Chapter 16
"Witness"
Tabitha and Rory had reached their dormitory in record time. They rushed through the password the first time, angering the iron dragon guard who proceeded to spit fire at them. After apologizing and speaking the password clearly, the dragon permitted them entrance into the Swiftwing common room.
They darted up the stairs, past the few remaining Swiftwings that were doing homework in the common room. Once safely into their room, did Rory asked, "What exactly are we gonna need? I mean it's He-Who-Shall-Not-Be- Named and his followers that are causing the trouble."
Tabitha grabbed her pack, pouring out her textbooks and filling it with only the necessities: her wand, her spell book, and a moving picture from a couple summers ago when Hermione and her parents had come to visit them.
In the picture, Tabitha had a younger Hermione on her back and they were laughing while their parents were posing for the picture, but Tabitha's mom had noticed Malkai swooping in onto their lunches and started yelling at the creature while the rest laughed. Tabitha gently stroked the picture and spoke a barely audible "Sorry."
Rory packed her things as well: just a wand and a small container of Floo Powder that she had saved up. Rory tossed her things into her own bag and then asked. "One question. how're we gonna get there? The school's got safeguards preventing the use of Floo Powder." Tabitha looked to the brooms that they used for Quidditch. Rory quickly got the idea.
There was a knock on the door and Tabitha quickly shoved the bags off of the bed. Rory opened the door just enough to stick her head out and ask, "Yes?"
"I was wondering if umm. you guys might know an answer to a question I had on my Spells & Enchantments homework." came a small voice from outside the door.
Rory nodded, "Um.sure. What's the question?"
"Can I come in?" the voice asked. Rory looked back to Tabitha with panic in her eyes.
Tabitha kicked the bags beneath her bed, nodding. Rory opened the door and the younger student stepped in. It was Rebecca Portner, donned in her usual pigtails and wearing pajamas. The little girl stared around the room, "Our room's a lot dustier..."
Tabitha sat on the bed, hoping that the younger student wouldn't notice their packed things.
"So.you said you had a question?" Rory prompted.
"Umm. yeah. the question was. number 17 from level 1 Spells and Enchantments. Professor Pierce." Rebecca began, not noticing the frown that came to Tabitha's face at that sound of that name, and continued. "Umm. how exactly do you create a light when no lantern is available? I knew this earlier. but I can't seem to figure it out now."
Rory answered quickly, "Hold your wand out and say Lumos!"
"Oh!" Rebecca grinned and tried it herself, getting a little light, "Wow! Thanks!" Rory started ushering Rebecca out the door when the first year took notice of their brooms. "Is that the one you used in the latest practice? To do that really cool flipping move?" Rory nodded, trying to steer the first year out, but again Rebecca spoke up. "Can I touch it? Mom won't let me have a broom - says I'm not old enough yet."
Without thinking Rory said exasperatedly, "Yes, fine."
Rebecca ran over, giggling, holding the broom, "Wonderful!" She ran her hands over the sooth surface. "Could you -" Rebecca stopped short, noticing the bulge beneath Tabitha's bed.
"Are you leaving.?" Rebecca asked, turning to the two. Rory looked at Tabitha, who frowned. "You are!" Rebecca said. "Oh can I come with you? I'd love to -"
"No," Tabitha said firmly.
Rebecca looked hurt, her eyes showing it quickly. Rory stepped foreword, putting her hand on the younger girl's shoulder. "Listen I'll let ya come to the Quidditch practices and I'll teach you to play as soon as we get back. How does that sound?"
Rebecca gasped, "That would be great!" she said, nodding furiously.
"But you can't tell anyone, and I mean anyone that we are leaving," Rory said.
"I won't! I won't, I promise!" Rebecca chirped.
Rory smiled, "Good, now get back down to that fire, otherwise you'll catch cold."
Rebecca scampered out, all smiles, and Rory closed the door behind her, leaning against it heavily.
Tabitha did not say a word about the first year's new knowledge. Instead she went directly for the brooms, "Let's go, it's dark enough outside now."
