Chapter One – Broken Rules
For the first time, seeing Tia in the library caused a quiet stir.
"Why is she here?" One whispered.
"Isn't she worried?"
"They never looked close anyway."
"Dude, how are they even related?"
While Tia appeared unaffected by the recent whirlwind of gossip surrounding her absent and provocative cousin, Mina, Tia was barely able to suppress her mixed emotions in her recent actions and attitude. The rumours were true. Her cousin had been missing for a few days and her activities–or lack there-of–this time involved more than just her, and Tia wanted no part of it.
"Hey, I thought I'd find you here." Tia glanced up from her book and saw Rose sliding out the vacant seat in front of her. "You're okay, right?"
"I'm surprised you'd ask."
Thud!
Stunned, Tia glanced at her friend who had swiftly shut the book she was reading.
"Listen, I don't mean to pry but…" Tia's gaze shifted toward slight skepticism. "I found something regarding Mina's disappearance."
"I think I heard every outrageous story there is," Tia mumbled. "But go for it, I don't think it'll surprise me anymore."
Rose ignored the indifference in Tia's tone and continued, "I think it may have something to do with… what Roxanne saw a few weeks ago."
Tia raised a brow.
Rose, Roxanne, and Tia had been having lunch in the Great Hall. Roxanne had just finished her sandwich with a slightly worried countenance she'd been wearing all afternoon. Tia and Rose had glanced at each other, having noticed their friend's strange behaviour since this morning during Potions.
Suddenly, Roxanne had spoken up, detailing the events of the party that went on two nights ago. Only, there was apparently more to it than butter beers, pranks, and loud music.
"No! I swear I saw it! It was black, slimy, and twitched as it moved!" Roxanne had insisted.
Tia placed her quill beside her and asked, "How did you make that connection?"
Being part of the school newspaper, Rose pulled out the latest but yet-to-be-published edition of the school newspaper and laid it in front of her friend. "It's going to be hot off the press."
Survivor In Lake Attack Left Stunned In Hospital
Underneath was a moving picture of visitors and nurses coming and going around Gryffindor's Beater, Lucas Fallon's bed. Rumours of him and Mina being an item had spread like wildfire a month after his breakup with Rhea, the studious Hufflepuff. However, it was all gossip, and nothing was confirmed… until now.
According to a witness who wished to remain anonymous, Lucas Fallon was "powerless" when his girlfriend, Mina Song, was forcefully dragged into the lake by a "black, slimy, figure that moved spasmodically."
"The hell…" Tia muttered.
"This is where it gets stranger," Rose said, pointing to the middle of the article.
The horrific event left Lucas literally speechless as Gryffindor's Beater hasn't said a word since the incident and is currently recovering at Hogwarts' Hospital Wing. Just recently, he's refusing to see any more visitors.
"What do you think?" Rose asked.
Tia pointed to the moving picture. "Doesn't this give you shivers?" Rose leaned closer. "It's like… he looks so indifferent. Somehow I have a feeling this isn't due to the emotional aftermath of what happened."
"There's another article going to be released tomorrow. Apparently, there's a witness who saw Lucas push Mina toward the… thing."
"This is insane," Tia muttered. "It's all just ridiculous gossip."
"But… what if it's not?"
Tia's eyes met her friend's. "Are you saying that Lucas could've potentially murdered my cousin?"
"I don't know," Rose said firmly. "But the teachers have issued a warning to students to stay away from the lake and that there will be severe consequences to those caught after hours."
"Doesn't surprise me," Tia mumbled. "I'm more surprised that they didn't implement this earlier regardless of the lake rumours."
Rose sighed. "I know you and Mina have always been on bad terms, but don't you think she deserves some justice?"
"This isn't a job for students," Tia said, picking up her books. She looked at Rose squarely in the eyes. "I know you and Mina were friends, but I don't think it's wise to get involved in this. As you said, there'll be severe consequences if we're caught. This is going to sound harsh but–"
"Figuring out what happened to her isn't as important as grades."
Tia said nothing and gave Rose an apologetic glance. "I just think it's best if the teachers handled this."
Rose watched in slight annoyance as her friend left the library. Her eyes then wandered to the moving photo of Lucas Fallon; she recalled her conversation with Mina weeks before she disappeared.
"You should be careful of Lucas."
"Lucas? Why?"
"He hasn't been himself lately."
Rose brought her hand to her forehead in frustration, her attention now focused on the chandelier that illuminated the entire library. She didn't like to think she was the type to get involved in other people's affairs or was thirsty for gossip.
But in the recent weeks leading up to Mina's disappearance, Rose had been noticing the truth behind her words. Like how his usual diligence faded into settling for passable grades and mediocre performance during Quidditch practice.
The charismatic and punctual Gryffindor had been reduced to an indifferent boy no different than the usual tardy and rambunctious groups who thrived on adrenaline and trouble.
"We will not tolerate any students who are caught wandering the halls after hours and hope that this incident provides a good enough example to what happens to those who continue to break school rules."
Rose looked from the quote to Lucas's picture. Only this time, she wasn't met with the usual scenes, but rather an ominous-looking Lucas staring right at her.
She felt a wave of adrenaline as she hurriedly stuffed the newspaper back into her bag. As Rose left the library, she smirked.
Rules were made to be broken.