//------------------------------// // Third Floor Corridor // Story: Cinematic Adventures: Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone // by extremeenigma02 //------------------------------// Later that day, as the sun slowly descended over the horizon, the Young Six were stuck in the Potions Classroom with Professor Snape. Currently, they were serving their detention which involves scrubbing down each and every single cauldron till they sparkled. Hours of hard, grueling word passed for the six of them. Every time they seemed to make a dent in the problem, Snape passed by, reading a book, and with one swish of the wand in his other hand cast a spell just to make the cauldrons dirty again. “Urgh!!!” The students groaned. “Please, Professor Snape!” Gallus whined. “Can we stop now? We’ve been cleaning these cauldrons for hours!” “Your task has nothing to do with actually cleaning the cauldrons,” Snape replied, matter-of-factly. “Consider this a lesson as to what happens if you ever cross me… again. You stop when I say so.” “Now Snape tell us!” Yona moaned. <> Fortunately, detention thankfully came to an end for the Students, as they were allowed to leave. The poor kids were so exhausted by the time they stepped outside the classroom, poor Sandbar faceplanted on the hard floor while Silverstream laid spread-out across Yona’s back. “That had to be the most horrible time in my entire life!” Gallus groaned. “Even worse than the time Headmare Twilight made us clean her school when she thought one of us pulled that prank,” Ocellus whimpered. “Thank Celestia it’s over!” Smolder sighed, relieved. “Let’s get back to the common room before Snapes decides he wants us to collect future potion ingredients.” “I don’t know about you guys,” Silverstream spoke up. “But I for one have no desire to collect live fire seeds.” As the young students trudged their way back toward the Gryffindor common room, walking along the corridors, many students passed by and offered Smolder congratulations. “There’s our new chaser!” One Gryffindor student said. “Nice going Smolder!” Another praised. “You’ll make the Quidditch team that much better!” The rest of the Student Six turned toward Smolder, who held the biggest smirk on her face from all the attention. “Wow Smolder, you’re already turning into a celebrity like Harry,” Ocellus smiled. “Nah, I don’t think I’m that famous,” Smolder shrugged. Just as they walked by, they noticed Nearly Headless Nick and the Grey Lady floating by and sharing a conversation. “Have you heard?” Nick asked. “Harry Potter is the new Gryffindor Seeker. I always knew he’d do well. Not to mention the young dragon Smolder is the newest Chaser. No doubt she will greatly aid the team in winning the Quidditch Cup soon enough.” Once the two apparitions disappeared through the wall, the reality hit Smolder much more than she realized. “Huh… I guess if even the ghosts are praising me, I am becoming famous,” Smolder said, amazed. “No doubt that that.” The voice drew the students toward their left. Ron, Harry, and the Mane Six walked towards them. The kids gave the boys high fives, hoof/claw bumps for some, as they walked together toward the Grand Staircase. “I’m afraid to ask but how did detention with Professor Snape go?” Twilight asked nervously. “Horrible!” Gallus replied bluntly. “That bad?” “He made us scrub all the cauldrons in the classroom… with our own toothbrushes!” Sandbar cringed. Hearing this made every pony and everyone gag. Poor Pinkie turned sickly green, forcing herself to keep from vomiting. Proving their point, the Young Six pulled out their toothbrushes, now covered in gross-looking gunk from the cauldrons. “I am never using this thing again,” Smolder said. Smolder tossed the toothbrush onto the ground, as the others did the same. Taking a deep breath, Smolder released a fireball and melted the toothbrushes down to ashes. “You know you could’ve just thrown them away,” Ron pointed out. “Yeah… but where’s the fun in that?” Smolder smirked. “So Snape seriously made you scrub cauldrons just for sticking up for Harry?” Twilight asked in disbelief. “Yes Headmare Twilight,” The students nodded in unison. “That is just horrible!” Twilight frowned, irritated. “I think I’ll have a serious talk with Dumbledore about this later. That sort of thing is cruel and unusual punishment.” “I couldn’t agree more darling,” Rarity nodded. “Yer dang tootin!” Applejack added. It was at this moment Fluttershy decided to interject herself in the conversation, being she’s the group’s peacekeeper. “Every pony, I know things are not very smooth at the