Harry Potter : Cael Vale’s journey to Hogwarts

The fire in the common room crackled low, casting flickering shadows across the stone walls. Most of the chairs sat empty now, the chatter and laughter from earlier fading into the quiet hum of the night.

Harry crept down the boys' staircase, his wand clutched tight in his hand, his heart racing with excitement. Ron stood by the portrait hole already, his face lit up with the thrill of mischief.

"Ready?" Ron whispered, grinning. "Malfoy's going to regret ever opening his mouth."

Harry nodded, eyes gleaming behind his glasses. "Let's go. Tonight, I'll teach that little Death Eater a lesson."

But before they could slip out through the portrait hole, a sharp voice cut across the room.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Both boys jumped, spinning around. Hermione Granger stood at the foot of the girls' staircase, arms crossed, eyes blazing with disapproval.

Ron groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Oh, brilliant. What now—are you following us or something?"

"I heard everything," Hermione snapped, stepping closer, her bushy hair practically crackling with the force of her frustration. "You're really going through with that ridiculous duel with Malfoy, aren't you? Do you two have any idea how selfish that is? All the points everyone's earned for Gryffindor—and you're ready to throw them away because of some childish fight? You'll get caught! You could lose house points—maybe even get expelled!"

Ron opened his mouth to argue, but Harry cut in first, his voice low and sharp. "And who are you to tell us what to do? You've been here five minutes and suddenly you're in charge? I told you this morning—stay out of my business. You don't understand the rules of dueling in the wizarding world. It's tradition—a sacred one. Walking away would be an insult to my family's name."

Hermione's face flushed with anger. "You're being ridiculous! This isn't the Middle Ages—you don't settle things with wands like knights in a storybook," she shot back, hands on her hips. "But fine—go ahead. Break the rules, get yourselves in trouble. But don't expect me to feel sorry for you when you're packing your trunks!"

"We didn't ask you to interfere," Ron snapped. "It's none of your business."

For a long moment, they all stood there, tension crackling in the air like a brewing storm. Then, with a huff, Hermione turned on her heel and stormed back toward the girls' staircase.

"Busybody," Ron muttered under his breath. "Come on, before she tries to stop us again."

But before they could leave, four figures appeared from the shadows by the far wall—Fred, George, Lee Jordan, and Cael, their faces lit with curiosity and amusement.

Fred grinned. "They're actually going through with it."

Lee chuckled. "Well, he is Harry Potter—the kid who defeated You-Know-Who. What's Malfoy compared to that?"

George stretched, looking eager. "We should follow. This is going to be a proper show."

But Cael held up a hand. "Wait."

The others paused, watching him. A moment later, they heard light footsteps coming from the girls' staircase.

"Disillusionment Charm. Now," Cael whispered.

In a flash, they cast the spell, vanishing from sight as the common room fell silent once more. Hermione reappeared, glancing around, clearly unaware of the hidden onlookers. With determined steps, she slipped out through the portrait hole.

"Where's she off to?" Lee whispered.

"Following them, of course," Cael replied coolly.

They trailed behind her, slipping through the open portrait hole, careful not to make a sound. Outside, they spotted Harry and Ron talking to Neville, who stood fidgeting by the wall, looking embarrassed.

"Forgot the password again?" Ron asked, shaking his head.

Before they could say more, Hermione caught up to them, arms crossed, frustration etched across her face.

"You should turn back," she insisted, voice tight with worry. "If you get caught—"

Fred, watching from the shadows, whispered, "She's really persistent."

The group watched as Hermione tried—and failed—to re-enter the common room. The Fat Lady was gone.

"Oh, brilliant," Hermione muttered, spinning toward the boys. "See? Because of your stupid duel, we're stuck out here. If a professor finds us—"

"We didn't ask you to follow us," Ron interrupted, rolling his eyes. "You did that all on your own."

Harry nodded, his voice firm. "We told you—stay out of it. You didn't listen."

With that, they continued toward the Trophy Room, Hermione and Neville trailing behind, the others still invisible, watching from a distance.

As they walked, Hermione criticized them nonstop, her voice cutting through the quiet corridor.

"She's exhausting," George muttered under his breath. "She nags worse than Mum."

Cael shook his head, his expression unreadable. "It's not surprising," he said quietly. "She's new to all this. The wizarding world—it's all stories and fantasy to someone like her. She's scared of making mistakes… scared of being thrown out."

Lee glanced at him, curious. "What's with you defending her?"

Cael shrugged. "I saw her at Diagon Alley before term started. Some drunk wizard was shouting at her—calling her names, awful ones. First time in our world, and that's what she gets? It leaves a mark."

The others fell quiet after that.

Eventually, they reached the Trophy Room—but it stood empty, quiet as the grave.

Hermione crossed her arms smugly. "See? I told you. He's not coming. You should've listened to poor, silly me, right?"

"Oh, shut up," Ron groaned, rubbing his temples. "You've talked my ears off already."

Before anyone could answer, footsteps echoed down the hall—more than one set.

Harry's grip on his wand tightened. "Here he comes."

The corridor filled with the quiet hum of tension as they waited .