Chapter 90
Early Monday morning, I yawned as I stopped in front of a CD shop window next to a well-known pub. To my right, a cheerful Victoria stood swaying from heel to toe, watching the passersby with what was likely a gastronomic interest. I, meanwhile, grinned silly as I replayed the days I’d spent at home. During that time, I’d managed to lie around, gorge myself on ice cream, and stroll to my heart’s content around the capital of the British Empire.
It turned out to be a mini-vacation, and not just for me, but for Mom too. The world situation had calmed down a bit, and she was able to rest a bit; she hadn’t even been summoned to the generals’ quarters once! So we relaxed productively and managed to do a lot, like watch a ton of movies, raid a few shopping malls, and eat at a couple of restaurants. Basically, we had fun as best we could. I didn’t forget about my friends either, calling them every evening on the Wonderphone. They’d pass me homework and share the latest news and rumors. I’d tell them how great it was being out there—pardon me, home. But all good things come to an end sooner or later, and the time had come to return to Hogwarts, the damn safest place in Wizarding Britain.
I couldn’t understand why we’d stopped in front of the little shop window. Maybe I didn’t want to return to chilly Scotland, or maybe I was drawn to the bright cover of the latest Pink Floyd album, or maybe it just dawned on me that this shop was actually open and had a huge selection! I scanned the counter again and my gaze caught on the latest albums by Aria and Queen; they exist in this world, just like many other bands. After thinking for a moment, I stepped aside and pushed open the door to the music lover’s den, but was met with a disappointing “Closed” sign. I’d completely forgotten that it was only seven in the morning, and normal stores open at ten.
I was about to leave, but then I remembered the brand-new sound system, and a clear, yet idiotic, plan formed in my head. Victoria saw my expression and, rolling her eyes, turned away. The storefront was clean and crystal clear, so I had no trouble examining the interior and didn’t spot a single camera. Without thinking twice, I activated the eye-difference artifact and used Alohomora to open the lock, then telekinetically lured the discs I liked to the counter. I didn’t even have to go inside! But we’re honest people, so I rummaged through my purse and levitated 200 pounds onto the cashier’s counter—a surcharge for the inconvenience—and locked the door. Putting my purchases in my pocket, I headed into the Leaky Cauldron with a clear conscience.
Entering the pub, I was a little surprised, as instead of the usual stench of fusel oil and stale sweat, I was greeted by the pleasant aroma of freshly baked goods. And the crowd was strikingly different: instead of stinking homeless people sipping stale beer, there were quite respectable wizards sitting at the tables, drinking tea and hot buns. This sight stunned me for a moment, then I headed to the bar. I’d changed into my school uniform, and Victoria had thrown on a fitted black robe, so no one noticed us. Thanks to this, I calmly approached the cash register and purchased a full bag of soft, fresh pastries from Tom. Only then did I say goodbye to the vampire and, with a smile, step into the green flames of the communal fireplace.
McGonagall’s office greeted me with a pleasant silence and cozy semi-darkness, along with the tart smell of ink and the aroma of freshly brewed tea. The Head of House sat at her desk, a cup of hot drink in one hand and a fresh copy of The Quibbler in the other—I hadn’t realized she was a fan of such reading material. Upon my entrance, she put the magazine down and looked me over thoughtfully.
“Welcome back, Miss Hellsing.” The woman smiled warmly. “Did you have a good time?”
– Good morning, Professor. – I nodded politely in response. – Simply wonderful.
“You deserve it. I was present at the championship and watched your performances with bated breath.” The Dean stood up and squared her shoulders proudly. “Miss Hellsing, you fought like a true representative of Gryffindor House and defended the honor of our school with great dignity. For your bravery and masterful swordsmanship, I award you one hundred points.”
“Thank you, Professor.” I hesitated a little and pulled a silver statuette out of my bag. “Here, as promised. Unfortunately, the gold one went to Valletta. Next time…”
“Don’t make excuses, there’s no need.” McGonagall came up close and put her hand on my shoulder. “Miss Hellsing, you performed brilliantly, and I’m proud that you’re a student in my House. Tea?”
