Cobblestones. Cold, uneven cobblestones underfoot.

Torchlight flickered against ancient stone walls. The familiar smell of Hogwarts—dust, old parchment, and something faintly sweet—filled their nostrils.

But something was wrong. Wrong in a way that crawled under Hermione’s skin immediately.

The torches were brighter. The banners on the walls—different. Instead of the modern, faded scarlet and gold, they hung vibrant and new. And beside them, green and silver banners were equally pristine.