III: Inquiring

"Animal Talking"

'Thoughts'

Writing

"Spells"

"Speech"

Jayla's POV:

02/09/91 - Monday

I wake up earlier than usual, as I look at the clock by my bed to see it's only 6 o'clock in the morning. I guess it's the excitement of my first day of learning magic; I look over at the girls still asleep in their beds. I creep over to my clothes and dress into my uniform with the new Gryffindor additions and pick Hades up from my pillow as I walk over to write letters to my family. Hades still hasn't woken up just yet; I sit down at my small wooden desk with some parchment and a quill then place the sleeping Hades in my lap.

Mason,

I hope you're not missing me too much; I'm already missing all of you. I look forward to Christmas; I hope you haven't upset Yazmin already. I've thought of some pranks for us to pull on April Fools Day. Please don't upset Mum or Dad too much. Also, you'll love the train ride to Hogwarts it's lovely, and there's a surprise halfway through, and Hogwarts is bigger than the Manor with lots of stairs and rules, but once you come here, I'm sure you'll try to break. There are moving pictures like at home. I haven't learnt any new spells just yet in class as it's my first day now, but I'm sure I'll learn amazing spells today.

Missing you,

Jayjay

I smile down at the letter and follow it up before slipping it into an envelope and go onto my next letter.

I finish my last letter to my Father when I hear stirring from behind me; I look over my shoulder to see Hermione sitting up in her bed. "Morning." I greet her as I see her usually somewhat tamed bushy hair sticking up in odd angles. She snaps her head over looking at me.

"What time is it?" She asks me; I look over at my clock to see it's 6:48 meaning we only had 12 minutes till breakfast.

"12 to 7." I answer, she jumps out of bed and rushes to her drawers, seeing that Parvati still hasn't woken up yet. I sigh before getting up from my seat, forgetting Hades is on my lap, she falls to the floor with a grunt, I look down as she stretches and looks up at me.

"What. The. Hell." She groans as she trots over to my bed and tries getting up but keeps failing. I walk over to Parvati and shake her awake, she gets up more gracefully than Hermione, and they get dressed. I walk over to my bed and let Hades back on, but she ignores me and goes back to sleep, I get out her toys and my books, I place her toys on my bed for her to play with later.

Inquiring

In the Great Hall, it's quiet, everyone is drinking and eating, I look down at the food I'd taken, it felt nothing like Mum or Flora's cooking. I use my fork to play around with my scrambled eggs; I look over at Harry and Ron who seem just as tired as everyone else. Hermione starts fidgeting in her seat next to mine; I look over to see Professor McGonagall walking down the table of students handing out a piece of parchment. "What's going on?" I ask Hermione; she looks at me with a broad smile as Professor McGonagall hands over the piece of parchment to Harry and Hermione then Ron and me. I look at the piece of parchment with all my lessons for the week.

(Author Note: I've looked into this and have made a few guesses on some of the lesson times.)

Breakfast at 7 am till 9 am

Lessons last 1 hours 30 minutes each

A 10-minute break between lessons

1 hour for Lunch

Curfew is at 7 pm

Astronomy is at Midnight once a week

Monday:

1st Lesson: History of Magic

2nd Lesson: Transfiguration

Lunch

3rd Lesson: Charms

4th Lesson: Defence Against the Dark Arts

Dinner

Tuesday:

1st Lesson: Herbology

2nd Lesson: Defence Against the Dark Arts

Lunch

3rd Lesson: Transfiguration

4th Lesson: Charms

Dinner

Wednesday:

1st Lesson: Defence Against the Dark Arts

2nd Lesson: Transfiguration

Lunch

3rd Lesson: Herbology

4th Lesson: Charms

Dinner

5th Lesson: Astronomy

Thursday:

1st Lesson: Transfiguration

2nd Lesson: History of Magic

Lunch

3rd Lesson: Charms

4th Lesson: Studying (1st Week)

4th Lesson: Flying (2nd Week onward)

Dinner

Friday:

1st Lesson: Potions

2nd Lesson: Potions

Lunch

3rd Lesson: Defence Against the Dark Arts

4th Lesson: Herbology

Dinner

I look over my timetable with curiosity and remember all the times and room numbers; I look over at Hermione to see we have the same classes and take a guess that all first-year Gryffindors have the same lessons. "I can't wait." Hermione gushes, I giggle feeling slightly better and eat my scrambled eggs, Hermione gets up from her seat, I join her, and we head off to find our first classroom, History of Magic.

