Chapter 63. May I Start Screaming Now
In her panic, Hermione cast Alohomora and opened a locked door beside them.
Harry had no time to marvel at Hermione's knack for locks. He shoved everyone into the room, pressed into the corner, and held his breath, terrified of making the slightest sound.
He pressed his ear to the door and listened as Filch's footsteps faded away, and only when they were gone did he let out a huge sigh and sag to the floor.
Just then, Neville's trembling voice sounded by his ear: "May I start screaming now..."
Harry turned his head—and the sight before him nearly knocked the breath out of him.
A massive body filled the entire room—a gigantic monster with three heads. Each head was taller than he was, fangs bared, drool drip-drip-dripping onto the floor.
"What... is that?" Hermione said, shaking so hard her voice was barely audible.
All three heads of the three-headed dog turned toward them at the same time, six eyes gleaming viciously in the dim room.
Its nose twitched; it had clearly caught their scent.
Suddenly, the middle head yawned open, revealing razor-sharp fangs, and a long tongue lashed out like a gigantic whip sweeping straight at Harry.
A foul stench hit him—like rotting meat mixed with sulphur—and he almost choked.
Everyone instinctively shrank back, their backs pressed hard to the wall, nowhere to run.
And then, just as despair crashed over Harry, something unexpected happened.
The Chinese Chomping Cabbage sprang out of his pocket and bounced beneath the three-headed dog like a rubber ball.
In an instant, it swelled to the size of one of the dog's heads, opened a mouthful of equally sharp teeth, and clamped down hard on the dog's left thigh.
"Awooo!"
The three-headed dog howled in pain, the sound shaking the entire room.
All three heads swung toward the Chinese Chomping Cabbage at once, trying to shake it off, but the cabbage refused to let go, biting down with a death grip—and then it gave a savage yank.
"Rip!"
It tore away a great hunk of flesh. Blood gushed at once, splattering across the floor.
The coppery reek flooded the room, so strong it made one retch.
But they were all too stunned to think of pinching their noses.
That must hurt terribly... Harry couldn't help thinking.
Having done all this, the Chinese Chomping Cabbage finally let the dog go. It spat the meat onto the floor, shrank back to its normal size, and bounced into Harry's arms.
The three-headed dog was still in agony.
But with its target suddenly vanished, it could only bare its fangs and roar madly; its violent movements set the chains behind it clanking in sharp, rapid bursts.
"Run!"
Someone shouted, and Harry snapped back to himself, stuffed the Chinese Chomping Cabbage into his pocket again, and groped for the doorknob behind him.
"Bang!"
Harry slammed the door. The monster's roars were cut off on the other side.
They bolted into the corridor, feet pounding, their echoes chasing them down the hall.
This time, Lady Luck seemed to be smiling on them. Apart from a ghost crouching in a corner staring vacantly, they met no one on the way and made it safely back to the Gryffindor common room.
No one, however, felt like celebrating.
They collapsed onto the rug, at a loss for words for a long moment.
Hermione was the first to recover. "What... creature was that?" she murmured.
"Some kind of monster." Harry had caught his breath by now. He clambered up and sat on the sofa, his hands still trembling slightly.
"Look at the mess you lot have made," Hermione burst out, her voice quivering. "You'd better realise how foolish tonight was! Oh, heavens, we nearly died."
"You were in it too!" Ron shot to his feet, fuming. "Don't think you're above it all."
"All right!" Harry tugged Ron's sleeve, trying to head off the row. "We're not hurt, are we?"
Only then did Ron sit back down, bracing himself with his hands behind him. "The school must be mad, keeping a dangerous monster like that here."
Harry nodded his agreement.
Silence fell again.
"In fact, it was guarding something," Hermione said as she headed for the dormitory. "I saw it standing on a trapdoor... Right, I'm going to bed."
After she left, Harry and Ron stared at each other.
Neville, meanwhile, had lain down on the floor the moment they came in, curled up and motionless.
Only when Harry went over did he realise Neville had already fallen asleep.
"By the way, Harry, something started fighting that big dog," Ron said suddenly, as if remembering, and looked at Harry.
Harry blinked, then hurriedly pulled the Chinese Chomping Cabbage from his pocket to check on it.
It had returned to normal size and lay quietly in his hand, its leaves slightly curled, perfectly still.
"This little fellow!?" Ron's eyes bulged, as if he could hardly believe it. "Merlin's beard... it's actually that tough? I thought it only fancied robes and shoes."
Harry was just as surprised as Ron—but even more grateful. Thank goodness he'd brought the Chinese Chomping Cabbage along before they set out.
"It's tired, Ron. Don't bother it. Let's get back to the dormitory."
Back upstairs, Harry carefully cradled the Chinese Chomping Cabbage and set it back into the flowerpot on the dormitory windowsill.
It needed a good rest to recover its nutrients.
Maybe tomorrow he could use Owl Post to buy some plant fertiliser.
After that, he and Ron hauled Neville from the common room back to his bed.
"See you in the morning, Harry," Ron said from his mattress.
Harry nodded, but his thoughts had already drifted to the three-headed dog—and the trapdoor beneath its feet.
There must be something hidden down there.
.....
Early the next morning.
As Harry changed into his robes, he heard Neville chatting with Seamus.
"I think I had a nightmare last night," Neville said, rubbing his eyes. "When I got up this morning, I barely had any strength."
Harry decided not to bring up last night with Neville.
Ron, meanwhile, was still snoring in bed.
Harry went to the windowsill to check on the Chinese Chomping Cabbage—the true hero of last night.
It looked just as wilted as it had before.
When Harry prised its mouth open to check, he noticed a few red smears of dried blood still caught between its teeth.
"I need to brush your teeth."
Cradling the Chinese Chomping Cabbage, Harry headed for the bathroom.
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