Chapter 49: Diversion
Later, Claire met up with Rowan at the Training Grounds who looked nervous.
"There are Boggarts everywhere," Rowan claimed. "Most students are now too afraid to leave their dormitories."
"I heard the same thing from Penny earlier," Claire stated. "So, if we're to get into the Restricted Section and find the Cursed Vault in there, I need you to distract Madam Pince."
"Sounds easy enough," Rowan said confidently. "I'll work out a way to get rid of her."
"In the meantime, we should practice our spells," Claire suggested. "I want to be ready for whatever's inside the vault, and you should be prepared in case of a Boggart attack."
"Of course!" Rowan beamed. "I'll even test some of the new wand techniques I've read about."
So while Claire showed Rowan the wand movement and annunciation for Riddikulus, Rowan showed Claire how to improve her wand movements and stance.
"Seems like you're just as powerful as you are smart," Claire noted as she watched Rowan cast spells that were more improved based on the techniques she used.
"Learned from the best, Claire," Rowan responded, and then corrected. "Actually, Dumbledore's the best. But you also helped."
Claire smiled. "I'm just glad you're willing to come with me to the library."
"Just let me know when we're ready to enter the Restricted Section," Rowan replied. "We have to break this curse, or the whole school will become unlivable."
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After Claire informed Barnaby about the plan, Rowan decided to teach Penny and Ben the Boggart-Banishing Spell. As for Tulip, she kept an eye on Pince's schedule to figure out the best time for them to enter the library. So like before, a month passed and Boggart attacks were becoming more frequent to the point where fewer students showed up in classes or in the Clock Tower Courtyard. Then one night, Eban arrived with a message from Tulip saying it was time to head into the Restricted Section. While Claire Barnaby and Tulip waited outside the library, Rowan went inside and approached Madam Pince.
"What are you doing here, Miss Khanna?" Pince asked. "The library is closed for the night."
"Well, no one is a bigger supporter of the Hogwarts Library and your work than me, Madam Pince," Rowan proclaimed.
"Though I have problems with your lack of volume control, I've always considered you to be one of the least reprehensible students," Pince admitted. "But if you don't leave immediately, that may change."
"I, um, left my Self-Inking Quill on a scroll earlier today," Rowan fibbed. "There's a chance it might've ruined every book on that entire shelf by now."
Gasping, Pince said, "How could you? I have to remove it immediately! Where was it placed?"
"The farthest row," Rowan pointed, indicating the book shelves further back away from the Restricted Section.
While Pince ran towards them, Rowan went back to the front door to let Claire Tulip and Barnaby in.
"Not bad, bookworm," Tulip remarked. "I heard everything you said from the other side."
"I've read my share of practical joke books," Rowan said. "So I knew that if I wanted to trick Pince, I would have to sound honest in order to make my lie sound real enough for her to buy it."
"But she won't be gone for long," Claire reminded. "Now let's get into the Restricted Section before she sees us."
The four of them then approached a large wooden gate that was locked. But before Claire could cast the Unlocking Charm, two pairs of footsteps caught her attention. She and the others looked back and saw Merula approaching them with Ismelda next to her.
"What do you want, Merula?" Claire asked, though she knew what the answer was.
"Obviously, I want what's inside the Cursed Vault," Merula replied sarcastically. "But for a less pitiful reason."
"I just want to watch you all bleed," Ismelda grinned maliciously.
"Just walk away from the door, before I knock you both through the wall behind you," Barnaby threatened, standing in front of Claire.
"It's okay, Barnaby," Claire said, stepping out from behind him. "There's no reason for you to get involved. This is between me and Merula…"
Then just as Claire and Merula drew their wands out, Ismelda took hers out and annunciated, "Everte Statum!"
Before Claire could move, Barnaby pushed her out of the way and took the full blast of the spell which appeared as a yellow-colored energy. It threw him into the air and knocked him back into the gate. But to everyone's surprise, he managed to get back up and stand in front of Claire Rowan and Tulip with his wand in hand.
"Out of the way, you glorified troll!" Merula snapped.
"No," Barnaby responded. "I don't take orders from you anymore!"
"Then you can suffer with your new friends," Ismelda taunted.
Barnaby looked back at Claire and said, "Go now! I'll hold them off for as long as I can. That was the plan, right?"
"Good thing he remembered," Tulip remarked and then she turned to the gate and unlocked it using Alohomora.
As Tulip and Rowan went inside, Claire looked at Barnaby one last time as she closed the gate to the Restricted Vault behind her. Inside, there were floating white candles around a horizontal area with ebony shelves containing large books that were bound in chains.
"This was in my second vision last year, when I touched the door to the ice vault," Claire realized. "Yet it seems more terrifying in real life."
"We're surrounded by forbidden spells, banned potion recipes, and dangerous secrets," Rowan stated. "So it's completely natural to feel terrified in a place like this."
"Now your brother's note said the book will reveal the entrance to the Cursed Vault," Tulip recalled. "But how?"
"I'm not sure," Claire responded, removing the book she took from the ice vault which also had Jacob's broken wand in it serving as a bookmark of sorts. "But we have to hurry. Let's split up and look around for anything out of the ordinary, if there is such a thing here."
To be continued…
