“It’s Peeves!” The moment Adam recognized the floating figure blocking the corridor ahead, he immediately realized something was wrong.
Hovering upside down in midair, grinning maliciously from ear to ear, was the one being every Hogwarts student hated encountering at night— Peeves.
The poltergeist looked unusually smug.
Clearly, he had returned specifically for revenge.
“Ha!
Thought you could fool me again, did you?” Peeves screeched triumphantly while spinning in the air.
His voice echoed loudly through the corridor.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione instantly turned pale.
Just moments earlier, Adam had tricked Peeves by claiming that The Bloody Baron was nearby.
Apparently, Peeves had eventually realized he’d been deceived.
And now— He was back for payback.
Ron reacted immediately.
“Aren’t you afraid of the Bloody Baron?” he shouted nervously.
Peeves burst into shrill laughter.
“The Baron isn’t here at all!” The poltergeist spun excitedly through the air like an oversized balloon.
“I just saw the Fat Friar!
The Baron’s been inside the Slytherin common room all night!” Peeves pointed dramatically at the four students.
“And besides, he’s in a good mood tonight!” His wicked grin widened further.
“But judging from how desperately you little brats are running around…” “Filch must be chasing you!” Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s expressions stiffened instantly.
Peeves began cackling wildly.
“HAHAHAHA!” “You’re finished!” “Filch is definitely going to catch you this time!” Then, like the troublemaking monster he was, Peeves inhaled deeply and prepared to scream at the top of his lungs.
“FILCH!
FILCH!
THERE ARE STU—” Before he could finish— Adam raised his wand calmly.
“Since reasoning with you doesn’t work,” Adam said flatly, “I’ll let my wand handle the conversation.” A sharp white light flashed.
“Petrificus Totalus.” Whoosh!
The spell shot forward instantly and struck Peeves directly.
The poltergeist froze midair.
His arms locked stiffly against his sides.
His grin remained stuck awkwardly on his face.
For one hilarious moment, Peeves resembled a badly hung painting floating in the corridor.
Then— Thunk.
He dropped upside down onto the floor completely motionless.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared in complete shock.
Adam had actually attacked Peeves.
And succeeded.
Even more shocking— The spell had been cast absurdly fast.
Before any of them could react further, footsteps suddenly echoed behind them.
“HA!
I HEARD THAT!” A harsh, excited voice echoed through the corridor.
“You won’t escape this time!” Ron’s face instantly lost all color.
“Filch!” Sure enough, the sound of hurried footsteps rapidly approached from behind.
Argus Filch was coming.
And judging from his voice— He sounded extremely excited.
“RUN!” Harry shouted immediately.
Without thinking, he sprinted down a nearby corridor.
Ron followed instantly.
Hermione hurried after them— Then suddenly grabbed Adam’s wrist too.
“Hurry!” Before Adam could even respond, he found himself being dragged along by Hermione at full speed.
“…Seriously?” Adam looked momentarily speechless.
The others had no idea where they were running.
But he absolutely did.
The corridor ahead led directly toward the forbidden third-floor corridor mentioned by Albus Dumbledore during the welcoming feast.
The restricted area.
The location hiding the Philosopher’s Stone.
The future trouble magnet for Harry Potter.
For curious students, the place represented mystery and excitement.
For Adam— It represented unnecessary danger and involvement in the main plot.
Honestly, he would much rather spend the night quietly reading books in the library than getting tangled in Dumbledore’s carefully arranged “adventure course.” Unfortunately— Thanks to the famous trio, he had now been dragged into it anyway.
Literally.
“Look!
A door!” Ron pointed ahead desperately.
At the end of the corridor stood a large wooden door.
Harry didn’t hesitate.
“Quick!
Inside!” The four rushed toward it at full speed.
But the moment Harry grabbed the handle— “It’s locked!” Panic instantly spread across Ron’s face.
“We’re dead,” he whispered weakly.
“It’s over.” Behind them, Filch’s footsteps were getting closer.
