Everyone gathered in the Great Hall for breakfast.
Students chatted loudly, scraping plates and planning for classes.
But at Soren's table, the atmosphere was different.
They were planning their next move.
Jacqueline leaned forward. "So, what do we do about the Cursed Vaults now?"
Soren placed his spoon down calmly. "I came up with a plan to get inside the room Mrs Norris is guarding."
Cassie looked up immediately. "How?"
Soren raised one finger. "First, we need to get past Mrs Norris. If we give her a Sleeping Draught, she'll be knocked out long enough for us to slip by."
Penny nodded confidently. "And I know exactly how to brew a Sleeping Draught. Leave that part to me."
Soren lifted a second finger, "Second, we need to get inside the door. The Unlocking Charm, Alohomora will work."
Penny added, "We're actually learning that in today's Charms class. Perfect timing."
Soren lifted a third finger. "And third, we need Flipendo. If we get trapped inside again, like with the Devil's Snare, we can knock back anything blocking our escape."
Cassie nodded. "That part's easy. We all know Flipendo."
Jacqueline smiled. "That's a brilliant plan, Soren."
Cassie frowned slightly. "But what about Filch? He's always patrolling near that corridor."
Soren smirked. "I thought about that. I did some research on Filch, the way you love to research everything, Penny. I think I can throw him off our trail."
Penny smiled proudly. "Good. Then all we need is the Sleeping Draught and Alohomora."
She stood up. "Let's finish breakfast and meet in the Charms classroom."
Everyone nodded.
They split up to prepare for the day, each of them thinking, tonight, they would break into the room that Filch guarded carefully…
---
Soren and the girls entered the Charms classroom, taking their usual seats.
A curious first-year leaned over from the next row. "Are you planning something, Soren?"
Soren ignored the question.
Ben sighed with relief as he sat down. "We're finally learning a spell I don't find terrifying…"
Before Soren could respond, Merula slid into the row in front of them, turning back with her usual smirk.
"I heard you've been spending time with your little pet girls, Whitlock," she sneered.
"You must be planning something. But whatever it is, don't get in my way."
Jacqueline rolled her eyes. Penny muttered, "She never stops, does she?"
Soren didn't respond. He simply stared at Merula with a bored expression until she turned away with an annoyed click of her tongue.
---
A moment later, Professor Flitwick climbed onto his usual stack of books.
He clapped his hands cheerfully.
"Welcome, everyone! Today we will be learning the Unlocking Charm, Alohomora!"
The room perked up instantly. Everyone knew this spell was famous and useful.
Flitwick continued with a smile, "It is a very helpful spell… especially when a wizard forgets his key."
A few students chuckled.
Flitwick then paused, tapped his chin, and added, "Come to think of it, with Alohomora, why would a wizard ever need keys at all?"
The class laughed lightly.
"A discussion for another day, I suppose. Wands up, everyone!"
Flitwick held his wand with perfect form.
"Alohomora is a spell that will open many doors for you," he said. "So watch closely, students. Very carefully."
He pointed his wand at a locked wooden chest on his desk.
He demonstrated a small, smooth twist of the wrist. Not too fast. Not too sharp. Just a clean turning motion, almost like turning a key in a lock.
"Your wrist should move as if you are guiding something to unlock," he explained.
He aimed precisely at the metal latch. "Accuracy matters. Alohomora works best when you focus on the actual lock."
Flitwick raised his voice.
"Alohomora!"
A loud click echoed in the classroom.
The chest opened by itself.
Students whispered in excitement.
Flitwick held up his free hand.
"Before we cast, we must review your stance."
He stepped back and demonstrated, feet placed shoulder-width apart, wand held steady, not trembling, eyes fixed on the lock and relaxed shoulders.
"Many young witches and wizards lose control of their spells because their stance collapses," Flitwick warned.
"Stay balanced. Magic follows stability."
Students adjusted themselves to match him.
Flitwick continued, "The Alohomora spell requires three things: First, correct wand position, second clear intention to open, and third and most important, the proper pronunciation."
He tapped the chest lightly.
"A spell without intention is just air. So before casting, picture the lock opening in your mind."
Students nodded and repeated the steps quietly.
"Now the word itself. Alo-ho-mo-ra. Many young witches and wizards take great liberties with the pronunciation. Do not do that."
He demonstrated slowly.
"Alo… ho… mora."
"Say it cleanly. If you say Aloha-mora or Allo-huma, the spell simply won't work."
Some students laughed after trying it wrong themselves.
"Again," Flitwick encouraged. "Stronger. Clearer."
Soon the entire room was repeating, "Alohomora. Alohomora. Alohomora."
Before letting them cast it, Flitwick shared a short history:
"This charm was invented centuries ago by a group of witches who were tired of being locked out of their homes. It later became popular among Curse-Breakers and magical explorers.
Remember, while useful, it is not to be misused on private property."
He clapped his hands again.
"Now, everyone try it!"
Few have opened, while many were not successful.
Soren's chest opened instantly on his first try.
