Chapter 38: Parting
After Transfiguration, Claire went to the courtyard to meet up with Penny, Chiara, and Talbott. She told them about her trip into the Black Lake and meeting the Merqueen. In turn, they looked surprised and impressed by her account.
"I can't believe you met the actual Merqueen!" Penny smiled excitedly. "Not many Wizards, Witches, or Muggles have ever seen her and lived."
"Well, she did strike me as being very intimidating," Claire admitted. "So I tried my best to be as polite to her as possible."
"Sounds like that paid off, seeing how she asked for your help to replace those items you mentioned," Chiara pointed out.
"Now if I recall, they were a lyre, a jeweled necklace, and a fancy comb, right?" Talbott asked.
"You got it," Claire nodded. "All she needs is new versions of these items and she'll help me find the final Cursed Vault."
"Sounds easy enough to me," Penny remarked.
"Let's hope the Merqueen keeps her word," Talbott responded. "Though I do wonder where Claire's going to find a lyre that can be brought underwater."
"Lyres are usually small enough, but maybe Claire could use a Shrinking Charm to make it easier to transport," Chiara suggested.
"Hey, that's not a bad idea, actually," Claire complimented.
"The comb should be the easiest to find, so maybe we should look for that last," Penny said.
"But what about the jeweled necklace?" Chiara wondered.
"I've got an idea for that one, but I'll need to meet up with Alanza Alves first," Claire stated.
She then left the courtyard and went straight into the Great Hall where lunch was being served. Alanza was sitting at the Ravenclaw table, but when she noticed Claire she waved her over. The two of them sat down with eggs, mayonnaise and cress sandwiches while taking about the success of the Weird Sisters concert.
"Thanks to the both of us, that concert was a smashing success!" Alanza exclaimed.
"Yeah, and it even got me an audience with the Merqueen," Claire said.
Alanza's eyes widened. "No way! Did she ask for anything?"
"Only some items, including a jeweled necklace."
"Well, I do have one, but it's my favorite necklace and I feel reluctant to part with it."
"I understand, but we need to get to the final Cursed Vault before Rakepick and 'R' get to it. Plus, the longer we wait the more students will be affected by the Statue Curse."
Sighing, Alanza said, "You do make a good point, and I agree beating Rakepick and 'R' to the final Cursed Vault is more important. But I think you're way too focused on this and not having enough fun. So, I'll give you the necklace on the condition that you tell me one totally fun thing you've always wanted to do but never accomplished."
Claire thought about this for a moment and said, "I guess I've always wanted to throw a wild party, maybe somewhere off the grounds of Hogwarts. We could have games, music, and loads of dancing."
"Sounds like my kind of party!" Alanza chuckled. "That proves to me you have a fun side after all. Now, what's next on your list?"
"A lyre, but for that I'm going to get Jae Kim to help me."
So after Claire finished her sandwich, she went down to the Kitchens where Jae was helping the House-Elves clean up the counters and make preparations for that night's dinner. Pitts was watching Jae very closely, so Claire had to appeal to him by claiming that Jae will work harder after she talked with him for a few minutes. Though Pitts hesitated, he caved in and left Claire and Jae alone. Once he was gone, Claire explained the situation with the Merqueen to Jae.
"Quite the interesting challenge, Claire," Jae remarked.
"I know, but I believe you can do it," Claire said encouragingly.
"Then you're on! I'll get that lyre for you soon," Jae promised.
With Free Period over, Claire decided to send a message to everyone in the Circle of Khanna to find a fancy comb. After that, she learned about the Golden Snidget in Care of Magical Creatures, which was a yellow hummingbird-like creature that was originally used in Quidditch before the Golden Snitch, and how to brew the Essence of Insanity in Potions. Though after classes were over, she and Charlie met up in the Prefects' Bathroom to try looking for a comb there when the others reported not having luck finding one.
"Doesn't it seem strange that none of us were able to find a comb?" Charlie remarked while checking underneath the sinks.
"Yeah, I couldn't find any in the Ravenclaw Dormitory, even in the girls' section," Claire admitted. "And the others reported the same issue in their dorms."
"Quite the bad timing, I'd say," Charlie responded. "But I've heard you got Jae to get a lyre and Alanza's giving you a jeweled necklace."
"Yes, which makes it all the more frustrating that we don't have a comb," Claire grumbled.
Just then, the ghost Duncan Ashe appeared out of a nearby wall surprising Claire in the process.
"Happy to see me again?" Duncan asked.
"Sort of," Claire responded.
Rolling his eyes, Duncan said, "Thanks for the honesty. It's not like I'm dead or anything, and your brother still hasn't apologized for it yet."
"I know, I'll tell him when I see him again," Claire claimed.
Duncan's eyes narrowed. "Is he still hanging out with 'R'?"
"Not anymore," Claire answered. "He was tricked into opening a Cursed Vault with his Legilimens power and trapped in a painting."
"Serves him right."
"But I freed him and now he's actively pursuing 'R' along with Mad-Eye Moody, whom I've met with several times. Now, I am close to finding the final Cursed Vault and need a comb to present to the Merqueen along with a couple other items."
"The Merqueen? So the final Cursed Vault is in the Black Lake?"
Reluctantly, Claire nodded.
"If that's the case, I might know where the combs you're looking for are," Duncan claimed.
"Can you tell us?"
"Why should I?"
"You could get back at 'R' for killing you by helping us," Charlie said.
"Even if I did want to get back at them, I'm still mad at Jacob and Claire by association," Duncan responded. "So you'll have to find the missing combs yourself."
Before Claire could stop him, Duncan vanished.
To be continued…
