Chapter 8 - Three-headed Dog?

That same night, after talking with the twins.

"Excuse me," Hermione said, to the red-head who was swallowing his chicken leg.

"Can't a person eat in peace in this place?" Ron asked. His dislike for Hermione was not hidden in his tone.

"Watch your tongue, Weasely or I'll rip it out for you..." said Lucifer in a threatening manner, which seemed to cause the red-head's whole body shudder, but it's not that he was feeling cold all of a sudden.... It's just this boy looked like.... he really would do the damn thing.

That's why, Ron shut his mouth instantly.

Hermione pressed forth as though they said nothing, "I couldn't help overhearing what you and Malfoy were saying-"

"Bet you could," Ron said.

"One more time, and see the magic happens," Lucifer was now really staring at his throat, with his fingers twitching, ready for some blood. The boy shrunk down even more, on his seat. If he went any further, they probably won't be able to see his face.

"And you mustn't go wandering around the school at night! Think of the points you'll lose Gryffindor, and you're bound to be. It's actually very selfish of you," Hermione tried to explain to them.

"And it's really none of your business, is it?" Harry said rather harshly to her.

Lucifer looked at Hermione and saw that she was unfazed, but he knew it really bothered her. He turned his attention back to Harry, "So was Professor Snape right? You're so full of yourself that you would do something so selfish that you'd risk being at Hogwarts for something stupid? I expected better of you, Potter." He said to Harry, who actually looked regretful of the words he had said.

Out of the corner of his eye, Ron was about to say something, but he was quick on the draw of his wand, "I thought I told you to shut your damn mouth?!" Ron stayed quiet and Lucifer put his wand away.

He and Hermione turned and left them to their own devices, "If they want to get detention and lose Gryffindor points, then that's their business, Granger, let's just leave them to their own idiocity."

Hermione said nothing, which worried him. He looked at her and saw that she was trying her best to not let their words get to her.

"You are a goody too shoes, Granger. One day it's going to bite you in the back" said Lucifer with monotone voice.

Hermione finally looked at her best friend with small tears in her eyes and threw her arms around his neck, she then started sobbing slightly.

"...." Lucifer. 'This girl's emotional state is really out of this world....'

"Why does everyone hates me? I was just trying to stop them from getting into trouble?!"  The boy who was just suddenly hugged out of nowhere, didn't know what to say. 'Is this some new kind of war tactic...."Even my roommates hate me, and call by names, like bookworm and a b-beaver!"

Lucifer's mouth twitched, slightly after hearing those words, and had a strong desire to protect this girl, causing him to rub her back lightly.

But the bushy-haired girl, didn't seem to stop his actions, she even leaned into his touch and hugged him even more tightly, "Granger, I assure you, those girls are most likely being jealous of your performance during the class...."

"It's Hermione....I have a name, you know...."

"Right, it's my bad habit. I'll try to change this!"

"Hmm? I don't have much hop-" A low voice was heard....and, since the other person's face was buried into his neck.

"Hey!" There was immediately a shout, Lucifer didn't like this kind of pillow talk one bit, but it did cause Hermione to let out a giggle.

And, after some time, when Hermione didn't have much energy left, she reluctantly removed herself from him and went towards her dorm.

But, Lucifer was still quite bored, and decided to hang around, he even got two puff girls with him.

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Later in the evening, He and Hermione, for some reason, were going to talk the other two Gryffindor's out of participating in the duel.

Lucifer was content to let them get caught and be done with it, but Hermione was persistent. It was almost Eleven-thirty when he spoke up, "Hermione?"

"Yes?" She asked, looking up from her book, and to be honest, Hermione's face looked quite ridiculous, when her name was being used.

"Are you trying to stop them purely for Gryffindor's sake? Or for their as well?" He asked straight-forwardly.

There wasn't a response for a moment,"Both, I suppose."

"I see .." Lucifer, just stopped talking when he heard footsteps descending the staircase from the boys living area.

He stared into the fireplace, it's low flame crackling on the wood that was almost used up.

On the bright side, the illuminating light hid their presence in the chairs.

When they were almost to the portrait, Hermione spoke up, standing as she said, "I can't believe you're going to go through with this Harry"

Lucifer, also turned his head  and saw Hermione had turned on a lamp, that was placed on the table beside her, "You!" Ron almost sounded furious.

When, the footsteps were heard, towards Hermione, he also decided to reveal himself from behind her  "Hello there, Weasely."

The boy with red-hair just froze, and couldn't move his body at all.

There was a sudden fear deep inside his heart, that told him to slowly back away, which he did.

Hermione looked at Lucifer for a moment before readdressing the other two, "I almost told Percy, you know? He's a Prefect, he'd definitely put a stop to this, without question."

"Come on," Harry said to Ron.

Lucifer shook his head, "How stupid you are, Potter. You'll be really famous for sabotaging Gryffindor's chance at the House Cup, you know that?....And what about impressing Snape?"

