Chapter 159: Veritaserum Mixed into the Potions
"What did you say... an empty room is located beneath the trapdoor?"
The next morning, when Fred and George heard this from Kyle, their faces mirrored Cedric's from the night before—shock, doubt, and disbelief.
Because of the trapdoor, neither of them had slept well. Every time they closed their eyes, the terrifying image of the Three-Headed Dog loomed in their minds. They had spent half the night speculating about what treasure was valuable enough to warrant the dog's protection.
The final exam papers, maybe? Or even the Gryffindor sword?
They guessed endlessly, finally dozing off just before dawn. And now Kyle was telling them that the rooms beneath the trapdoor were... empty?
Fred and George were struggling to accept it. Where was the adventure, the thrill of discovery? Had Dumbledore simply designated an empty corner of the castle to keep his oversized guard dog? This was too simple, even disappointing.
"Those rooms probably haven't been there for long," Kyle said, giving Fred a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "It's just that, with the start of the school year, the professors are busy. They likely haven't had time to set up the challenges yet. We can always check back later, around Halloween or the Christmas holidays."
"You're right," Fred sighed. "It looks like we'll have to hold off. But that might give us more time to search for the last clue for the password."
Cedric, who had been sipping his pumpkin juice, set down his cup. "I really think you should forget about it. Hogwarts is so big, you'll never find it—even if you stay until graduation."