Late at night, the castle lay wrapped in silence.
Tamara Riddle moved along the foot of the wall with fluid precision, her steps light and controlled, like an elegant black cat stalking through darkness. Every shift of her weight was deliberate. Every breath, measured.
She ascended the staircase slowly, mindful of every creak and shadow. This was not her first time navigating Hogwarts after curfew—but tonight, the margin for error felt narrower.
Up ahead, Madam Norris prowled the second-floor landing.
Filch's wretched cat stood motionless for a moment, her clouded eyes scanning the corridor with unsettling vigilance. Her tail flicked once, twice—like a warning.
In the past, Tamara would have solved this inconvenience with a flash of green light.
Simple. Efficient. Permanent.
But now…
Now she had to behave like a first-year student.
Suppressing her irritation, Tamara pressed herself into the shadows beside a towering suit of armor. The cold metal brushed against her shoulder as she held her breath, her body perfectly still. Her height, usually an advantage, now worked against her; she had to contort slightly to remain concealed.
This… was humiliating.
She waited.
Seconds stretched.
Finally, Madam Norris flicked her tail again and padded away, disappearing down the corridor.
Only then did Tamara exhale quietly and slip out from her hiding place.
"Damn restrictions…" she muttered inwardly.
If she had already mastered the Disillusionment Charm, she wouldn't need to skulk around like a petty thief. The thought alone irritated her.
Still, she pressed forward.
The third-floor corridor came into view.
Just one more turn.
Beyond it lay the forbidden door.
But as she rounded the corner—
A figure suddenly jumped out from the shadows.
"Ta—Tamara! You can't go there!"
Neville Longbottom stood in her path, arms spread wide as if trying to block an advancing army. His teddy bear pajamas looked absurdly out of place in the tense silence, yet his expression was deadly serious—if also visibly trembling.
"Harry and the others already went in," he continued, voice shaking. "I couldn't stop them… but I won't let you go too! Professor McGonagall said it's forbidden! You'll die!"
Tamara stopped.
Her eyelid twitched.
Why him?
Why did it have to be this Longbottom?
Was there some hereditary affliction among Gryffindors that compelled them to interfere with everything?
Almost instinctively, her wand rose.
The polished wood pointed directly at Neville's round face.
The fastest solution was obvious.
"Petrificus—"
But before the incantation could leave her lips—
[Ding! Warning!]
The system's voice cut in abruptly.
[Detected: Neville Longbottom is experiencing extreme concern. He is risking punishment and point deductions to stop you from entering danger.]
[What pure and moving friendship!]
Tamara's grip tightened.
[System Mandatory Quest: A Gentle Response.]
[Do not harm this kind friend with violent magic. Use sincerity to move him. Let him feel the warmth of Slytherin.]
[Reward: Love +1]
[Punishment: Sing "Auld Lang Syne" at maximum volume.]
Her wand froze mid-air.
The unfinished spell lodged in her throat.
This… damned system.
If looks could kill, Neville would already be reduced to ash.
But the alternative—singing loudly in the middle of the night—was unacceptable.
Tamara inhaled slowly, forcing the murderous intent from her expression. The transition was not entirely smooth; what replaced it was a stiff approximation of kindness.
"Neville," she said, lowering her wand.
Her voice softened—though it sounded more like a eulogy than reassurance.
"You've misunderstood."
"Mis… misunderstood?" Neville blinked, visibly relieved as the wand dropped.
"Yes."
Tamara stepped forward, her posture straightening. Her gaze sharpened with feigned conviction.
"I'm not going there to cause trouble. I'm going to save them."
Neville stared at her.
"You know Potter," she continued calmly. "He's reckless. If no one keeps an eye on him, he'll get himself killed."
She paused, then added with practiced emphasis:
"As a… friend, I can't just stand by and watch that happen."
Something in her tone—perhaps the confidence, perhaps the sheer audacity—struck Neville.
His expression changed.
In his eyes, Tamara seemed… radiant.
A Slytherin.
Loyal.
Selfless.
"B-but… it's dangerous…" he said weakly.