Harry nearly stopped but Ron wasn't listening, on the other hand, Hermione was persistent and followed them out.

Lucifer wasn't going to leave her alone after what Ron almost did, so he went with them. "Do either of you  only care about yourselves? Is that it?"

"Go away," Ron said. Lucifer was real close to slit this bastard's throat and feed his body to the ravens.

"Fine, but we warned you, just remember what I said when you're on the-" Hermione and Lucifer turned around to go back into the Tower, but the Fat Lady was nowhere to be seen.

"Oh, for fuck's sake," exclaimed Lucifer.

"Great, now what are we going to do?" said Hermione impatiently, she didn't even care about his rude language and what nonsense.

"Maybe, I should blo-

"Shut up, Lucifer!"

"It' not our problem, we've got to get going," Ron said to them.

"We are going with you," Hermione said to them.

"Oh no you're not," Ron said quickly.

"And who's going to stop us, Weasely?" Lucifer asked him, but the boy in question chose to remain silent instead, turning red just like his hair from being unable to retort properly. "That's what I thought," he said

So, in this way, Lucifer and Hermione tagged along with them.

Everyone crept their way quietly to the Trophy room that Harry and Draco were supposed to be dueling in, but when they arrived, it was past midnight and Draco wasn't there, "He's late, figures. Maybe he chickened out?" Ron asked.

"Or he lured you into a trap you little shit," Lucifer said to them.

Ron was about to reply, but something got their attention. It was a sound in the near distance, and it was a sound none of them wanted to hear; meowing.

Then they heard Filch talking to his cat, Mrs. Norris. The four of them quickly hurried away from there, not paying attention to where they were going. In their haste, Ron ran into a suit of armor, causing it to crash down, "Run!" Harry yelled.

They ran through doors and up a flight of stairs to get as far away from Filch as possible. They were all breathing heavily and Hermione talked to the two idiots they were stuck with, "I... told... you," she said in between deep breaths.

Lucifer was the only guy not breathing as heavily as them, "Oh... I think... I think I might... pass out..." Hermione complained about being out of shape.

"Come on, let's get back to Gryffindor Tower," Lucifer said to them. They didn't get very far as Peeves showed up. When he caught sight of them, he almost exploded with glee.

"Peeves, please be quiet? You'll get us thrown out if we get caught," Harry pleaded with the poltergeist. Lucifer thought Potter was having a change of heart.

"Wandering around at midnight, Ickle Firsties? Tut, tut, tut. Naughty, naughty, you'll get caughty!" Peeves was bursting at the seams, holding his voice at the level it was.

"Should tell Filch I should. It's for your own good, you know?" He said with an evil grin on his face.

Then Ron, surprise surprise, did and said something stupid, "Get out of the way!" He took a swipe at Peeves, who did not take kindly to that.

"STUDENTS OUT OF BED! STUDENTS OUT OF BED DOWN THE CHARMS CORRIDOR!" Peeves bellowed out, drawing Filch to their location.

The four of them ran for their lives down to the end of the corridor and came to a locked door, which they only found out after Ron smacked into it, "This is it! We're done for, this is the end..." he said helplessly.

"Move over, you dimwits!" Lucifer said frustratedly. He pulled his wand out and aimed it at the door, "Alohomora!" The lock clicked open and they pushed their way into the room, closing the door back behind them.

They heard Filch and Peeves argue back and forth for a moment before they both disappeared.

"Ha, he thinks this door is locked," Harry said smugly.

"That's because it was locked, remember?" Hermione asked him.

Harry turned to say something, but then saw they weren't in a room, but another Corridor, "Where are we?"

Lucifer looked around and knew where they were, "The Third Floor Corridor that is forbidden, unless we want to find ourselves an untimely death," he then laughed evilly, creeping Hermione out.

"Not necessarily!" she snapped at him. But, all he did was smile at her which terrorised the poor girl further.

The corridor only had one other door in it, which was odd for Hogwarts standards. They decided to see where it led and went inside the door. It was dark enough that you couldn't even see a foot in front of you. There were no windows to illuminate anything.

Suddenly, there were six eyes staring at the four of them. Lucifer was wide-eyed at what he was seeing. Torches that had been lining the wall were flickered on and they revealed a massive three headed dog. The dog must not have been expecting to see them, otherwise it would have attacked immediately. It was quick to get over its shock and began growling.

Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione thought she'd seen something glowing.

Lucifer heard the door open behind them and looked to see that Hermione had opened the door.

The three of them bolted from the room, Hermione slammed the door shut, and all of them ran back to Gryffindor Tower.

When they got to the Fat Lady, she inquired, "Where on Earth have you all been?" Their disheveled looks piqued her interest as to their whereabouts to cause them to be in such states.

"Never mind that..." Harry was panting, "Pig Snout," he spoke the Password and she reluctantly opened the portrait for them.