“I won’t refuse…” Completely embarrassed, I sat down at the dean’s unusually empty desk.
The woman waved her wand, and a beautiful cup flew out of the cabinet. A teapot met it in mid-air, filling it almost to the brim. Another wave of the wand, and a lace napkin and porcelain saucer appeared out of thin air on the table, onto which landed a cup of hot, aromatic drink. I nodded gratefully and took a sip of tea, while McGonagall carefully examined my second-place trophy.
After examining the award, she waved her concentrator again, and two absolutely identical statues graced the table. Holy shit! Higher Transfiguration! The woman can do it! The sword is silver, so copying charms don’t work on it; precious metals are barely affected by any magic at all. The Dean had just, out of thin air, created an exact replica of a simple yet magical object! I gasped in admiration and spilled a little tea on myself. The woman smiled thinly and levitated the replica onto the windowsill.
“It will be installed in the awards hall after lunch.” The dean sat down at the table and filled her cup. “We’ve already prepared the location and the plaque.”
– Good. – I put the original prize in my bag and, after thinking for a moment, took out a bag of baked goods. – Help yourself.
“Thank you.” McGonagall smiled contentedly and took a treat from the bag. “Mmm… Vanilla cream eclairs are my favorite.”
“I got these from the Leaky Cauldron to try.” I pulled a soft cinnamon roll out of the bag. “They smelled so delicious.”
“I was in my seventh year when Tom’s father—his name was Tom, by the way—signed up for a partnership with Sugarplum Bakery.” The dean washed down the delicacy with a cup of tea. “Since then, ministry officials have been gathering at the pub every morning for breakfast on the freshest and most delicious pastries. You haven’t tried their carrot cake yet.”
“You’ve intrigued me.” I also took a sip of the aromatic drink. “But there were only buns and eclairs on display.”
“You can’t buy that from Tom…” The woman smiled slyly. “When you’re on Diagon Alley, go behind the post office and turn right. Thirty steps further, you’ll come across an inconspicuous dark green building with a faded, illegible sign – that’s it. Believe me, they have the most delicious cakes and pastries in the world. Even Fortescue and Praddyfoot shop there.”
– Thank you. – I reached for another bun; they really were incredibly delicious. – I’ll definitely stop by.
“Don’t thank me, Diagon Alley has a lot of interesting and little-known places.” The dean waved her hand dismissively and pulled another treat from the bag. “I remember, when I was already a professor, I wandered down Flower Alley and went into a spice shop…”
We chatted for about half an hour over tea and buns. The woman spoke nostalgically about the interesting places of the Magic Quarter, and I listened with interest. Our conversation was more reminiscent of a conversation between distant relatives who hadn’t seen each other in a long time than between a professor and a student. I also joined in and shared my impressions of the Soviet Union. When I finished telling her about Leningrad and the magnificent palaces on the Neva, the dean’s expression changed slightly—she became very serious.
“Miss Hellsing, I’d like to discuss a matter with you.” The woman placed her empty cup on the saucer. “Not as your dean or professor, but as an experienced woman who has seen it all.”
– Of course, Professor. – I looked at him questioningly. – Did something happen?
“Unfortunately, yes…” McGonagall thought for a moment, then continued quietly. “A week ago, three senior students from Slytherin House decided to experiment with Dark magic. I’ve repeatedly told Severus to keep a closer eye on his students, but who’s going to listen to me…” Sadness and regret appeared in the woman’s expression. “So, as usual, something went wrong and something terrible happened. Miss Hellsing, I’m not exaggerating, but it would have been better if those young men had died on the spot. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you all the details, but that night we lost three promising students…”
– I see. – I also put the cup on the saucer. – What does this have to do with me?
