The next morning passed peacefully.
Soren felt… proud, that helped Hagrid.
But as he walked through the castle corridors, a quieter thought pressed on his mind, what about Elara and The Cursed Vaults.
The real reason he came to Hogwarts.
He needed information and clues. He needed to start searching properly.
Which meant asking the friend who knew the most about Hogwarts lore. And he knew who was the perfect for it.
---
Soren headed toward the long hall lined with glittering trophies and old Quidditch Cups.
He spotted Penny and Cassie standing beside a display case of polished medals.
Penny was mid-conversation.
"So I was brewing some potions in the common room, and then Professor Snape walked in."
Cassie leaned in, eyes wide. "What happened then?"
Before Penny could answer, she glanced up and saw Soren approaching.
"Oh! Soren!"
Cassie waved. "Hey!"
But before Soren reached them—
A tall, muscular Ravenclaw girl strode past at full speed.
She clipped Soren hard with her shoulder, so forcefully he almost stumbled.
She didn't slow down. Didn't look back. Didn't apologize. Just kept walking like a one-woman thunderstorm.
Penny gasped, "Soren! Are you alright?"
Soren steadied himself. "Yeah… I think so. Who was that? She didn't even bother stopping."
Cassie pointed dramatically, "That is Rath. The toughest Quidditch player in Hogwarts."
"Rath?" Soren repeated. "That's her name?"
"Her last name," Penny said. "I think her first name is Erika… but honestly, I don't really know much about her."
Soren blinked in disbelief.
"You don't know much about her? You? Penny Haywood, the girl who knows everyone in Hogwarts?"
Penny shrugged helplessly.
"Rath isn't around much. She spends almost all her time on the Quidditch Pitch. She's expected to lead Ravenclaw to win the Quidditch Cup this year."
Cassie added with a grin, "She's basically a broom with legs."
Soren frowned, rubbing his shoulder.
"Did she not realise she knocked me down? Or did she just not care?"
Cassie giggled. "Maybe she thought you tripped?"
"Only after she rammed into me?" Soren asked with raised eyebrows.
Penny gave a sympathetic smile.
"I think that's just how Rath is. Like I said, I hardly ever see her anywhere else."
Soren sighed. "So I probably won't run into Rath again… or, well, Rath won't run into me."
Penny raised a finger.
"Unless you join Quidditch next year. Once you're part of the Quidditch crowd, well, I hear it's an entirely different world."
Cassie nodded. "A very loud world."
Soren brushed the dust from his robe, still confused by the encounter.
"Anyway… Penny, I need to talk to you. It's important."
Penny straightened. "About what?"
Soren took a breath, then met her gaze seriously.
"My sister… and the Cursed Vaults."
Penny's expression sharpened instantly.
Cassie stopped smiling.
Both leaned in, ready to listen.
But before a single word was exchanged.
Jacqueline ran down the corridor, her hair bouncing behind her.
"Soren! There you are—I've been looking everywhere!"
"What happened?" Soren asked.
Jacqueline took a deep breath.
"Professor Snape wants to see you. He said to send you to the Dueling Room."
Soren blinked. "There's a Dueling Room?"
Jacqueline nodded. "Apparently yes. I didn't know either."
Penny and Cassie exchanged wide-eyed looks.
"A Dueling Room?" Penny repeated. "I thought that was just a rumour!"
Cassie whispered, "Why would Snape call you there?"
Soren felt a strange mixture of nerves and excitement.
"I guess," he said slowly, "I'm about to find out."
---
When Soren stepped into the mysterious chamber, he immediately felt the air shift.
The room was wide and circular, lit by floating torches and scarred with years of scorch marks.
Half-melted stones, cracked tiles, and deep grooves in the walls told a silent history of countless battles fought here.
But what shocked Soren most, who was waiting inside?
Dumbledore. Snape. Flitwick. Ben Copper. Merula Snyde. Several older students.
And now Penny, Jacqueline, and Cassie are standing beside him.
Penny whispered, awestruck, "I thought I knew everything that goes on at Hogwarts… but I've never heard anyone mention this room."
Dumbledore stepped forward, hands clasped calmly.
"Welcome," he said with a warm smile, "to the Hogwarts Dueling Club."
Everyone held their breath.
"This room was built many years ago," he continued, "as a safe and supervised environment for students to practice dueling."
Snape crossed his arms, scanning the room with his usual disdain.
Flitwick hopped forward cheerfully, pointing to the damaged floor.
"I'm sure you've noticed the evidence of various Fire-Making Spells and Blasting Curses over the years!"
He gestured proudly at a large, half-charred crater in the corner.
"We leave this destruction visible as a reminder," Dumbledore explained, "that casting a spell against friend or foe always carries consequences."
Flitwick nodded.
"Dueling is a sport, yes… but it can also save your life. Many of us know this firsthand from the Wizarding War."
The room fell quiet for a moment.
"I want each of you to learn this skill before leaving Hogwarts," Dumbledore said.
"But only here, under supervision."
Flitwick bowed slightly.
"The professors will oversee every duel, and I will serve as your resident dueling champion."
