Midnight Escapades

            Gen lay awake in her bed.  By this time she had decided that something to do with her being in another dimension made it so that she never got tired, or for that mater hungry.  Mentally she was exhausted, but there was nothing she could do about that, she hadn't slept at all in weeks, and couldn't force herself to at any rate.  At first when Gen heard that Harry had gotten a spot on the Gryffindor team she was bitter, knowing she should have had that spot.  Then she remembered that the books were meant to work out that way.  Gen had a feeling that no matter how much she screwed things up by being there something made everything go back.  It was as if the world could be changed, but it kept itself in check, because it had to mirror the book somewhat.  Gen's second thought on the subject was whether or not Harry could fly at all.  Well, she knew he could fly, but could he fly like she could.  After this thought was dismissed another one took its place.  It was the first time Gen thought about it, but she had flown on a broomstick.  Didn't that count for something?  Didn't that mean she had to be a witch?  Gen was pretty sure that no muggle could ride a broom as she had.  It was as if the broom possessed her body, and took control.  When she was in the air her thoughts went completely blank, and she was one with the broom.  It was some eerie kind of meditation.  Gen's fourth thought was that perhaps she should try out for the Ravenclaw team, but remembered who the Ravenclaw seeker was.  Cho Chang.  She had no chance against the fate of this world, and she was sure that fate would never let her beat out Cho.  It had better plans for her, plans for things that would come in the future.  She decided not to test the fates.

            Suddenly as Gen lay there, daydreaming she had an idea.  She popped up from her bed, and pulled a pair of work robes over her flannel pajamas.  A broomstick, she thought, if it could sustain the weight of a person it could probably sustain the weight of her machine.  Gen ran through the hallways, and out onto the grounds.  She made her way across the grass, her slippers pitter patting on the wet turf.  Before long she reached the broom shed near the Quidditch pitch, and found herself prying its heavy door open.  Inside were dozens of broomsticks, all poor quality, and belonging to the school.  She quickly surveyed the brooms, deciding which was the best of them.  She took a particularly long one, and closed the door to the shed, mounting the broom carefully.  Gen flew with ease several feet above the ground, before reentering the school, still on broom.  She zoomed through the hallways on the stolen school broom, making her way to her dungeon, but she didn't get all the way there.  She stopped about half the way when she ran into Filch, outside the trophy room.

            "Oh," Filch said, "then it was you I heard," Gen was utterly confused, "well, just don't fly in the halls would you?  Try not to break all the rules!"

            "Yes sir," Gen said, dismounting her broom.  She watched as he disappeared around the corner.  It was then that she remembered Malfoy's words.  The four of them were meeting in the trophy room at midnight.  They must have just narrowly escaped Filch.  Gen opened the door, poking her head into the trophy room.  "Ron?" she whispered, "Harry?  Hermione?" she took a step into the room, "Neville?"  There was no answer, but after a minute there was a clatter, and a case in the trophy room opened, allowing two figures to fall to the ground.  Gen didn't want to find out who they were; for she immediately knew it wasn't Harry, Ron, Hermione, or Neville.  Gen turned, and left the room, slamming the door behind her.  She leapt on the broom, and continued to fly, though not in the direction of her dungeon.  She cursed bitterly how long it had been since she had read the book, but she had a distinct feeling that she would find the three in the charms corridor…

~ * ~

            Filch was headed for his office when he heard Peeves' shouts of "STUDENTS OUT OF BED."  He turned and ran in the direction of the voice, and quickly found himself standing face to face with the impish poltergeist.

            "Who was it Peeves?" Filch asked between heavy breaths.

            "The short one," Peeves replied, "with short brown hair.  She was on a broomstick, heading for the dungeons."

            "You mean Genevere?" Filch asked?

            "Yeah, that's the little imp's name!" Peeves announced, quite pleased with himself.

            "That girl, she's causing all sorts of trouble, and I can't touch 'er.  I need to talk to Dumbledore about all this!"  Filch stormed off, presumably in search of Dumbledore.  As he was gone a door to Peeve's left creaked open.

            "Is he gone?"

            "Yep."

            "Good," Gen stepped out of the abandoned classroom she was in, "now, tell me which way they went."

            "You'll keep your end of the deal?"

            "Yes, yes, just tell me which way they went."

            "That way," Peeves pointed, "but I'd better hear about exploding toilets SOON!"

            "Alright already!  I promised, what more do you want?" Gen ran to the door Peeves had pointed out as the poltergeist disappeared.  She pulled the door opened, wishing she could remember from the books what was on the other side.  As she opened the door she saw six faces looking at her.  Neville was looking the other way, but the six faces that looked at Gen were Harry, Ron, Hermione, and three monstrous faces of a great, three headed dog.  Gen instantly wondered how she could forget such a key detail of the book.

            "Gen?" Ron asked bewildered.

            "Stop standing there staring at me, you're going to get yourselves killed!" she said in a frightened whisper.

            "What?" Hermione asked.

            "Turn around," Gen said with a strange calmness.  The three turned around to see what Gen and Neville had already found.  They all screamed in unison before the four turned and ran, Neville slamming the door behind them.  They started running down the corridor.  Harry was in the lead, but Gen quickly took his place on her broomstick, and maneuvered the group in a different direction.  She knew a place where they wouldn't be found.  In a mater of minutes the five were standing at the door of Gen's dungeon.  She heaved the door open, and they poured in.  Gen closed the door behind them.

            "What's that?" Ron asked, awestruck.

            "Don't be stupid," Harry said, "it's a car."

            "I know that, but what's it doing here?"

            "Blimey if I know."

            "Okay, this it fascinating and all," Neville said huffily, "but what about the DOG?"

            "Didn't any of you see what it was standing on?" Hermione asked, excitedly.

            "Sorry, but I was a bit preoccupied with its heads, or if you didn't notice, THERE WERE THREE!"

            "It was standing on a trap door," Hermione said, "which means it's guarding something."

            "Like what?" Ron asked.

            "I dunno," was Hermione's only answer.  Gen could have told them easily, but figured it wasn't wise.

            "Okay, where are we?" Ron asked.  Harry and Hermione shrugged.  They all looked to Gen for an answer.  Gen just shrugged back.  There was a weird moment of silence.  "Lets go back to our dormitories," Ron said, "before Snape finds us wandering around the dungeons.  This is probably his," Ron gestured to the car.  They all agreed that he must be right and headed, cautiously up to their dormitories.  When they got to the place where their paths split Gen took her path, and waited a few minutes before doubling back to go back to her dungeon.  She only got halfway there when she was stopped, yet again, by Filch.

            "The headmaster wants to see you," he said with a nasty grin…

So tell me what you think of the ninth chapter.  Don't you love the cliff hangery ending?  Please make with the reviews!  I need, and want them.