A/N: Day 6 of NaNoWriMo (continued; about 484 words)! And day 7!

Rising Storms

A Harry Potter and Percy Jackson crossover

Chapter 11:

Harry

Harry was sad that Winter break was over, but he was excited to learn more. In his dorm room at Hogwarts, Harry sat at his desk, quill in hand, and carefully filled out his planner. The pages were a testament to his dedication to his studies, filled with assignments, due dates, and reminders for the second term of the school year. With determination in his eyes, he was prepared to excel academically, to improve his Quidditch skills, and to continue building strong friendships with his fellow Slytherins. Harry was eager to make the most of his time at Hogwarts and looked forward to the adventures and challenges that the new term would bring.

Late one night, Harry, the first-year Slytherin, heard an unusual commotion coming from the common room. Curiosity piqued, he quickly set aside his homework and ventured downstairs to investigate.

As he reached the common room, he was greeted by an unexpected sight. His fellow Slytherins were gathered, casting spells and creating an array of mesmerizing magical effects. The room was filled with flashes of color, and the air was filled with laughter and chatter.

Blaise Zabini, one of his closest friends in Slytherin, spotted Harry and grinned. "Harry, you're just in time! We're having an impromptu late-night magical dueling session."

Harry's eyes widened in surprise and excitement. He had heard tales of Slytherin's penchant for dueling, but he had yet to participate in one himself. The opportunity to test his magical skills was irresistible.

Without hesitation, he joined the circle of Slytherins who were taking turns dueling. Spells flew back and forth, and Harry marveled at the talents of his housemates. It was a thrilling spectacle, with colorful hexes and jinxes lighting up the room.

Draco Malfoy, always eager for a challenge, approached Harry. "Fancy a duel, Harry?"

Harry grinned and accepted Draco's challenge. The two friends faced off, their wands at the ready. They exchanged spells, displaying a level of camaraderie that was unique to Slytherin.

The dueling session continued into the late hours of the night, each participant showcasing their magical prowess. It was a thrilling experience that left Harry exhilarated and grateful for the strong bonds he had formed with his fellow Slytherins.

As the night waned, they decided to call it a night and returned to their dormitories. Harry climbed into bed, the echoes of spells and laughter still fresh in his mind. He realized that life at Hogwarts, particularly in Slytherin, was filled with unexpected adventures and delightful surprises. He couldn't have asked for better friends or a more supportive house. Harry drifted to sleep, looking forward to the new day and the new adventures that awaited him at Hogwarts.

Harry was alone in the Slytherin dorm room, sitting at his desk and engrossed in his Transfiguration homework. The dim light of his lamp illuminated the room as he meticulously worked through his assignment. His concentration was broken when he noticed a folded piece of parchment sticking out from one of his textbooks.

Puzzled, he unfolded the parchment and read the simple yet cryptic message, "What's hidden at Hogwarts?" The note was unsigned, and Harry couldn't help but furrow his brow in confusion.

"What's hidden at Hogwarts?" he muttered to himself, his mind racing with possibilities. His gaze wandered around the room, as if expecting the answer to manifest itself before him.

The room was quiet, with his fellow Slytherins occupied elsewhere in their dormitories. Harry's thoughts were filled with curiosity and intrigue. He pondered the various secrets and mysteries that Hogwarts held. The castle had a history steeped in enigma.

As he thought about the note, he began to wonder if it was a prank, perhaps from one of his friends. But the question seemed deeper than a mere joke. It hinted at something significant, something that may be part of Hogwarts' rich history.

Harry couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the castle than met the eye. He decided that he needed to delve into this mystery, even if it meant taking a break from his Transfiguration homework.

With a determined look in his eyes, he carefully folded the note and tucked it into his robes. He knew that he had a new quest, a puzzle to solve, and he was ready to explore the secrets hidden within the ancient stone walls of Hogwarts.

For days, Harry searched Hogwarts in his free time, determined to unravel the mystery of "What's hidden at Hogwarts?" He scoured every corner of the castle, from the grand hallways to the hidden passageways. But as the weeks passed, the riddle remained unsolved, leaving him increasingly intrigued and puzzled.

One afternoon, while wandering the dimly lit corridors of the castle after his classes had concluded, a sudden memory flashed across his mind. The forbidden third-floor corridor! This year, it was strictly off-limits, but something about that restriction made Harry wonder if it held the answer to the enigmatic question.

With newfound determination, Harry made his way to the third-floor corridor. The forbidden door stood before him.

As he opened the door, the sudden and ominous growling and barking of the massive dog reached his ears, causing a shiver to run down his spine. The sight before him was both astonishing and terrifying. A gigantic, three-headed, and snarling beast, paced in front of the trapdoor that seemed to lead to the unknown.

Harry knew he had to inform someone about what he'd found. He couldn't confront the cerberus on his own. The first name that came to mind was Severus Snape, his head of house. He was the most logical choice to address this issue.

Hurrying back through the castle, Harry made his way to Snape's office. He knocked on the door and, when it swung open, he breathlessly explained the situation. "Professor Snape, you won't believe what I've seen. A three-headed dog is guarding a trapdoor in the forbidden third-floor corridor."

Snape regarded Harry with a mix of skepticism and curiosity. "Are you sure, Mr. Potter? That corridor is forbidden for a reason, and tampering with it could have grave consequences."

Harry nodded emphatically. "I'm sure, Professor. The note I found, it all connects somehow." He showed his head of house the note that he had from before.

Snape's expression grew more serious. "Stay here, Potter. I will take care of this matter."

The professor swiftly left his office, leaving Harry alone to contemplate the significance of his discovery. He felt a mix of apprehension and excitement, wondering how the dog and the forbidden corridor might be linked to the cryptic message he had found.

Sitting in the dimly lit office of Professor Severus Snape, Harry found himself in a rare moment of quiet reflection. The room, filled with shelves of glass vials and peculiar-looking objects, exuded an eerie atmosphere that was typical of Snape's domain.

Harry shifted in his chair, unable to ignore the tension that filled the air. He had taken a seat to await Snape's return after informing him about the presence of Fluffy, the three-headed dog, in the forbidden third-floor corridor. It was a nerve-wracking experience, to say the least.

As he waited, Harry's thoughts turned to the enigmatic message he had discovered earlier, the one that had led him to the dog and the forbidden corridor. "What's hidden at Hogwarts?" The question still lingered in his mind, its implications unclear and tantalizing.

The flickering candlelight cast eerie shadows across the room, and Harry couldn't help but feel the weight of the secrets concealed within the castle's ancient walls. He knew that there were many mysteries yet to be unraveled, and that his journey at Hogwarts was just beginning.

With each passing moment, the anticipation grew. Harry wasn't sure what Snape would discover or how he would react to the presence of the three-headed dog. But he had taken the first step toward solving the riddle, and he was determined to see it through.

Finally, the door to Snape's office swung open, and the Potions Master entered. His expression was a mix of sternness and intrigue.

"Potter," Snape said, his voice sharp, "you were correct. A Cerberus is indeed guarding the trapdoor in the third-floor corridor. The situation will be addressed."

Harry couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction mixed with trepidation. The wheels of change were set in motion, and he was now part of a larger puzzle that held the keys to the hidden mysteries of Hogwarts.

As Snape continued to examine the matter, Harry couldn't shake the feeling that he was on the cusp of a new and exciting adventure, one that would take him deeper into the secrets of the castle and the magical world he had just begun to explore.

Harry was dismissed, and he was on his way back to the Slytherin common room, when a hand clamped over his mouth and he was dragged away from the dungeons.

A/N: 1558 words