moment,” She spoke softly. “But there’s no reason we can’t resolve this peacefully. I’m sure Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall can handle it if we just explain the situation calmly.” Hearing Fluttershy’s calm suggestion, her soothing words flowing through their ears, made everyone take a deep breath and calmed themselves. “You’re right Fluttershy,” Twilight sighed. “You’re absolutely right. I’ll talk to Dumbledore and McGonagall as soon as I can and try to have this resolved.” “In the meantime, let’s discuss Harry and Smolder joining the Quidditch team!” Silverstream suggested. It was then the Mane Six, even Ron, turned toward the young hippogriff in confusion. “What are you talking about Silverstream?” Twilight asked. “Haven’t you heard? Apparently, Professor McGonagall named Harry the new Gryffindor team Seeker and Smolder a Chaser!” Ron’s eyes widened, as he slowly turned his heard toward Harry. “Is that true, Harry?” He asked. “It certainly is!” Harry nodded. “Seeker and Chaser?” Ron questioned. “But first years never make their house teams! You two must be the youngest Quidditch players in…” “A century, according to McGonagall,” Harry finished. “Not only that, but Smolder will be the first dragon ever to play Quidditch at Hogwarts!” Ron added. As they continued, Fred and George approached and walked alongside Ron, Harry, and the Student Six. “Hey, well done, you guys!” Fred congratulated. “Wood’s just told us!” “Thanks Fred!” Smolder thanked with a fist bump. “Not to sound rude or anything, but why did Oliver tell you guys this?” Gallus asked. “Fred and George are on the team, too,” Ron answered. “What their positions?” Yona asked curiously. “Beaters.” Hearing this, the young students faced Ron with confusion. They’d only ever heard of Quidditch today and had absolutely no idea just exactly what positions there were on the game. “What exactly do beaters do?” Smolder asked. “Our job is to make sure that you don’t get bloodied up too bad,” George replied. “Can’t make any promises, of course. Rough game, Quidditch.” “Brutal,” Fred nodded. “But no one’s died in years. Someone will vanish occasionally…” They break off from Harry, Ron, and the Equestrians, who walk across the courtyard. “But they’ll turn up in a month or two!” George finished loudly. Needless to say, the information the Weasley Twins provided didn’t exactly help with boosting Harry or Smolder’s confidence. Matter of fact, it only seemed to heighten the uncertainty and nervousness. Not only for Harry and Smolder, but the rest of their friends as well. “Those two certainly know how to ease our worries,” Rarity said sarcastically. “You know, since they reminded me, I actually did a little reading on Quidditch,” Twilight said nervously. “They are absolutely right about it being brutal at times. More often than not, players tend to leave the field in really bad shape. Some have even been killed playing the game.” Now Smolder isn’t exactly the type of girl to get frightened very easily, but she couldn’t help that she was now slightly worried for her well-being. “Maybe I should have thought about this before deciding to take the Chaser position,” She gulped. “You and me both,” Harry agreed. “Oh go on, you two,” Ron encouraged. “Quidditch is great. Best game there is! And you’ll be great, too!” “Come on, Smolder!” Silverstream added. “In all the years I’ve known you, you’ve been the bravest and most sporty dragon I’ve ever met. If anyone can do this it’s you. Right guys?” The rest of the Young Six thought for a moment with uncertainty, before eventually nodding in agreement. “Silver does have a point Smolder,” Gallus spoke. “Yeah, but I’ve never even heard of Quidditch until today,” Smolder argued. “I don’t know the first thing about it.” As the group continued walking, they pass by Hermione, who is doing schoolwork. Hermione, knowing what Harry is talking about, jumps up from her work and joins them. “She’s right,” Harry agreed. “We’ve never even played Quidditch. What if we make fools of ourselves?” “You won’t make a fool of yourself,” Hermione piped in. “It’s in your blood.” “What are yah talkin’ about Sugarcube?” Applejack asked. “Follow me. I want to show you all something.” Hermione led the group through the halls of Hogwarts till eventually they approached a large trophy case. Hermione points toward a plaque of former Quidditch players. One of them listed Harry’s father as a Seeker. “Whoa!” Ron gasped. “Harry, you never told me your father was a Seeker, too.” “I-I didn’t know,” Harry replied amazed. Needless to say, Smolder still wasn’t all convinced. “Okay