A note shaped like a bird fluttered onto Aideen Graves Scholt's desk during Charms. She glanced up to see that her uncle, Professor Scholt, was indeed distracted with arguing with Kyla Grimsditch over grades, before opening it.
Why do you refuse the Dragon-Eye's invitation?
Aideen gave a big sigh and crumpled the note. Her sister had led the student organization, the Dragon-Eye Coven, for years now. She didn't want her sister there, and last Aideen knew of, the most recent person to invite her had ended up in the nurse's office for a week.
Besides, there were more important matters for Aideen, like the Quodpot match on Thursday.
It would be the legendary match of Thunderbird versus Wampus. The long-time Quodpot enemies had been known to be violent in the buildup to the match. Most of it had to do with the Dragon-Eye Coven.
Nothing had ever been confirmed, or that would've been shut down centuries ago, but the best of Thunderbird's players always ended up in the hospital wing with no memory of how they got there, and Wampus students were on a "guard duty" despite rarely speaking to Aideen otherwise.
Then there were other matters, like Quidditch, because there would be a match the weekend after that, and then practicing for the various academic competitions she had coming up. Even if she put competitions aside, there was still regular academics to worry about.
Another note hit Aideen in the shoulder blade, and she whirled around her seat, looking for who might've thrown it. She shook her head before picking up this bird. She opened it to see another note in the same handwriting.
You're a brilliant student, Aideen. Surely you'd do well among our ranks.
Aideen glanced back to the Wampuses and shook her head before taking out her quill and writing a response.
I'm busy. Sorry.
She re-folded the note, and it fluttered off. Aideen looked back to her Charms textbook and questions, and finished answering them. She headed to the front of class, practicing that calm and confident walk that she lacked, in comparison with her sisters and brother, and turned in the paper.
Professor Scholt payed her no attention as both she and Kyla returned to their seats. Aideen pulled out her small agenda and checked off a few items, since the remaining class period could be used to complete homework. She wanted to get as much as she could out of the way, since she had a meeting with the Potions Club and then a Quodpot practice after school.
It was lucky she did so, for when the clocktower chimed four times to signal class dismissal for the day, at least four students leapt out of their seats and surrounded Aideen. She bit her lip, telling herself that they all meant well. She slowly and carefully packed up her backpack, and slung it over her shoulders.
"I need to get my broom and supplies from the dormitories," Aideen announced. "You wouldn't mind us making a quick trip there before heading to the Potions classroom?"
There was a murmur of assent, and they left the classroom, all of them remaining right around Aideen, wands out and glaring at any Thunderbirds who crossed their paths. They crossed the courtyards to where the Wampus tower was located. Once inside the main castle, they approached a statue of an actual wampus, cast in gold.
The leader of the students, whose name Aideen couldn't quite remember, tapped the golden plaque on the base of the pedestal.
"Here, kitty, kitty," the leader said. The wampus statue roared and the base rose to reveal the door to a staircase into the first level of the Wampus Tower. The leader stepped aside, and gestured for Aideen to go first. She smiled and did so, entering the warm common room. She spared a glance at the wall of trophies, some of which were dedicated to her. She moved past the circular tables and practically ran up the oak staircase and into her dormitory.
She strode across the room, ignoring Kyla's dark eyes watching her as she emptied out the contents of her backpack into the treasure chest at the end of her bed. All Wampus students were gifted with them, and they held an amazing amount of items. Aideen pulled out her Quodpot robes and her broomstick, then put the clothes into her backpack. She shut the trunk, and heard her cat, Cress, mewling at her.
"Hello, Cress," Aideen said as she stroked her tabby's fur. "I've got to get going, can't be late to Potions Club."
She patted her cat's head, feeling a little guilty before dashing down the stairs, broom in hand, to where her bodyguards were waiting.
"Ready to go," Aideen said, forcing that easygoing smile onto her face again.
When she entered into the Potions classroom, it was already warm from the burners having been on all day.
"Hello, Professor Calderon-Boot," Aideen said, waving to her professor as she headed to where her cauldron was stored. She glanced up to see the ghost of the Potions room, Solomon Bevin, reading over one of the Potions textbooks and attempting to vandalize it with a quill.
"What's wrong with the recipe this time?" Aideen asked as she pulled her cauldron out.
"The Draught lacks that you should smash open the bean with the flat of the knife, not slice it!" Solomon cried as he scribbled notes. "I can't believe the stupidity of this potion-maker!"
"Dejala, por favor," Professor Calderon-Boot said in a dry tone without looking up from the papers he was grading. The older ghost was a constant nuisance in the Potions room, and Professor Calderon-Boot only gave token resistance at this point.
