Bagsy knocked politely on the staff room door.

'I got it last time,' came Professor Kim's voice from inside.

'You're the thaumathletics teacher,' Professor Wattleseed responded in amusement. 'You're meant to be sportier.'

'Yeah, but you could use the exercise, Wuvrius,' Kim responded jokingly, her voice approaching the door and Bagsy heard Wattleseed laugh. Professor Kim opened the door and looked down at her. 'Again?' Kim said in surprise, black hair tied back in its usual twist of plaits, but now with a flower entwined at the bottom that Bagsy suspected was from one of the greenhouses.

Bagsy looked at her silently, her mind stalling. 'Where is Professor Fitzsimmons' office?' she managed to ask at last.

There was a laugh from within the staffroom. 'Enjoy the exercise,' Wattleseed's voice jibed from beyond view.

Kim shot a glare back at him then walked into the corridor, closing the staff room door behind her. 'Follow me,' she sighed. 'A word of warning – once term has started the head professor won't be able to entertain unscheduled visits.' Bagsy nodded, scampering quickly after Kim who walked very fast indeed. 'Are you going to try out for the quidditch team this year, Bagsy?' Kim asked as they walked. Bagsy shrugged. 'You should,' she encouraged her. 'If you're flying is anywhere near as good as your understanding of how brooms work, you'll make a first-rate player. This way,' Kim instructed. They ascended some steps and then walked onto another set that shifted and moved to the right, landing them on a different corridor. From there they followed a tangle of stairs and passageways. They'd been walking for so long, Bagsy was beginning to wonder if they'd run out of castle to walk through.

'How far is the office?' Bagsy asked in a small voice as they turned yet another corner. It really felt like they were in a maze.

'Not long now,' Kim assured her. At last, they came to a stop below a waiting black hole above their heads. 'Up there,' Kim said.

Bagsy looked up, swaying at the sight. It was far beyond her reach. 'How do I-?' she began, but a ladder of glass dropped down and clinked against the stone floor, cutting her off, and she jumped backwards fearfully at the shock.

'There you go,' Kim said, casting her a wave and beginning the trek back to the staff room.

'Thank you,' Bagsy called after her, then looked up the ladder and began to climb, the glass letting out faint chimes with each step upwards. When she reached the top, she saw a light above her head – a lantern with a bright flame illuminating the room she climbed into. A moth was flittering around it. Bagsy crawled into the space and, once she was safely away from the hole that led back out, stood up on shaking legs.

She found herself in a large, dome shaped room with a ceiling that arched high above her. There was a strong smell of dust and long, cream drapes hung from the walls with little holes nibbled into them. Lanterns lit the area, revealing stacks and stacks of books, curious empty cages and trunks of strange items. Plush cushions sat in a circle around the lantern a moth was obsessing over.

Bagsy looked at the moth. Last year, Professor Fitzsimmons had turned from a moth into a human at the start of their first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson. Bagsy, looking at this moth, knew it wasn't the professor, but couldn't explain how she knew.

'You did not think I was the moth,' a voice spoke from above her head. Bagsy looked up and saw, sitting cross legged on a swinging hammock made of small ropes tied together, Professor Fitzsimmons.

'S-sorry if I'm intruding,' Bagsy said quietly.

Professor Fitzsimmons floated down from the hammock and landed gently on the floor. With a wave of their wand the lanterns burned bright and the dark room became as well-lit as a mid-day meadow. 'It is fine. Before and after term I enjoy taking visitors. Please sit, Bagsyllia.' Fitzsimmons summoned a plush stool out of thin air and Bagsy sat down. 'Most pupils who visit me try to speak to my friend.' Fitzsimmons indicated the moth still fluttering around the lantern. 'But not you. I wonder if you know why?' Bagsy shook her head and Fitzsimmons fixed her with an inquisitive look. Bagsy, with a tilt of her head, noticed that Fitzsimmons' robes were torn at the end, and caught glimpses of bruises and scratches on their leg.

'You're hurt, Professor,' Bagsy said.

'What do you wish to speak about?' Fitzsimmons ignored her question.

