The Expelled Boy

  “Your actions leave me no choice. You are officially expelled.”

  Daniel froze. He leaned closer to the slightly open door. His heart pounded. Before he could make out more, the door opened and a tall seventh-year boy stepped out. His eyes were cold and angry. He shot Daniel a brief look, said nothing, and walked away down the dark corridor.

  Daniel swallowed and tried to continue toward the library, but the Headmaster’s voice called out.

  “Daniel. Why are you wandering around at this hour?”

  He stepped inside nervously. “Sir, I heard something. A voice in the air. It said, ‘Fly before the moon calls again.’ I came to look for answers.”

  The Headmaster studied him carefully. “Tell me exactly what you heard.”

  Daniel repeated the sentence. The Headmaster listened without interrupting, then spoke in a quiet tone.

  “You need to go back to your bed now. Do not share this with anyone except Scarlett and Tom. They are the only ones who should hear this from you. Understood?”

  “Yes, sir.” Daniel hesitated. “But… who was that boy? The one you expelled?”

  The Headmaster sighed and leaned back in his chair. “He was a seventh-year student. Bright but reckless. He made a foolish bet at a pub called the Irish Feller. In that bet, he lost something extremely dangerous. A three-headed dog egg.”

  Daniel’s eyes widened. “A real one?”

  “Unfortunately, yes. Such creatures are not to be taken lightly. The egg is still missing. His carelessness put the entire school at risk. Expulsion was the only logical decision.”

  Daniel shivered. “Did he say where the egg is now?”

  “No. And I doubt he will volunteer that information anytime soon. People rarely admit the full truth when they are cornered.”

  The Headmaster stood and placed a hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “Go rest. Tomorrow you stay focused. And remember what I told you.”

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Daniel nodded and stepped out of the office, the moonlight spilling across the corridor.

  The voice in the air.

  The missing three-headed dog egg.

  And a boy expelled for a mistake that could endanger everyone.

  The night had become far more complicated than he expected.

  The Morning

  Daniel woke up early, still troubled by the whisper from the night before. While Tom was brushing his teeth and Scarlett was fixing her hair, Daniel finally told them.

  “I heard it again,” he said quietly. “The same voice. It said… Fly before the moon calls again.”

  Scarlett froze mid-motion. Tom stopped brushing. Their faces seemed to lose all color at once.

  “That… that doesn’t sound like a warning,” Tom muttered. “It sounds like a countdown.”

  Scarlett hugged her arms. “We can’t ignore this anymore. After lunch we’re going to the library. When no one is around. And this time we’re not leaving empty-handed.”

  Daniel nodded, keeping silent about the expelled boy. He wasn’t ready to add more fear to their morning.

  In the Library (After Lunch)

  The library was unusually quiet. Sunlight slipped through tall windows as the three of them stepped inside. They walked fast, trying to look confident, but wandered into the seventh-Year section.

  Before they could turn back, a cold hand gripped Tom’s shoulder.

  They all spun around.

  Mrs. Misty Malfoy towered over them, her silver eyes flashing with suspicion.

  “Well,” she said slowly, “first-year students wandering in the Seveth-Year aisle. Care to explain?”

  Tom stammered. “W-we were just… looking for a book. For study. Normal study.”

  Mrs. Malfoy narrowed her eyes. “Don’t lie. This section is far beyond your level. And far beyond your permission.”

  Scarlett tried to stay calm. “We’re sorry, Professor. We must have taken a wrong turn.”

  “Indeed you did,” Mrs. Malfoy said sharply. “You don’t belong here. Out. Now.”

  She pointed toward the door like a queen dismissing servants.

  The three of them hurried out, faces pale.

  In the Corridor

  Once they were far from the library doors, Scarlett stopped abruptly.

  “That’s it. I’m done playing safe,” she whispered. “If we can’t get answers the normal way, then we’ll get them the other way.”

  Daniel frowned. “What are you talking about?”

  “The Polyjuice Potion,” Scarlett said. “There’s a recipe in the Restricted Section. In a book called Moste Potente Potions. If we can brew it, we can disguise ourselves as Seventh-Years and read anything we want.”

  Tom blinked. “You want us to steal from the Restricted Section? Scarlett, that’s insane.”

  “So is waiting for the moon to ‘call’ Daniel again,” she said. “Do you want to sit helpless while something hunts him? Because I don’t.”

  Tom hesitated, then finally exhaled. “Fine. But do this carefully.”

  Daniel murmured, “This is starting to sound like a very bad idea.”

  Scarlett smirked. “The best plans usually are.”

  Tom rubbed his face. “So what’s step one?”

  Scarlett’s expression sharpened. “Tonight, we go back to the library. And this time… we don’t get caught.”

  Daniel felt a chill run down his spine.

  Because deep inside, he knew something else was waiting for them in the dark.

  Something that already knew his name.

  And it was getting closer.