Hermione looked around, realised something and shouted instantly, "Oh no, I left my Lucifer with that three-headed dog!"

"Your what, now?"

"Ronald, can't you keep that mouth shut, even for a second?!"

"....." Harry.

_________

Everyone quickly went towards that door again, but surprised at what they saw.

Lucifer was patting the three-headed dog's head like he found his lost puppy. Hermione immediately seized his hand and dragged him towards Gryffindor tower.

And, Harry just started shouting, 'pig snout' again.

"What kind of password is 'pig snout"?" Lucifer asked after they walked into the Common Room.

Hermione gave him an incredulous look, "Out of all the questions, that's the one you ask? Also, you nearly gave me a heart attack. Don't do that again!" she said fiercely.

"Hey, you were the who closed the door on me!" Lucifer complained, "Sorry", Hermione muttered quietly slightly embarrassed.

Then, she collapsed into an armchair, as did Harry and Ron, all three of them trying to calm down.

"What do they think they're doing, keeping a thing like that locked up in a school?" Ron asked after about five minutes of silence.

"You don't pay well enough attention, do you?" Hermione asked him, regaining her composure, "Did you not see what it was standing on?"

"The floor?" Harry asked, slightly annoyed, "I wasn't really looking at its feet, I was too busy staring at the heads. In case you missed it, there were three..."

"It's not the floor she's talking about. It was standing on a trapdoor. It's guarding something..." Lucifer said, his gaze staring out of a window.

Hermione smiled at him before standing up and glaring at the other two, "I hope you both are pleased with yourselves. We could all have been killed, or worse, expelled. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to bed," then she shifted her gaze back to Lucifer, "Good night, Lucifer, see you in the morning," she smiled at him before ascending the stairs.

He also smiled back in response, "Good night, Hermione," and went up the stairs to his dorm room.

"No, we don't mind," he heard Ron say, probably staring after Hermione, "You'd think we dragged her along with us, wouldn't you?"

Lucifer had enough of him and turned around, walking back over to him.

Ron's eyes widened when he saw the boy with dark-hair, approaching him

"..Aahhh" He slammed this vermin's head behind the wall, causing him to groan in pain and,

Boom!

Ron, then felt a sharp punch suddenly hit him across the face,"Just be thankful it's not a knife slitting your throat," Lucifer warned, with his eyes blazing, and then turned back around, to move in the direction of stairs. Ignoring, the sounds of moaning, that came from behind him.

Then, just crawled into bed and  wondered what exactly could be underneath that dog's feet.

He then remembered reading in the paper about the break-in at Gringotts Bank, but nothing had been taken.

Lucifer figured that whatever was in that vault, was now somewhere in that trapdoor.

Even if Harry and Ron had almost gotten them killed, or expelled, he was glad to see the shocked look on Malfoy's face at seeing Harry and Ron still at Hogwarts.

Hermione had told Lucifer she'd no interest in talking to Harry or Ron again, and he was honestly fine with that.

"Hermione?" He got her attention, and she looked up from her breakfast at him, "If this isn't something you want to talk about, just tell me, but you remember the break-in that Gringotts had a little while back?"

"I do remember it, what about it?"

"Remember how the paper said nothing was taken from the vault?" Hermione nodded, "What if what was in that vault, is now underneath that dog?" He asked her quietly.

He could see the gears in her head working as she had shown some interest in it, "That's brilliant deductive reasoning, Lucifer, if I could I'd give you Fifty points for Gryffindor!"

"Well thanks, that's awfully nice of you to say," he smiled and looked up when the mail arrived. As expected, he got nothing, again.

But, what was surprising was that Harry got something, though. It was obviously a broomstick, and probably a decently good one.

He knew Harry had made the team, because he overheard those two boys talking about it, and the only position open was Seeker, so Harry probably got a fast broom.

Harry and Ron both left the Hall, with a wrapped up broom in hand.

They probably went to unwrap it in private.

He and Hermione stood up as well to go ahead and make their way to class, coming up to Harry and Ron just after a confrontation with Draco it seems.

Hermione was about to say something, but Lucifer placed a hand on her arm, "Hm?" She looked back at him.

"We're not talking to them, remember? Don't give them the satisfaction," he said and let go of her arm.

"But he's being rewarded for breaking the rules," she huffed angrily.

"I'm not saying I agree with it, but we can't really do anything about it. Remember when Potter was saying McDonald should also favour Gryffindor house? " he said.

"It's Professor McGonagall!" said Hermione sternly.

"Right, I'm on a different earth" Lucifer muttered under his breath, and then looked at Hermione again, "...well just like Snape, Professor McGonagall also favours her house indirectly by not displaying it as obviously as him" he gave an explanation.

She knew he had a point, and just huffed again, making her way to class, with Lucifer following right behind her.

He smirked, knowing that he had left her without a retort.

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Q. What's your favourite moment of this one? And don't forget to throw some stones while you're at it...