The Ministry of Magic
Charles and Dumbledore sat side by side inside the Pokémon Protection and Management Bureau, quietly enjoying their tea. Only a short while ago, Fudge had just left.
The two of them were perfectly calm, showing no hint of worry about the events soon to unfold at Hogwarts.
"This place has quite a pleasant atmosphere," Dumbledore remarked after taking a sip of his tea.
With Fawkes by his side, returning to Hogwarts would take him no time at all. Charles, too, had access to instant teleportation moves—so Voldemort's "lure them away" scheme was completely meaningless.
Besides, they had intended to fall for it from the start.
"This is actually my first time coming here," Charles admitted with a hint of embarrassment.
Although he technically held the position of Director of the Pokémon Protection and Management Department, he had never once set foot in its offices.
Fudge had decorated the place rather nicely—but it was a bit of a waste, considering he'd never be able to stay here long, at least not for now.
"Once this year's seventh-years graduate, we could recruit a few to work here," Charles suggested. "That'd be a nice way to help them find employment after graduation."
"I heard that for this term's Hogwarts Cup, you've invited other schools to participate?" Dumbledore asked suddenly.
That was no trivial matter. Inter-school cooperation involved the Department of International Magical Cooperation, after all. But if it was just a visit, there was no need for too much fuss.
Dumbledore had only learned of it recently. In the past, Fudge would have told him everything immediately. But ever since Fudge found a new backer, he'd begun distancing himself.
Dumbledore didn't mind. If anything, it was a relief—he still remembered when Fudge had first taken office, and he'd practically been acting as Minister himself, dealing with every little issue that came across the desk.
"That's right," Charles nodded. "I plan to keep promoting Pokémon as widely as possible."
The two chatted casually for quite a while, never once mentioning Voldemort. They behaved as if the chaos brewing inside Hogwarts was none of their concern.
It wasn't until the evening darkened that Dumbledore slowly stood.
"Well then, I suppose it's time we head back."
——
That afternoon
Harry had already made up his mind—he would protect the Philosopher's Stone himself. He no longer trusted what any of the professors had told them. His plan sounded simple enough: get to the Stone before "Snape" did.
But once they actually started, he realized how hard it would be.
He couldn't possibly approach the third-floor corridor during the day—it was strictly forbidden by Dumbledore himself. They'd already broken enough school rules this year. If Snape caught them again, not only would they lose points—they might even be expelled.
Harry had tried asking Hermione to keep an eye on Snape, but that plan had failed miserably.
"No matter what, I don't think even Snape would act during the day!" Harry reasoned. "We'll wait until night—but we have to be faster than him!"
All three of them focused their suspicion on Snape—none of them noticed that by dusk, someone else had already vanished from everyone's sight.
When night fell and the dormitory quieted, Harry and Ron quietly climbed out of bed.
"Grab the Invisibility Cloak," Ron whispered.
They tiptoed around, doing their best not to make a sound—but still ended up waking Neville.
At first, Neville wasn't sure what they were up to. But when he saw Harry and Ron meeting Hermione in the common room, he immediately guessed—they were sneaking out again.
"You shouldn't go wandering at night!" Neville said nervously, stepping in front of them.
Gryffindor had only just clawed back some of its lost points; if Harry got caught again, they'd lose at least a hundred and fifty!
To protect Gryffindor's score—and to keep his friends from being expelled—Neville decided he had to act.
"Neville—what—"
Ron jumped, his voice cracking. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard you getting up," Neville said firmly, blocking their way. He'd lost his wand, but that didn't matter—his fists were stronger than any spell he knew. "You shouldn't break any more school rules! If you try, I'll have to stop you!"
"Move it, Neville! Don't be stupid!" Ron snapped. They couldn't afford delays now.
"No! And you're the ones who taught me to stand up for myself!"
"Yeah, but not against us!"
Ron and Harry were both at their wits' end.
In the end, Hermione stepped forward."I'm sorry, Neville—" she said softly, giving him a regretful look. For a moment, Neville thought she'd changed her mind.
"It's okay, as long as you go back to—"
"Petrificus Totalus!"
A beam of light shot from Hermione's wand.
Neville's arms snapped to his sides; his legs locked together. His entire body went rigid, wobbling slightly before he fell flat to the ground like a wooden board.
Hermione knelt and rolled him over. His jaws were clenched shut, unable to speak—only his eyes darted wildly in panic.
Harry looked horrified."What did you do to him?"
Judging from their faces, neither he nor Ron recognized the spell. Hermione, of course, wasn't the type to stick to first-year textbooks—she'd read far beyond those.
"It's the Full Body-Bind Curse," she explained briskly.
After apologizing to Neville several times, she joined the boys under the Invisibility Cloak and they hurried toward the forbidden corridor.
Along the way, they narrowly avoided Mrs. Norris and Peeves—thanks to Harry's quick thinking when he pretended to be the Bloody Baron, scaring the ghost off.
At last, they reached the wooden door.
