Noel had watched Draco Malfoy fly up with Neville Longbottom's rememberall, Harry Potter chase after him and catch the rememberall before it smashed, and Professor McGonagall come out of the castle beckoning for Harry to come with her.

"Serves him right," she heard Draco announced to his friends after McGonagall and Harry had left, "for defending that idiot Longbottom. Probably going to get expelled now." He gave one last victorious look before Madame Hooch returned.

"I ran into Professor McGonagall on the way back," Madame Hooch stated. "I hope none of you will try any of that funny business. Now gather back around, I still have my lesson to teach." The first years gathered as they had done before, all holding their brooms. "You all remember the proper technique for sitting on the broom, yes? Good, now get on and we'll try hovering again."

The lesson continued until Madame Hooch deemed everyone somewhat acceptable in basic, low flying.

"I would highly recommend practicing more, especially if you want to join your house's Quidditch team. The student brooms are always available. Feel free to take them from the shed and fly around the Quidditch pitch. Just make sure you aren't disturbing any practices. Good day to you all." And with that she ended the lesson.


"It was probably the best feeling ever," Noel finished telling Jay about her flying experience as they walked to the owlery. He was talking with his friends before she saw him. He came over to ask how her lesson went and when he bid her a good bye, they had left. So he decided to join her in going up to the owlery.

"Have you thought about trying out for Quidditch next year?" Jay asked. "From what you keep telling me, flying is the easiest and best thing you've ever tried."

Noel pondered this for a moment. She didn't really know anything about Quidditch except the basics on how it was played. "Maybe," she responded. "But I'd have to watch a game first before deciding anything."

Jay nodded. "You know how it's played, right?"

"Of course. Before coming here, I had my mother tell me everything she could think of about the Wizarding world. She never played, but she went to every Hufflepuff game. Hufflepuff was her house, by the way. She knew how it was played." She paused. "Do you play?"

"No," he said quickly. "I never wanted to. But if you want to practice for next year, I can help you. I've helped my friends last year practice for this year's try-outs. They didn't make it," he finished with a smile. They had reached the bottom steps up to the owlery.

"What position did they try out for?" Noel inquired.

"One tried out for Keeper, and the other Seeker."

"That's what I think I would be best at; Seeker," she said. "But I think I would want to play Beater."

"Why?" Jay asked climbing up the last step.

"Purposely hitting balls towards people? Sounds kind of fun. And almost no girls really play Beater." Noel paused to whistle. Sherlock came from one of high ledges with much excitement. He was always excited to deliver letters. Noel pulled out two letters from her robes and handed them to Sherlock. "Take these home," she explained. "Don't come back until you have two replies."

Sherlock hooted affectionately and took off.

"About you wanting to be a Beater," Jay said when they descended back to the grounds.

"What about it?" Noel asked mockingly.

"There hasn't been a girl Beater here for decades," he informed. "Probably around sixty years ago. And before her, there are only four or five."

"Do you have a point to this?"

Jay smiled. "What I'm saying is, if you really want to be a Beater, then that makes you about ten times cooler than I originally thought you were. And if anyone tells you to give up, you should hex them into nonexistence."

Noel blushed and she hoped anyone that saw would think it was the cool October wind. Then she remembered something.

"Jay," she started, "I know this is completely off-topic, but I just remembered something from Dumbledore's welcome speech."

"And what's that?" he asked.

"The third floor corridor," she stated remembering how terrified some of the other first years' faces were. "He warned us to stay away. Do you know what's there?"

"No, that's new this year."

Noel allowed a mischievous smile to creep onto her face.

"What?" asked Jay noticing the smile.

"Don't you wonder what's up there? I mean, Dumbledore's a mysterious man; he could have put anything up there and we're just supposed to sit here and wonder. I'm surprised no extra curious Ravenclaws or brave Gryffindors have gotten tried to see what's there." She said that all so fast that she had to stop and take a breath, giving Jay time to cut in.

"Look," he said, "I may not have been here much longer than you, but I do know that if Dumbledore forbids students from something, he must have a pretty good reason."

Noel rolled her eyes. "Have you ever tried breaking a rule or two, Jay? Life only goes on for so long."

"Yes, actually, I have broken a few rules. And let me tell you detention in the Forbidden Forest is not very fun, even with Hagrid right there."

Noel sighed. There was almost no way to get this guy to come with her and check out the third floor corridor. Almost no way.

"Fine," she stated. "I'll just go by myself." She picked up her pace and headed in the general direction of where she wanted to go.

"Wait!" Jay called, jogging to catch up. "You can't go by yourself. What if something happens?"

This was exactly what Noel expected. "So you'll go with me, then?" she said smiling. "Because no matter what you pick, I'm still going."

Jay hesitated, obviously seeing there was nothing he could say that would get her to not go. "Alright," he finally agreed. "We can go up there and see, but if someone is keeping watch, we're leaving."

"Deal."


Noel was overly thrilled when she and Jay met nobody on the third floor. When she had announced it, she heard a soft groan from behind her.

"Quick whining," she said. "If it was really dangerous, then it wouldn't be in a school."

"Or maybe Dumbledore trusts us enough to be able to put it in a school without anyone going to look."

Noel ignored him and kept moving forward. There was nothing but a door. "It must be behind the door," she stated. She tried the handle. Locked.

"It must be locked for a reason, Noel," Jay said quickly. "Let's go."

Once again, Noel ignored him. She pulled out her wand, "Alohomora," and heard a click. She smiled proudly at Jay who did not look at all pleased. She pulled open the door and almost just as quickly slammed it shut, but she didn't.

There were three oversized dogs sleeping on the floor. But then Noel realized there weren't three dogs, it was one dog with three heads, all sleeping.

"What is it?" Jay asked. Noel had only opened the door part of the way so that only she could see inside. She closed the door, but not before seeing a trapdoor under one of the dog's huge paws.

"Nothing," Noel said shakily.

Jay didn't believe her. "Nothing doesn't put a look like that on someone's face."

Noel regained her composure. "It's a dog. A three-headed dog about the size of a classroom. It was sleeping, though, on a trapdoor. It's obviously guarding something."

"Out for a little stroll, are we?" droned a voice behind Noel. She turned around. It was Snape. "I believe Professor Dumbledore told the students that the third floor corridor is off-limits. Detention, both of you. Vance, you will meet me in my office Monday night at five. I will speak with Professor Flitwick about your punishment. You will be informed before Monday. Now let me escort you back to your common rooms as I see you cannot walk around and remain where you are permitted." He turned to walk, while Noel and Jay followed.

Noel tried to get Jay to look at her, but he kept his eyes ahead.

At the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room, Snape dropped Noel off. She took a quick look at Jay. He gave her a small glare before following after Snape.

A/N: Why do I keep doing the let's-make-Noel-feel-like-crap endings? But yay! this chapter is early!

Remember to review and follow and share and whatnot.