Chapter 5: Late Night In The Library

Weeks passed by, and Hogwarts was everything his mother and Grandfather said it was. It was amazing and fun, he was learning a lot. He was doing alright in most of his classes, well, the magic based classes. He as having trouble in a couple of his classes. History of Magic was too boring that Josh couldn't help but not pay attention. He could no keep his eyes open for ten seconds before Binns's voice would make him drowsy again. He wasn't fond of his Potions class, not only because Snape didn't like the rest of the houses, but it was because he would taunt him as much as he did Harry. It was confusing to him. Why was he and Harry under Snape's radar? He would also constantly insult his friends' intelligence as well for not getting their potions perfect, which also bothered him a lot. The only ones who weren't insulted were Parvati and Sophie, nor were any of the Slytherins were insulted, even when Crabbe and Goyle made so many mistakes with their potions. Another class he happened to have a weakness about was Astronomy. He happened to be not very good at it, especially at night when they were to supposed to be identifying the planets and constellations.

"Alright, first years, I will be coming around," Sinistra began as the Slytherins and Gryffindors were set up with their telescopes in the Astronomy tower. "I want you to use your telescopes to identify the constellation Cassiopeia."

The students nodded, and went to work. Josh looked through his telescope looked up at the stars. He had no idea where to look for, or how to look for it. All he saw was sparkling lights. He couldn't make the connections. And of course, Hermione was the first in the Gryffindor house to find the constellation, though Daphne had beat her ten seconds earlier. Some students found it, others were close to it. Sinistra then came over to a clueless Josh.

"Mr. Emrys, what do you have?" She asked him.

"Er..." Josh said as he stepped away from his telescope, but not before slightly and blindly adjusting it, betting on his luck. Sinistra looked into his telescope.

"I see you found the moon again," Sinistra commented, standing straight up. "That's the third time." Josh sheepishly smiled, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Er...well - "

"It seems you're having a little trouble with the constellations," Sinistra stated, crossing her arms. Josh sighed in defeat but nodded.

"I don't get it," He breathed out in worry. "I can do magic or brew potions, even tend to plants. But I can't identify some stars."

Sinistra nodded. "Looks like you're going to need a little help," she suggested, her eyes scanning the others students until they fell onto a particular student. "Miss Greengrass!" Daphne stood up straight, turning her attention to Sinistra and Josh. "You are to help Mister Emrys on how to identify the constellations and planets until he learns to do it himself."

"But...why me?" Daphne asked, giving a annoyed look towards Josh as she walked over to Sinistra.

"Because you're my top student," Sinistra answered. Josh noticed how Hermione was looking at her telescope, messing with the focus in slight disappointment. "And Mister Emrys here is my not so top student. He could use a few pointers. You do this for me, I will reward you." Daphne suddenly looked conflicted, while Josh smirked to himself. This was his chance, and Sinistra just handed it too him. This was his chance to get to know Daphne and break through the icy persona of hers, and maybe he could get her to help him with his little investigation. And he'd leave her alone after that.

And it was not like he hadn't been trying for the past few weeks. He tried to study at the same table as her, but once he sat down, she stood up and leave. He would see her in the hallways and try to start a conversation only for her to speed up to Tracey Davis and talk to her instead. Josh decided to just give up for a little while until an opportunity rose, and this was it.

"Yeah, okay," Daphne said in defeat, opting to help Josh out for whatever reward Sinistra would give her. Josh felt like someone was watching him. He turned around to see that Nott was glaring at him. He was confused and weirded out about it, turning back to Daphne and Sinistra.

"Good, then it's settled," Sinistra said, patting Josh's and Daphne's shoulders and walked over to the next student. Josh smiled at Daphne who glared at him, he stopped at her glare. Class was over minutes later. Josh gathered his things and followed after her.

"So, when should we do this?" He asked as they made their way down the stairs of the tower.

"I'll tell you when and where," Daphne told him sternly. "Wait for my owl." Josh nodded and Daphne walked away.

"I see you've got your chance to be friends," Tracey commented, showing up next to Josh.

"Yeah, maybe," Josh agreed with a shrug. "How are you fairing so far?"