so Harry might not be so bad, but what about me? According to McGonagall, I’m the first Equestrian dragon ever to be put on a Quidditch team.” “That is true,” Hermione nodded. “However, you aren’t the first Equestrian to ever be on a Quidditch team.” Now this bit of information made not only Smolder, but the entire group turn toward Hermione in confusion. “What do you mean?” Hermione pointed toward the top of the trophy case and they all looked up. Their eyes grew wide, their mouths dropped. For at the top of the case hung an old portrait of a young Princess Luna, dressed in older Ravenclaw Quidditch robes, hoisted into the air by the team. Not only that, but there were four Quidditch Cups for Ravenclaw side-by-side under the picture. Every creature stared at the moving picture and the four trophies in shock and amazement. “Princess Luna played Quidditch?” Twilight asked. “That she did,” Hermione nodded. “I read that back during the first alliance, when the princesses attended Hogwarts, Luna was assigned to the Ravenclaw Quidditch team by Headmaster Dibbit after seeing her perform amazing aerial feats.” “Takes after me!” Rainbow bragged. *SMACK!* Applejack delivered a well-deserved slap to the back of Rainbow’s head. The Pegasus glared at the Earth pony as she rubbed her now sore head while Hermione continued. “She had absolutely no idea how to play the game when she started. As a matter of fact, she ended up in the hospital wing on more than one occasion.” This made Smolder gulp loudly at the idea that the princess of the night ended up in the hospital playing Quidditch. Hermione could see the obvious nervousness in the dragon and decided to add something to boost her confidence. “But even though she had no idea how to play, she took time to learn and practice. Eventually, she became so good she not only became great at Quidditch, but she also led Ravenclaw to four back-to-back Quidditch cups. A feat no one has been able to replicate since.” The group continued to admire the trophies in amazement before Hermione finally turned toward Smolder. “So you see,” Hermione continued. “If Princess Luna can play Quidditch with no experience and win four Quidditch cups, you can play too.” Smolder turned back toward Hermione and actually gave the girl a little shoulder hug. Sure the girl could come off as arrogant and a know-it-all, but she had her nice moments. “Thanks Mione!” She thanked her. Hermione gave a smile, nodding her head in appreciation. Twilight looked out the window, noting how dark it was outside. “Wow, it’s starting to get late,” She pointed out. “You kids should probably get back to the common room.” “What about you guys?” Sandbar asked. “We have a small matter to discuss with Professor Dumbledore,” Rarity said, with a wink. “We’ll meet up with you all when we’re finished,” Fluttershy finished. The Mane Six turned heel and made their way down the other end of the corridor. After taking a few more moments to admire the trophy case, the student made their way back to the Grand Staircase. Eventually, they made it to the staircase and started heading upwards. A railing pulled in, drawing Hermione’s attention, yet they keep walking. “I’m telling you, it’s spooky,” Ron spoke. “She knows more about you than you do.” “Who doesn’t?” Harry questioned. “Well he is pretty famous already,” Gallus added. “Not to mention the alliance and its history puts us right into that same category,” Silverstream giggled. Suddenly, the staircase shudders and began to move. The group gasped in shock and grabbed onto the railings. “What’s happening?” Harry asked loudly. “The staircases change, remember?” Hermione answered. The staircase eventually stopped turning and is now positioned at a doorway leading to a corridor. “Let’s go this way,” Harry suggested. “Before the staircase moves again,” Ron muttered. “Um guys, maybe we should just wait here,” Ocellus suggested nervously. “Just until the stairs move back to our floor.” “Either that or one of us could just, oh I don’t know, fly ahead,” Smolder suggested, flapping her wings. “Least that way we can find a way to get you guys all up there.” “Let’s just go this way,” Harry decided. “Maybe we’ll find a teacher or someone who can help us.” After a few moments of hesitation and some exchange of uncertainty, the Young Six finally agreed and they walked toward the door. Opening it together, they emerge into a spooky, dark, and deserted corridor. Cobwebs and dust were everywhere, making it appear as if the place hadn’t been cleaned in decades. Off to the side was a menacing looking statue of a humpback witch. Ocellus