Chapter Two

The moon was full and bright that night. It rose far, far in the sky before Celia and Dominique went to sleep that night. They couldn't just tuck into bed early, everyone was too excited for the coming school year and wanted to celebrate. The Slytherin common room was usually cold and a bit dull to hang out in, but tonight it was filled with merriment and good spirits by witches and wizards of all ages. A great fire was lit in the huge stone fireplace, crackling mightily. Students were piled onto the couches in heaps, talking and sharing stories of the summer. The paintings on the walls also conversed with one another casually, and it was amusing for the other students to see the muggleborns' confused awe-struck faces. It was always amusing to see some first years' exposure to magic, from the spells themselves to the ghosts that roamed the halls. As Cecilia and Dominique walked into the dungeon, they happened to spot their favorite ghost in particular.

"Hello, Baron!" said Cecilia, sitting down on a couch.

"Hello, Cecilia! Hello, Dominique!" greeted the Bloody Baron, his chains clanking as he raised his arms for a hello.

"Have a nice summer?" Dominique asked.

"Actually, no," the Baron frowned. "It was quite depressing."

"Oh? How come?"

"Let's just say some ghosts are just getting used to their new specter bodies. There's a young lad who died so suddenly in the Battle of Hogwarts that he still doesn't realize he has died." the Baron said wistfully. "He floats across the grounds often, looking for his brother Dennis. It's miserable to see him search, knowing that he'll never find him."

"He's just become a ghost now?" Dominique asked. "But the Battle was so long ago, shouldn't he have just become a ghost then, right after death?"

"I'm afraid it's not that simple," explained the Baron. "Ghost-ship is rather complicated, you see. Some are quick, some take a bit more time. My guess is that he had some unfinished business, he wanted to get his brother before passing on."

"But he never will," realized Cecilia sadly. "They'll never see each other in death because he's stayed as a ghost."

The Baron nodded grimly. There was a short silence acknowledging the new ghost's eternal misery until Dom decided to break it.

"You're right, that sure is depressing." She noted with a laugh. "Merlin's beard, why would you tell us that? We're supposed to be celebrating."

"Well, I did tell you that it would be." The Baron said flatly, sighing and shaking his head.

"Nice talking to you as always, Baron! Thanks for the pleasant conversation!" Dom laughed. As she began to walk away, she linked arms with Cecilia, dragging her off too.

"Bye, Baron!" Cecilia grinned apologetically, and the Baron kindly tipped his head towards her with a smile in return.

While Dominique was drawn to the center of the room, where all of the life was, Celia preferred to sit a bit near the edge of all the fun and on look into all of the shenanigans that occurred. Older students introduced themselves to the new first-years and showed them around, from the bulletin board to the looking-glass wall peering into the Black Lake, where the giant squid swam by occasionally. It was fun to see their awe-induced reactions and giddy smiles towards all of the secrets that the old castle kept. First years were always enthralled at every twist and turn. Goodness, most of the older students were still captivated too, even after spending so much time at the castle, year after year.

As the night went on, students filtered out and went up to bed. The excitement dimmed and drowsiness set in as kids remembered their early classes the next morning. The room gradually quieted, until only four older students remained. Cecilia yawned, looking around at the small group that had formed around her. They closed in together cozily, blankets wrapped tightly against them, in a circle near the fire to keep warm in the frigid dungeon that they called home this time of year.

"Firewhisky, anyone?" Dominique asked suddenly, pulling out a bottle and brandishing it about proudly. A look of concern passed over Cecilia's face, wondering where on earth her friend had hidden that bottle. But then she realized that this was Dom she was dealing with, so she let it pass.

"Oi, Dom, it's only our first day back." piped up a fellow seventh-year with mousy brown hair and a devilish smile by the name of Samuel Bletchley. "Calm down a bit."

"Never, that's not my style." Dom grinned wickedly. "Want some or not?"

"No thanks, I'd rather not have a hangover for my first classes tomorrow, thanks." He rolled his eyes.

"Celia?"

"Ha, no, I'm agreeing with Bletchley on this one. I'll prefer to stay sober." Cecilia dismissively waved a hand.

"Boo," pouted Dom, pouring a glass for herself, and tentatively a second for another. "Emily, you'll be having some, right?"

"Of course." groaned the girl who was lying nearby on a couch with her hands covering her face. Her platinum blonde hair covered the disgruntled look on her face as she sat up. She reached a hand out and took the glass, nodding in approval. Emily Lockwood was another seventh-year student, completing the night-owl group of four. "God knows I need some," She commented. "After living with my parents, in the Muggle world, without magic, all summer. I love them, but I can't go that long without using my wand."