“Miss Hellsing, I have a rough idea of what you’re taught during your holidays, and I’m certain you have free access to forbidden, even the darkest, magic. This knowledge could be very dangerous.” The woman looked me seriously in the eyes. “Rigel, please promise me that you’ll only study dark magic under the supervision of an experienced mentor.”
“Okay.” I nodded in response. “I’m very curious, of course, but I’m not stupid. I’d like to learn the basics first, and only then can I tackle all sorts of dark stuff and high magic.”
“You’re thinking correctly, Miss Hellsing.” The Dean visibly relaxed. “You’re very talented, and I’d hate to see you suffer because of your own overconfidence or pride.”
– Pride is a sin, as it says in the Holy Scripture. – The crucifix itself appeared in my hand.
“I know.” The dean smiled sadly and glanced theatrically at the wall clock hanging above one of the paper-strewn cabinets. “Breakfast is almost here; you’re probably missing your friends.”
“You’re right, Professor.” I nodded and nimbly jumped up from my chair. “Thank you very much for the tea and… for your concern.”
“No need. Miss Hellsing, if you need any advice or just want to talk…” McGonagall’s face became habitually prim and slightly haughty. “The doors to my office are always open.”
– Certainly, professor.
– See you in class, Miss Hellsing.
After saying goodbye, I quickly headed to the common room, eager to embrace a certain curly-haired girl with chocolate-colored eyes. I’d become so accustomed to Hermione’s company that I’d been experiencing genuine withdrawal symptoms for a couple of days now. To say I missed her would be an understatement! So I raced down the hallway at full speed, my heart pounding wildly with excitement and anticipation of our imminent reunion.
– Um… – I stopped in front of a portrait of a plump lady; this fat woman was enthusiastically picking her nose and paying no attention to me. – Rotten scales.
“The password is incorrect,” the fat woman replied without looking up from her task.
– When did it change?
– Yesterday. – The old woman pulled a huge green booger out of her nose and, after admiring it for a moment, wiped it on the hem of her oversized dress. – Password?
– F*ck… – I reached into my pocket for the Miracle Phone.
“Wrong.” Thick Meat continued searching for the treasure in her nose.
I wanted to surprise my friends, so I thoughtfully flipped through my contact list, but to my good fortune, the door opened and a couple of seventh-year students appeared in the hallway. The boys were chatting cheerfully, but when they saw me, they fell silent and nodded respectfully, and one of them even gallantly held the door open.
“Thank you.” I nodded gratefully and entered the narrow stone passage.
The living room hadn’t changed a bit during my absence, the same red colors and the same chaos. Someone was laughing loudly, like a horse, someone was screaming at the top of their lungs, several people were rushing between the sofas, throwing some brown stuff at each other. Couples were making out on a couple of sofas, and in the far corner, a few guys were practicing body punches on their friend. The latter resisted and even tried to fight back, but the forces were unequal, and soon he ended up on the floor, which had been thoughtfully covered with some burlap.
“Hello, my dear madhouse.” I smiled and headed towards the empty couch.
– RIYA!!! – A happy scream came from the side, and my friend’s body knocked me off my feet. – I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!
– MIYA! – I screamed loudly in response and hugged the girl tighter. – Me too…
Our bodies rolled around on the floor for several minutes, unable to tear ourselves away. We tumbled around for about five minutes, enjoying the warmth of our bodies. I truly missed my friend. When the emotions subsided, we rose from the soft carpet and, still holding each other, looked at our stunned friends. They clearly hadn’t expected such a reaction. But we didn’t care. I held Mia’s hand and pulled her toward me, and she hugged me around the waist. I missed this so much.
– Hi! – I looked at the guys. – How are you?
“It’s fine,” replied a sheepish Finch-Fletchley. “We were a bit bored too, even a bit worried.”
– Me too. – Letting go of my friend, I began to hug my friends one by one. – Justin, Ron, Elvira, Lavender, Parvati.