Then— Hermione suddenly stepped forward decisively.
“Move.” Harry and Ron immediately stumbled aside.
Hermione raised her wand toward the lock.
“Alohomora!” Click.
The lock sprang open instantly.
“Inside,” Hermione ordered sharply.
Without hesitation, she pulled the door open and hurried inside.
Harry and Ron practically dove through after her.
Adam, still being dragged along, naturally entered as well.
The moment all four students crossed the doorway, Hermione slammed the door shut behind them.
Everyone froze silently while listening for sounds outside.
Ron finally let out a shaky breath.
Then he turned toward Hermione with amazement.
“What spell was that?” Hermione looked at him like a disappointed teacher addressing a failing student.
“It’s in Chapter Seven of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade One.” Ron immediately looked embarrassed.
Adam, meanwhile, nodded approvingly.
“Nicely cast.” Hermione blinked in surprise before smiling slightly.
Receiving praise from Adam clearly made her happy.
“Though,” Adam added casually, “you can cast it faster.” Hermione’s eyes widened immediately.
“Faster?” “That’s right.” Adam nodded.
“You can shorten the pronunciation slightly.” “Omit the second and fifth syllables.” “That reduces casting time and improves reaction speed.” Hermione instantly fell into deep thought.
“Omit the second and fifth syllables…” Her eyes brightened rapidly as understanding formed.
At the same time, a familiar system notification appeared inside Adam’s mind.
You have taught Hermione Granger and provided meaningful insight.
Reward: 20 Points.
Adam ignored the notification for now.
Instead, he tilted his head slightly toward the door.
Outside, Filch’s footsteps finally arrived in the corridor.
“Where are they?!” Filch’s angry voice echoed nearby.
Beside him, Mrs.
Norris let out a low meow while sniffing around suspiciously.
Filch searched the corridor repeatedly.
Left.
Right.
Corners.
Statues.
Nothing.
The four students inside the room remained perfectly silent.
Eventually, Filch growled in frustration.
“Those rotten little brats escaped again!” Clearly, this wasn’t the first time students had successfully avoided capture during nighttime wandering.
Still, Filch looked furious.
“I’ll report this to Dumbledore tomorrow,” he muttered angrily.
“Definitely.” Just as Filch prepared to leave— His eyes suddenly landed upon the motionless figure lying nearby.
Peeves.
Still petrified.
Filch blinked once.
Then slowly approached.
“What’s this?” His voice sounded suspicious.
“Peeves?” Normally, the poltergeist would already be insulting him loudly.
But tonight— Nothing.
Peeves remained completely stiff and silent.
Filch narrowed his eyes.
“You horrible nuisance…” “Why aren’t you talking?” He cautiously poked Peeves once.
Still nothing.
Then realization dawned across Filch’s face.
“…You’ve been petrified.” A slow grin spread across his features.
And for the first time all night— Filch looked genuinely happy.
Actually happy.
“HAHA!” “I never thought I’d live to see this day!” His earlier frustration vanished instantly.
Usually, Peeves constantly tormented him.
Dropping objects on his head.
Ruining his cleaning.
Mocking him endlessly.
And because Peeves was a poltergeist, Filch could almost never retaliate properly.
But tonight— The tables had turned.
Completely.
Filch looked down at the helpless Peeves with absolute delight.
“You troublesome menace…” “Looks like fate finally punished you.” Mrs.
Norris purred approvingly nearby.
Filch immediately abandoned all thoughts of hunting students.
Compared to catching wandering first years— This opportunity was far too precious.
He carefully picked up the immobilized Peeves with surprising tenderness.
Naturally, he had no intention of removing the curse immediately.
Finding someone capable of undoing the spell could wait until tomorrow morning.
After all— It was very late already.
And honestly… Filch felt Peeves deserved at least one miserable night of suffering.
Meanwhile, hidden safely behind the locked door, the four first years remained completely unaware that Adam’s spell had accidentally created the happiest night of Filch’s entire year.
Give me more motivation!