"I believe I'm getting through her," Tracey said with determination on her face. "I will break through that thick ice of hers."

One morning, Josh entered his common room where he noticed a small crowd standing by the notice board. He walked over to see what the big deal was all about. He looked over some of the heads to see a notice pinned on the board. Flying Lessons would be starting on Thursday, and Gryffindors and Slytherins would be learning together. He heard Neville groan softly next to him.

"What's it say?" Hermione said from behind him. "I can't see."

Josh turned to her. "Flying lessons, this Thursday," he told her.

"Oh dear," Hermione whispered, running to find Sophie over by the fire.

Josh shrugged as other first years began to reminisce about when they would ride brooms at home or somewhere else. Seamus had told about how he would fly on the countryside. Ron shared how he would fly his brother Charlie's broom and play Quidditch with his brothers. Ron would also argue with Dean about Dean's favorite sport Soccer. Ron had argued how playing with one ball and not flying would not be any fun. Neville, however, had never been on a broom as he was never allowed to be on one by his Grandmother.

Josh walked over to the fireplace. "I don't see what you're so worried about," Sophie said to Hermione who was twiddling her fingers. "What do you think, Josh?"

"I'm a little excited," He answered with a shrug. "I live in the city of London, so I've never flown before. It should be fun, flying high in the sky, twisting and barreling." Hermione shifted nervously. Josh noticed. "You're not afraid, are you Hermione?" he asked with a mischievous smile. Hermione looked back at Josh with worry in her eyes.

At breakfast on Thursday, Hermione had told Josh and Sophie that she went to the library and read Quidditch through the ages, though, there weren't many helpful tips in there that she could use. She was worried she wasn't going to be able to learn how to fly from reading a book. Josh assured her that it will be alright and that she would have to use her instincts and just go with the flow. A second later, the mail arrived. Many of the students received letters or packages. Josh received a letter from his grandfather. A letter fell in front of Sophie and Hermione, and a small package fell into Neville's lap. Neville looked a bit excited and opened it excitedly. It was a glass ball the size of a large marble, which seemed to full of white smoke.

"This is a...this is..." Neville began to say, trying to think of what it was. "I know what this is. I really do."

"It's a Remembrall, Neville," Sophie finished for him as Hermione nodded. "It tells you if there's something you've forgotten to do. If the smoke turns red, it means you've forgotten something." And just then, they were all surprised that Neville's remembrall turned red. Harry and Ron who were next to Neville had also been interestingly listening in.

"It's red," Neville commented. "But I don't remember what I've forgotten?" Harry, Ron, and Josh snickered. Sophie giggled while Hermione amusingly rolled her eyes.

Suddenly, the Remembrall was snatched out of Neville's hands. Harry and Ron jumped to their feet as Josh's hands clenched up on the table. Though, before any of the boys could do anything about it, McGonagall appeared out of nowhere. "What's going on?" she asked sternly.

"Malfoy's got my Remembrall, Professor," Neville said.

"Just looking," said a scowling Malfoy. He dropped the ball on the table and sloped away with Crabbe and Goyle.

At three-thirty that afternoon, Josh and the other Gryffindors hurried down the front steps onto the grounds for their first flying lesson. It was a clear breezy day, and the grass rippled under their feet as they marched down the sloping lawns toward a smooth, flat lawn on the opposite side of the grounds to the forbidden forest, whose trees were swaying darkly in the distance.

The Slytherins were already there, being from the dungeons and closer to the grounds. They were huddled near one of the two lines of brooms. The Gryffindors moved over the other line of brooms, some of them standing over a broom. Josh looked over, seeing Tracey standing next to a close-mouthed Daphne, staring at her broom with her arms crossed. She looked a little different with her expression, worried, possibly. Tracey waved over at Josh who waved back, to which a certain Redhead noticed, but didn't say anything about it.

A few minutes later, the students chatter stopped when the flying instructor appeared. She was a short white-haired, middle-aged witch, walking briskly through the line of brooms. This was Madam Hooch, who also refereed the Quidditch matches. "Good Afternoon, Class," She greeted loudly as all of the students moved to stand over a broom. Josh stood in between Neville and Hermione.

