You're still staring at Carmilla. No, scratch that, everyone's still staring at Carmilla. She scoffs and reopens her book.

"You can't just say that and not explain! What Ministry of Magic? Like the one in Harry Potter?" you ask anxiously, taking a swig of butterbeer for good measure.

Carmilla grunts noncommittally. You turn to LaF and Perry and they're ogling at you.

"What's going on guys?" Danny slurs drunkenly, completely wrapped around Kirsch.

"Carmilla just mentioned that there is a Ministry of Magic!" you nearly scream as you vault onto Carmilla's bed and attempt to drag the book away.

"Relax kids, I was joking. There is no magic," Carmilla states as she easily pushes you off the bed.

You open your mouth to argue but then spot a broomstick peeking out from under her bed. You lunge and grab it before Carmilla notices. It's a Firebolt. And you can actually feel it come alive in your hands. You let go and it hangs in midair, vibrating noiselessly.

"If there's no magic, how do you explain this?" you point at the floating Firebolt.

Carmilla raises her eyes. You lock gazes, refusing to back down until you get a definite answer.

"If magic was real, I'd be breaking the International Statue of Wizarding Secrecy by telling you it was real," she said slowly, like she was trying to explain a simple math problem to an easily agitated toddler.

"But if magic wasn't real there wouldn't be any Statue!" you bawl, starting to feel the effects of the butterbeer spiked with moonshine. Maybe playing that drinking game with Danny wasn't the best idea. But she looked so cute in that outfit that you just had to.

Carmilla sighs and runs her fingers through her hair. You stand up and drunkenly mount her broomstick but can't. You give up and try to marshal your points.

"Okay, so you say magic isn't real, but your broom is freaking floating off the ground! What's going on then? Is it, like, hooked to the ceiling or something?" You wave your hands over the broom, trying to feel for strings.

LaFontaine guffaws.

"Merlin's beard Laura! She's trying to tell you that yes, she's a witch, and yes, magic is real. She just can't tell you outright cause it's against wizarding law," they explain.

Carmilla grins and bumps LaF's fist.

"Right on."

You stare at them in confusion, the alcohol clouding your mind. Didn't Carmilla just say magic wasn't real? And now LaF's saying she was lying. You really don't know who to believe. All you know is you're feeling tired and frustrated and don't even know why. LaF slings an arm around your shoulders and ruffles your hair, gently removing your cup of butterbeer.

"Anyways, shall we continue?" they ask.

"Okay," you agree absentmindedly, still confused as hell. You poke Danny but she's too busy glued to Kirsch's lips to notice.

"So, who's up?" Perry adjusts the jeopardy board.

A thought suddenly occurs to you, pushing its way through the thick fog in your brain.

"Are you lying or am I just drunk?" you ask, twisting your torso so you're facing her.

Carmilla simply smiles and buries her nose in her book again. Your shoulders slump. She's just so mysterious that you never know what she's thinking. You sneak a glance at her novel. And your jaw drops.

She's reading Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.