Chapter 2
The Hogwarts castle was quiet and still as the clock struck midnight, the corridors bathed in the soft glow of the enchanted torches. In the dim light, Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger moved with careful stealth, their footsteps barely making a sound on the cold stone floors. Matthew, Theo, and Luna were close behind, their faces lit with the occasional flicker of excitement or anxiety.
Their mission was simple: install Wi-Fi in the castle so they could use their phones. This would be a delicate operation involving a few choice spells and Theodore’s new-found expertise in smartphones. They had all agreed it was worth the risk—especially given the need for constant communication and the growing sense of unease surrounding them.
Hermione led the way, her wand out and ready, casting a series of spells to make sure they weren’t interrupted. Draco, ever the one to look over his shoulder, kept a sharp lookout for any wandering Prefects or nosy students. Matthew and Luna followed, their eyes darting nervously around the corners, while Theo carried a backpack full of electronic equipment and cables.
Theo had spent weeks studying how to work with Muggle technology, and tonight he was eager to put his knowledge to the test. He moved efficiently, setting up the portable router in an unused classroom they had managed to borrow for the night. The room was cluttered with old desks and broken furniture, a perfect hideaway.
Draco whispered, “Are you sure this will work?”
Theo grinned, connecting the last cable. “Trust me. I’ve spent more time on this than I’d like to admit. We’ll have Wi-Fi in no time.”
As Theo worked, Hermione was busy casting additional enchantments to ensure the signal was strong and stable. She had to focus on the spells, her wand movements precise and deliberate. Draco hovered nearby, occasionally glancing out into the hallway, his senses on high alert.
Just as Theo finished setting up the router, an unexpected noise echoed through the hallway—a soft, but unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching. The group froze. Hermione's eyes widened as she whispered, “Someone’s coming!”
They quickly moved to hide behind the piles of old furniture, their breaths held in collective suspense. The footsteps grew louder, and a shadow passed by the doorway. Draco and Hermione exchanged anxious glances, praying that they wouldn’t be discovered.
The noise turned out to be a late-night student making their way to the library, but it was enough to make their hearts race. Once the coast was clear, Theo resumed his work, but not without incident. As he turned to test the connection, his hand brushed against a stack of old books, sending them tumbling to the floor with a loud clatter.
Draco’s eyes widened in horror. “Theo!”
The group scrambled to pick up the fallen books and make sure their presence was still undetected. Theo tried to suppress his laughter, clearly amused by the chaotic turn of events, but he remained focused on getting the Wi-Fi up and running.
With the router finally operational, Theo held up his phone, testing the connection. “We’re online!” he declared triumphantly. The group let out a collective sigh of relief, but their celebration was short-lived.
From down the hall, a voice called out, “Is someone there?”
The group’s eyes widened in panic. Hermione quickly cast a Disillusionment Charm on everyone, blending them into their surroundings. Draco tried to steady his breathing, holding perfectly still as the voice approached.
They watched as a pair of students walked past, completely oblivious to the hidden group. Once they were safely out of earshot, Hermione let out a sigh of relief and began to pack up their things.
As they exited the classroom, Draco turned to Theo, who was still grinning. “That was close,” Draco said, a mix of annoyance and admiration in his voice.
Theo shrugged, “It was a good test run. We’ll get better at this.”
Luna, who had remained mostly silent throughout, finally spoke up. “Can we go back to bed now? I’m exhausted.”
With a final check to ensure no one was watching, the group made their way back to their respective common rooms. The night’s adventure had been a success, albeit a stressful one.
As the sun began to rise, Draco lay in his bed, his mind racing from the night’s events. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of a much larger challenge. The Wi-Fi was installed, but the real test would be managing to keep their secret—and their technology—hidden from prying eyes.
For now, though, Draco allowed himself a moment of rest, knowing that he and his friends had accomplished something remarkable. The connection was secure, and their ability to communicate had never been better. As he drifted off to sleep, he couldn’t help but wonder what other surprises this school year would bring.