"Okay guys, here we are!"
The voice of Professor Jones, the Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher, woke James out of his daydreams. Reluctantly he grabbed his backpack and managed to untangle his long legs to hop out of the cab.
This field trip was not one he was really looking forward to. When Professor Jones had approached him and the others and told them that they were chosen to go on the extra-credit field trip to Romania, because they were the best in class, he had been excited. He, Sirius, Remus, Lily, Frank, and Alice had been the ones invited, so there would be no annoying Slytherins to ruin it. He and Lily had stopped hating each other at the start of sixth year, and he was eager to get to know her and Alice better. Frank had been close to the Marauders since first year (he was the dorm mate, after all), and of course Sirius and Remus were his two best friends.
He'd even been excited about the trip in general. Defense was one of his favorite subjects, and Romania had a lot to offer about the subject. Plus, Professor Jones was one of the coolest professors at Hogwarts. But staring at the dark, forbidding castle that would be where they would stay, James was beginning to have second thoughts.
Slowly, with many creakings, the door opened, and a absolutely forbidding woman stepped into view. Her hair was set in rigid curls, and she seemed to wear a perpetual glare. Her eyes were suspicious. "You are wizard students?" she asked with a Romanian accent.
Professor Jones nodded. The woman looked at him. "I am Madame Varkolahv," She snapped. "Come with me."
James and Sirius glanced at each other as they made their way up the grand staircase. The house was dark and gothic, but elegant and clean. It was rather like something out of a mystery novel.
Madame Varkolahv stopped abruptly and turned to face them. "Boy's room that way. Girl's room this way. Teacher's room here. One rule at night. Lock rooms. Do not leave." And with that, she whirled around and strode away.
Professor Jones clapped his hands and smiled. "Well, I think it would be best to do as she says. We should rest after such a long flight. Now, tomorrow will be a free day to unpack, get to know the town, and rest for you, while I will try to locate a guide for us. Goodnight!"
James, Sirius, Remus, and Frank walked into their room and stopped dead. It was large, richly furnished, and comfortable, but what made them stop was the stunning view offered by the windows. A shadowy wilderness was all that could be seen at this time at night, but a silvery crescent moon could be seen hanging in a sea of clouds. Indigo, purple, royal blue, and inky black could be seen in between the glittering stars.
Justlikeamysterynovel,James thought before turing to unpack his bags.
Later, James was curled in an armchair deeply involved in an Agatha Christie while Sirius was playing Exploding Snap with Frank and Remus was—of course—exploring the bookcases in their bedroom. Suddenly, a loud grinding noise mae them all jump.
A doorway stood where the bookcase had been.], and Remus was staring openmouthed at the book he'd just pulled out of it.
"A secret passageway—we have to check it out!" Sirius cried before hurtling down the dark tunnel, Remus right behind him yelling something about caution. James and Frank looked at each other, shrugged, and followed.
The hallway led to a laboratory—something that reminded James strongly of Sherlock Holmes. Lighting his wand, he gazed at everything until a Sirius called them over.
"Look at this!" He whispered.
It was a knife, small and slender, with a crimson stone the color of blood pressed in the handle. At the sight of the stone, James felt an odd chill run through him, though he couldn't say why.
A sudden creak brought them to their senses. "Hide!" Frank whispered before running to the closet. As he turned to follow, James slashed his hand on the silver dagger. He gasped, but kept quiet as the sound of footsteps filled the room. They all remained quiet until the intruder—probably Madame Varkolahv—left and it was safe to return to the bedroom.
Once safely inside, Remus turned and asked to see the cut. "This isn't so bad," he murmured. "I'll take care of it. Episky!" The wound immediately healed.
Discussing the strange laboratory and the silver dagger went late into the night, but even when everyone else was asleep, AJmes found himself tossing and turning. The sound of a wolf howling outside caused him to shot up, gasping, until his pounding heart slowed down and the frantic energy inside him calmed.
He was probably just wired from the strange day.