Our hug was interrupted by Wood, looking as pleased as a Niffler who’d found a Galleon. The Quidditch captain gently pushed Patil away and unceremoniously pulled me into a tight embrace, then kissed me on the lips. Such impudence made me lose control of my body: my knee met his bells, and my fist met his nose.
– Are you completely out of your fucking mind? – With my left hand, I wiped the drool of the crazy senior from my lips, and with my right, I pointed the barrel of the gun at him. – What are you doing?
“I just wanted to say thank you!” The boy became indignant and grabbed his bruised dignity with his hands. “Thanks to you, I earned enough for a new broom!”
– You could have thanked me properly. – I lowered the gun. – Why did you try to kiss me?
– I was just being friendly! – Oliver looked at me like I was an idiot. – With all my heart!
“Oliver’s telling the truth!” Ron stood up for his friend. “When you left, Zabini was bragging to everyone that you were already dead. That slug kept telling everyone that his cousin would definitely kill you! There!”
“Most people believed him, especially since Sosoni is much older and more experienced,” Justin joined the conversation. “That’s why the odds weren’t in your favor at the bookmaker. I only bet 10 Galleons on you, but I won 150.”
“And I made almost 100 Galleons!” Weasley beamed happily. “I bet my entire savings and it paid off!”
“I won’t tell you about my winnings and how impoverished the Slytherins are, but I’m ready to kiss you, Hellsing, and your teachers.” Wood grumbled and slowly pulled out his wand, then cast a couple of healing spells on himself. “Phew, that feels better.” The captain of our team rose to his feet and looked at me with respect. “And your hand is heavy.”
“It’s your own fault,” I muttered in response.
“I’m not offended,” Oliver grinned contentedly. “I even bought you a gift as a token of my gratitude.”
The boy reached into his school bag and pulled out a bronze figurine of some bearded man holding a broom. I even felt a little awkward, again. Then he handed me the gift and broke into a satisfied, almost idiotic, smile.
– Sweet… – I twirled the figurine in my hands. – And who is this?
– Cough-cough… – The athlete choked on air and started coughing.
“It’s… a collector’s item…” Ron swallowed hard and stared at the statue as if it were the world’s greatest treasure. “It’s… Darren O’Hara! The creator of the Hawk’s Head tactic! It’s incredibly rare and worth a fortune!”
– Of course! – Oliver lifted his nose proudly. – Miss Hellsing, please accept this modest gift as a token of my gratitude.
“Thank you.” I nodded politely and carefully put the figurine back in my bag. “I’ll put it in the most visible place.”
“That’s not even up for discussion!” Wood smiled proudly, then leaned forward and adopted a conspiratorial tone. “Miss Hellsing, I have an important matter for you that brooks no delay. The fate of our team hangs in the balance!”
“He wants to buy a Gay, but they don’t sell them in Britain.” Ron broke into a sly smile. “Oliver’s worried that his Soviet comrades won’t accept our Galleons.”
“Everything can be resolved.” I smiled at the guys. “I’ll try to negotiate, but you’ll have to pay extra for delivery.”
“No problem!” Oliver smiled dreamily. “Could you ask them to send you a catalog?! Sure, I could buy a Nimbus 2001 or a Cleanstom 91 right now, but I flew on a Weasley broom and I liked it the best. It’s just perfect for a goalkeeper!”
“Agreed, but the Cleansweep is good too!” Ron chimed in with his older comrade’s reasoning. “It’s reliable and very nimble, and its thrust is in the rear hemisphere…”
– But stabilization when turning… – Wood began.
“Maybe we should go to breakfast?” Mia glanced sideways at the athletes who had started the argument. “They can discuss these brooms all night!”
– Hey! – Weasley looked at Granger with an offended expression. – Do you even know the difference between a racing broom and a sports one?