Bagsy drew in a deep breath, clenching her hands anxiously. If she was going to build up enough courage to ask what she needed to, she'd have to do it in one go, before she lost her nerve. 'I wanted to ask if…' she began, forcing the words out. 'If Mezrielda Glint, a second year Slytherin, could be given a scholarship to Hogwarts so that… so that her family can afford to send her here.' She took in another shaking breath. She always preferred people to say what they wanted straight out, but it was hard to do, when what you wanted was so much to ask for.

Fitzsimmons blinked pensively at her. 'Mezrielda?' they asked. Bagsy nodded. Fitzsimmons waved a hand and a scroll appeared in front of them. They read over it a few times. 'Yes, I can do that,' they said at last.

Bagsy let out a gasp. 'Really? It's that easy?'

Fitzsimmons fixed Bagsy with a harsh stare. Bagsy looked at the floor.

'It is not "that easy", Bagsyllia,' Fitzsimmons corrected her. 'It just so happens the student you are requesting a scholarship for is, frankly, a model pupil. There was some trouble making last year, but she saved your life and made it right in the end, and if her grades are anything to go by, she's very bright indeed. Top of her year, even. If you'd asked after any other student, the answer would have been very different. And, as it happens, I am aware of Miss Glint's situation, and sympathetic to it, and was already working on a solution like this prior.'

Bagsy was both happy for Mezrielda and, after a moment's thought, miserable for herself. She wondered what Fitzsimmons would say if she saw the grades Bagsy received in her exams. Sure, they hadn't decided if she would proceed to her second year, Fitzsimmons had given her an exemption from that condition, given she'd spent a month unconscious in the hospital wing, but she had still received grades, and they hadn't been good.

Fitzsimmons vanished the scroll and looked at Bagsy. 'I will send a letter to the Glints, as well as the necessary books and equipment, and provide travel for Mezrielda's return to Hogwarts immediately. Now, is there anything else I can help you with?' Bagsy shook her head, getting up to move towards the hole that led out of Fitzsimmons office. 'And Bagsy,' Fitzsimmons said. Bagsy paused, looking at them. 'I would like to continue our private lessons this year. Have you been reading that book I gave you?'

'Unseen connections?' she checked. Fitzsimmons nodded. Bagsy cringed, wringing her hands together. She had completely forgotten about the book and worried that she might have even left it at home. 'Yes, of course,' she lied.

Fitzsimmons' large eyes narrowed and Bagsy knew she hadn't fooled them. 'Keep reading it, Bagsyllia. I know it's a difficult book but put enough thought to it and it will help immensely.'

Bagsy nodded, and left Fitzsimmons' office. Once she reached the floor the glass ladder dissipated into sand which evaporated into the air around her and she stood, mesmerised by it.

Her mission accomplished, surprisingly easily, and the swirling sand gone, Bagsy rushed back to the lake. As she approached Tod, who was standing by the lake, she saw him holding a rope, connected to a small, sorry looking rowboat big enough for four people.

'How did it go?' Tod asked.

Bagsy beamed. 'Really well. Mezrielda's been granted a full scholarship.'

'That was easy,' Tod muttered, stepping onto the boat that wobbled dangerously beneath his feat.

'Yes, it was,' Bagsy agreed. As she went to step on the boat it shifted, and she lost her balance. With a yelp she tumbled backwards, her back and legs becoming drenched in cold water.

'How did you manage that?' Tod scoffed, as Bagsy flailed out of the water, and onto the boat.

She shivered miserably, the cold setting in quickly now that her clothes were wet. 'I'm clumsy,' was all she said. In Bagsy's head she could hear Mezrielda reprimanding her.

'Teporiem,' Tod cast. Bagsy felt warmth seep into her robes that began to slowly dry. It didn't seem as nice as the teporiems Mezrielda had cast on Bagsy, but it was certainly better than shivering out in the cold.

'I hope you don't mind me asking,' Bagsy sniffed, wrapping her arms around herself as steam rose into the air from her robes. 'But why are we on this tiny row boat?'

'We're using the deep passageway,' Tod explained, pulling in the rope that had been laying on the lake side. The boat began to shift of its own accord into the lake. Bagsy stumbled and with a thud found herself sat down in the boat. She looked at Tod with a puzzled expression. 'You know, the under lakes? That's what they're usually called,' Tod pressed on. Bagsy didn't understand. 'You aren't muggle-born, are you?'

