The Great Hall buzzes with morning energy, the clinking of cutlery and low hum of chatter filling the vast space. Adam steps inside, scanning the rows of long tables until his eyes land on the familiar trio. Harry and Ron sit huddled together, their voices animated as they recount yesterday’s run-in with Malfoy. Hermione, ever the multitasker, balances a hefty tome in one hand while carefully maneuvering a forkful of scrambled eggs with the other.
“Morning,” Adam greets, sliding onto the bench beside them.
“Morning,” Hermione replies distractedly, her eyes never leaving the page. Ron and Harry mumble their greetings through mouthfuls of toast, their focus still on their conversation.
Adam reaches for a plate and helps himself to the impressive breakfast spread—crispy kippers, fried tomatoes, golden toast slathered with marmalade and jam, and a warm bowl of porridge. The comforting aromas make his stomach rumble in anticipation as he joins in on the meal.
For a while, the group eats in relative silence, the occasional clatter of Ron’s spoon against his plate the only interruption. When the conversation finally lulls, Adam leans in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
“Guys,” he says, his tone suddenly serious, “I need your help in something.”
Harry, Ron, and Hermione all pause, exchanging curious glances. It isn’t often Adam seeks their assistance with anything outside the usual coursework or casual banter.
“Well, go on, then,” Ron prompts, his curiosity clearly piqued. “What’s this about?”
Adam hesitates, glancing around to ensure no one nearby can overhear. His next words are almost too quiet to catch over the noise of the hall. “I’ve heard about a portrait of the four founders hidden somewhere in the castle.”
For a moment, they stare at him as though he’s sprouted a second head. Harry looks intrigued, while Ron’s brows furrow in confusion. Hermione, however, is quick to voice her skepticism.
“That’s impossible,” she says firmly, setting her fork down with a clink. “The concept of enchanted, interactive portraits didn’t even exist when the founders were alive. That kind of magic wasn’t discovered until centuries later, and portraits need to be enchanted during the subject’s lifetime to accurately mimic their behavior.”
“I know,” Adam replies patiently. “But my source is reliable, and I’ve got reason to believe it’s real. What’s more, it’s supposedly located in the Room of Requirement.”
Hermione opens her mouth to protest, but no words come out. Her doubt is momentarily replaced by a flicker of contemplation. Meanwhile, Ron looks thoroughly confused.
“Room of Requirement?” Ron echoes, glancing at Harry for support. “What’s that supposed to be?”
Adam turns to Hermione, but she avoids his gaze, her expression betraying her discomfort. Clearly, she isn’t keen on revealing their secret study sanctuary just yet.
It’s a hidden room in the castle,” Adam explains in Hermione’s stead. “One that appears when you really need it and provides exactly what you’re looking for.”
Harry and Ron exchange skeptical glances before Ron asks, “But where do we even start looking for such a magical room? Wandering around the castle, people will think we’ve gone mad.”
Adam chuckles. “I’ve already been using it to study,” he admits, carefully omitting Hermione’s study sessions to spare her any embarrassment. “But the room is far too big to explore on my own. That’s why I need your help.
Ron’s confusion melts into excitement, his face lighting up as he turns to Harry. “A magical room that gives you what you need? That’s brilliant!”
Harry grins, equally intrigued. “Count us in.”
Adam can’t help but smile at their enthusiasm. “Great. We’ll need to plan carefully, though. The Room of Requirement might not make this easy as it is sentient.”
With a sense of shared purpose beginning to form, the group returns to their breakfast, the mystery of the founders’ portrait already taking root in their minds.
The first class of the day is History of Magic, a subject notorious for its monotony under the droning voice of Professor Binns. Today’s topic is ancient troll species and a few notable wizards of the past who either battle them or employ their brute strength in peculiar ways.
While most students slump in their seats or stare longingly out of the enchanted windows, Adam sits upright like always, quill in hand. He finds the history of the magical world fascinating, even when delivered in Binns’ lifeless monotone. There is something captivating about the ancient stories and how they shape the wizarding world as he knows it.
Herbology comes next, bringing a welcome change of pace. In the humid greenhouse, Professor Sprout introduces them to the puffapod, a curious plant whose vibrant pink seedpods burst into full bloom upon contact with solid objects. Adam enjoys the hands-on aspect of the lesson, carefully scooping a seedpod into his gloved hand and gently tossing it onto the soil.
It explodes into a cascade of delicate flowers, releasing a pleasant, sweet fragrance that lingers in the air. The class buzzes with chatter and laughter as students try—and sometimes fail—to manage the unpredictable blooms. Despite the lively atmosphere, Adam’s thoughts keep drifting to the Room of Requirement and the mysterious portrait he mentions earlier.
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After a hearty lunch in the Great Hall, the day continues with Transfiguration, a subject Adam finds both funand exciting. Today’s task is to transfigure teapots into tortoises, a spell requiring precise wand movements and focused intent. The classroom is soon filled with half-transfigured creatures, with some students’ teapots sprouting legs and others producing odd hybrids with spouts instead of heads. Hermione, unsurprisingly, is the first to achieve a perfect transformation. Her tortoise blinks lazily at the class, earning her a nod of approval from Professor McGonagall and a generous ten points for Gryffindor.
Ron, meanwhile, furrows his brow in concentration as he waves their wands over his stubborn teapot. It trembles slightly before sprouting a mismatched pair of scaly legs. He grins, feeling a small surge of triumph, even as Harry leans over to offer a helpful tip. The classroom echoes with a mix of laughter, frustration, and the occasional triumphant cheer as the students persevere, making it one of the more engaging lessons of the day.