Inquiring

04/09/91 - Wednesday

It feels the same as every morning we get up from our beds, and I write a letter to my family and get dressed with Hades playing with her toys on my bed, Hermione now gets up on her own along with Parvati. I walk down the steps to the Common Room to see Harry and Ron whispering to themselves as they walk out, Hermione and I have grown closer to each other along with Parvati, and we walk off out for breakfast.

Inquiring

Breakfast is delicious though not as good as my Mum's or Flora's, and I eat while conversing with Hermione on the lessons today, we have DADA with Professor Quirrell who keeps stuttering and seems nervous of everything. Though if you heard the rumours that the position is cursed, I'd be the same. Anyway, I figure it's time to make it to DADA and Hermione joins me, over the last couple of days I have to say me and Hermione have grown really close, and I could tell by the end of the year we'll be best friends.

Inquiring

DADA was taking too long for my liking as we were learning about simple curses or jinxes that I already learnt from Dad and Professor kept looking around being his paranoid self. I was at this moment reading the book we've had assigned at the beginning of the year, The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection it was an exciting read. Hermione snaps her arm up to answer a question, but Quirrell just ignores her like most of the teachers so far and picks another student.

Finally, it's finished. I quickly get up from my seat and pack my books and writing equipment putting it all into my bag and rush with Hermione to find our Transfiguration class, even though we get a ten-minute break between each lesson at the moment it's just to find our class.

Inquiring

"I can't believe we had to listen to Quirrell going on about the leg lock jinx, I've already learnt it why should I care." I hear a Slytherin in front of me complaining, though I did somewhat agree. I try tuning them out as Hermione goes on about something and try tuning in but thankfully I didn't have enough time as we reach Professor McGonagall's classroom. I walk inside and sit down at the first desk that takes my fancy, I unpack my book and look over as Hermione joins me. I look around to see Parvati sitting across from us; I look around to see two seats vacant.

"Where's Harry and Ron?" I whisper to Hermione as McGonagall begins her lesson.

"I don't know." Hermione replies in a whisper before putting her finger to her lips telling me not to talk anymore and pay attention to the Professor. I snap my head to face her and listen as she goes on.

"Today we will be going over the Transfiguration Alphabet, let's begin." She begins and walks over to her chalkboard showing us the symbols. "Look to your books on Chapter 2 for reference and copy down the sequences." As she finishes I venture into my bag to find my quill and begin writing when I look up a tabby cat is sitting watching over us on Professor McGonagall's desk. I wasn't too surprised, Mum told me about McGonagall being an Animagus, I've always wanted to be one once I get old enough as Dad is a registered one, he said he'd help me once I reach sixteen as a birthday present.

The door bursts open ten minutes into the lesson; I look up from my writing to see Harry and Ron catching their breath. "Whew, amazing, can you imagine the look on old McGonagall's face if we were late?" Ron stupidly asks but McGonagall in her cat form jumps off the desk turning back into her human form, it really was a sight. "That was bloody brilliant." Ron gapes along with Harry.

"Thank you for that assessment, Mr Weasley. Maybe if I were to Transfigure Mr Potter and yourself into a pocket watch, maybe one of you would be on time." Professor McGonagall snaps at them with a scowl on her face.

"We got lost." Harry mutters but still audible.

"Then perhaps a map? I trust you don't need one to find your seats." She questions, they sit down, and we continue with our lesson.

Inquiring

Lessons finish for the day, it's dinner time, and everyone is inside bustling about the day, I sit with Hermione and the boys. "I can't believe you were late to McGonagall's lesson again." I tease them as I eat my food, Ron scrunches up his nose in annoyance.

"We got caught up." Harry replies as he eats too.

"Caught up, yeah right you were messing around." I reply and look at the boys and Hermione eats as we converse.

Inquiring

06/09/91 - Friday

My little Yazz,

I'm missing you all so very much now it's been nearly a week since I last saw you all, I feel like things are getting better though yesterday was interesting I got to learn a new spell in Charms class it's called Lumos it emits light from the end of your wand.

