Snow blanketed the Hogwarts grounds like a quilt of stardust. The castle windows glowed with golden warmth against the cold December night, but three bundled-up figures braved the chill as they approached the edge of the Forbidden Forest under a Disillusionment Charm cast by Hadrian.
Dora whispered, "Are we sure this is the right tree?"
Hadrian nodded, brushing aside snow at the base of an old gnarled oak. "According to that talkative portrait of Lady Gwendolyn on the second floor, this is the Hollow Tree. Look for the knot shaped like a raven's eye."
Iris crouched down, fingers brushing the bark until they found a knotted bulge, perfectly circular and unnervingly smooth. "Found it."
With a firm press, a creaking groan echoed from within the trunk, and a section of bark slid aside, revealing a narrow, winding stair carved into the roots.
"Ladies first," Hadrian said with a grin, offering a theatrical bow.
They descended into the earth, the stair spiraling into darkness. Dora flicked her wand. "Lumos."
As the pale light filled the space, the walls revealed crude but ancient carvings — runes, animals, constellations. Iris paused to trace a moth-shaped engraving.
"It's older than the castle," she murmured.
"Could be druidic," Hadrian mused, eyes scanning the symbols. "Maybe this wasn't just a secret passage, but something else once."
Eventually, the tunnel opened into a small underground stone chamber. A second passage continued upward, leading to a hidden wooden hatch. They pushed it open and emerged just beyond the Hogwarts wards, hidden behind a frozen thicket.
What they saw took their breath away.
A short walk brought them to a glade bathed in moonlight. The trees were ancient and twisted, their branches bearing silver frost. At the glade's center stood a small frozen pond, and perched upon a stump near the water was a curious sight — an old, weather-worn wooden sign that read:
"Moon Mirror Grove – Tread Softly, Dream Brightly."
The still water reflected the moon so clearly that it seemed like a window to another world. When Hadrian leaned over it, the reflection shimmered — not with his current self, but with the image of an older him, clad in Auror robes, flanked by Dora and Iris, all smiling.
Iris gasped softly. "It's… like the Mirror of Erised. But it's gentle. It doesn't pull like that mirror did."
Dora knelt beside the pond. "It's peaceful here."
Hadrian sat in the snow and watched the scene. "We're still young. We've got time to make that future real."
They lingered in the grove, speaking softly of what might come. Dora mused about traveling the world. Iris spoke of healing magic and creature care. Hadrian simply smiled, content to listen.
As snow began to fall gently, they knew it was time to return. But before leaving, Iris looked back once more.
"We'll come again," she said softly. "This place feels like it belongs to us."
Hadrian nodded, placing his hand on the tree trunk as the hatch closed behind them.
Down the tunnel they went, hearts a little fuller, eyes a little brighter. And as they reached the end of the passage, just before dawn crept over the horizon, Dora whispered:
"Best night ever."