Jacqueline's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Ben looked like he might faint.
Merula smirked like she'd been waiting for this moment her entire life.
"Use this as an opportunity," Dumbledore continued, "to challenge yourselves—and your classmates."
Snape added coldly, "We will be evaluating your performance. Those who excel may earn rewards."
Flitwick chimed in, "And remember! The spells and potions you learn in class will always improve your dueling ability."
Dumbledore raised his hand.
"Enough of my blathering."
The torches flared.
"Two students at a time… Ready your wands."
His eyes twinkled.
"It is time to duel."
Flitwick clapped his hands happily. "Let us begin with something friendly! Mr. Whitlock and Miss Haywood! Please step forward."
Soren blinked. "Me? Against Penny?"
Penny blushed slightly. "Go easy on me, Soren…"
Jacqueline whispered, "No pressure, just try not to blast each other."
Cassie giggled. "Or do. That could be fun."
Ben gulped. "Please don't die."
Soren and Penny stood across from one another on the marked dueling platform.
Flitwick raised his wand.
"Bow to your opponent!"
They bowed.
"Wands at the ready!"
Soren tightened his grip.
Penny smiled nervously.
"Begin!"
Penny started with a fast spell. "Rictusempra!"
Soren dodged smoothly, laughing as he stepped aside. "Tickling already? Ruthless!"
He flicked his wand. "Flipendo!"
Penny staggered back but steadied herself quickly, grinning. "Nice one, my turn!"
"Lumos Glint!" she cast, sending a flash of light past Soren's shoulder.
Soren shielded his eyes, then countered.
"Expelliarmus!"
Penny blocked it—barely.
Students around them cheered.
"Come on, Soren!" Jacqueline shouted.
"Go, Penny!" Cassie added.
Flitwick beamed proudly.
They exchanged another volley of Tickling Charm and Knockback Jinx.
Finally Penny slipped, just slightly and Soren gently flicked his wand.
"Rictusempra!"
Penny burst into uncontrollable laughter, dropping her wand as she clutched her sides.
Flitwick raised both hands. "Match over! Winner: Soren Whitlock!"
The room applauded warmly.
Penny, still laughing, gasped, "Fair win, fair win! I'm never trusting you with a tickling charm again."
Soren helped her up, smiling. "You're amazing, Penny. You almost got me several times."
Merula snorted loudly from the back.
"Hmph. Beginner's tricks."
Snape shot her a warning look, and she immediately folded her arms.
Dumbledore stepped forward with a pleased expression.
"Well done, both of you. A fine display."
---
The Great Hall buzzed with lunchtime chatter as Soren and the girls walked in.
They had barely taken a few steps when a Fourth-Year Slytherin sneered at Soren.
"You're still here? I thought for sure you'd get expelled after duelling on school grounds."
Jacqueline's eyes flashed angrily.
Penny frowned.
Cassie muttered something rude under her breath.
But Soren didn't even acknowledge the boy.
He simply kept walking, calm and steady.
The four of them sat at the far end of the Slytherin table, away from nosy ears and judging eyes.
Soren leaned in.
"Let's talk about the Cursed Vaults… and how to find my sister."
Jacqueline nodded immediately. "Right. Start with your vision. What did you see exactly?"
Penny blinked. "Vision? What vision?"
Cassie stared. "You never told us about a vision, Soren."
Jacqueline explained before Soren could speak, "From the moment Soren came to Hogwarts, he's been seeing visions of the Vaults. And hearing his sister calling for help."
Both Penny and Cassie froze in shock.
"What?!" Penny gasped. "You're serious?"
Cassie looked amazed. "You heard Elara? Your sister literally called for you?"
Soren nodded slowly, "Yes. I don't understand how or why. I don't know what's causing it. But I saw ice… a locked door… and Elara's voice echoing behind it."
Penny whispered, "That sounds like magic older than Hogwarts itself…"
Cassie leaned forward, concerned but curious.
"But why you? Why would you see these visions?"
Soren shook his head.
"I don't know. It doesn't make sense."
Then he looked at Jacqueline.
"But we did learn something important."
Jacqueline nodded.
"We overheard Professor Snape and Filch talking in the corridor."
Penny and Cassie both gasped. "What were they saying?"
Jacqueline lowered her voice.
"They mentioned the Vaults. And something about ice appearing inside the castle."
Soren continued, "Snape told Filch to guard a specific door. And he said he was going to report the incident to Dumbledore."
Penny's eyes widened.
"So the rumors were true… Cursed Vault activity has started again."
Cassie shivered. "And ice appearing inside the school… that's never a good sign. Not in magic."
Soren nodded firmly.
"This means Elara wasn't imagining anything. The Vaults are real. And something is happening again."
Penny placed her hand on the table, steadying herself.
"Soren… if your sister was investigating the Vaults… and now you're seeing visions of her trapped."
Cassie finished the sentence for her, "then she must be somewhere inside one of them."
Jacqueline looked at all three of them.
"Then we have only one choice."
Soren breathed in slowly.
"Find the Vaults."
Penny, Cassie and Jacqueline nodded.