"Good Afternoon, Madam Hooch," The Students greeted back.

Madam Hooch stopped at the end of the two lines of brooms, turning to the students. "Welcome to your first flying lesson. Stick your right hand over your broom an say up."

Josh and the other first years did so, hovering their hands above the brooms. "Up!" Josh confidently said in an instant. The broom instantly flew up right into his hand, tightly grasping it. Harry had the same result as well, including a couple of other Students. Blaise Zabini and Tracey's brooms flew into their hands. Others had trouble with their first try, continuing to say up and get their broom into their hands. There was some frustration between the students. Josh was surprised that not only was Hermione having trouble with it, but so was Daphne.

"Come on now," said Hooch. "Do it with feeling." And after a couple of minutes of shouts of ups, every student had a broom in their hand.

"Now that you have a hold of your broom, i want you to mount it, grip it tight, you don't want to be sliding off the end," Madam Hooch instructed and the students did as told. "Now when i blow my whistle, I want you to kick off from the ground hard, keep your broom steady and reach 3 feet, hover up for a minute, then lean forward slightly and touch back down lightly. On my whistle, 3,2,1..." she blew the whistle. Josh, Harry, and the other students who had summoned their broom in an instant, had hovered, not including Nott who had bragged about flying a broom before. But that wasn't even the strange part.

"Help!?" Neville suddenly screeched. Everyone's heads turned to Neville who not only hovered a little, but he was continuing to move higher and higher.

"Mr. Longbottom, you can stop," Madam Hooch ordered, walking over to Neville. But he couldn't, even with his pleas with the broom to go down, Neville continued to go higher. "Mr. Longbottom, get down here right this instance!" Hooch commanded.

Suddenly, as Neville was high in the sky, his broom jerked forward and he was flying as fast as the broom could handle. He screamed in terror as his broom did flips and twirls in the sky. Josh and the other Gryffindor students shouted after him, while some of the Slytherins were laughing. Neville screamed and yelped as his broom seemed to try and buck him off, but luckily he had a tight grip on the broom. Finally, as if hit by a bludger, Neville fell of his broom when he was only 30 feet in the air, landing on the ground with a hard thud. Hooch and the other students ran towards and crowded around him. Neville was lying face down in a heap. His broom had flown away some where as no one saw where it went.

Madam Hooch bent over him white and paled as Neville. She began to lift him up as he began hissing and wincing in pain. "Tut, tut. Looks like a broken wrist." she comment the proceeded to help Neville stand up as he whimpered in pain. She turned to speak to the rest of the first years. "None of you is to move while i take Mr. Longbottom to the Hospital Wing. If i see a single broom in the air, you'll be out of Hogwarts faster than you can say Quidditch." Hooch led a tear streaked Neville away from the crowd and back into the castle.

Malfoy burst out in laughter as a few of the other students chuckled or giggled with him. "Did you see he face, the great lump." Josh glanced over and saw that Daphne, Tracey, and Blaise weren't laughing. Most of the Gryffindors glared at Malfoy who continued on with his rant.

"Shut it Malfoy!" Parvati Patil snapped, sticking up for Neville.

"Sticking up for Longbottom eh, Patil," Nott said while Malfoy stared at her with an amused and smug smirk. "Sounds like you have a thing for the fat cry baby." Parvati continued to glare at Malfoy.

"Shut your mouth, Nott," Josh growled. Nott turned to glare at Josh, but then smiled.

"Look!" Malfoy said as he bent down and snatched something from the ground. "It's that stupid boy's rememberall his grand sent him." He tossed it in the air and easily catching it.

"Give here Malfoy," Harry said quietly and calmly, though slightly annoyed. He had been standing next to Josh who didn't even notice he was there. Everyone went silent and whoever wasn't paying attention turned to watch. Malfoy smiled nastily towards Harry.

"No. I think i leave somewhere for Longbottom to find." Draco replied as he mounted his broom and began hovering into the air. "How about on the roof," he said as he hovered above the crowd. Harry, who was even more annoyed, glared at the blond. "What's the matter Potter, bit beyond your reach," Draco mocked.

Harry reached a hand over the broom he had dropped. Josh was impressed when the broom flew into his hand and began to mount it.