"No signs of a fight…"
"Two possibilities," Ron muttered. "Either Snape hasn't come yet—or he answered the Sphinx's riddle correctly."
"Obviously the second one," Hermione said grimly. "The lock's open."
She suddenly realized replacing the guardian with a Sphinx had backfired—if she herself couldn't solve its riddle, she'd be attacked too!
"Let's send out our Pokémon first," she said tensely.
Each of them released their partners, ready for battle.
"Maybe you two should go back. It's too dangerous," Harry said quietly. The reality of their mission was finally sinking in—this wasn't some school prank.
But before Hermione could answer, Ron exploded, "Are you mad?"
"You think you can answer a Sphinx's question without Hermione?"
"The moment you walk in, you'll get eaten alive!"
Harry: …
At least Ron knew his limits.
"Alright then."Harry lifted the cloak.
The Sphinx's eyes gleamed in the darkness. An Invisibility Cloak wouldn't fool its senses—and the trapdoor lay beneath its massive body anyway.
As soon as the door opened, three pairs of eyes met the Sphinx's gaze.
A creature with a woman's face and torso, a lion's body, and great feathered wings towered before them.
The three looked like puppies before a lion.
The Sphinx didn't attack immediately. Its deep voice rumbled through the room:
"To pass, you must answer my riddle. One correct answer, and I'll let you through. Fail, and I shall strike. Refuse to answer, and I'll let you go unharmed."
It was giving them a choice—but Charles had already made preparations to ensure they wouldn't actually die here.
"Ask your question!" Hermione stepped forward bravely, with her Litleo padding beside her.
"Listen well," the Sphinx said. "What appears and disappears, takes forms like lion, dog, horse, and bird? People crave it in heat, but despise it in cold?"
"What?"
Ron's mind went blank. Harry wracked his brain.
They had only one chance—if they guessed wrong, they'd be facing a creature as dangerous as a dragon.
"Think faster, Hermione!" Ron was nearly in tears.
"Quiet!" Hermione punched him in the arm.
"Appears and disappears… looks like everything and nothing…" Harry muttered. "What could possibly be a lion, a dog, a bird—?"
He glanced at the Sphinx herself. "Well, you kind of fit that description."
But clearly, the Sphinx wasn't the answer.
Then Hermione's eyes lit up."Unless it has no fixed form!"
"I've got it—it's a cloud!"
"Correct."
The Sphinx smiled and rose, revealing the trapdoor hidden beneath her.
They pushed it open, staring down into a dark void.
"Well, no use waiting—jump!" Ron said, bracing himself to leap. But Hermione grabbed his arm.
"You don't even know how deep it is! Leave it to me."
She drew two Poké Balls. "Come out, Skiploom, Chikorita!"
Two Pokémon materialized before their eyes.
"Chikorita, use Vine Whip to lower Harry and Ron safely down."
Vines sprouted from Chikorita's neck, wrapping snugly around the boys' waists.
"Whoa—"
"Bit tight, isn't it—"
"Quit whining!" Hermione barked, gripping Skiploom tightly and jumping into the hole.
Skiploom floated like a parachute, carrying her gently down.
But instead of solid ground, they landed atop a mass of tangled vines.
"What is this—?"
Before they could see clearly, the vines began to move.
"It's Devil's Snare!" Hermione shouted. "It'll strangle us!"
Indeed, the vines had already wrapped around their arms, legs—even their necks.
"I can't breathe—!"
Ron was turning red when, suddenly, his Ponyta leapt down from above.
Flames blazed from its mane, driving the Devil's Snare back in fear. The vines recoiled, retreating into the shadows.
"Whew—right, Devil's Snare hates light and fire," Hermione said sheepishly.
"Your Ponyta just saved our lives!" Harry gasped in relief.
He couldn't help thinking—so far, they had done all the work.
Still, he finally got his turn to shine.
In Professor Flitwick's chamber, he used his flying skills to capture the correct key.
Then they reached the next room—pitch black.
"Where are we now…" Hermione began, but before she could finish, a burst of dark purple fire shot out of the shadows.
"Watch out!" Ron yanked her aside. Ponyta dashed forward, blocking the blast.
"Hehehehe—Gengar!"
From the darkness emerged a plump, grinning Gengar.
It was the same one Charles had sent to monitor Voldemort—but that job was done.
"This must be one of Professor Gold's trials," Ron guessed. "Are we supposed to fight Gengar?"
Gengar smirked and waggled a finger, producing a Poké Ball of its own.
—it wasn't a combatant this time. It was the trainer.
Of course, when Voldemort and Quirrell had come through, Gengar had fought directly—leaving Quirrell writhing from paralysis, burns, and poison all at once.
"Wait—it's commanding a Pokémon to battle us?"
Ron's face was priceless.
Who are you looking down on? Gengar thought indignantly.
Tonight, it would not only fight—it would fight two-on-one!
Gengar tossed its Poké Ball high.
A flash of red light burst forth—revealing a massive black hound.
The trio's faces paled instantly.
"—It's Houndoom!"
(End of Chapter)