"Exactly," Tamara replied without missing a beat. "Which is why I must go."
Internally, she rolled her eyes.
Outwardly, she smiled.
"So, will you go back to sleep now?"
"No!"
Neville suddenly clenched his fists, resolve flooding his face.
"I'll help you!"
Tamara blinked.
That was… not the intended outcome.
"I'll stand guard here!" he continued eagerly. "If Filch or a professor comes, I'll—I'll sing! Loudly! To warn you!"
He looked at her with fierce determination.
"Go save them, Tamara. Leave this to me!"
Tamara studied him for a moment.
An idiot.
But a useful one.
A guard at the door… even a disposable one… had its advantages.
"Very well," she said.
Her expression softened just enough to appear sincere.
"I'll leave it to you… warrior."
Neville's chest puffed slightly at the praise.
Without another word, Tamara slipped past him and into the corridor.
Behind her—
[Ding! Quest Complete: A Gentle Response.]
[Evaluation: Exceptional! You suppressed your violent instincts and inspired courage in a Gryffindor heart.]
[Observe: he now stands guard for you. This is trust.]
[Regardless of intent, the outcome is beautiful. Slytherin and Gryffindor have achieved cooperation.]
[Reward: Love +1]
[Current Attribute: Love 19]
Tamara frowned.
"19?" she murmured.
Her tone turned cold.
"What about the dormitory incident? I even bathed that stupid cat."
Silence.
Then—
[Correction: throwing a pet onto a bed and attempting to drown it with a Scouring Charm is classified as abuse, not affection.]
Tamara's expression darkened.
[Additionally… it seems punishment for that incident was overlooked.]
A pause.
Then, cheerfully—
[Shall we administer a 30-second micro-current now?]
Her knuckles whitened around her wand.
"…No need," she said through clenched teeth.
"Thank you for your… generosity."
[You're welcome! Please continue striving toward a loving tomorrow!]
Tamara ignored it.
Finally, she reached the wooden door at the end of the corridor.
It stood slightly ajar.
Careless.
She pushed it open.
A wave of heat and foul stench hit her immediately.
Inside—
A massive three-headed dog filled the room.
Fluffy.
Hagrid's beloved Cerberus.
In the corner sat a crude wooden harp, its strings vibrating faintly.
So.
Quirrell had enchanted it to play automatically.
The lingering melody had lulled the beast to sleep—allowing Potter and his companions to pass.
Lucky fools.
But as Tamara stepped inside—
Twang.
The final note rang out, discordant and abrupt.
Silence followed.
Then—
Six massive yellow eyes opened.
All at once.
They locked onto her.
Tamara didn't flinch.
She simply raised her sleeve to cover her nose.
"Disgusting," she muttered. "Why are all of Hagrid's pets equally ugly and foul-smelling?"
Fluffy rose.
Slow.
Massive.
Approaching.
Tamara raised her wand.
Killing it would be inconvenient.
Noisy.
Messy.
And Hagrid's reaction would be intolerable.
No—
She only needed it out of the way.
"Wingardium Leviosa."
The effect was immediate.
Fluffy froze.
Then—slowly—his enormous body lifted off the ground.
"Awo?"
His legs flailed helplessly.
He rose higher.
And higher.
Until his heads pressed against the ceiling.
Whimpers replaced growls.
The sight was… absurd.
A creature weighing several tons, suspended like a balloon.
"Stay there," Tamara said coldly.
With a flick of her wand, she nudged him aside.
The trapdoor beneath was revealed.
She approached and peered down.
Darkness.
Faint shapes of writhing vines below.
"Devil's Snare…"
She recognized it instantly.
"I hope those idiots managed fire," she muttered. "I have no intention of ruining my clothes."
Straightening her robes—
She stepped forward.
And leaped.
Her figure vanished into the darkness below.
Behind her—
Fluffy whimpered softly, pressed helplessly against the ceiling.
In his confused mind, he missed Hagrid.
The gentle giant who played music for him.
Who cared.
He didn't understand.
They were both wizards.
So why…
…were they so different?
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