"Harry no way!" Hermione said as she pushed through the crowd up to him. "You heard what Madam Hooch said!"

"What do you want him to do!?" Ron exclaimed. "Let Malfoy win and hide Neville's rememberall?"

"No of course not!" Hermione argued. "I don't want you to get expelled! Plus, plus you don't even know how to fly yet!" Harry side-glared at her, ignoring her comments and then took off into the sky. Hermione sighed heavily. She turned to Josh. "Thanks for the help," she told him sarcastically.

"Harry, stop, don't, come back," Josh said nonchalantly, yet Harry was already in the air opposite of Draco, talking to one another. "Oh, too late," he said, innocently smirking towards Hermione. Ron chuckled at his quip, while Hermione rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "I'm sure he know's what he's doing, Hermione," he told Hermione. He watched as Draco suddenly threw the Remembrall as hard as he could.

"Sure, but what happens when he gets thrown out of Hogwarts!" She exclaimed. Harry suddenly zoomed after the Remembrall.

"They're not going to expel him, Granger!" Ron said, watching Harry zoom in the sky. "They just say that to scare us straight." Josh nodded in agreement was watched in awe as Harry caught the remembrall before it even hit the ground. "Yes!" Ron celebrated with a fist pump. He turned to Hermione. "See, all is good!"

Harry began to hover back down to the ground. The Gryffindors ran over to their classmate cheering in excitement as Harry held up the Remembrall in triumph, landing safely on the ground. He was surrounded by the Gryffindors who were patting him on the shoulder and giving him high fives. "See, Hermione, nothing went wrong!" Josh said over the cheers, a little bit too prematurely.

"Harry Potter!"

All heads turned towards the loud voice. It was Professor McGonagall. She didn't really look happy to see them. "Come with me please," she said. Harry looked back at his friends then left with McGonagall. Josh turned to Hermione who was looking as if she wanted to tell him, 'I told you so.'

"You were saying?" She said instead. Josh and Ron shared a worried glance.

Flying class had ended when Madam Hooch came back, naming the date of the next class. Josh was sitting with Ron, Hermione, and Sophie near the fire place, waiting for Harry to come back from wherever McGonagall had taken him. They chatted about what could be happening, stopping every now and then when the portrait hole would open, but Harry never really appearing.

"For the last time, Granger," Ron said with an annoyed sigh. "They're not going to expel him. This isn't some big offense. He broke one tiny rule."

"He's right," Josh agreed, sitting on the ground against the couch, writing an essay for Herbology. "He's most likely to get a night's detention or something. Why are you so worried?"

"I'm not worried about Harry," Hermione said. "I've been given a lot of points and I'm afraid of how many he's going to lose us for breaking the rules."

"I'm sure it's not a lot, Hermione," Sophie said, trying to make her friend feel better. "Maybe ten points at the most." That still didn't make Hermione any more happier.

The portrait hole opened up and this time, it was Harry who entered. He didn't look sad or bummed out at all. Instead, he looked quite proud of himself. He made his way over to his friends, smiling. "What happened!?" Hermione asked him in an instant. "Did you lose any points? Get detention?"

Harry shook his head. "Nope," he answered. "I got put on the Quidditch team!"

"What?!" Hermione and Ron exclaimed, one in horror, and one in excitement.

"Congratulations, Harry!" Sophie happily congratulated.

"That's great, Harry!" Josh said, giving him a thumbs up.

"You! On the Quidditch team?" Ron said in awe."That's wicked. First years never make the house teams." Harry nodded with a grin.

The five Gryffindors continued to talk about Harry's newfound gain when it was time to head down towards the Great Hall for dinner. They were about to enter the Great Hall when the Gryffindors ran into Malfoy and his cronies. "Well, hello there, Scarhead," Malfoy greeted with a smirk.

"Malfoy," Harry said through his teeth.

"So, about to have your last meal, eh Potter," Malfoy said with a smirk while his three cronies laughed. "When are you getting the train back to the muggles."

"You seem to be a lot Braver now that you're back on the ground and you have your little idiot friends with you," said Harry coolly. Though there really wasn't any thing little about Crabbe or Goyle. They seemed to be seething and cracking their knuckles ready to pounce when Malfoy would give them the Okay.

