Chapter 17
"Midnight Ride"
Had anyone been out on the campus grounds that night, they would have gotten a very strange sight: two teenage girls, draped in cloaks, darting across the roof of the Swiftwing's House, each carrying a back pack and a broomstick. As the girls reached the edge of the roof, they hopped on their brooms and kicked off into the cold night air. Soon they were out of sight of the SWI.
"I hope we're going the right way," Tabitha murmured.
Rory grinned and pointed to the front of her broom where a shiny silver compass was attached to the handle. "If it's North East then we're going fine," she said.
Tabitha smiled in surprise, "Where did you get that?"
"Oliver," Rory simply answered. But the mention of his name made her remember how much she missed him and was worried about him. She shifted on her broom, attempting to tighten her billowing cloak around herself, "Cold tonight." she said, trying to drive the though of Oliver out of her mind.
Tabitha nodded, "It'll be even colder once we get out over the ocean."
The two flew late into the night, becoming weary and miserable. They had decided to fly north along the coast of the United States and the icy seaside breezes had blasted them. Over the course of flying they had some close encounters avoiding planes, but being spotted wasn't a big worry, as it was a very cloudy night.
Dawn's light crept up on them more quickly than they had wanted. "We really should find a place to touch down," Rory called to Tabitha.
Tabitha nodded and pointed, "There's a town down there," she said, "We can probably find a place to stay there."
"Alright. Works for me," Rory said, turning her broom downwards, and descending towards the town. Tabitha followed suit. They touched down quickly and hopped off their brooms, looking around at the quaint sea-side village. "Cute," Rory said, and was happy to see that her friend was smiling.
They walked down the empty streets until they came upon a small Inn. As they entered, trying their best to keep their brooms hidden, there seemed to be no one around. Rory rang the bell at the desk and a muggle man in his early fifties entered, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"Well, well, well," he said, climbing behind the desk and eyeing the girls with a bemused look, "What can I do for you, young ladies?" "We need a room," Rory said, "An inexpensive one, if you have it."
The man smiled, "I'm sure we can find you something," he said, turning on the computer on the desk, "Uh.are you girls from around here?"
"Oh, um.no," Tabitha said uneasily.
"Well, I'm afraid you girls are a little late," he said.
Rory and Tabitha exchanged confused looks.
"Halloween has already passed," the man finished.
Both girls turned bright red. They hadn't realized how silly they must have looked to this man, with their black cloaks and broomsticks.
Luckily, the man didn't make any more comments, but only set them up with a room for one day and directed them upstairs to find it.
They found the room without any trouble, and flopped out onto the beds that their money had gone to. Their rest was deep and they didn't awake until that evening, a bit before the sun was about to set, and had a quick meal. Afterward they retreated to their rooms, waiting until the sun completely set before taking off again.
One again under the cover of night, they set off, heading over the ocean. This trip would be longer and a lot colder. As their silhouettes were pasted across the moon, Rory yawned, and gave a little smirk, "If I fall asleep at the broom, feel free to kick me or something."
Tabitha couldn't help but giggle, "We've had enough sleep," she said, "In all seriousness though, we're gonna need to move into the clouds, or we might be seen. We're also gonna have to pick up the pace."
Rory nodded and pulled up on her broom, rapidly disappearing into the misty clouds above them, Tabitha following after. It would be a long and hazardous journey, but one that had to be made.
Had anyone been out on the campus grounds that night, they would have gotten a very strange sight: two teenage girls, draped in cloaks, darting across the roof of the Swiftwing's House, each carrying a back pack and a broomstick. As the girls reached the edge of the roof, they hopped on their brooms and kicked off into the cold night air. Soon they were out of sight of the SWI.
"I hope we're going the right way," Tabitha murmured.
Rory grinned and pointed to the front of her broom where a shiny silver compass was attached to the handle. "If it's North East then we're going fine," she said.
Tabitha smiled in surprise, "Where did you get that?"
"Oliver," Rory simply answered. But the mention of his name made her remember how much she missed him and was worried about him. She shifted on her broom, attempting to tighten her billowing cloak around herself, "Cold tonight." she said, trying to drive the though of Oliver out of her mind.
Tabitha nodded, "It'll be even colder once we get out over the ocean."
The two flew late into the night, becoming weary and miserable. They had decided to fly north along the coast of the United States and the icy seaside breezes had blasted them. Over the course of flying they had some close encounters avoiding planes, but being spotted wasn't a big worry, as it was a very cloudy night.
Dawn's light crept up on them more quickly than they had wanted. "We really should find a place to touch down," Rory called to Tabitha.
Tabitha nodded and pointed, "There's a town down there," she said, "We can probably find a place to stay there."
"Alright. Works for me," Rory said, turning her broom downwards, and descending towards the town. Tabitha followed suit. They touched down quickly and hopped off their brooms, looking around at the quaint sea-side village. "Cute," Rory said, and was happy to see that her friend was smiling.
They walked down the empty streets until they came upon a small Inn. As they entered, trying their best to keep their brooms hidden, there seemed to be no one around. Rory rang the bell at the desk and a muggle man in his early fifties entered, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"Well, well, well," he said, climbing behind the desk and eyeing the girls with a bemused look, "What can I do for you, young ladies?" "We need a room," Rory said, "An inexpensive one, if you have it."
The man smiled, "I'm sure we can find you something," he said, turning on the computer on the desk, "Uh.are you girls from around here?"
"Oh, um.no," Tabitha said uneasily.
"Well, I'm afraid you girls are a little late," he said.
Rory and Tabitha exchanged confused looks.
"Halloween has already passed," the man finished.
Both girls turned bright red. They hadn't realized how silly they must have looked to this man, with their black cloaks and broomsticks.
Luckily, the man didn't make any more comments, but only set them up with a room for one day and directed them upstairs to find it.
They found the room without any trouble, and flopped out onto the beds that their money had gone to. Their rest was deep and they didn't awake until that evening, a bit before the sun was about to set, and had a quick meal. Afterward they retreated to their rooms, waiting until the sun completely set before taking off again.
One again under the cover of night, they set off, heading over the ocean. This trip would be longer and a lot colder. As their silhouettes were pasted across the moon, Rory yawned, and gave a little smirk, "If I fall asleep at the broom, feel free to kick me or something."
Tabitha couldn't help but giggle, "We've had enough sleep," she said, "In all seriousness though, we're gonna need to move into the clouds, or we might be seen. We're also gonna have to pick up the pace."
Rory nodded and pulled up on her broom, rapidly disappearing into the misty clouds above them, Tabitha following after. It would be a long and hazardous journey, but one that had to be made.