'No,' Bagsy responded. Tod frowned. The boat began to sink and Bagsy let out a panicked yelp. 'Tod-!'

'It's meant to do that,' he reassured her. Sure enough, when the edges of the boat fell below the water's surface, no water poured into the small vessel. Instead, a bubble slowly formed around them as they fell deeper and deeper into the dark depths of the lake. Bagsy's eyes widened in a mixture of awe and terror. 'Below bodies of water there are networks wizarding society put in place,' Tod explained, moving the rudder at the back of the boat to steer. 'They work like floo networks and allow quick travel between places that are near bodies of water. Of course, not any boat can use the under lake next to Hogwarts. But this one.' Tod patted the side of the rickety boat, which had a plate with 'approved' indented on it. 'Has special permission.'

'Oh,' was all Bagsy could say, mouth gaping, as she watched the lake's inhabitants pass around them. Large fish, groups of tiny crabs, tentacles from the giant squid and forests of reeds surrounded them. Bagsy huddled in on herself, feeling immensely uncomfortable, and worrying that the bubble keeping them safe would burst any minute.

Then, with a sharp jerk, the boat fell ten feet straight down. Bagsy let out a scream of fear before the boat landed with a splash in water, and she was pushed down into her seat by the sudden stop. She looked around in confusion. The boat was now on a wide, and seemingly endless, canal. Dark walls rose on either side of them, and above her Bagsy could see the bottom of Hogwarts lake and its inhabitants swimming, unaware of what was below. The black water the boat glided across didn't seem too deep – Bagsy could see occasional small items glinting like coins in a fountain below them. How the items got there, she had no clue.

'Now we're in the under lake.' Tod smirked. 'Did it scare you?'

'No,' Bagsy said in a quiet voice, shooting Tod a small glare, angry he hadn't warned her about the drop. He seemed to be enjoying himself.

'Hold on,' Tod said, and suddenly the boat sped up like a broomstick. Bagsy held on tightly and squeezed her eyes shut. She didn't like this at all. After a long time of traveling, she opened them. They were ascending up through water, the bubble having reformed around them. She didn't think they were in a lake – Bagsy could see no side or bottom of the body of water they were in, and the boat rocked from side to side as currents pushed them about. When the vessel broke the surface she breathed in salty air and saw a towering, crumbling, cliff face.

Waves the height of Mistress Foncée crashed against the towering wall of rock and the sea shore. It was difficult bringing the boat against the quay without it turning over, but eventually Tod had moored the vessel and they'd safely disembarked.

The walk up Vespite Cliff was long and steep, and the harsh winds didn't help. When Vespite Manor, where Mezrielda lived, came into view Bagsy couldn't hold back her surprise. She knew Mezrielda didn't come from the wealthiest of families, but given she lived in a manor Bagsy had figured she was somewhat well off, but looking at Mezrielda's home she got the distinct impression she'd been wrong.

Gnarled, grey trees with barren branches, thickets of thorns and weeds surrounded the building. The structure itself was many floors tall but seemed unsound. Some walls had fallen down entirely, whilst others were barely held up by what Bagsy assumed must be very strong enchantments. The gothic windows and spires were rusting and peeling, their colour long since faded, and the wood and bricks that composed the building were gray or black from age. A gargoyle sat at the top of the tallest spire of the mansion, peering at them maleficently, and Bagsy shivered, hoping it wasn't a real one.

'Nice place,' Tod murmured uncertainly, his hands in his robes as he casually walked up to the front door. It was three times Bagsy's height, with a black knocker the size of her head. Tod reached out his hand and pulled the knocker back. He released it and a loud clang echoed around them, joining the howling wind.

Bagsy heard a deep thud behind them and turned to see a gargoyle creeping forward, a small crater in the ground behind him where he'd landed. Bagsy squeaked in fear and hid behind Tod, who had drawn his wand.

'Well, well, well,' a deep voice said in Bagsy's ear, coming from within the manor. Bagsy whirled around to see the door had been opened. A tall, white man with pale skin and a gaunt face looked down at her. 'Who have we here?' The man smiled and Bagsy saw long, sharp fangs glinting in the shadow of the porch.