Tabitha and Rory had reached their dormitory in record time. They rushed through the password the first time, angering the iron dragon guard who proceeded to spit fire at them. After apologizing and speaking the password clearly, the dragon permitted them entrance into the Swiftwing common room.
They darted up the stairs, past the few remaining Swiftwings that were doing homework in the common room. Once safely into their room, did Rory asked, "What exactly are we gonna need? I mean it's He-Who-Shall-Not-Be- Named and his followers that are causing the trouble."
Tabitha grabbed her pack, pouring out her textbooks and filling it with only the necessities: her wand, her spell book, and a moving picture from a couple summers ago when Hermione and her parents had come to visit them.
In the picture, Tabitha had a younger Hermione on her back and they were laughing while their parents were posing for the picture, but Tabitha's mom had noticed Malkai swooping in onto their lunches and started yelling at the creature while the rest laughed. Tabitha gently stroked the picture and spoke a barely audible "Sorry."
Rory packed her things as well: just a wand and a small container of Floo Powder that she had saved up. Rory tossed her things into her own bag and then asked. "One question. how're we gonna get there? The school's got safeguards preventing the use of Floo Powder." Tabitha looked to the brooms that they used for Quidditch. Rory quickly got the idea.
There was a knock on the door and Tabitha quickly shoved the bags off of the bed. Rory opened the door just enough to stick her head out and ask, "Yes?"
"I was wondering if umm. you guys might know an answer to a question I had on my Spells & Enchantments homework." came a small voice from outside the door.
Rory nodded, "Um.sure. What's the question?"
"Can I come in?" the voice asked. Rory looked back to Tabitha with panic in her eyes.
Tabitha kicked the bags beneath her bed, nodding. Rory opened the door and the younger student stepped in. It was Rebecca Portner, donned in her usual pigtails and wearing pajamas. The little girl stared around the room, "Our room's a lot dustier..."
Tabitha sat on the bed, hoping that the younger student wouldn't notice their packed things.
"So.you said you had a question?" Rory prompted.
"Umm. yeah. the question was. number 17 from level 1 Spells and Enchantments. Professor Pierce." Rebecca began, not noticing the frown that came to Tabitha's face at that sound of that name, and continued. "Umm. how exactly do you create a light when no lantern is available? I knew this earlier. but I can't seem to figure it out now."
Rory answered quickly, "Hold your wand out and say Lumos!"
"Oh!" Rebecca grinned and tried it herself, getting a little light, "Wow! Thanks!" Rory started ushering Rebecca out the door when the first year took notice of their brooms. "Is that the one you used in the latest practice? To do that really cool flipping move?" Rory nodded, trying to steer the first year out, but again Rebecca spoke up. "Can I touch it? Mom won't let me have a broom - says I'm not old enough yet."
Without thinking Rory said exasperatedly, "Yes, fine."
Rebecca ran over, giggling, holding the broom, "Wonderful!" She ran her hands over the sooth surface. "Could you -" Rebecca stopped short, noticing the bulge beneath Tabitha's bed.
"Are you leaving.?" Rebecca asked, turning to the two. Rory looked at Tabitha, who frowned. "You are!" Rebecca said. "Oh can I come with you? I'd love to -"
"No," Tabitha said firmly.
Rebecca looked hurt, her eyes showing it quickly. Rory stepped foreword, putting her hand on the younger girl's shoulder. "Listen I'll let ya come to the Quidditch practices and I'll teach you to play as soon as we get back. How does that sound?"
Rebecca gasped, "That would be great!" she said, nodding furiously.
"But you can't tell anyone, and I mean anyone that we are leaving," Rory said.
"I won't! I won't, I promise!" Rebecca chirped.
Rory smiled, "Good, now get back down to that fire, otherwise you'll catch cold."
Rebecca scampered out, all smiles, and Rory closed the door behind her, leaning against it heavily.
Tabitha did not say a word about the first year's new knowledge. Instead she went directly for the brooms, "Let's go, it's dark enough outside now."