The next week, the Gryffindors awake to a rather exciting post on the noticeboard. Quidditch tryouts will be held next week. You're alright at flying, but you don't think you're going to try out. After all, you're only a first-year. From what you hear, there is one first-year trying out. You only have to look straight ahead of you to find out whom. Terezi Pyrope. Oh, she's awesome. You hope she makes it. You heard her sister was on the team as well, as a chaser. You feel a nudge to your arm. Of course, it's Egbert. Evidently he's seen you staring at Pyrope over there.

EB: You liiiike her~

CG: NO I DON'T.

Shit. You're blushing. John giggles.

CG: WELL YOU LIKE THAT SERKET CHICK.

Now it's John's turn to blush.

EB: N-no! That's crazy!

You snicker and look back over to Terezi. There's a girl next to her who looks like she could be her sister. You realise that she probably is. You look over to where your brother is supposedly studying to see him staring at the girl with a dreamy look on his face. You raise your eyebrows and walk over to him.

CG: HEY, KANKRI.

He snaps out of his trance and goes back to his arithmancy book.

KANKRI: What is it, Karkat? I'm studying.

CG: STUDYING WHAT? THAT GIRL OVER THERE?

He blushes. You smirk.

CG: I NEVER THOUGHT YOU WOULD EVER ACTUALLY HAVE A CRUSH ON SOMEONE.

KANKRI: I d9 n9t have a crush.

CG: KEEP TELLING YOURSELF THAT.

You roll your eyes and walk away.

Ugh. This stupid essay. No matter how hard you try, you can't figure out which point is supposed to be in the third paragraph. You asked John and Tavros, but they don't know either. Your pride won't let you ask any teachers, so you just sit in the library with John, going through books.

GC: H3Y. YOU'R3 K4RK4T, R1GHT?

Your heart seems to stop. You look up at Terezi, nervously. You hope she doesn't notice your blush.

CG: YEAH. WHY?

GC: C4N YOU F1GUR3 OUT TH1S POT1ONS 3SS4Y?

CG: NO, THIS SHIT IS IMPOSSIBLE.

GC: M4YB3 YOU SHOULD GO 4SK SN4P3. TH3N YOU COULD COM3 B4CK 4ND T3LL 4LL OF US. TH4T WOULD B3 TOT4LLY R4D.

CG: YOU… YOU WANT ME TO GO ASK SNAPE?

GC: W3LL 1T WOULD B3 4W3SOM3 1F YOU WOULD.

And suddenly your pride is gone.

CG: UH, SURE. I'LL GO ASK HIM.

John looks at you incredulously as you put your essay in your bag and start to head out of the library.

GC: 1'M T3R3Z1 PYROP3, BY TH3 W4Y.

CG: I KNOW.

And with that, you leave the library. You wonder where your potions master could be. You decide to check the teacher's lounge. You reach the teacher's lounge, open the door, and peek in. Your much-hated potions professor, Snape, had his bleeding leg hoisted up on the table. Has he been bitten by something?

SNAPE: That thing bit me again! How is anyone supposed to get past a three-headed dog? Honestly…

Three-headed dog? Snape tried to get past that thing?

FILCH: Didn't I tell you? I heard from the groundskeeper that all you got to do is play it some music and it'll just fall asleep.

Your eyes widen.

SNAPE: It would have been in both of our best interests if you had told me sooner.

Suddenly Filch looks in your direction.

FILCH: Vantas!

You gasp and step backwards as Snape looks toward you with a murderous expression. Suddenly you don't know if Pyrope is worth getting scared out of your pants for.

SNAPE: What do you want?

CG: I-I-I JUST H-HAD A QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ESSAY….

Fucking stutter. You feel like Tavros.

SNAPE: Get out!

You jump, nod, and run. You meet John halfway to the library and accidentally run into him.

EB: Karkat! What happened? What's wrong?

CG: SNAPE… THREE-HEADED DOG… BITTEN… MUSIC…

EB: Woah woah woah wait. Slow down. What about that dog?

You lean on the wall to catch your breath.

CG: SNAPE IS TRYING TO GET PAST THAT DOG. LAST TIME HE GOT BITTEN. FILCH SAID YOU CAN GET PAST IT BY PLAYING MUSIC.

EB: Seriously?! Woah. You think he's going to try and steal whatever it's guarding?

CG: YEAH.

EB: What do we do? Tell Headmaster Dumbledore?

CG: NO. WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROOF.

EB: Then what?

CG: THERE'S ONLY ONE THING WE CAN DO. GO AFTER IT OURSELVES.

EB: But you said we're never going back there-

CG: I KNOW WHAT I SAID.

EB: When should we do it?

CG: …..

CG: WE'LL DO IT NEXT WEEK.