“Did you know that the Chistomet-78 was developed specifically for beaters?” Wood chimed in. “Its backrest and supports are designed so…”
I nodded silently to my friend, and we simultaneously turned toward the exit, the rest of the kids following suit. Unfortunately, Wood tagged along with us, and even more unfortunately, once we were in the aisle, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, and Katie Bell joined us. Naturally, the girls joined in the discussion of flying brooms—it was such an important topic! I wanted to chat with my friends, but instead, I had to listen to screams and shouts about the pros and cons of various brooms the entire way. The kids were arguing so loudly and passionately that I even gave myself a headache!
As we approached the Great Hall, the boys calmed down a bit, and when we sat down at the table, they moved on to discussing Quidditch tactics. Did I mention this world is fucked up? Well, I was wrong, it’s completely fucked up and needs to be burned in a cleansing, sacred fire! But how?! While I was calmly spreading blueberry jam on my toast, Ron began discussing how the Dutch Wheel was a bad strategy and that a single Tea Bag was better. Wood countered with the idea of Granny Spectacles or Golden Shower, or at worst, Around the World, while the women’s team insisted that Strategy 69 and Horsewoman were the most effective.
My friends were calmly tucking into their porridge and bacon, completely oblivious to this nonsense. When my ears started to droop, I decided to take a break and began studying the decor of the Great Hall and the students sitting at their tables. I looked over at the Slytherin table and made eye contact with Zabini; the little brat immediately paled and looked down. Then I glanced at Diana and the Black sisters; the girls smiled at me and saluted with their goblets of juice. Then I scanned the other tables and noticed something was wrong. Many of the girls were looking at me with malice and envy, while the boys were looking thoughtful and even appraising. And then I noticed Potter’s intense gaze on me, and I really didn’t like it; it was so full of hatred and contempt that I was taken aback. What the hell was going on here?!
“Mia, what’s going on?” I nudged my friend and glanced at a couple of older girls sitting at the Ravenclaw table; they were trying to burn a hole in me with their eyes. “Why are they all looking at me like that?”
“It’s just plain envy,” Hermione grinned cheerfully. “Get used to it.”
– What do you mean? – I looked into his chocolate-colored eyes, confused. – For what?
– Don’t you know? – Lavender joined the conversation.
– I don’t know what?
“Witch Politics has declared you the most eligible bachelorette on the islands!” The blonde, her eyes sparkling, pulled a glossy magazine out of her bag. “Here, see for yourself.”
I accepted the reading material, the cover of which featured a color photograph of me plunging a blade into the back of an Arab prince’s head. The title also raised eyebrows:
Rigel Hellsing is the most powerful and promising witch of this century!
I turned the page and became immersed in reading, and when I reached the end of the article, I started banging my head on the tabletop. The magazine described all my accomplishments so vividly and vividly, even bringing up last year’s incident at the Astronomy Tower. Now all of Wizarding Britain knows that, in my first year, I killed an adult possessed wizard and saved a national hero and his best friend. Plus, the journalists didn’t forget to mention my family’s vast fortune and influence over the Muggle government. The author of the article wrote flatly about how lucky my future husband would be, saying I was rich, strong, and beautiful to boot. And the tone was impeccable! Not a single insult or lie, just a bit of embellishment and other glamorous nonsense.
– Hmm… Well… – I looked at my friend pitifully. – Mia, did they write anything about me in the other newspapers?
“Of course, I even saved that issue of The Prophet.” The girl broke into a sly smile and pulled a folded newspaper out of her pocket. “Here, on the second-to-last page.”
It took me a while to find the article I was looking for; it was tiny and inconspicuous, nestled between an ad for used socks and an ad for garden pest control. The article was tiny and uninformative, stating that I was a second-year student at Hogwarts and had won second place in a competition in France. But the headline read:
Rygel Huisnimg is the best swordswoman in Magical Britain!
– Bitch… How could you mangle a name like that?! – I was so angry that I wanted to burn down the editorial office of this newspaper.
“I thought it was funny,” Mia smiled cheerfully.
– Is that all? – I looked at my friends warily. – Or did they write something else about me somewhere?