"I'll take you anytime on my own, Potter," Malfoy replied in anger. "Tonight if you want. Wizard's duel, wands only, No contact at all. Oh wait, never heard of a wizard's duel have you, Potter?" Harry glared at him.

"Of course he has," Ron blurted out. Josh's widened in surprise. What was this redhead doing? Hermione and Sophie rolled their eyes. "I'll be his second! Who's yours?" Josh shook his head, rubbing his forehead.

Malfoy looked at Nott, Crabbe, and Goyle, deciding which one to pick. "Nott," he answered. "Midnight alright? We could meet in the trophy room. That's always unlocked." Malfoy smirked then left into the Great Hall with his three Cronies.

Harry turned to look at his friends. "What in the world is a Wizards' Duel?" He asked as the group continued to into the Great Hall.

"It's as it sounds, Harry," Sophie told him. "A duel, but with magic." The group sat at their table, close together.

Harry looked at Ron. "And what do you mean that you're my second?" He asked.

Hermione, who was already annoyed about the more attempts of rule-breaking, answered first. "A second is one who takes over if you die in the duel," she explained, glaring at Ron.

Harry suddenly looked worried and regretful. "People only die in proper duels," Josh said, grabbing some food. "You don't have to worry about dying in this children's duel."

Ron nodded in agreement, food already in his mouth. "Yeah, the most you guys will ever do is send sparks at one another," he spoke with his mouth spitting out specks of food. Hermione and Sophie looking on in disgust. Ron swallowed. "Neither of you will be able to do any real damage."

"Malfoy probably expected you to refuse," Josh spoke. "I wouldn't be surprised if it was a set up."

"It doesn't matter what it is, because Harry isn't going to go through with it," Hermione said. "Right, Harry? You'll get into actual trouble this time."

Ron snorted. "Of course he is," he answered before Harry could say anything. "He could come out on top and show everyone that Malfoy is all talk."

"You mustn't go wondering the school at night!" Hermione chided. "You'll get into trouble. You'll lose us points if you go!" she continued sternly. "That's very selfish of you!"

"And it's none of your business," Harry replied in the same tone. Hermione huffed, standing up and moving to the other side of Sophie, away from Harry and Ron.

"She's just looking out for you," Josh told Harry who just shrugged. Josh continued with his dinner, while Ron and Harry continued to talk about the midnight duel. Suddenly, and owl swooped down and left a letter on Josh's plate. He tore open the letter. It was from Daphne, telling him to meet her in the library after dinner. Someone said something to Josh. He looked up, seeing Harry and Ron looking at him. "What?" he said.

"Can I count on you to come with us?" Harry asked Josh.

"Er... I don't know," Josh answered with a shrug. "I mean, it might not even be worth it."

"Of course you'd side with Hermione," Ron said with the roll of his eyes. Josh rolled his own eyes in annoyance.

"I'm not siding with her," Josh retorted. "If you feel like you have to do this, Harry, then go for it. Show Malfoy who's the better wizard." Harry looked pensive and then nodded.

After dinner, Josh grabbed his Astronomy book and notes, and made his way into the library. He looked around. Many students were there, studying and doing their work, but he didn't see Daphne. He walked over to a table and set down his things. He jumped when someone slammed her things on the table. "Surprising," she said a monotone voice. "You're here on time."

"Merlin, was that necessary?" Josh recited, his heart pounding. "You nearly gave me a heart attack."

"Shame, I'll try harder next time," Daphne replied nonchalantly, taking a seat. Josh rolled his eyes and sat down across from her. "So, what's so hard about Astronomy?" She suddenly asked him.

"It seems like I'm not very good at finding planets or star constellations," Josh answered with a sigh. Daphne pulled out a piece of parchment and placed it in front of Josh.

"What does that look like to you?" Daphne asked. Josh looked at the parchment where a picture of a stick figure man was shown.

"It looks like a poor drawing of a man," Josh answered. "He's very uneven. Doesn't have a head or legs."

