Chapter 25: Powerful Friends

After practicing some of the basic flight maneuvers they had been learning, the Ravenclaw and Slytherin Flight Class was dismissed though Claire and Merula stayed behind on the Training Grounds while Hooch was busy loading broomsticks into the cart.

"All right, Merula," Claire started, keeping her voice under control despite the obvious anger in it. "Tell me what you know about my brother."

"I will, but only if you do something for me," Merula answered.

"Name it."

"Just promise to let me know if you open a Cursed Vault, okay?"

"Not happening! My guess is that you're probably lying about knowing what happened to my brother, anyway."

"Fair assumption, but if you change your mind I'm always nearby."

Then Merula left the Training Grounds, leaving Claire more irritated and confused than before.

A week later, Rowan was released from the Hospital Wing and so Claire met her at the Ravenclaw table in the Great Hall for dinner.

"Hey, um, how are you feeling?" Claire asked cautiously.

"Much better," Rowan smiled. "Though I do get a chill every now and then."

Frowning, Claire said, "I'm sorry I put you in danger. If I hadn't been so eager to explore those stairs and that door, you wouldn't have gotten hurt."

"Yeah, well, I blame myself for being too weak," Rowan responded, looking downward. "Now I'm not sure how I can help you find the Cursed Vaults."

"You're more helpful than you realize, Rowan."

"But I'm no good at defending myself. I mean, my grades are absolutely pitiful in Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"So are mine."

"Yeah, and I guess everyone else in that class is struggling though the material isn't very hard."

"Maybe it's the teacher's fault, and not the students."

"That doesn't excuse my weakness, though, so I need to improve my skills."

"Seems fair, and I won't pressure you to come with me to the icy corridor if you don't want to."

Rowan said nothing, and continued eating her food in silence.

###

During Christmas Break, Rowan and Ben decided to stay at Hogwarts and use the time to do makeup assignments for the classes they missed while in the Hospital Wing so Claire and Penny decided to keep them company.

"When I wasn't doing homework, I was also preparing a list of the most powerful students at Hogwarts who could help us," Rowan said to Claire in the Great Hall after Ben and Penny had gone back to their Common Rooms for bed.

"Okay," replied Claire. "Who did you have in mind?"

"Well, Ben is one of the more obvious choices," Rowan began. "Though given what he's been through, I doubt he'll be up for dealing with the icy corridor or the door."

"True," Claire nodded, and glanced at Merula who was seated close by.

"Merula's another option, but you clearly don't trust her," Rowan added.

"Does she usually stay at Hogwarts during the Christmas Break, or is this the first time she's doing so?" Claire wondered.

"I think she stayed here Christmas Break of last year as well, based on what I've heard, and given her background it doesn't surprise me."

"Oh, yeah, you were going to tell me that when we were playing Gobstones last year."

"Right," Rowan realized. "Maybe I'll tell you later, but another option I had regarding our situation is to ask someone who's even more powerful than Merula or Ben."

Claire looked surprised. "Is there anyone like that?"

"Yes, there is," Rowan smiled giddily. "His name is Bill Weasley!"

After a pause, Claire shook her head. "Never heard of him."

Rowan's eyes widened. "How is that possible? He's not only one of the most popular boys in school, but also one of the most powerful wizards in his year!"

"And what year is he?"

"Fourth," replied Rowan, holding up four fingers. "He's also rumored to be incredibly brave, and is a likely candidate for next year's Head Boy and Prefect in Gryffindor."

"He certainly sounds like the perfect person to help us with this Cursed Vault situation."

"Now the question is: how are we going to persuade him to join us?"

"Maybe I'll try talking to him," Claire suggested. "Do you know where he usually is?"

"I've heard he practices defensive spells on the Training Grounds after classes are over."

###

Once the spring term of Hogwarts started, Claire decided to send Eban to Bill with a message asking him to meet her on the Training Grounds. To her surprise, he immediately responded with a positive confirmation. So Claire went to the Training Grounds after her last class finished, and found an older boy who was tall with medium-length red hair pointing his wand at a series of metal dummies and muttering incantations she didn't recognize.

"Um, excuse me," Claire said nervously. "Are you Bill Weasley?"

"Yes," the older boy responded, turning to face Claire. "And you must be Claire Krystal."

Flinching, Claire asked, "How did you guess?"

"I read the Daily Prophet article about Jacob and the Cursed Vaults, figuring you were his sister," Bill explained.

"Well, you guessed correctly," Claire confirmed, blushing from embarrassment.

"So what can I do for you, Claire?" Bill asked. "Your message mentioned the Cursed Vaults, which peaked my interest. But what's your deal with them?"

Taking a deep breath, Claire said, "I'm hoping they'll lead me to my brother, who disappeared after he got expelled for trying to find them. Then recently, my friend Rowan and I found a hidden staircase that led to a door which we think is the entrance to a Cursed Vault. But Rowan got hurt, and now I don't know who to turn to for help."

Bill looked concerned and then he placed a hand on Claire's shoulder. "Don't worry, Claire, I'll help you."

"Really?" Claire's eyes widened.

"Of course," Bill nodded. "There's been cursed ice spreading throughout Hogwarts this whole time, though the Professors don't want to admit it, and I assume it has to do with the Cursed Vault. So I figure by breaking the Cursed Vault, it'll stop the ice itself. Besides, I'm hoping to become a Curse-Breaker like Patricia Rakepick."

"Who?"

"She's only one of the best Curse-Breakers in the whole world," Bill answered, letting go of Claire's shoulder. "So by helping you find this Cursed Vault, it'll give me some experience in the field."

"I see," Claire noted. "Well, I appreciate your willingness to help me."

To be continued…