Sipher looked down on Arthur, the pair blanketed by night and surrounded by trees, dark and looming. She smirked as Arthur got to his feet. "Don't tell me you have something to do with that," she teased in the moonlight.

"It attacked me," he spoke defensively; harshness spiking his tone in reflex.

Sipher's face was a mask of pearl skin and ebony makeup, steely countenance reflecting none of the skeptical amusement in her voice. "And you killed it?"

Arthur ignored the tone, suddenly business-like in his approach to the matter. He needed to hide the giant and return before he was caught. "I'm gonna put it in the lake." Everything else was secondary, including Sipher's belittling. He straightened his cloak and walked past her toward the rotten hulk wasting by the shore.

"Were you scared?"

He heard her question from behind while preparing a spell to push the body into the water. He bit at the urge but couldn't resist looking back at Sipher, a teasing curve in her lips, a smoky haze over her eyes. Arthur couldn't take his eyes away from her. He could only see part of her beneath the stars and shadows, her partly obscured form striking an unsettling balance between attractive and frightening.

"Don't forget the writing on its chest." She pointed passed him and Arthur returned focus to the dead giant. Sure enough there were markings cut into the creature's torso. At first they appeared to be random but looking closer Arthur saw it could be writing as Sipher suggested. Kneeling by the body, Arthur pointed his wand at the ragged, illegible markings and used a recollection charm to memorize them. Afterward, he stood and gathered his focus, aiming at the giant and taking a breath.

Arthur spoke and the overly large corpse lifted from the ground and drifted toward the lake. He pushed with his wand to get the giant further out into the lake; the further out it was, the less likely it was to be found. Finally, Arthur released the undead from his spell, dropping it into the water and feeling a bit of stress evaporate. He was relieved but only just; Arthur had the feeling there was something more to this attack. For now however, he'd been out too long and needed to get back the castle before being caught. Arthur turned away from the shore and toward the trees, expecting to see Sipher.

She was gone without a word, leaving him to wonder what she was doing by the lake as he walked, leaves crunching in the dark. It would seem that the undead body caught her attention. Just what he needed: another person who knew about the attack. On a slow walk back to Hogwarts, he thought to himself. It was late and Arthur reached the castle on sore legs. He took a side route through the castle to keep the least profile as possible. No one saw him as he traveled to the Hufflepuff common room , knocked on the barrel and ducked inside, letting the yellow-orange warmth come over him. Cold clung to his cloak as he stepped through the round door. Barely two steps in, an energetic, optimistic blond rushed to hug him. Penelle.

"Arthur what took so long?" Her voice was muffled until she pulled away from him. "Ah, you're cold."

"I'll live," Arthur managed through the fatigue.

Penelle began to tug on his arm. "C'mon, you need to warm up."

"I need to sleep, Penelle." Arthur did not resist, but he did not go along with it either.

"Wha- okay," Penelle accepted Arthur's tiredness and let him go. "Goodnight."

His eyes lingered on her and hers lingered on him. There was more to be said, yet neither spoke. Arthur pulled away from her and turned for his room, a voice inside nagging at him immediately afterward.

What is that feeling?

Whatever it was he ignored it and closed the door behind him once inside, taking his cloak off soon after and throwing it across the chair at his desk. He sighed, spent from the second late-night outing of the week. Moments later Arthur was in bed, wishing he'd been there earlier. Fortunately, tomorrow was the weekend, so maybe he could catch up on sleep.

A little past noon, a knock at the door caused Arthur to groan and open an eye lazily.

"Who is it?" he managed despite his lack of functionality.

"You know who," the voice sung. "You've been asleep all morning!" Arthur grumbled yet smiled to himself.

"Give me a minute," he called to the door.

"Don't take too long," Penelle instructed. "I wanna talk to you, okay?"

Arthur got up and proceeded to make himself somewhat presentable. He avoided looking at his watch, knowing he had wasted more than half of the day. Instead he made sure to bring his wand and parchment with him on the way into the common room. Penelle was sitting on an overstuffed sofa, one of many around a longtable decorated with trinkets and collectibles. Other members of Hufflepuff were gathered as well talking about a trip to Hogsmeade and the latest Quidditch match. Arthur greeted some of his acquaintances then took a seat beside Penelle who looked at him expectantly. Arthur returned the look quizzically.

"Well, what happened?" she asked in hushed voice.

"What happened?"

"In the forest?" Penelle clarified.

"I hid the b- " Arthur stopped himself, gauged his surroundings, and chose his words more carefully. "I hid it in the lake."

Penelle wrung her hands. "Did anyone one see?"

Arthur wondered whether to tell her about Sipher. Knowing would only make Penelle worry, he figured. "Ya, a girl from Slytherin."

Penelle gasped and others in the common room turned to look. "Don't worry, I don't think she'll tell." Arthur tried to reassure her. He was only partially successful.

"What makes you say that?"

"Trust me," Arthur spoke and Penelle's expression soured. Arthur cringed. It was only a hunch, a base impression, but if what he thought was the truth then Sipher was someone they needed to keep their distance with. Better safe than sorry, even if Penelle was a little irritated by the secrecy.

