Kacey looked around. When had she been separated from her friends? She sighed and tried to figure out where she was, the typical routine. She thought that she was in the west fifth-floor corridor that led to the Astronomy tower, but she wasn't sure. As she continued to try to regain her bearings, she sighed to herself. This was the third time this week! At least during the other times, she hadn't been so lost that her friends hadn't found her after a few minutes. This time, though, she wasn't sure.
The Hufflepuff tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear and decided to walk down the corridor. She'd get to the great hall eventually, right?
Her witch hat charms jingled as she walked and her bag banged against her side. Kacey started to get a headache thinking about the immense stack of transfiguration homework that she'd have to do once she finally got back to the common room. Her stomach rumbled and her feet hurt. Why did this castle have to be so big?
She finally appeared to have reached a dead end. Kacey was upset. All this walking for a dead end? Like, not cool!
She drearily slumped on the floor against the wall and looked at the ceiling. The rafters were gorgeous, of course, as this was Hogwarts, but this gave her no solace. She figured that while she had the time, she would do her homework, so she pulled it out of her bag with her quill and ink and set to work.
A few minutes later, she noticed that she was famished and set down her stuff. She really wanted to get to the great hall for dinner, and soon, so she decided to have another go at locating herself. She put her stuff up again and stood up. When she looked to her left, she noticed a staircase with a light coming from above.
A light? Maybe there was a classroom with a teacher in it where she could ask directions.
Kacey hoisted her bag on her shoulder and started up the staircase. After a few minutes of walking, she became confused. This staircase was really long! Finally, she got to the top and found… a window. The staircase literally led to a window. Out the window Kacey could see the lake, the forbidden forest, and a lot of the roof. The astronomy tower seemed to be on the complete opposite side of the castle. Any recognizable part of the castle was far away from where the girl was.
Well that's helpful. Kacey thought to herself. She was so tired from climbing the stairs that she sprawled out on the ground and gave up.
She woke up in the same spot, not having realized that she had fallen asleep. Sitting up and blinking furiously, she looked out the window. The sun dipped to just over the forbidden forest and its light glittered on the lake. Oh, no. The third-year thought. What a time to fall asleep she had completely missed her afternoon classes and dinner was probably about to start!
Kacey looked back out the window. Well, Kacey thought. If the astronomy tower is over there, then… I must be on the sixth floor! The classrooms on the fifth floor are muggle studies, alchemy, and arithmacy. Rebecca is taking muggle studies, and says that she always forgets to turn left at the staircase, so if I go downstairs and find the staircase, I can turn left and find the teacher!
The Hufflepuff took one last look out the window and thought the view was wonderful. Maybe, on a weekend, she would come back up here with friends and a picnic lunch. Maybe. She rushed down the stairs, eager to get to dinner.