“I think that’s it, I didn’t see anything else.” The curly-haired girl snatched the newspaper from my hands. “I’ll keep it as a souvenir, maybe even frame it.”
– Just try it! – I glared at my friend indignantly and tried to take the stupid issue of “The Prophet” away.
– How much longer? – Justin’s voice interrupted our struggle. – We’ll be late for potions.
I scowled at the young aristocrat and dismissed my friend, who tucked the ill-fated newspaper into her pocket and stuck her tongue out at me. I’d completely forgotten that I needed to study at school, so I finished my tea in one gulp and we all headed off to class in a friendly crowd.
***
I spent the entire school week in the library; since I was absent from school for several days, I managed to rack up a huge amount of debt. At home, I was downright lazy, writing only a couple of essays on Transfiguration and completely neglecting my other subjects. The professors, of course, were pleased with my athletic achievements, but they still demanded homework and assigned new ones. So from the first day, I immersed myself in my studies, completely oblivious to the sidelong glances and whispers from other students. At this rate, the days flew by, and before I knew it, Sunday, which also happened to be the first day of December, had arrived.
The morning dawned clear and slightly frosty. After returning from practice, I enjoyed a hot shower and went down to the common room. There was a Quidditch match between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw today, so the tower was packed, and almost every sofa was occupied. After looking around, I found an empty chair and decided to wait there for my friends. Having made myself comfortable, I pulled out another fantasy novel and immersed myself in it, keeping an eye on the stairs leading to the dormitories.
Soon my brother appeared in the common room and, seeing me, he pointedly turned away. I glanced at him and chuckled. That idiot broke the truce on Wednesday and spent over a day in the hospital wing for it. Sometimes I think he’s a masochist, or just plain stupid. And who would bring a dung bomb to breakfast and detonate it over my head?! Did he seriously think I wouldn’t notice his wand movement and wouldn’t have time to put up a kinetic shield? The explosion splattered a dozen students, not to mention the smell and ruined appetites. And when I beat the shit out of that asshole, no one even thought to intervene; even the professors didn’t intervene right away. Ever since, that idiot has been glaring at me and is clearly plotting another nasty trick. So you need to be on your guard and be ready for anything, my brother is a vengeful bastard.
Ten minutes later, a contented Hermione and a sleepy Elvira joined me. I hadn’t forgotten about that blunder, so as punishment I handed her the Hellsing Charter and ordered her to memorize it. I gave her until I arrived at the estate, where Captain Seras would be examining her. Smith silently accepted the book and promised to obey my orders from now on, and that was it. I think she’ll remember a month without proper sleep for a long time.
The thing is, we have exams at the Royal Academy at the end of December, not to mention classes at Hogwarts, plus apprenticeship with the Prince and the Black Widow, so the girl was completely overloaded. Oh well, it’ll do her good. Ron and Justin soon joined us, and we hurried to breakfast; classes in the cold were taking their toll, and we were ravenously hungry.
“Phew, good.” Mia pushed her empty plate away, satisfied, and looked at me. “After the game, I’ll have to stop by Filch’s.”
– Why? – I took a couple more slices of fried bacon from the plate. – Did you miss him?
– Remind me about the stoves, you idiot! – The girl flicked my head. – This morning my breath was steaming.
“And in the shower there are icicles on the windows,” Elvira quietly chimed in. “Maybe we should ask them to put some there too?”
“And don’t forget about us,” Justin shivered demonstratively. “Our slippers are freezing to the floor. By the way, do you have any foam left?”
– Of course, but I don’t have it with me. – I nodded in response. – I think you plugged the cracks with cotton wool.
“The idea turned out to be a failure,” the boy shook his head sadly. “The house elves didn’t like it, so they returned everything to the way it was, at least they washed the windows and sills.”
– How did you understand? – Ron looked up from his plate. – They are covered with a thick layer of ice, aren’t they?