"What's that?" Penelle asked to change the subject some. She gestured to the wand and paper in Arthur's hand.

"There was some writing carved into it," he explained while setting the paper between them on the sofa. "I used a charm to copy the message." Arthur pointed his wand and muttered a spell which spawned a flash of black. When the darkness cleared the scrawled, gnarling writing was transferred to the page.

Penelle looked at the paper uselessly then turned to Arthur. "What does it say?"

"No idea," he admitted readily. "Olmeir should be able to figure it out though." Arthur gathered the paper and his wand, and then stood from the couch. He looked back at Penelle. "Come on, he's probably at the library."

"What's he doing at the library in the afternoon?" Penelle asked while following Arthur out of the common room and into the stony halls to the castle. Bricked walls passed on either side of them as they walked.

"Studying." Arthur shrugged. "It's pretty much all he does."

"Really?" Penelle looked over to Arthur as they ascended a flight of stairs. "You study a lot lately, too."

"Ya." Arthur wished he didn't. He was starting to get a headache from so many late nights. "I need a good grade in Astronomy."

"Why?" Penelle asked with playfulness then proceeded to take a guess. "Is it you parents?" Arthur, however did not smile; he immediately thought of the letter from his mother. Fortunately, he returned from his troubling thoughts before she noticed. The undead giant problem was already out but he was going to keep his trouble at home to himself.

He shook his head. "I have an agreement with Professor Sinistra," Arthur explained, lowering his voice while pulling open the door to the library. "I earn perfect marks and she shows me… something."

"Oh, a surprise?" Penelle squealed before realizing they had entered the archive, towers of tomes reaching to the ceiling with the same earthy aura as the potions room. Penelle adjusted her voice before continuing. "That sounds like fun."

"Ya, maybe." Arthur couldn't judge. He wondered what the professor had in store, thoughts drifting as he moved through the shelves, looking for Olmeir. Could it be a present, or a spell, or perhaps something he would never guess?

"Hey," Penelle whispered sharply. "Don't be so skeptical." She held a stern face until Arthur looked at her, at which time she smiled brightly, causing him to grin as well. He shook his head at her liveliness.

They reached Olmeir soon afterward, and joined him at his table in an especially empty area of the library. Books and notes were laid out before Olmeir and he looked up to see Arthur and Penelle.

"What's up?" Arthur reached into his cloak to draw out the gnarled message.

"Hi, Olmeir," Penelle squeaked, waving eagerly and sitting across from the Ravenclaw.

"Hello," Olmeir returned properly before looking up at Arthur. "Is that for me?" he asked, referring to the paper in Arthur's hand.

"Sort of." Arthur unfolded the paper and handed it to Olmeir who took it cautiously before turning to look at the ugly writing copied from the giant's chest. "Can you figure out what this says?"

Olmeir adjusted his glassed and studied the note for a long while. He grumbled to himself, seeming to be close to the answer but not quite getting it. "I've never seen anything this like before," Olmeir announced then looked up, first at Penelle then at Arthur who was now leaning on the table. "Where did you find this?"

"The giant I told you about?" Arthur began and pointed to the paper in Olmeir's hand. "That was cut into its chest."

Olmeir winced; he obviously didn't want any part of anything involving the attack. He returned the paper to Arthur and sighed. "I'll be able to decipher it once I've done some research."

"You're not as smart as I thought you were." Arthur smirked and got off of the table as Olmeir stood then returned his chair.

Penelle stood as well and gave Arthur a look. "What he means is 'Thanks, Olmeir, you're so helpful.""

Olmeir shrugged, gathering his materials and heading off. "Quite alright Penelle; cretins are not known for their gratitude."

Arthur watched and followed him. "Where're you going?" Arthur called while keeping his voice low.

"To my room to drop off my books."

"And after that?"

"The Room of Doom," Olmeir spoke. His tone told Arthur he was expecting what came next.

"You're going to that meeting? For real?" That was not a good idea at all.

"I need practical experience for my O.W.L. exam." Olmeir's mind was probably made up but Arthur went on anyway, walking along with him toward the exit.

"Olmeir, there's a better way." Their pace quickened. "Sipher is dangerous."

"She's done no wrong so far, and my academics are of the utmost importance." Olmeir had the final word as he turned to leave the library, cloak fluttering behind him. Arthur glared after his friend.

How can someone be so intelligent and dumb at the same time?

"Who's Sipher?" Penelle asked after catching up with Arthur, interrupting his thoughts.

"A Slytherin witch I met in Dark Arts class." He returned to last night in the forest. Her liquid black lips and pale face flashed in his mind's eye and Arthur's breath before the vision passed and he continued. "I have a bad feeling about her."

They were both quiet for a moment until Penelle offered, "You could go with him." Arthur looked at her and she went on to explain. "So you can watch out for each other."

He considered that for a moment. If Olmeir was going to be in a questionable situation, it would be better if he had some support, just in case.

"You're right." Arthur decided. "Let's go."