I look forward to learning more. I hope to hear from you again, I've received every letter and drawing you've given me. I hope to fill my room full of them by the end of the year.

With joyful love

Lala

I finish the last of my letters to my family; I smile as I put them in my pocket to give them to the family owl Ryder though Dad actually owns him. I look behind me to see the girls ready for another day; we have Potions first, a double lesson with Professor Snape, I'm not entirely looking forward to this lesson as Mum used to be friends with him, but he shouldn't blame the child for the parents' mistakes or actions right?

Inquiring

Potions class is in the dungeons which smell funny, but that's probably all the potion ingredients inside the room, and the Slytherin's Common Room is said to be down here too. Inside I sit between Ron and Hermione with Harry next to Hermione; Professor Snape has yet to arrive even though he left before all of us at breakfast. I chat with Hermione about classes today when the door slams open, and Professor Snap rushes into the room and stands at the front.

He leans as he looks over the room of all us students. "There will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to enjoy the subtle science and exact art that is potion making. However, for those select few-" He gives a little speech and looks over at Draco as he says the next bit which gives him a smug smile. ", who possess the predisposition I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory and even put a stopper in death." This gains my attention more as I look up intrigued but Professor seems taken by something, I look in the same direction to see Harry writing something down. "Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of abilities so formidable that you feel confident enough to not… pay… attention." I look over as Hermione nudges Harry in the ribs making him look up at Professor Snape as he looks down at him. "Mr Potter. Our… new… celebrity. Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Snape asks him, but this was third-year questions, and he didn't grow up knowing this stuff or read the books before unlike Hermione who shoots her hand up. Harry shrugs his shoulders in reply which doesn't seem to deter Snape from pulling Harry down. "You don't know? Well, let's try again. Where Mr Potter, would you look if I asked you to find me a bezoar?" He asks another ridiculously question that Harry wouldn't know the answer but that doesn't stop Hermione as she shoots her arm up into the air. She looks fit to burst, but I just grab her arm and pull it down before she gets told off.

"I don't know, sir." Harry replies looking a little upset at the fact, or just that he was being singled out.

"And what is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfbane?" Snape questions but again Harry replies with another "I don't know, sir." "Pity. clearly, fame isn't everything, is it, Mr Potter?" It's a rhetorical question, and he begins talking about ingredients and there uses in common potions along with other uses besides just potion ingredients.

I feel that the lesson will never end but as a gloomy feeling begins to tread over my skin, the bell tolls meaning the end of the class, and it's time for lunch. I could feel my stomach grumble since I didn't eat much at breakfast as Mum had written a four pages letter to me and I had three other letters to read through, I hope tomorrow the letters aren't as long.

Inquiring

12/09/91 - Thursday

It's been a week now, and everything has settled it's become easier to wake for breakfast now. I sit across from Hermione as I finish my letter to my Mum as Yazmin has gotten sick again, she only gets sick around this time of the year. I look over at Seamus as he continues to try the spell to turn water into rum but it won't work. Everyone else is either writing letters home like me or doing their homework they forgot to do the last night. "Eye of rabbit, harp string hum. Turn this water, into rum." Seamus looks into the cup but again shakes his head in disappointment before trying again.

"What's Seamus trying to do to that glass of water?" Harry innocently asks Ron.

"Turn it into rum. Actually managed a weak tea yesterday, before…" Ron explains when a loud explosion sounds of one of Seamus' failed spells, the cup had exploded, he looks stunned with soot in his face. Us students laugh with him when, suddenly, a flock of owls come through the open window and fly around the rafters.

"Ah, Mail's here!" Ron exclaims.

"Finally." I mutter as more owls come through, dropping parcels and letters to students, I see Ryder swoop down. I hold my arm out, and he perches down and drops four letters down in front of me, I replace them with four of my own, once down he flies off to deliver my letters. I rip open the ones from my parents and read through them; it was more miss yous, I smile and look up as Harry seeing him reading Ron's newspaper.

"Hey, look! Neville's got a Remembrall!" Dean points out; I look over at the clumsy Wizard to see him holding a clear ball with gold rings around it.

"I've read about those. When the smoke turns red, it means you've forgotten something." Hermione explains and as she does the small ball fills with clouds of red smoke.

