Adam makes his way toward Elara’s classroom, his footsteps steady yet purposeful. He’s already determined her class whereabouts after consulting a few of the castle’s enchanted portraits. The portraits, ever chatty and eager to assist, had been more than willing to share their meticulous observations of student movements. Their animated chatter pointed him toward the Astronomy Tower, where the seventh years are currently supposed to be in class.

Ascending the spiral staircase, Adam reaches the top and pauses outside the Astronomy classroom. The faint murmur of Professor Sinistra’s voice drifts through the door, her tone calm yet precise as she explains the intricacies of star charts. Adam steps to the side, waiting silently as he scans the students seated within. After a quick survey, he doesn’t spot Elara.

Approaching a Slytherin seventh-year seated near the back, Adam leans in and asks softly, “Is Elara here?”

The student looks up, momentarily surprised by the question, but quickly responds upon seeing Adam. “She’s not in class. She said she had urgent Head Girl duties to take care of.”

Adam nods in thanks, murmuring, “Appreciate it,” before turning and descending the staircase. The corridor below is bustling with students heading to their next destinations, but Adam is undeterred. His eyes scan the crowd for anyone who might provide more information.

After a few moments, he spots a Ravenclaw prefect adjusting their robes near the entrance to another classroom. Wasting no time, Adam strides over. “Excuse me,” he says, his tone polite yet firm, “have you seen Elara?”

The prefect pauses, tapping their chin thoughtfully. “Hmm, I think she’s near the Great Hall. I saw her speaking with a few students earlier.”

“Thanks,” Adam replies with a small nod, already heading toward the Great Hall.

As he approaches the grand entrance, he catches sight of her immediately. Elara stands near the double doors, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders and catching the soft, enchanted glow of the ceiling. Her posture is poised, yet there’s a weariness in her stance, as though the weight of her responsibilities is beginning to show.

Her green and silver Head Girl badge gleams faintly against her robes as she turns, sensing his approach. For a moment, surprise flickers across her face, quickly replaced by a warm, albeit slightly tired, smile.

“Elara,” Adam greets, his voice steady but gentle.

“Little brother,” Elara says warmly, her tone laced with teasing. “It’s rare for you to come looking for me. What’s the occasion?”

“Sister,” Adam begins, his expression earnest, “do you have some free time? I need to talk to you.”

Elara studies him, her sharp gaze momentarily assessing before softening. A small, knowing smile curves her lips as she glances at the nearby Gryffindor prefect. With a quick wave, she calls them over. “I’ll be back soon. Kindly handle any issues in my absence.”

The prefect nods dutifully, and Elara turns her full attention to Adam, a faint glimmer of curiosity in her eyes. “Lead the way,” she says, gesturing for him to take the lead.

Adam guides her through the winding corridors of the castle, their footsteps echoing lightly against the stone. They descend several flights of stairs, heading toward the Elf Kitchen. As they step through the entrance, the familiar warmth of the room envelopes them. The cheerful clatter of pots and pans mingles with the hum of house-elves bustling about, their high-pitched voices adding a lively rhythm to the space.

Elara, having only visited briefly before, pauses to take it all in. The rich, inviting aroma of freshly baked bread and simmering soups fills the air. The house-elves, spotting Adam, bow politely and greet him with enthusiasm.

“Master Adam! Miss Elara! Welcome!” they chirp in unison, their faces lighting up with joy.

Adam exchanges a few friendly words with several of them, his demeanor relaxed and familiar. He then makes his way toward Mip, who eagerly holds up a bucket filled with fresh fish.

“Adam! Miss Elara! Always a pleasure!” Mip exclaims, his large eyes brimming with excitement.

Adam takes the bucket with a nod of thanks, his lips curling into a knowing smile.

“What’s this for?” Elara asks, her brows arching in intrigue.

“You’ll see,” Adam replies, his tone light, the sly smile still playing on his face.

They make their way out of the castle, the crisp afternoon air brushing against their faces. The sun high on the horizon, casting a golden hues across the grounds. As they approach the Great Lake, the serene expanse of water glimmers under the light.

Standing at the water’s edge, Adam reaches into the bucket and tosses a fish toward the lake. The fish lands with a soft splash, floating on the surface for a moment before the water ripples. A massive tentacle suddenly breaks through, snatching the fish with remarkable precision.

Elara gasps, stepping back slightly as the giant squid’s head emerges, its glistening eyes observing them with quiet curiosity.

“I’ve heard of the giant squid you befriended,” Elara says, her voice tinged with awe, “but I never imagined it was this massive.”

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Adam chuckles, holding out the bucket toward her. “Here, your turn. Toss the fish toward Argos.”

Elara hesitates, eyeing the squid’s enormous form, but eventually reaches into the bucket. With a careful motion, she tosses a fish into the lake. Another tentacle swiftly reaches up, grabbing the fish with ease. She watches, fascinated, as the squid repeats the process with each piece of food she throws, its movements both graceful and powerful.

By the time the bucket is empty, Elara is beaming, her earlier weariness momentarily forgotten.

“He’s shy around most people, like I told you,” Adam explains, watching the squid retreat back into the water. But if I’m here, he gets playful. I feed him daily.

Elara’s laughter rings out, light and genuine. You’ve made a good friend, little brother.

Adam smiles, pleased to see her so relaxed. “He’s more than a friend,” he says quietly. “Argos is part of the castle’s magic, just like the rest of us. You just have to take the time to see it.”

Elara glances at him, a touch of admiration in her eyes. “You always have a way of seeing the things others miss,” she says softly. “Thank you for sharing this with me.”