jumped behind Smolder, while Silverstream cringed toward Gallus. Normally, Gallus would be mentally questioning whether this was cool or not. But at the moment, it wasn’t important. “Okay, I’m getting some serious Castle of the Two Sisters vibes here,” He observed. “Talk about ten out of ten on the creepy scale,” Sandbar nodded. “Does anyone feel like… we shouldn’t be here?” Harry asked nervously. “We’re not supposed to be here,” Hermione replied. “This is the 3rd floor. It’s forbidden.” Ocellus shook more as she turned toward Hermione. “You mean… this is the place Professor Dumbledore said never go to unless you want to die a most painful death?” She asked fearfully. To which, Hermione just gave a slow nod. Ocellus squeaked in fear, hiding further behind Smolder. Suddenly, one of the stone fire pillars blazed to life and lit up the portion of the corridor they stood in. The students all looked fearfully toward the now lit pillar, knowing something definitely wasn’t right. “Let’s go,” Harry suggested fearfully. *MEOW!* The sound of a cat’s meow from behind made the students jump. There before their eyes was none other than Argus Filch’s cat, Mrs. Norris, sitting in the corridor glaring with her blood-red eyes. “It’s Filch’s cat!” Silverstream shrieked. “If cat here, Filch not far behind!” Yona realized. “Wandering around at midnight, ickle firsties?” The students’ eyes widen, as they slowly look up. Floating just over their heads, Discord and his poltergeist friend, Peeves, hovered over them smiling mischievously. “Tut, tut, tut,” Peeves shook his head. “Naughty, naughty, you’ll get caughty.” “Now here’s a slight rub we have Peeves ole boy,” Discord smirked, scratching his chin. “Breaking a rule dear, sweet Professor Dumbledore explicitly said never to break… and on the first day. Ooh… what to do… what to do?” “Oh please don’t give us away!” Silverstream begged. “We still don’t know our way around here!" "Cut us some slack, fellas," Gallus insisted. "And just let us go to our room in peace!” “Should tell Filch, we should,” Peeves spoke saintly, yet his eyes glittered wickedly. “After all, it’s for your own good, don’t you know?” Discord added mockingly. “It would be ‘unfriendly’ to let friends of my ‘best’ friends putting their lives on the line and mucking up Hogwarts reputation.” “GET OUT OF THE WAY!” Ron snapped. Ron took a swipe toward Discord and Peeves… big mistake. “STUDENTS OUT OF BED!!!” Peeves bellowed. “STUDENTS OUT OF BED DOWN THE THIRD FLOOR!!!” “RUN!!!” Harry yelled. The group quickly turned the other way, rushing through the corridor as the mischievous pair look on and Mrs. Norris meowed. All the other stone pillars lit up, one by one, as they ran past. Eventually they reach the end of the corridor to a door. “Quick! Let’s hide through that door!” Harry pointed. Harry grabbed the handle, but neither the door nor the handle budged. “C’mon, open it!” Smolder cried frantically. “I can’t! It’s locked!” “That’s it, we’re done for!” Ron said fearfully. “Oh, move over!” Hermione groaned. The girl pushed through the crowd, pulled out her wand, and aimed toward the lock. “Alohomora!” Suddenly, the door’s lock lifted up magically. Before their eyes, the door slowly opened. “Quick! Everyone get in!” Gallus ushered. They quickly bustled their way inside the room, shutting the door behind them. “Alohomora?” Ron questioned. “Standard book of spells, Chapter 7,” Hermione answered bluntly. “Good thing we have a friend who studies just as much as Ocellus,” Silverstream smiled. “Or more…” “What’s that supposed to mean?” Ocellus asked, frowning. <> In the meantime, Filch arrived at the start of the corridor carrying a light. Mrs. Norris, the draconequus, and the poltergeist look at him. “Anyone here, my sweet?” Filch asked. “Meow!” Mrs. Norris replied. Filch looked up toward the others, neither Discord nor Peeves making the effort to hide the fact they know something. The mischief seen upon their faces was as clear as day. “Which way did they go, Peeves?” Filch asked. “Quick, tell me.” “Say ‘please’,” Peeves smiled. “Don’t mess about, Peeves, now where did they go?” “Ah-ah!” Discord motioned his talon. “You’re beginning backwards, Mr. Filch.” “Shan’t say nothing if you don’t say please,” Peeves said, in his annoying sing-song voice. “All right…” Filch sighed, frowning. “Please.” “NOTHING!!!” Peeves shouted. “Ha haaa! Told you I wouldn’t say nothing if you didn’t say please!” “PRICELESS!” Discord laughed. Discord and Peeves laughed as they ascended toward the ceiling and disappeared out of sight. Filch glared toward the ceiling for a moment, silently