Within moments she reappeared, now wearing a green hoodie shirt, still looking flustered but composed.
The hoodie was thigh length, and beneath it, she didn't have anything.
Her hair is also wet, it shows, she just came out of the bathroom after getting a wash.
She cleared her throat, brisk and embarrassed.
"…You were supposed to knock."
Soren coughed awkwardly. "You said I could enter without hesitation."
Selene covered her face with one hand. She wants to reply to him, but isn't able to say it.
A tiny laugh escaped her despite the embarrassment. She straightened, regaining her prefect composure, and motioned toward the sofa.
"…Just sit, Soren."
Soren nodded, still avoiding eye contact as he sat on the edge of the cushion.
Selene sat opposite him, pulling her hoodie sleeves down nervously. But still, it shows her perfect thigh and legs.
After a moment, she finally met his eyes.
"Alright," she said, clearing her throat, "now that we've survived the most awkward moment in Hogwarts history…"
Her expression turned serious.
"…I need to tell you something important."
Selene took a slow breath, regaining her composure after the awkward moment.
Then she reached under her bed and pulled out a thick envelope, old and weathered.
"Soren," she said quietly, "this… is why I called you."
Soren sat up straighter.
She placed the envelope gently on the table between them.
"I found this hidden behind a loose stone in the common room wall," Selene said.
"No one else noticed it… but I recognized the handwriting immediately."
She opened the envelope carefully.
Inside was a folded parchment, several small puzzle pieces etched with runes.
Selene unfolded the parchment.
It revealed a map of the lines twisted, moved, shifted, forming and reforming mysterious routes across Britain.
A single name was written in the corner: Wales.
Soren whispered, "A map… to Wales?"
Selene nodded.
"But not directly. This isn't a place you can reach by broomstick or train. To follow this path… you have to solve wizarding puzzles. Four of them."
She pointed to the strange rune tiles.
"Each puzzle, when solved, activates a hidden Floo Network point. It transports you to the next puzzle location. After the fourth… you reach the final destination shown on the map."
Soren stared in awe.
"This is incredible… but why did you call me here, Selene?"
Selene hesitated.
Her confident prefect persona softened.
She moved closer, and held Soren's head bringing in her bosom.
Since she didn't wear anything underneath the hoodie, Soren felt her breast shape on his face, but he didn't care about it, since he didn't even know about male and female differentiates. And especially, his focus was on the map.
But Selene feels something different, her breast nipple became erected. And remembering that he has already seen her nude, her hesitation has vanished.
Why? This was something related to her family. But knowing this was not a good thing, or good time for now, she controlled it.
She held Soren, as she was very protective of him. Any danger will come to her, before the Soren.
"Soren," she said softly, "I need you to stay calm."
He looked up at her.
Selene continued, her voice barely above a whisper, "This letter… wasn't written to me."
Soren's breath caught.
Selene held the parchment closer so he could see the inked handwriting, curved, elegant, unmistakably familiar.
"It was written to you."
Soren's chest tightened.
Selene finished in a quiet, gentle voice:
"Soren…this letter is from Elara."
The room fell silent. Only Soren's heartbeat filled the space.
His sister left a message for him.
He started reading it.
Dear Brother,
I know that one day you will join Hogwarts.
I don't know what is going to happen to me in my search for these Vaults. People say they are cursed — the Cursed Vaults. But I know they are not curses.
They are something closer to us. I feel something… a connection. It's like they are calling me.
So maybe, in this adventure, I will lose something… or someone. But I know when you finally come to Hogwarts, you will start searching for me.
This map will help you.
Follow it. Solve the puzzles. Each one will take you closer.
And of course you'll solve them — because they were designed only for you.
Your sister,
Elara Whitlock.
Soren's hands tightened around the letter.
A mixture of hope, fear, and determination surged through him.
"She… she left this for me," he whispered.
Selene watched him carefully.
"Soren," she said softly, "I know what you're thinking. But you cannot go alone."
Soren looked up, eyes steady with resolve.
"I have to find her, Selene."
"I know," she replied. "But even if the puzzle was designed for you… the journey is still dangerous."
Soren nodded slowly. "Then… come with me. Please. Help me."
Selene hesitated, guilt flickering across her face.
"I wish I could. Truly. But I'm a prefect — I can't abandon the House or leave Hogwarts grounds without permission."
Soren's shoulders fell slightly.
"But," she continued, "your friends care about you. You won't be alone. Penny, Cassie, Jacqueline — they'll go with you. And they're strong in their own ways."
Soren looked down at Elara's map again, and exhaled.
"You're right. I'll ask them."
Selene placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"And Soren… whatever happens, I'm here. If anything goes wrong, you come straight to me. Promise me."
"I promise."
He folded the letter carefully.
---
Soren walked out of Selene's dormitory, and soon he found Penny, Cassie, and Jacqueline near the grand staircase, talking quietly as sunlight spilled through the tall windows.
The moment they saw Soren's expression, all three straightened.
Jacqueline stepped forward first. "Soren? What happened?"