"The only problem is, I can't remember what I've forgotten." Neville replies looking over at us.

"Hey, Ron, somebody broke into Gringotts. Listen, Believed to be the work of dark Witches or Wizards unknown, Gringotts Goblins, while acknowledging the breach, insist that nothing was taken. The vault in question, number 713, had in fact been emptied earlier that same day. That's odd. That's the vault Hagrid, and I went to." Harry says looking at his friend, I snatch the paper off him and look at the words hoping that Darkmore wasn't in there.

"What's wrong Jayla?" Hermione asks leaning on my shoulder as she looks at the newspaper.

"That vault is three away from my family vault; it has all our money and family heirlooms." I explain as I look up.

"What kind of heirlooms?" Ron asks seeming cautious, probably thinking something scary.

"Well, there's my Grandfather's pocket watch which is over three hundred years old. Though there are some curse objects but that's from Dad's job." I answer Ron looks even more scared than when he saw that spider last night in the Common Room. "Shut up, Ron." I snap and walk off leaving them behind. I look over my Dad's letter again as he talks about Yazmin's sickness getting worse.

Inquiring

Finally, it's the lesson I've been waiting for, Flying lessons though they are with Slytherin, but I can make do, for now, I stand with the rest of the Gryffindors along in a line the same with the snakes. There's a broom by our sides, and Madam Hooch struts down the middle of the line observing us as she goes by. "Good afternoon, class." She greets us as she stops at the end of the line looking down at us.

"Good afternoon, Madam Hooch." We all greet her back.

"Good afternoon, Amanda, good afternoon. Welcome to your first flying lesson. Well, what are you waiting for? Everyone step up to the left side of their broomstick. Come on now, hurry up. Stick your right hand over the broom and say, Up!" She instructs us, I look down at the broom lying on the ground and clear my mind.

"Up!" I command along with the rest of my classmates; the broom flies into my hand on the first try. I look up smiling proud of myself and see that Harry's has done the same.

"With feeling!" Madam Hooch advises the rest, but some of them are still struggling with it.

"Up!" Hermione keeps repeating, but it just rolls around on the ground.

"Up!" Ron tries it, but his broom seems annoyed and flies up at him, it collides with his nose and falls back to the ground, he groans in pain, and Harry laughs. "Shut up, Harry." He groans again holding his injured nose.

"Now, once you've got hold of your broom, I want you to mount it. And grip it tight, you don't want to be sliding off the end." Madam Hooch instructs, I follow her instructions and mount the broom cautiously as I do. "When I blow my whistle, I want each of you to kick off from the ground, hard. Keep your broom steady, hover for a moment, and then lean forward slightly and touch back down. On my whistle... 3...2…" She blows on her whistle making a high pitch tweet, and Neville immediately lifts off of the ground, he looks around in fright as if he has no control. "Mr Longbottom." She calls out, but it doesn't seem to do much.

"Neville, what are you doing?" Lavender asks as he floats in the air next to her.

"Neville… Neville…" We call out to him.

"We're not supposed to take off, yet." Nott points out the obvious, but Neville soars off.

"M-M-Mr Longbottom. Mr Longbottom!" Madam Hooch calls out as he gives out a cry for help. "Mr Longbottom!"

"Down! Down!" He cries out, but the broomstick doesn't pay any mind to the scared boy's wishes and soars away.

"Neville!" Harry shouts out to our housemate.

"Help!" Neville cries out from the sky.

"Come back down this instant!" Madam Hooch demands but all Neville could do is cries boys'out as the broomstick soars through the sky and hits the wall of the old castle, it bashes along the side then swoops off. Neville screams in fright as he's toss around and he zooms backwards towards us; Madam Hooch holds out her want about to try and stops him.

"Help!" Neville screams as he comes closer.

"Mr Longbottom!" Madam Hooch shouts, and he comes closer, we scatter, and Madam Hooch dives out of the way landing on the grass, Neville goes through the gap we'd made and flies up the tower behind us. Neville goes past a statue at the top of the wall; the sharp spear catches Neville's cloak, he flips off the broom and hangs there. He gives out noises of fright as he hangs there, he waves as the cloak begins to rip, it soon gives way and falls before being caught by the torch and slips again and falls to the ground with a thud. I look down as he cries out in pain, Madam Hooch dashes over to us. "Everyone out of the way!" She runs through our group, and we move out of her way, she dashes to Neville's side helping him up. "Come on, get up." She helps him carefully.

