement wasn't appearing.

"This is the right place," he muttered, frowning. He had been here dozens of times before.

That left only one explanation—someone was already inside.

If the room was occupied, he wouldn't be able to enter. There was no point in waiting around; he had to find another space.

Inside the Room of Requirement

The dimly lit chamber was illuminated by four torches mounted on the walls.

Three figures stood encircling the now-bound magical beast. The dog-headed, eagle-bodied, blue-tailed creature thrashed against its chains, snarling.

Albus Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Snape stood before it.

With a flick of his wand, Dumbledore cast Legilimens on the beast, searching its mind. The creature's struggles ceased. Its gaze went blank as the headmaster peered into its memories.

Moments later, Dumbledore withdrew, his face grave. The creature slumped, utterly drained.

"This was an assassination attempt on Harry," McGonagall said, her voice a mix of fear and outrage. "The beast was under the Imperius Curse. Was it… him? Or a Death Eater?"

Dumbledore's face darkened. "Let us hope it was not. Severus, what were you doing? Why wasn't Harry under watch?"

Snape's expression was grim. "That was my failure. But I have been keeping an unyielding eye on Quirrell. Who else could have done this?"

McGonagall's eyes narrowed. "Quirrell? What about him?"

Dumbledore sighed. "We suspect he may be under dark influence. That is why I assigned Severus to watch him, especially since Harry is now at Hogwarts."

"We cannot afford a single mistake. The Dark Lord has not truly perished. He may return at any time."

At this, Snape fell silent. The Dark Mark still lingered on his arm.

McGonagall hesitated before speaking. "Then why not—"

"No, Minerva," Dumbledore interrupted. "I have my reasons. As for this beast, we shall turn it over to the Ministry. They could use something to keep them busy."

He turned to Snape. "Take care of it."

Snape gave a short nod, while McGonagall sighed but did not protest.

"I have another matter to attend to," Dumbledore murmured. "A certain young wizard… I expect good news from him."

Elsewhere

Carnie, still searching for a training space, scoured the seventh floor.

He checked room after room, pushing open door after door.

"This one's too new… This one's too small… This one's too exposed…"

Finally, at the farthest end of the corridor, he found a locked door.

Twisting the handle, he found it wouldn't budge.

"Alohomora."

With a soft click, the door unlocked.

Pushing it open, Carnie found himself in a vast, empty classroom. Moonlight streamed through a single tall window, illuminating old, dust-covered desks piled in one corner.

Yet what caught his attention the most was an enormous, cloth-covered object at the far end of the room.

The deep crimson fabric draped over it did little to hide its presence.

There was something off about it—something that didn't belong in this abandoned room.

Even without seeing what lay beneath, Carnie could feel its pull.

His fingers itched to lift the cloth.

Just what was this thing?

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