Soren didn't waste a second.
He unfolded the letter and held it out.
"My sister left this for me. It was a map, and I want you to join me."
Penny asked him, "A map? Where?"
"To Wales," Soren said. "But the route isn't direct. There are puzzles, wizarding puzzles. Only I can solve them. And I want you to join me."
Cassie leaned in, and without any hesitation, she said, "Okay, I will join you."
Jacqueline also didn't hesitate. "Of course I'm also coming. I told you from the beginning. I'll help you find her."
Penny nodded fiercely. "You don't have to convince me. If Elara left clues… then this wasn't an accident. We're going with you."
Soren became happy hearing it, "Good. Then be ready. We leave after curfew."
Penny looked around nervously, "We'll have to sneak past Filch… and Mrs. Norris…"
Jacqueline smirked, "We've already done it once. We'll manage."
Cassie tapped her wand. "And if anything goes wrong, we will fight."
Soren nodded approvingly. "Tonight. Meet me in the Slytherin common room entrance after everyone falls asleep."
The plan was set.
But before they could say anything more,
Jacqueline blinked at the clock tower.
"Soren… But first we need to go to Potion Class."
They nodded, and together, the four hurried down toward the potions dungeon.
---
In the classroom, Jacqueline leaned closer to Soren and whispered, "Snape is sneering at me. Did he notice something?"
Before Soren could answer, Merula spoke loudly from across the table.
"Look who came. The loser."
"I beat you. You lost," Soren replied calmly.
Merula scoffed. "No matter what, you're still the loser."
Then, surprisingly, she gestured to the empty seat beside her.
Soren blinked in confusion. Merula never wanted him anywhere near her. She hated him, mocked him, challenged him…
But now she wanted him to sit beside her?
Still confused, Soren sat down.
He asked quietly, "Why did you gesture for me to sit here?"
Merula didn't look at him. She kept her eyes on the cauldron.
"I heard Snape and Filch talking about ice and the Vaults," she said. "And I found the exact place they mentioned. They also said something about Elara Whitlock."
Soren froze, "How did you even find that? And why are you going there?"
Merula shrugged. "I want to see it. I want to go inside the room."
Soren narrowed his eyes. "Why are you after the Cursed Vaults?"
Merula glared. "None of your business."
"It is my business," Soren replied. "My sister was searching for them."
Merula smirked. "And she failed. Because your whole family is full of failures."
Soren clenched his fist, but before he could say anything, "Now shut up," Merula whispered harshly, "and pretend to study before Snape hears us talking about the Vaults."
Right then, Snape walked to the front of the room.
He stood before the class and said, "Today you will learn to brew an Herbicide Potion."
The room went quiet immediately.
Snape continued, "This is a potent Herbicide. Do not allow even one drop to reach the greenhouses. Watch carefully."
He moved to the demonstration table and began his lecture.
"An Herbicide Potion destroys or weakens plant matter. You will need, One batch of Flobberworm Mucus. Two measures of Horklump Juice. Three crushed Dandelion roots. A pinch of Dried Nettles. And exactly four drops of Dragon Dung Fertiliser."
He lifted each ingredient as he named it.
"Precision is essential. If you mix them incorrectly, your potion will either explode or become completely useless."
Then he began his demonstration.
He scooped exactly one spoon of Flobberworm Mucus into the cauldron. It slid in slowly, making a thick sound as it hit the bottom.
He added two measures of Horklump Juice, one at a time. "This juice activates the reaction. Pour too quickly, and your cauldron will melt."
The mixture let out a soft hiss.
Snape crushed three dandelion roots with smooth pressure, grinding them into a fine powder. He sprinkled them in slowly.
The potion turned a cloudy yellow.
He added one pinch of dried nettles, dusting them lightly over the top.
"This controls the growth reaction. Without it, the potion becomes volatile."
He lifted a small bottle and held it up. "Now, the final ingredient. Dragon Dung Fertiliser."
Students wrinkled their noses.
Snape ignored them.
He added exactly four drops. The potion let out a sudden flash of green light.
"Stir," Snape said calmly.
He picked up his long mixing spoon.
"Eight times clockwise. Slowly."
He demonstrated, counting the rotations:
"One… two… three… four… five… six… seven… eight."
With every rotation, the potion shifted color, first yellow-green, then emerald, then finally a deep, rich green.
The surface rippled like dark water.
Snape stepped back.
"This is the correct appearance of a finished Herbicide Potion."
The class looked both impressed and terrified.
Snape gave them a cold stare.
"Begin."
Everyone started brewing.
Soren followed every step carefully. Penny did the same.
Both finished their Herbicide Potions perfectly.
Snape glanced at Soren's cauldron and gave a quiet, irritated humph, almost a compliment. Then he turned to Penny.
"Miss Haywood. Excellent work."
Meanwhile, Merula purposely leaned over and sabotaged another student's potion. The cauldron hissed loudly.
Snape looked over… and ignored it completely.
Moments later, he dismissed the class.
Everyone packed their things and began filing out of the dungeon.