Daphne rolled her eyes. "That's Orion," she corrected, "One of the many star constellations." She then handed him another parchment but this time it was a picture of a night sky filled with many stars. "I want you to find Orion here!" She said, pointing to the star map. "Connect the stars."

Josh nodded, and began looking in between the two pictures. He looked at the first and then tried to find it in the second. He furrowed his eyes and even squinted. All he could see were dots, he wasn't sure. He blinked rapidly as his vision blurred, clenching his teeth in annoyance.

"I probably should have started with something more simple," Daphne commented, watching Josh, her facial expression slightly different from her cold one.

"I'll find it," Josh muttered, staring at the star map.

Daphne gave Josh a softened look towards his frustrated expression. She reached over for the star map, "Here, let me - "

Josh instantly slapped his hand on the paper. "I'll find it," he huffed. "I have to."

"Alright, if you're sure, I'm sure you can," Daphne lightly encouraged.

Josh pulled the star map closer to him, determined to find Orion on the star map. He inhaled and exhaled calmly. He closed his eyes for two seconds and them opened them back towards the map. He squinted and was in shock as the constellation of Orion lit up on the map. He looked up at Daphne who was staring at him calmly, her hands under the table. "Yes?" She said.

"I..I think I found it," Josh told her.

Daphne nodded, "Trace it out and show me," she said. Josh smiled a little, took out his quill and traced the constellation, and then passed the map over to Daphne who accepted it with her left hand. She looked at it and gave a nod. "That's Orion."

Josh sighed in relief. "I did it," he said, slumping back in his chair. "Let's do one more."

"I think that's enough for today," Daphne said, teaching over with her left hand and grabbing the other parchment of paper. Josh grabbed his book and opened it, not noticing Daphne not only putting away her parchments of paper, but her wand as well. She stood up from the table.

"Maybe I can walk you to your house?" Josh suddenly asked, looking up at Daphne and slowly standing up.

Daphne shook her head. "There's no need, I know where it is," she shot down. Josh nodded and slumped back into his chair, a little disappointed. Daphne began to leave, but stopped with her back to him. Josh noticed this. She turned to look at him. "Maybe some other time." Josh raised a curious eyebrow. Did he hear that correctly? "Keep studying," she told him and continued to leave the Library.

Josh smiled, turning back to his Astronomy book and began looking at constellations. He was there for another hour when his eyes were getting heavy. The last thing he remembered was the Perseus constellation before falling asleep at the table.

Josh was suddenly back at home, sitting in his desk at home. He looked around and saw a shadowy figure pass towards the doorway. Josh hopped to his feet and ran over, into the corridor. At the end of it, there was the shadowy figure, turning and walking down the stairs. For some reason, Josh felt familiar with the figure and then chased after it. He stopped towards the top of the stairs where the figure was halfway down. "Wait, stop!" Josh shouted. The figure did stop, but it didn't turn around. It continued to walk down the stairs and out the front door. Josh continued to chase after it and run as fast as he could. And before he knew it, he was running down a long path, after the figure. No matter how fast he ran after the slow walking shadow, he never could reach it, so he screamed as loud as he could. "Dad!"

Josh snapped his eyes open, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. He looked around and remembered that he was in the library. It was empty and dimly lit. Josh growled at himself as he gathered his things. "Way to go Josh, you're out of bed after hours and if you're caught, you're gonna lose points and get detention," he murmured to himself. He looked up towards an aisle of books, seeing a ghost looking at him. Josh blinked, slowly turning away, and leaving the Library. He had to get back up towards Gryffindor tower. He went up the steps but stopped when he noticed a shadow of a figure at the top of the stairs. He muttered a curse and turned back down and tiptoed out of sight, and continued down the stairs, thinking if there was another way up to his dorm. Soon enough, he was on the second floor, sneaking around, and glancing around every corner. He had to make sure the coast was clear. He had noticed Peeves in a corridor and decided to turn back when -

CRASH!

Josh froze in his tracks when he noticed parts of a suit of armor slid on the ground, out of another corridor.

"Run!" someone shouted that Josh thought had sounded very familiar. He was surprised when Harry, Ron, Hermione and Sophie ran out from the corridor and turned into the corridor that Josh was standing in. They were huffing and running as fast as they could towards a curious Josh.