"Is he alright?" Hermione asks, next to me as we peer at the scene, Madam Hooch holds his hand, and he gives a cry of pain.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh dear. It's a broken wrist. Tch, tch, tch. Good boy, come on now, up you get." Madam Hooch soothes her voice and helps Neville up to his feet keeping his hand steady. I look over to see Draco pick something up from the ground but pay no mind for now as Madam Hooch leads Neville over to us. "Everyone's to keep their feet firmly on the ground while I take Mr Longbottom to the hospital wing. Understand? If I see a single broom in the air, the one riding it will find themselves out of Hogwarts before they can say, Quidditch." Madam Hooch warms us and walks off leaving us all alone, Draco snickers to himself.

"Did you see his face? Maybe if the fat lump had given this a squeeze, he'd have remembered to fall on his fat ass." Draco teases the poor injured Gryffindor and laughs making his snotty friends laugh along with him.

"Give it here, Malfoy." Harry steps up behind him, Draco turns around with a scowl on his face looking down at Harry.

"No. I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find." Draco argues and hops on the broomstick and sweeps to the side and hops on and soars through the group. "How 'bout up on the roof?" He passes and goes off hovering in the sky. "What's the matter, Potter? Bit beyond your reach?" He calls down, Harry grabs his broomstick and runs to get on, but Hermione stops him.

"Harry, no! You heard what Madam Hooch said! Besides, you don't even know how to fly." Hermione reasons but it don't seem to do anything as he hops on and soars off after Draco. "What an idiot."

"Think about it; he's a boy." I joke as we all look up with Harry now in the air across from Draco. The boys have a quick argument before Harry dashes Draco, but he twirls around under his broom back around, he turns around to look at Harry before throwing the Remembrall away. Harry zooms after the clear ball, speeding towards a tower, just before he can hit the window, he spins in the air and heads back over to us, he holds up the Remembrall. I race with the rest of the Gryffindors and cheer for him.

"Good job, Harry!" Dean cheers as he all pat him on the back.

"Oh, that was wicked, Harry." Seamus adds on.

"Harry Potter?" Professor McGonagall calls out, we all look over at her as she stands there. "Follow me." She orders him, and he follows behind as we watch on worried for our friend as Draco and his goons laugh.

"Do you think Harry will be okay?" Hermione asks all I can do is shrug because who knows.

After Madam Hooch came back letting us all know Neville would be okay, she dismissed us allowing us to leave early which I was thankful for as the other class finished early every week.

Inquiring

I walk down a hallway with Hermione when we pass the trophy case; I take a quick glance like always when something inside catches my eye. I stop dead and peer inside to see the name James Potter written on a golden badge. It's Harry's Dad! "What is it?" Hermione asks me, I look behind me at her and point to the golden plack.

"Its Harry's Dad." I answer and know we have some catching up to do with a few other friends. "Come on; I'm sure we'll find the boys later." I tell her and drag her to the courtyard.

Inquiring

I sit on the ground in front of Hermione as we listen to the Professor go on, it was Hermione's idea as I was struggling on History of Magic at the moment, so she's making me listen to it outside of class. "Oh, go on, Harry, Quidditch is great. Best game there is! And you'll be great, too!" Ron announces himself as the boys walk past us, I jump to my feet wanting away from the snooze fest.

"But I've never even played Quidditch. What if I make a fool of myself?" Harry asks with worry.

"You won't make a fool of yourself. It's in your blood." Hermione points out what we'd found earlier.

"How would you know?" Ron demands, puffing out his chest.

"Come with us." I tell him and drag him along with Harry and Hermione behind us.

Inquiring

I drag the boys along with Hermione down the hallway from before to the trophy case, I point at the plaque of Quidditch players, with one of them being Harry's Father as Seeker (Author Note: though it says otherwise on the internet? It says Chaser?) "Whoa, Harry, you never told me your Father was a Seeker, too." Ron gushes over his friend.

"I didn't know." Harry admits.

