"Lumos Maxima!"
As Adrian chanted the spell, dazzling light penetrated the darkness and illuminated the Devil's Snare below. These light-and-heat-fearing plants immediately retracted their outstretched vines.
Judging the drop to be about four meters, Adrian asked Harry, Ron, and Hermione to help levitate Fluffy down with combined Levitation Charms.
Harry also hung the music box on a chain around Fluffy's neck, preventing mid-descent awakening.
Fluffy's massive size meant even four simultaneous Levitation Charms could barely maintain control. Halfway down, the three-headed dog nearly stirred awake.
Fortunately, the music never stopped. After considerable effort, they successfully lowered Fluffy, and the previously dispersed Devil's Snare closed again during this time.
"But what about this trapdoor? Won't this empty space arouse Minister Fudge's suspicion?" Hermione worried.
"Do you have any useless items? I'll redecorate with Transfiguration," Adrian sighed helplessly. He felt like he was becoming a professional cleanup specialist, and Dumbledore wasn't even paying him extra Galleons.
Hearing this, the three rummaged through their robe pockets, finding numerous small objects.
Ron produced a bag of Chocolate Frog cards, Harry followed with some Galleons and Sickles, while Hermione found several small wooden combs and compact mirrors.
The total quantity was substantial, especially Ron's cards, hundreds in one package.
Worried their lower-level Transfiguration skills might be detected, Adrian refused their assistance, personally casting the spells to complete the arrangement.
"Not bad at all," Adrian surveyed his handiwork with satisfaction.
"Isn't this a bit much?" Harry stared at the objects hanging from the ceiling, suddenly frightened.
"Deal with it. I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will find some explanation!" Adrian said with deep resentment. He wasn't the type to accept being manipulated without retaliation.
He'd been considering ways to make things more interesting for Dumbledore...
Adrian felt slightly disappointed, without larger objects available, he couldn't create truly spectacular chaos.
Just as Adrian finished casting, they heard Professor McGonagall's voice echoing from the distance.
"The fourth-floor corridor contains nothing unusual. The door simply separates the space."
Now what?
Harry didn't dare speak, communicating through meaningful glances.
Adrian hadn't expected the Ministry officials to arrive so quickly. He'd assumed Dumbledore would lead Fudge on a castle tour, buying them time.
Fortunately, Professor McGonagall knew to warn them aloud.
"We can jump down. The Devil's Snare is below, we just shouldn't resist," Hermione whispered, pointing to the trapdoor before jumping first.
She'd seen the vines had reclosed. With this as cushioning, there was no danger of fatal impact.
Harry and Ron also gritted their teeth and jumped. They could only pray Fluffy remained asleep below.
Adrian had no time to intervene, all three had already leaped.
"Actually, I could use the Disillusionment Charm..." Adrian muttered, casting Transfiguration on the trapdoor before entering as the spell took effect.
As the trapdoor slowly closed and merged with the floor, the wooden door was pushed open, and Umbridge's disgusting voice filled the corridor.
"I don't think so. Perhaps secrets are hidden within."
Umbridge entered with a triumphant smile. The moment she turned, the empty corridor seemed triggered by some mechanism, ghost faces suspended on strings dropped one by one, dangling and swaying in the air. Some smiled while others stared with hollow eyes, and one hung directly before Umbridge's face.
"AHHHH!" Umbridge collapsed to the ground with a piercing scream.
McGonagall tensed outside the door while Dumbledore assumed Umbridge had discovered Fluffy, suddenly regretting entrusting the three-headed dog's relocation to children.
With just a few young wizards, transferring such a creature in so short a time seemed impossible.
But upon entering, Dumbledore realized things differed from his expectations. Rows of ghost faces hung from the corridor ceiling. Dumbledore was momentarily speechless.
McGonagall also startled, her eyes questioning.
Dumbledore shook his head almost imperceptibly, indicating ignorance. It seemed Adrian surprised him differently each time.
"Albus, what the devil is happening here?" Fudge stared at the haunted house-like corridor, his expression priceless. He regarded Dumbledore with profound suspicion.
He had to wonder if Dumbledore was practicing dangerous dark magic secretly. Fudge even regretted coming to the fourth floor, should he be silenced?
Looking more closely at the ghost faces, Fudge discovered these weren't dark magical items, just ordinary masks.
Dumbledore pondered briefly. He'd had no preparation for Adrian's arrangements, but such minor tricks couldn't challenge him.
Within seconds, Dumbledore adopted a forgetful elderly demeanor and clapped his hands.
"Ah, I remember! I asked Severus to purchase these. I planned using them for Halloween. If we hadn't come to look, I'd have forgotten them here entirely."
Dumbledore took a mask and donned it, a vampire mask with red paint at the mouth corners, resembling blood.
"Looks good, doesn't it?" Dumbledore asked.
'Severus?'
Professor McGonagall's mouth twitched. Dumbledore's excuse was remarkably casual. She couldn't believe Snape would do such things.
Fudge picked up a mask with faith and suspicion, examining it. The exquisitely crafted goblin mask appeared made of mahogany, nothing suspicious on the surface.
Umbridge also rose from the ground, somewhat embarrassed by her public outburst. Drawing her wand angrily, she chanted spells at the surrounding ghost faces.
"Specialis Revelio!"
Magical ripples spread from her wand tip in all directions, and the hanging ghost faces shook slightly, making soft rustling sounds...