This will be my last chapter for a bit, about a week, because tomorrow's the first day of school and I'm going to be a bit busy… I think I'll have enough time on the weekend. What a weird way to start a school year, on a Tuesday.

Anyway, please oh please review or I will be terribly sad. It makes me happy when I see someone has added me as an alert or a favorite, but then I get sad because so few people review. And I might not even update until the next weekend! Brain says: That's not nice! You shouldn't be threatening them just because they're too busy to review! Me: But they're not too busy to read it! Surely they have a few moments to write a few words! Brain: Shut up. Stop being so inconsiderate. Me: *grumble grumble*

Well, ignoring that, chapter 11:

Tessa

As they rushed along the halls, Kate and Draco kept an eye out for guards while Tessa stumbled along, helped by Fletning and Oliver. Kate, in attempt to be friendly to the maid, kept up a steady stream of questions. "How did you come to work for the Ondels? Were you treated well? Are you a witch? What's your last name? Do you like to jump rope? Do you have any siblings? How old are they? How old are you?"

Fletning laughed. "My mother was one of Lineal's mistresses. I was raised as a maid, as Lineal never wanted to acknowledge his illegitimate children."

"Wait, you mean you're royalty?" Kate cut in.

"Technically, yes. And I was treated relatively well, especially compared to the other maids. I think my superiors figured it out and didn't want to mistreat me in case Lineal did step in. I am a witch, pureblood, and my last name is Magifold. I have never jumped rope, but I have heard a few girls talking about it and might try it someday. I have many half siblings, other children of my father's mistresses, and maybe a few full ones. I do not know any of them. I am sixteen."

"You're the same age as Oliver, then. He's a sixth year, the rest of us are fifth years. We could take you back to Hogwarts and see if Dumbledore would let you in."

"Oh, yes," said Fletning enthusiastically, "I'd like that very much."

Just then Tessa stopped. "Does anyone even know where we're going?"

Kate, Draco, and Oliver shook their heads, but Fletning continued along cheerfully. "Well, the Owlery, of course!" she said. "We can't get back to your school without contacting someone there!"

Oh. Duh, was what everyone thought after she said that. They quietly carried on. At one point, they came to an intersection, and Fletning took the left hallway, unhesitant. Finally, they entered a room almost identical to the Hogwarts Owlery.

Tessa, who had a way with owls, made a funny clicking noise with her tongue and a beautiful female barn soared down to her arm. Draco pulled out a scrap of paper and scribbled something down with a bit of charcoal pencil that Kate had in her pocket. (Kate just tended to have random bits of art supplies with her at all times; it was a habit she shared with Tessa.)

Draco handed the pencil back to Kate and tried to give the note to the owl, but she drew back and snapped her sharp beak at Draco's hand. He jumped back, but not before the bird caught of his hand, drawing blood. "You do it, then," he said, and Tessa took the paper with her free hand. She gave it to the barn owl.

"Take this to Hogwarts. Go as fast as you can, then find the Owlery and stay there as long as you want."

The owl hooted and then took off, out the window and over the ocean. She was in for a long flight. That was why Tessa had told her to stay at Hogwarts.

"Now, I suppose we've got to just barricade ourselves in here and wait."

They conjured several heavy chairs and couches, then levitated them in front of the heavy door. Draco created a lock in the heavy wood. There was no key.

Then, exhausted, they collapsed on the couches and fell asleep.

Oliver

Oliver woke abruptly to the sound of banging on the door. He glanced at his watch. It was forty five minutes after they'd fallen asleep. He rolled off the couch, fully alert, and woke up the others. They fell of their "beds" and drew their wands.

"They're coming up the wall!" Fletning screamed. "I don't have a wand!"

Oliver ran to the window and looked down. Several robed guards were indeed scaling the stone tower, and Oliver sent a stunning spell towards them. They tumbled back into each other, finally landing in the rough sand of the beach below them.

Behind them, a large blast shook the door, but didn't make it all the way through. They heard Lineal's voice.

"Get them! They have kidnapped my betrothed!"

Several loud explosions continued to resound outside, and a small hole appeared in the center of the wood. A wand tip poked through, and a red jet of light shot through. All 5 of them ducked and the beam struck the opposite wall, creating a large burn mark.

Just when they thought the door was going to break down, a loud, deep voice rumbled around them.

"Lineal of Skremmende, I believe you have a few students of mine. I would like to speak with you."

All but Fletning slumped in relief. Dumbledore, they thought.