At the exact same moment:
Jacqueline's lock opened.
Penny's clicked open neatly.
Cassie's chest swung open smoothly.
All four of them succeeded perfectly on the first attempt.
Other students turned to stare.
"Already?!" someone whispered.
A jealous Slytherin boy muttered loudly under his breath, "Cursed child… of course he'd get it on the first try."
Soren ignored him.
Flitwick clapped excitedly, "Excellent! Excellent work from Mr. Whitlock and his group!"
The girls smiled proudly.
After the class ended, they moved to the next Class of Flying.
---
Soren, Penny, Cassie, and Jacqueline walked together to the Training Ground.
Even though all of them already knew how to fly, everyone agreed, free House Points were always worth attending the class.
Ben joined them nervously.
"I can't believe we have to actually leave the ground today…" he muttered.
Soren patted his shoulder. "Ben, you'll be fine. Lift-off is easy. Just focus on your broom, not the sky."
Ben nodded weakly. "I'll… try."
Merula walked past them with her usual smirk. "Try not to fall to your death, Copper. Or you, cursed boy."
Soren ignored her completely. Penny rolled her eyes. Cassie muttered, "She never stops, does she?"
Jacqueline whispered, "Let her brag. She'll talk less when we leave her behind again."
---
Madam Hooch blew her whistle.
"Everyone! Gather around your broomsticks."
The crowd formed a neat circle.
"Today, we will be covering two essential skills: Lift-Off and Landing," Hooch announced.
She stepped forward and demonstrated.
She placed her broom on the ground, stood beside it, and commanded:
"Up!"
Her broom snapped to her hand instantly.
"Mount," she continued, showing the correct posture—back straight, grip steady.
Then—
"Lift off!"
Her broom rose smoothly into the air just a few feet.
"And… land."
She lowered gracefully until her boots touched the ground.
The class watched closely.
"Now your turn!" Hooch called out. "But first, polish your brooms. A dirty broom will drag and slow you down."
Everyone began polishing.
Soren and his group finished first, their brooms gleaming. "Summon your broomsticks! On my whistle—Up!"
Soren's broom jumped to his hand instantly.
Jacqueline, Penny, and Cassie followed with perfect timing.
Ben's broom twitched… then finally lifted halfway.
He gasped but celebrated quietly.
Merula's broom, of course, flew straight into her hand. She tossed her hair proudly.
"Mount your brooms!"
Students climbed onto their brooms, some awkwardly, some confidently.
"HOLD your balance steady… Now, lift off!"
Half the class rose shakily into the air.
A few shot up too fast and panicked. One Hufflepuff spun sideways. Ben rose six inches and screamed like he was falling from a cliff.
"Ben," Soren called calmly, "you're barely off the ground."
Ben blinked, flushed red, and slowly stabilized.
Merula shot upward smoothly, showing off with a smug grin.
Soren and his group were also perfectly lifted off.
Hooch walked by them with an approving nod.
"Excellent control, Mr. Whitlock. Miss Avery. Miss Haywood. Miss Clarke. Five points each to Slytherin and Hufflepuff."
Merula scowled hearing Soren being praised again.
After the final landing exercise, Hooch blew her whistle.
"That's all for today! Your next lesson will cover altitude control and navigating turns."
Students began returning their brooms.
Ben sighed in relief. "I survived… barely."
"You did good," Soren told him.
Merula muttered while passing them, "Enjoy it while it lasts, Whitlock. I'll be the best flier in this school."
Soren simply raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
The group walked off together, already thinking about the night's secret mission…
---
As night appeared, Soren and his girls were ready for the mission.
Soren as his plan to distract Filch, walked toward the corridor slowly, pretending to wander.
Filch spotted him immediately.
Filch squinted suspiciously. "Where do you think you are going?"
Soren shrugged casually. "Nowhere. I'm going nowhere."
Filch stepped closer, lantern swinging. "You're the brother of Elara Whitlock… aren't you?"
"Yes," Soren answered.
Filch's expression changed, strangely thoughtful.
"Your sister," he began, shaking his head, "was one of the nastiest little rule-breakers this school has ever seen. Always sneaking, always meddling, always sticking her nose where it didn't belong."
Soren stiffened. He didn't know how to respond.
Filch sighed. "I was sad to see her go missing."
Soren blinked in surprise. "You… were?"
Filch nodded.
"Rule-breaker or not, she was one of the most talented students Hogwarts ever had. If she hadn't disappeared, people were whispering she'd grow even more powerful…"
He lowered his voice "…even more powerful than You-Know-Who."
Soren stared at him.
He had never heard anyone say that before.
Filch continued, his tone rough but honest, "Problem is… talent like that attracts trouble. And she was always chasing those cursed places. Those vaults…"
He looked sharply at Soren. "You'd do well not to follow her example."
Soren forced a small smile. "I'll keep that in mind."
Filch narrowed his eyes suspiciously again. "See that you do. Now, off with you."
Soren nodded and slowly backed away…
Then he stopped.