cursing the two and their childish pranks. Till eventually he turns to leave the corridor deciding no one else is on the floor. “Come on,” Filch told Norris. <> The whole time, the students listened in with their ears pressed against the doors. To their relief, Discord and Peeves had decided not to give them away and instead they found themselves safe from discovery. “Filch is gone,” Hermione declared. “Phew!” Sandbar sighed. “I can never tell what side Discord or Peeves are on, but at least we didn’t get caught.” “Probably thinks this door’s locked,” Ron added. “And for good reason,” Harry spoke, wide-eyed. “What do you mean?” Silverstream asked. Silently, Harry gestured ahead of him and the moment they all turned for a look… their faces lit with fear. There before their eyes was what appeared to be three huge dogs sleeping in front of them. Suddenly, they began to stir and wake. Growling, yawning, and growling some more… before noticing the intruders and stood right up. To their shock, it’s not three dogs they are looking at… but a single dog… with three heads! “Oh… no!” Gallus gulped. “Another Cerberus!” Smolder added. “What do we do now?” Ocellus asked nervously. “Scream?” Yona suggested. “AHHHHHHHH!!!!” The students yelled, as they made a bolt out of the door. The three-headed dog barked and growled, pursuing the intruders. They turn quickly to shut the door, as a battle against the menacing three headed hound ensued. Seeing the danger her friends were in, Yona charged toward the door with a yell. The students jumped back as Yona rammed against the door, slamming it shut. They manage to lock the door and run, as the beast tried to rammed the door off. <> By the time they returned to the Gryffindor Common Room, Harry and all his friends were breathless. They were still coming to terms with what happened as they climbed the stairs toward their dorms. “What do they think they’re doing??” Ron asked. “Keeping a thing like that locked up in a school.” “As if one Cerberus is scary enough,” Ocellus replied. “Now there’s two of them!” “You don’t use your eyes, do you?” Hermione questioned. “Didn’t you see what it was standing on?” “Excuse me if some of us were too preoccupied with its heads to look beneath its feet!” Gallus grumbled. “Or maybe you didn’t notice but, oh I don’t know… there were THREE HEADS!!!” “SHH!!!” Yona hushed. “Gallus wake students!” “It was standing on a trap door,” Hermione continued. “Which means it wasn’t there by accident. It’s guarding something.” “Guarding something?” Harry repeated. “But that doesn’t make sense,” Sandbar pondered. “We know the Cerberus in our dimension guards all the prisoners in Tartarus, but why would they need a Cerberus to guard a trap door in this school?” “It better be guarding the school’s treasure,” Smolder mumbled. “Nonetheless, least we now know why that floor is forbidden,” Hermione concluded. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to bed before either of you come up with another clever idea to get us killed… or worse, expelled!” Hermione turned to leave, shutting the door to her dormitory. The group stood silently for the moment, pondering what Hermione just said. Whether some admitted to it or not, the girl made a point. “You know, I think we’ve had quite enough excitement for one day,” Silverstream replied. “We probably should be getting to bed and hope tomorrow turns out better. C’mon girls.” The other girls nodded as they followed the hippogriff, who opened the door and gestured them into the dormitory one by one. Silverstream is the last to enter before she briefly turned around toward the boys, specifically Gallus. “Good night, Gallus,” Silverstream spoke softly. Gallus merely stood there as Silverstream bat her eyes and closed the door behind her, leaving the four boys alone. “She needs to sort out her priorities!” Ron replied. “Silverstream?” Sandbar asked. “No… Hermione.” Harry nodded in agreement, as he and Ron work their way toward their own dorm. Sandbar made to follow them when he turned toward Gallus, who stood staring toward the door to the girls’ dorm. “You coming, Gallus?” Sandbar asked. “Yeah… go ahead…” Gallus brushed off. “I’ll catch up.” Sandbar looked on in confusion, then shrugged it off and went ahead. All by himself, Gallus slowly made for the girls’ dorm and slowly raised a talon to knock on the heavy door. But as the griffin was inches away… he stopped and decided against it. A sigh escaped his lips, as he butt his head lightly on the door leaning against it for a moment. “Good night, Silver,” Gallus spoke softly, before heading to the boys’ dorm.