“That’s not all,” Adam says with a knowing smile, gesturing for Elara to follow him away from the lake.

Curiosity piqued, Elara trails behind, her steps lighter now as Adam leads her toward a clearing near the edge of the forbidden forest.

Their first stop is a small, grassy meadow where a pack of Diricawls struts about, their round, feathery bodies fluffing up as they eye the newcomers. The birds tilt their heads inquisitively, and Elara gasps softly when one suddenly vanishes into thin air, only to reappear a few feet away.

Elara takes the handful of insects Adam offers her and scatters them gently on the ground. The Diricawls reappear in a blink, pecking at the insects with gusto. Elara watches, her face lit with delight.

Next, they head to a small enclosure where puffskeins bounce about, their fluffy, round forms emitting soft humming sounds. One immediately rolls up to Elara, nuzzling against her hand. She laughs, scratching the puffskein gently behind what she assumes is its ear.

“They’re so adorable,” she says, her voice almost a coo.

Adam grins. “Careful, they’ll eat anything they can get their mouths on—even your hair if you’re not paying attention.”

Elara pulls her hair back instinctively, laughing at Adam’s teasing tone.

Their journey continues to a rocky outcrop where a few fire salamanders rest near a cluster of glowing embers. Their vibrant, flame-patterned skin shimmers in the fading light. Adam crouches down and tosses a small piece of insect. One of the salamanders perks up, crawling toward it before devouring it eagerly.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Adam remarks, glancing at Elara.

“It’s mesmerizing,” she replies, her voice barely above a whisper.

Finally, Adam leads her to a clearing where Buckbeak and Thor are resting. Buckbeak stands tall and regal, his sharp, amber eyes watching them keenly. Thor perches on a nearby tree branch, his feathers crackling faintly with static energy as his piercing gaze settles on Elara.

“Start with Buckbeak,” Adam advises. “Bow first. He’ll let you know if it’s okay to approach.”

Elara nods, her posture straightening as she bows deeply. Buckbeak tilts his head, studying her for a moment before bowing back. Elara steps forward cautiously, her hand outstretched. When she finally strokes his sleek feathers, a genuine smile spreads across her face.

“He’s magnificent,” she murmurs.

Adam watches, pleased. “Now, Thor,” he says, nodding toward the thunderbird.

Thor flutters down from the branch, landing gracefully. Sparks flicker across his wings as he folds them neatly. Elara feeds him a few ferrets and offers some to Buckbeak as well.

“You do this every day?” she asks, her wide eyes reflecting the soft glow of the evening.

Adam nods, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

“You’re living your best life, Adam,” she pouts, though her tone is lighthearted.

“You can join me anytime,” Adam offers, his grin widening.

As they make their way back toward the castle, the sky begins to darken, stars slowly emerging against the deepening blue. The cool evening breeze rustles through the trees, carrying with it the faint sounds of nocturnal creatures stirring.

Adam pauses as they near the entrance, turning to look at Elara. His expression grows serious, though his tone remains gentle. “Just don’t forget to take time to relax, even with your duties. You can’t help others if you’re running yourself into the ground.”

Elara looks at him, her sharp features softening into a warm smile. “I will,” she says sincerely. “Thank you, Adam.”

Back in the Great Hall, Adam and Elara exchange a final, knowing glance before heading to their respective house tables for dinner. The hall buzzes with the usual chatter of students discussing their day, but Adam’s mind remains focused on the night ahead.

After the meal, Adam speaks to Harry, Hermione, and Ron near the entrance to the Gryffindor common room. He keeps his voice low, his tone firm but calm. “We’ll head to the Room of Requirement a little earlier tonight. We need more time for a thorough search. If we’re going to find what we’re looking for, we can’t rush.”

The trio listens intently, their expressions a mix of determination and curiosity. Harry is the first to nod. “Makes sense. The room’s massive—we’ve barely scratched the surface.”

“Agreed,” Hermione adds. “We’ll need a better plan to cover more ground.”

Ron looks between them, his brows furrowed. “As long as we don’t bump into Filch or Snape in corridor, I’m ok.”

Adam smirks. Let’s meet back here in an hour. Be ready.”

The group disperses, each retreating to their dormitories to freshen up and prepare. As the clock ticks closer to their agreed time, Adam waits for the trio by the common room exit. Together, they use the Invisibility Cloak to hide. One by one, they join Harry, ducking under the cloak to ensure they remain unseen.

The corridors are dimly lit, the flickering light from the torches casting long shadows across the stone walls. The castle is quiet, save for the faint echoes of distant footsteps—likely prefects or professors patrolling the halls. Hermione grips Adm's arm, cautioning him to step lightly as they navigate the winding passages.

At one point, they hear the distinct sound of a door creaking open ahead. Everyone freezes, their breaths held as a shadow moves across the corridor. It’s a prefect, peering around with a lantern in hand. Adam gently steers the group into an alcove, pressing them against the wall until the prefect moves on.

Once the coast is clear, they resume their journey, ascending the staircase to the seventh floor. Finally, they reach the familiar blank stretch of wall where the Room of Requirement is.

As Adam completes his third pass, the door materializes before them, its edges glowing faintly in the dim light. Adam glances at the others and nods.

Harry pulls the cloak off, and Ron whistles softly. “Still can’t get over how this works,” he mutters.

Hermione, already moving toward the door, responds, “The magic behind it is incredible. Let’s go.”

The door creaks open to reveal the vast expanse of the Room of Requirement, the towering piles of forgotten objects and artifacts stretching endlessly into the distance like yesterday.

“Alright,” Adam says, stepping inside and turning to face the group. “Same plan as before. Split up and take separate routes. Be cautious.”