With free periods following Transfiguration, Harry and Ron opt to spend their time lounging in the Gryffindor common room, discussing Quidditch strategies between bites of chocolate frogs. Hermione, ever the diligent student, heads off to one of her elective classes, her bag brimming with textbooks. Adam, however, has other plans.
His flying class is first on his agenda, where he relishes the feeling of the wind against his face as he practices advanced maneuvers. The broom obeys his every command, gliding and darting through the air with ease. After the lesson, Adam makes his way down to the serene lake, its glassy surface reflecting the soft afternoon light. Waiting at the water’s edge, he pulls out a small bucket of fish he’s brought along and calls softly. Moments later, Argos, the giant squid, emerges with a lazy splash, its massive tentacles curling gently as it accepts the offering.
As Adam tosses the last fish into the water, a shadow passes overhead. He turns to see Thor, his thunderbird, soaring gracefully across the sky, accompanied by Buckbeak, the proud and regal hippogriff. Adam’s grin widens as the two majestic creatures land nearby, their powerful forms stirring the grass around them.
“Good to see you two getting along,” Adam says, his tone warm as he reaches into his bag and retrieves their favorite treats—neatly procured dead ferrets from Hagrid, who has been more than willing to part with them after the last visit to Aragog. Thor’s feathers shimmer as Adam strokes them, crackling faintly with static, while Buckbeak lowers his proud head to accept a gentle scratch along his beak.
Saying his goodbyes to Argos, who dips back into the lake, Adam suddenly feels a strong urge to visit the herd of Thestrals in the Forbidden Forest. He motions for Thor and Buckbeak to follow him. “Stay quiet,” he instructs, knowing the Thestrals are wary of newcomers. The forest’s shadows deepen as they enter, but Adam walks with purpose, familiar with every twist of the trail.
When the skeletal, winged creatures come into view, their eerie beauty is illuminated by the faint light filtering through the canopy. At first, the Thestrals stiffen, their dark eyes gleaming with caution. But as Adam approaches, their posture relaxes, recognizing him as a trusted presence. Even Thor and Buckbeak, who stand silently nearby, seem to be accepted under his watchful eye.
Adam pulls a large sack of raw meat from his pack, offering it to the Thestrals with calm, steady movements. One by one, they approach, their movements slow and deliberate. He pets a few, their leathery skin cool to the touch. The creatures exude a quiet melancholy that tugs at Adam’s heart. Their isolation from most wizards only deepens his resolve to treat them with kindness and respect.
After spending some time with the herd mostly the baby Thestrals, Adam instructs Thor and Buckbeak to stay and mingle while he makes his way back toward the castle. The fading sunlight casts long shadows across the grounds as Adam arrives just in time for dinner in great hall.
After dinner, the Gryffindor common room buzzes with its usual evening energy. Students lounge in chairs by the fire, play games of wizard chess, or frantically finish last-minute homework. Adam spots Harry, Ron, and Hermione seated in their usual corner and leans in. “Let’s meet when everyone’s already asleep,” he says.
Later, after taking a quick nap in his dormitory, Adam makes his way to the common room late at night. He finds the trio waiting near the fire. “Are you ready?” he asks. They nod in unison, their expressions resolute.
Harry reaches into his bag and pulls out his invisibility cloak, the silvery fabric shimmering in the dim light.
“Ready?” Harry asks, his tone low and eager.
Adam nods. “Let’s do this.”
With the cloak draped over them, the four slip out of the common room and into the shadowy corridors of Hogwarts. The castle is eerily quiet at night, the flickering torchlight casting long shadows along the stone walls. The group moves silently, careful to avoid Filch and Mrs. Norris, as well as the occasional wandering ghost.
When they reach the seventh floor, Adam stops in front of a blank stretch of wall. He turns to the others, his face calm but focused. “This is it,” he says.
Harry and Ron exchange skeptical glances, but Hermione merely nods, already familiar with the Room of Requirement.
Adam paces back and forth three times, concentrating hard on what they need: a space to uncover the secrets of the founders' portrait. Slowly, the outline of a door begins to appear, shimmering into existence with an ornate handle gleaming in the dim light.
“Whoa,” Ron breathes, his eyes wide as he stares at the newly formed door.
Adam pushes it open, and they step inside. The room stretches endlessly before them, a labyrinth of towering piles of forgotten objects, books, artifacts, and treasures long abandoned. Golden light filters down from an unseen source, casting a soft glow over the cluttered expanse.
“Blimey,” Ron whispers, his voice tinged with awe.
Adam takes a moment to marvel at the sight, then turns to address the group. “The Room of Requirement provides what you need, but it also holds whatever people left behind. There’s a good chance we’ll run into small magical creatures hiding among all this.”
“Magical creatures?” Harry asks, gripping his wand instinctively.
“Most won’t hurt you unless you provoke them,” Adam reassures. “Just be cautious. And one more thing—if you find something interesting, you’re free to take it, as long as it isn’t dangerous.”
The group nods, their faces a mix of excitement and determination. They split up, fanning out into the maze of objects. Harry and Ron stick close at first, inspecting a collection of ancient spellbooks and cracked cauldrons, while Hermione lingers by a stack of enchanted mirrors, their surfaces rippling like water.
Adam moves deeper into the room, his eyes scanning the endless heaps. He knows the portrait won’t be easy to find on their first attempt. The task requires both patience and persistence, but he is confident that, together, they can uncover the hidden portrait of the founders.