“Thomas decorated them with penis patterns in September, and now the patterns are gone,” Finch-Fletchley replied. “I even took the marker from him and threatened to shove it up his ass.”
– I remembered! – Ron laughed cheerfully, – he also drew on your nightstand, and nothing washed off that crap.
“You didn’t have to remind me.” Justin looked at his friend disapprovingly. “Did you place any bets on the game?”
“You’re being insulting, I bet 5 Galleons on the badgers,” Weasley replied. “Cedric’s an excellent catcher, so the crows don’t stand a chance.”
“I disagree,” Creevy squeaked from his seat. “I was at their training sessions, and the Chinese woman did such things in the sky. This Chang flies almost like Potter.”
“Oh, come on, we’ll see for ourselves soon enough.” I still managed to eat another piece of bacon and was too lazy to even move. “Personally, I’d put a ten on Hufflepuff; I think they’re the stronger team.”
After briefly discussing the teams’ chances of winning, we headed to the stadium, as did almost every other Hogwarts student. There are very few entertainment or extracurricular activities at school, so a Quidditch match is a real event. And considering the game is followed by a trip to Hogsmeade, the day becomes a real celebration. I think the headmaster specifically schedules the trip to the wizarding village after the match. This way, he keeps the game from dragging on, since Quidditch has no time limits and the players can fly until the early hours.
We took our places in the stands and, swayed by the general mood, began chanting various chants. Mia even transfigured the Badger banner and waved it enthusiastically. Soon, the players appeared on the field and, after Madam Hooch’s speech, took to the skies. The match lasted about an hour and was quite spectacular: the Ravens tried to play tactics while the Badgers raced in a friendly crowd. I enjoyed watching the players zipping around with the Quaffle or dodging Bludgers, and the final chase of the Seekers for the Snitch was truly spectacular. Chang and Diggory were literally neck and neck, but Chang’s reach was slightly longer and he grabbed the winged ball first. The match ended with a score of 270 to 130 in favor of the Badgers.
After the game ended, our group returned to the castle, where we quickly changed and settled in by the fireplace with glasses of hot chocolate. After all the older students had departed for Hogsmeade, Mia and I headed to the library, but first we had to visit Filch. The rest of the boys refused to leave the warm common room and remained basking on the soft sofas, especially since Finch-Fletchley had sent a new board game from home. We quickly made our way through the cold, deserted corridors to the retired officer’s room, who made us tea and assured us that we would sleep in a warm place tonight. We thanked Filch, and fifteen minutes later we were leisurely strolling between the bookcases of the quiet, deserted library.
We stayed in the Abode of Knowledge until evening; the essays had been completed earlier in the day, but Mia found several books on runes and artifact making, and we simply became engrossed. Some books are forbidden from being removed from the library, and Mia’s discovery fell into that category. So we sipped hot chocolate and carefully studied the fascinating material, ignoring the cold, our robes so well enchanted.
“Girls, it’s almost dinnertime and the library closes soon.” Madam Pince’s voice distracted me from taking notes on an interesting chapter. “Hurry up, you still need to return your books.”
“Okay,” I replied, memorizing the page and closing the thick tome and starting to pack my things.
After leaving the library, my friend and I trudged leisurely down the empty hallway toward the great hall. We’d even missed lunch with all the socializing. I was discussing what we’d have for dinner, while Mia admired the starry night sky through the windows.
– Riya, something happened, – My friend tugged at my sleeve. – Look.
I looked out the window and saw a crowd of Aurors running toward the castle, accompanied by plainclothes wizards, probably DMP investigators. From this distance, it was impossible to make out their faces, so I reached into my bag for my binoculars, but my actions were interrupted by the director’s loud yell in the hallway.
“Something stupid happened again,” Hermione grumbled and tore herself away from the window. “I wonder what it was this time?”
“We’ll find out soon enough.” I shrugged and turned toward Gryffindor Tower. “We’ll find out soon enough…”