"It's not surprising." I comment and look at the name of my Mum as Head Girl. Sophia Malfoy.

"What is it?" Hermione asks looking at the plaque with me seeing all the names of the previous Head Boys and Girls.

"Looks like a Malfoy was Head Girl in…" Ron joins in.

"In 1977, a Ravenclaw." I finish, I can feel them looking at me. "Following her was James Potter and Lily Evans." I'd had enough of looking at my Mum's past; she never liked talking about it when it came to our family as well if you weren't in Slytherin you weren't family.

Inquiring

The four of us walk up the staircase heading back to the Common Room as our curfew was going to start soon, I hear a noise but pay it no mind. "I'm telling you, it's spooky. They know more about you than you do." Ron comments ahead of me.

"Who doesn't?" Harry argues lightly, when suddenly the staircase shudders and begins moving to the side, I grab hold of the railing to steady myself.

"What's happening?" Harry asks looking around.

"The staircases change, remember?" Hermione points out, and the staircase comes to a stop, but it's not where we want it to go.

"Let's go this way." Harry suggests and taps Ron on the shoulder.

"Before the staircase moves again." Ron adds on spooked; Harry opens the door in front of us.

Inquiring

Inside it's dark and creepy. "Does anyone feel like… we shouldn't be here?" Harry asks looking around the room.

"We're not supposed to be here. This is the third floor. It's forbidden." I snap, realising where we were and how much trouble we'll be in. Suddenly, a flame lights on one of the tall stone supports, at that moment, Mrs Norris, the Caretaker's cat runs in behind us making us jump.

"Let's go." Harry suggests as the cat meows again.

"It's Filch's cat!" Ron panics.

"Run!" Harry exclaims making the fright to us, and we run off with the flames light as we pass, we get to the end of the corridor where there's a door, Harry grabs the handle, but it won't budge. "It's locked!" He exclaims as he tries opening the door.

"That's it; we're done for!" Ron cries out fearing the worst.

"Oh, move over!" Hermione snaps and pushes him aside as she pulls out her wand. "Alohomora." The lock on the door unlocks and opens for us, I open the door. "Get in." She orders the boys, and they follow me inside.

Inquiring

"Alohomora?" Ron asks her confused.

"Standard book of spells, chapter 7." I answer already knowing the spell along with Hermione. I put my ear to the door and hear Mr Filch leave.

"Filch is gone." Hermione informs us.

"Probably thinks the door's locked." Ron reasons.

"It was locked." I argue as we walk over to Harry in the entranceway to the room.

"And for good reason." Harry points out, and we look over at what he's looking at, I look to see a massive three-headed dog sleeping on the floor in front of us, the dog stirs from its sleep, it growls, yawning and growls more seeming to notice us. We all scream looking at it as we bolt out of the door as the dog heads fight to get to us.

Inquiring

I push on the door with the others by my side, the dog's heads push the door as we fight with it, soon we manage to close the door, I lock the door but it rattles, and I hear the dog's barking and growling on the other side. "Get back here!"

"Trespassers!" The voices shout and I knew it was the dogs; they were protecting something. But what? I look back at Hermione and the boys are racing off probably back to the Common Room.

'What are they hiding in there?' I thought to myself and quickly follow after the others.

Inquiring

I walk in behind the others into the Gryffindor room, trying to catch my breath from the dash we'd done. "What do they think they're doing? Keeping a thing like that locked up in a school." Ron exclaims dramatically.

"You don't use your eyes, do you? Didn't you see what it was standing on?" Hermione asks cutting into Ron's rant.

"I wasn't looking at its feet! I was a bit preoccupied with its heads. Or maybe you didn't notice; there were three!" Ron exclaims rather loudly, and we climb the stairs to our dorms.

"I was standing on a trap door. Which means it wasn't there by accident, it's guarding something." Hermione points out.

"Guarding something?" Harry asks as if she'd know the answer.

"A Cerberus is known to be good guard dogs." I add-in, now thinking about it more calmly.

"That's right. Now, if you two don't mind, we're going to bed before either of you come up with another clever idea to get us killed… or worse, expelled!" Hermione snaps at them, and we head into the girl's staircase and up to the door with our names on.

"Hermione, do you really think being expelled is worse than being killed?" I inquire as she opens our dorm room door.