Aideen looked around. "Where is everyone?"
"I don't know," Professor Calderon-Boot admitted. "Are you ready for the Inter-House Potioneering Competition?"
"I think so," Aideen admitted as she prepared her cauldron. "Is there any potion you'd like me to practice making?"
"No," Professor Calderon-Boot said. "Have some fun with it. I've got some papers to grade, and I know you've got that Quodpot game coming up."
"Yes, sir," Aideen said.
"Are you particularly stressed about this one?" Professor Calderon-Boot asked.
"I'm not, but in my opinion, the other Wampuses are losing their minds," Aideen said. She opened her book, and opened it to a Musicality Potion. She grinned and got to work, gathering the ingredients. "They've got a bodyguard squad surrounding me."
"Well, staff has had a difficult time keeping players safe during this game," Professor Calderon-Boot said. "I've already had to discipline a few students from your house for attempting to blow up a player's cauldron during class."
"Is it Demetria Lightwood?" Aideen asked, thinking of the second-year who'd made the team. While usually vivacious and bold, the girl had become very timid over the course of the week.
"Afraid so," Professor Calderon-Boot said. "Another's already in the hospital wing, no memories, naturally. The Dragon-Eye is being investigated for that one."
"Bet my sister loves that," Aideen muttered. The cauldron was beginning to bubble, but not boil.
"What Freya wants is inconsequential," Professor Calderon-Boot said, looking up from the papers. "She could learn to be more understanding about the charges."
Aideen shrugged. "Freya just doesn't like trouble."
"Ironic for how often she brings it," Professor Calderon-Boot said with a short. He folded his hands together. "I hear you two are having issues."
"Just a little sisterly rivalry," Aideen said, keeping her eyes trained on the cauldron. The water boiled at last, so Aideen began adding ingredients. "Nothing much to worry about, sir."
"Last I heard, she was the reason why you haven't been allowed in the Dueling Club, despite your skills," Professor Calderon-Boot said, his light green eyes giving off a piercing stare at Aideen.
"Freya just doesn't want me in her territory," Aideen said with a moment's hesitation. She stirred her potion. "I can respect that."
"But your brother and your sister were in the Dueling Club at the same time," Professor Calderon-Boot pointed out.
"I'd really rather not talk about this," Aideen said. "My sister's business is my sister's business."
Professor Calderon-Boot said nothing. "If there is any problem, Aideen, don't feel like you can't come to me."
"I doubt you can really do much with sisters, sir," Aideen said, a little more forcefully. "It's something we need to work out on our own."
"I see," Professor Calderon-Boot said, finally dropping the subject. He checked the watch. "The other students are running very late." He looked up, concerned. "I'd better go see if something is—"
Aideen then heard a loud explosion outside. She immediately turned off her burner and ran after Professor Calderon-Boot through the castle and into the major courtyard within the house towers and the clocktower, where a ghost dressed in Puritan wear was egging on a group of students, Wampuses and Thunderbirds according to the crests on their robes and markings on their sleeves.
Curses were being exchanged at rapid-fire, and students were fleeing left and right from the rubble.
"Abby, stop this!" Professor Calderon-Boot ordered. The Puritan woman simply glared at him.
"It's not my fault if a witch decides to attack another," Abigail Williams said. "I told them, wrath and envy are sins, but they wouldn't listen."
"We all know your charms are all over this," Professor Calderon-Boot said. He flicked his wand. "Begone, Abby!"
The ghost disappeared, and with another flick of his wand, the scene was frozen. The professor Vanished the curses, and set the students in motion again.
"I expected better from our students!" Professor Calderon-Boot bellowed. The students all cowered under Professor Calderon-Boot's piercing gaze. "Detention, all of you! One more toe out of line, and I swear I will cancel the game!"
Whispers filled the courtyard from the bystanders. Even Aideen felt a spike of panic. He couldn't cancel Quodpot, not now!
"To Headmaster Fontaine's office, now!" Professor Calderon-Boot shouted. Students scurried off, leaving just Professor Calderon-Boot and Aideen. The professor looked to Aideen with a renewed panic.
"Get to the locker rooms at once, stay out of the way of other students," Professor Calderon-Boot ordered. "I think your guard was part of that, and I want you where I know Proctor can keep an eye out for you."
"Thank you, sorry, Professor," Aideen squeaked as she pulled up her hood before scurrying off to the Quodpot locker rooms. She kept to the more isolated parts of the castle, not wanting to get in crossfires.
However, when she got to the locker rooms, there was a group of students standing outside. Aideen barely had time to scream.
