The Beginning

Fifth year. When students of Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry must prepare for their future. This is the year that Alina Caddel is supposed to focus on her studies, but Hogwarts has another idea.

In Transfiguration for fifth years, Alina and Dash are seated in their class. Dash had just been informing Alina on the latest update of one of his silly games. She had not been listening. Instead her attention had been focused on a fellow fifth year, Brendan Whitlock. They had been going back and forth all summer, he was yet to ask her out.

Towards the end of class, Alina received a note passed down by Felicity Brown.

''Meet me in the greenhouse after dark - Brendan.''

Finally, he plucked up the courage and asked her out. As Dash and Alina were leaving the classroom, she turned to him.

''Check it out.'' Alina stood at 5'6 but she always liked to act as if she was taller than the 5'8 Dash. Passing him the note, allowing him to read it.

''Seriously. Brendan Whitclock. You're still tugging that loose tread.'' Dash Crawford was muggle born, having received his letter at 11. Dash rolled his deep dark eyes. Him and Alina had known each other since his first moment on the Hogwarts express, yet she never failed to surprise him with her antics.

''Hey, don't judge. He can be fun, sometimes.'' as Alina and Dash made their way through the halls, she couldn't help but be grateful for her best friend. He was the reason Alina had not flunk out of Hogwarts and the way her O.W.L. 's were looking, he may not yet be her salvation.

''Are you going to meet him? Remember what happened last time you sneaked out after dark.'' Dash said. Alina Caddel was a pureblood, her family had strong ties with the school. Yet she had picked out the first scrawny kid she saw and decided to tag him along for the ride.

''Of course, I'm going to meet him. I've been cooped up inside all summer preparing for our O.W.L. exams, I want to do something reckless for once.'' Alina had struggled all through fourth year. Even with extra tutoring from fellow gryffindors, she was barely passing. She had not been allowed out all summer, she actually missed school.

''Yes, but Brendan. Can't you do something reckless with someone less yucky.'' muttered Dash.

''Look, I'm going to meet him and maybe fool around. Nothing serious, you really should worry less. Wrinkles at 16 just isn't cute.'' claimed Alina as she tugged Dash out of a 7th year's way.

''Whatever, just don't say I didn't warn you.'' he said, as the two headed to their next class. They had a hard time being separated, so they had agreed to share at least one elective. Now heading to Divination together.

Alina had waited to the point where she knew most prefects would be defecting to their rooms. Dash had wanted no part in her escape so she proceeded alone.

She was carefully making her way through the many halls of Hogwarts. This was not Alina's first time sneaking around, especially to meet a boy. She had spent many nights plotting a perfect route to one of the best makeout spots on the grounds. Now, as she was making her way through the basement, Alina Caddell encountered a problem.

A prefect. Just her luck. Everything had been so carefully thought out, but somehow she didn't account for a slytherin prefect rooming after her own house's prefects.

''Great. Guess they don't sleep.'' said Alina. As she quickly planned an escape from the slytherin prefect.

Her salvation happened to be a locked office. Luckily, one of the few charms Alina had perfected was Alohomora. As she cast the spell, the door opened. Alina entered as fast and as quietly as she could, hoping not to draw the prefect's attention.

She prepared to make herself comfortable, undoubtedly this prefect would roam for a while.

As time passed, Alina quickly grew bored. She began to peek into the many drawers in the room. She encountered a number of things that one would use to clean, but curiously she also encountered an odd looking piece of parchment paper. Upon touching it, as though the paper came alive. Writing was revealed.

'If power is what you aspire, then the vault you require. Within Hogwarts is the place you must face, for within the vault you will find what you most desire. To find me, you must first look upon where the sky meets the sea. Through which a lens you seek.'

Upon reading the paper, Alina checked the hall. Having the all clear, she began her journey back to her bedroom. Where Alina Caddell spent a laborious night studying the writing, trying to understand it.

The next morning, Alina was exhausted but in good spirits. Would this vault be the answer to all her problems, would it allow her to pass her O.W.L.'s. She was ready to find out. Alina reached the dining hall just before Dash, making her way through a bowl of oatmeal and continuing to study the piece of parchment from the previous night.

''Morning, how was your rendezvous last night?'' Dash inquired, however Alina was not paying attention, she was all but focused on the wretched piece of paper that had her racking her brain for the better part of 8 hours.

''Alina, are you listening?'' Dash shook the (not much) smaller witch. At this, Alina realised that she was no longer alone in the dining hall.

''Oh, hey Dash. Sorry I was distracted with something.'' Alina claimed. Rolling the piece of parchment, unsure of whether or not to inform her best friend.

''What could have distracted you from breakfast, it's like your favourite meal. What is that?'' Dash said as he had very well noticed the piece of paper, since Alina never so much as opened a book during a meal. She also had not hidden it well.

''Okay, but if I tell you, you're not allowed to lecture me on the means of which I acquired said piece of paper.'' said alina

''Okay.'' said Dash with a very sceptical look.

Alina ventured into her actions last night, from sneaking out of her dorm to meet Brendan Whitclock, to almost being caught by prefects, to hiding in a locked office. Which warranted a gasp from Dash and a serious head shake. Finally, letting him in on the piece of parchment, from the writing to the weirdness of which the writing was revealed.

''Alina, it's probably just a prank confiscated by one of the prefects. I've read the history of Hogwarts multiple times, there is no such thing as a hidden vault with treasure. I'm sorry, if you want to pass your O. you're going to have to study like the rest of us.'' said Dash, patting Alina on the back.

''Just because it's not in some stupid book, it does not mean it doesn't exist, its probably hidden for a reason. Besides, this isn't just about the O. . Imagine what else we could find, it says power and 'your greatest desire'.'' Alina said with her mightiest voice.

''Even if there is such a thing, what makes you think we can find it. I barely leave our dorm. It sounds dangerous, I hate danger.'' said Dash, his best friend always found a way to put him right in the middle of trouble without trying.

''Come on Dash, live a little. Besides, I spent all night thinking about it, it doesn't have to be just us. This school is pretty infamous for its high number of excellent witches and wizards. All we have to do is find the perfect group.'' Alina now had a mischievous look in her eye, this is what she lived for, not stupid exams.

''Great, all we have to do is find and convince other students who probably hate us or think we're crazy. Sounds like a great plan.'' said Dash, wondering what his life might look like if he had perhaps chosen a different seat so many years ago.