"I don't understand how you haven't gone crazy," commented Cecilia bemusedly.

"Oh, but I have."

"I'd love to see your reaction to the first Gryffindor that tests you." Samuel joked.

Emily laughed. "Me too. I swear, if I get one nasty bugger asking if my entire house hates me because I've been raised by Muggles, or if I've got a Dark Mark on my wrist, I'm sending Peeves after them."

"I don't blame you." snorted Samuel, grinning.

"Hey, have you guys heard that Flitwick might be retiring?" Dom perked up.

"No way," Cecilia scowled, furrowing a brow. "He'll keep on working 'till the day he dies."

"I'm just relaying information that my dad told me," shrugged Dom, "He does work with some people that would happen to be in the know."

"Well, I for one hope that's not true," Emily said, sitting up. "We can't lose one of our best teachers, especially with NEWTs coming up."

"That's true," agreed Sam, jutting a thumb at her in agreement. "Some teachers are barely competent, I swear."

Dominique snorted. "Binns has a reason, though. He's sort of, you know, dead. That doesn't exactly do well for lesson planning and deep thinking."

Cecilia giggled. "It is frustrating, though."

"Thank you!" Samuel laughed, "I mean, after all, you're the one who wants to write a book someday, and the ones he has us read are completely useless."

"Can't deny that," Celia said simply, hugging her knees. "At least his class is easy."

"Hear, hear!" Emily nodded vigorously in agreement. "Minimum effort makes a student happy."

"Speaking of classes that won't let you get by with minimum effort," Dominique simpered, "don't you have NEWT- level potions tomorrow?"

"Unfortunately," groaned Emily in dread, "I heard it's horribly difficult."

"It's horribly difficult to get into that class in the first place," Samuel said. "You're the only one who managed."

"I'm the only one that needs it for her future career," sighed Emily. "Hopefully I'll be touring for an internship at St. Mungo's this holiday."

"Oh, me too! Over the holidays the Kenmare Kestrels' scout wanted to visit with my parents, talk about my plans for graduation." Sam burst in ecstatically.

"Ah, yes, nothing says Merry Christmas like magical maladies and beaters to the head," Dominique whistled, making the others laugh.

"Seriously, though, you two, that's great." Celia smiled softly. "I'm really happy for you guys."

They both met her sincere gaze and smiled back. "Thank you,"

"Speaking of internships," Dominique remarked towards her dark-haired friend, "aren't you up for one too, Ceils? The Daily Prophet?"

Celia flushed as Sam and Emily reacted enthusiastically, getting up in her face.

"What?" gasped Sam, "You didn't tell us!"

"Did this happen over summer?" questioned Emily.

"Well, nothing's exactly set in stone yet-"

"But certainly you'll get it, right? I mean, your grandfather's a high up ministry man, surely he's got some influence."

"He didn't really want to go into detail in it at home," explained Cecilia, "But yeah, he's actually good friends with Mr. Goldstein. He said he's working on it."

"That's so exciting," Sam smiled.

Cecilia looked around awkwardly, unsure of how to respond to their compliments. "Thank you," She grinned nervously. "I'm working on something new now, but it needs a lot of revision before I even consider submitting it."

"I'm not sure what wisdom we'd be able to offer," Emily said, rising to her feet, "but if you need it, we're here." She looked down at her friends, yawning. "Well, I'm going to bed. Gotta be awake and alert for that potions class tomorrow. Night, guys."

Dominique got up too, eyeing Emily as she walked away. "I'm turning in too," she said. "Goodnight,"

So then it was just Cecilia and Sam, sitting, staring at the flickering flames. They both began to get up, too, murmuring to one another about early waking times for the next day.

But before Sam walked away to his dormitory, he turned to look Cecilia in the eyes. "You know what, you should have Professor Longbottom read your work," He advised kindly, stretching his bones. "You're lucky to have a good friendship with the best professor in the school, you should use it to your best advantage."

Cecilia stared at him blankly for a moment before his words truly registered. Her eyes widened and she snapped suddenly to life, nodding profusely. "Yeah! That's.. a really good idea," She pointed at her friend and smiled thankfully at him. "Thanks, Sam! I'll be sure to do that, I'll pay him a visit tomorrow during my free period."

"Night, Celia," Sam chuckled, shaking his head at her.

"Goodnight," said Cecilia. She turned down the hall towards her dormitory, she could hardly stop the gears from turning at full speed in her brain.