FOR MORE CHAPTERS
patreon.com/Johnybairstow
In a panic, Hermione used Alohomora to unlock a nearby door.
Harry didn't have time to be surprised by Hermione's quick thinking. He immediately ushered everyone into the room, pressed himself tightly against the corner wall, and held his breath. No one dared make a sound.
Harry leaned close to the door, listening intently. He heard Filch's footsteps slowly fade into the distance until they finally vanished. Then, he exhaled deeply and sank to the floor in relief.
But that calm only lasted a second.
Neville's trembling voice broke the silence. "Can I start screaming now…?"
Harry turned his head—and what he saw almost made his heart stop.
A massive creature filled the room. It was monstrous, towering, with three heads. Each head was larger than Harry, baring rows of jagged fangs and drooling thick streams of saliva onto the floor.
"What... is that?" Hermione whispered, her voice trembling and barely audible.
The beast—Fluffy—swung its three heads toward them at once. Six fierce eyes glowed in the dim light, locking onto the intruders. Its nostrils flared, sniffing the air. It had sensed them.
Without warning, the middle head lunged, its blood-red mouth wide open. Sharp fangs gleamed, and its thick, slimy tongue whipped out at Harry like a snake.
A wave of rotting meat and sulfur stench hit them. It was so vile that Harry nearly gagged.
The group instinctively pressed tighter against the wall, hearts pounding. There was nowhere to run. The only door was behind the monster.
Despair began to creep in.
Then something changed.
From Harry's pocket, Biting Cabbage sprang forth like a coiled spring, bouncing toward the floor beneath Fluffy. In midair, it grew—ballooning to the size of one of Fluffy's heads.
It landed and opened its leafy jaws, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth, and bit savagely into Fluffy's left thigh.
"OWOW!"
Fluffy howled in agony, its pained roar echoing through the room, shaking the walls. All three heads thrashed, snapping and snarling at Biting Cabbage, trying to dislodge it.
But Biting Cabbage refused to let go.
With another fierce jerk—RIP!—a large chunk of flesh tore away, and blood gushed from the wound, staining the floor.
The thick, metallic scent filled the room, nearly overwhelming everyone. But they couldn't look away. The sight was too shocking.
Even Harry, horrified, thought, That must hurt like hell...
After tearing off the flesh, Biting Cabbage spat it out, shrank to its usual size, and leapt back into Harry's arms.
Fluffy was still in agony, snarling wildly. Chains clanged as it twisted and writhed, trying to find its attacker—but Biting Cabbage had already vanished from its view.
"RUN!"
Someone screamed.
Harry snapped back to reality. He shoved Biting Cabbage into his pocket and groped for the door handle.
SLAM!
He slammed the door shut behind them, cutting off Fluffy's howls.
Without another word, the group sprinted down the corridor. Their panicked footsteps echoed, bouncing off the stone walls. Luck was finally on their side. Apart from a ghost sulking in a corner, they didn't run into anyone on the way back to the Gryffindor common room.
But nobody was celebrating.
They collapsed on the soft carpet, gasping. The silence was deafening.
Hermione finally broke it. Her voice was still shaky. "What… what kind of animal was that?"
"Some kind of monster," Harry replied, still pale. He managed to sit up on the couch, but his hands were trembling uncontrollably.
Hermione suddenly glared at them, eyes blazing. "Do you realize how utterly stupid we were tonight? We almost died!"
"You did it too!" Ron snapped, standing up. "Don't think you're innocent here."
"Alright!" Harry stepped between them, pulling on Ron's arm. "We're all alive, aren't we?"
Ron huffed and sat down again, hands propped behind him. "The school's insane for keeping a beast like that around."
Harry nodded silently in agreement.
More silence followed.
"It's guarding something," Hermione muttered, walking toward the stairs. "I saw it standing on a trapdoor… Anyway, I'm going to bed."
She disappeared into the dorms.
Harry and Ron exchanged looks. Neville, however, hadn't moved since entering the room. He was curled up on the rug, fast asleep.
Harry bent down to check.
Yep. Fast asleep.
"Hey, Harry," Ron suddenly said, "what was that thing that fought the big dog?"
Harry blinked, then quickly pulled out Biting Cabbage.
It lay quietly in his palm, back to its usual size. Its curled leaves were motionless.
"That little guy!?" Ron stared, stunned. "Merlin's beard! That plant? I thought it only nibbled robes and shoes."
Honestly, Harry was just as surprised. But more than anything, he was thankful.
"It's tired," Harry said, tucking Biting Cabbage back in his pocket. "Let it rest. We should head to bed too."
Back in the dormitory, Harry gently returned Biting Cabbage to its pot on the windowsill.
It needed time to recover.
Maybe he could order some special plant fertilizer by owl post in the morning.
After tucking in Biting Cabbage, Harry and Ron carried sleeping Neville to bed.
"See you in the morning," Ron mumbled, crawling into his bed.
Harry nodded but was already deep in thought, recalling Fluffy and the trapdoor beneath it.
There had to be something hidden under that.
The next morning.
While changing into his robes, Harry overheard Neville chatting with Seamus near their beds.
"I think I had a nightmare," Neville mumbled, rubbing his eyes. "Woke up with no energy at all."
Harry decided not to mention the night's events. Better that Neville believed it was all a dream.
Ron was still snoring in bed.
Harry walked over to the windowsill to check on Biting Cabbage, their unlikely savior.
It still looked sluggish. Its leaves drooped. Harry gently pried open its leafy mouth.
Red stains.
"Still got blood on your teeth?" Harry muttered. "Time to brush your mouth."
He picked up Biting Cabbage and made his way to the washroom.
FOR MORE CHAPTERS
patreon.com/Johnybairstow