"Funny seeing you here - " Josh began to say as they reached him, but he was surprised when Hermione grabbed his hand and pulled him along. Josh had no choice but to follow his fellow classmates. Harry led the group in what seemed to be a secret hidden passageway and ended up by the Charms room, which was miles from where Josh figured he was. They soon slowed down to a steady walking pace, and then came to a stop.

"I..think..we lost him," Ron panted, looking behind them. Sophie and Harry were leaning across a wall, panting heavily. Josh was going to bend over and lean on his knees until he noticed that Hermione was still holding his hand. He looked at her and removed his hand from hers, not really noticing that Hermione was blushing, but he did notice when she turned onto Ron.

"I told you!" she gasped in annoyance.

"You followed through with it didn't you?" Josh breathed out, "The stupid wizard's duel." Harry guiltily nodded, his panting slowing down. "Well, what happened? Did you win?"

"Not exactly," Harry answered, looking regretful.

"Malfoy tricked him," Sophie spoke up.

"Exactly," Hermione agreed, turning to Harry. "He was never going to meet you at all. He had to have told Filch you were going to be in the trophy room. Setting you in a trap. A trap to get you kicked out of the school."

"You're not going to get kicked out for sneaking around after hours," Ron growled in annoyance.

"Joe King once said that," Josh spoke up was the first years continued down the corridor. "Look at him now."

"What happened to Joe King?" Ron curiously.

"I don't know, but in the end, I know he didn't get the last laugh," Josh nonchalantly joked. Ron looked confused. Josh caught Sophie's eyes. She was smiling at his joke. He winked back.

"We've got to get back to Gryffindor tower," Harry said quickly, glancing around a corridor. The group continued walking when they stopped in shock as Peeves appeared out of nowhere.

"Peeves please don't say anything!" Hermione desperately pleaded.

"Wondering around at night are we, ickle firsties!" Peeves said. "Naughty naughty, you'll get caughty."

"Not if you say anything at all," Josh drawled out, heaving his bag over his shoulder.

"Please, please!" Hermione continued to plead. Josh and the others nodded eagerly.

"I should tell the caretaker," Peeves told them.

"Get out of the way!" Ron snapped as he tried to punch the poltergeist. However, this proved to be a huge mistake.

"Students out of bed near the Charms classroom!" the poltergeist angrily shouted loud enough for the whole school to hear.

"Oi, good going Weasley!" Josh chided in annoyance. Ron gave an sheepish shrug.

"Run!" Harry howled as he led the others away from Peeves right in to a door at the end of the corridor. Sophie tried to yank open the door, but it was locked.

"This is it, we're done for," Ron cried depressingly.

Sophie turned to Hermione. "Hermione, help!" She pleaded.

Hermione stepped forward, pushing Ron and Harry to get to the front. Josh looked back to keep watch. She reached into her pocket, a shocked expression appearing upon her face. "Oh no!" she cried. "I don't have my wand!" Sophie shook her head, she didn't have her wand either. Josh turned to look at his friends. He had his wand and he knew an unlocking spell but he had never tried it before.

"Oh great," Ron blurted. "We are dead."

"Do you know any unlocking spells?" Harry asked Ron who only could shrug and look clueless.

"Maybe we should just accept defeat," the redhead said.

Hermione turned her pleading eyes over to Josh. "Josh, please tell me you have your wand," she said.

Josh whipped out his wand. "Of course I do," he replied, moving towards the door. "I haven't practiced this spell at all, so - "

"Who cares! Just do it!" Ron, Harry, and Sophie said in unison.

"Alright, alright," Josh said, raising his wand at the locked door handle. He inhaled and flicked his wand, and exhaled, "Alohamora!" A spell shot out and hit the door where it unlocked. "Hey, I got it on my first try!"

"Yeah, yeah. We're all impressed!" Ron said and he rushed up, opened the door and jumped on the other side. The others quickly followed, shutting and re-locking the door. Everyone but Josh, who was smiling to himself for his successful incantation of the unlocking spell, pressed their ears against the door.

Josh was very happy with himself as he started to look around the dark room. He saw enormous shapes of shadows in the middle of the room. He walked towards the shapes, wondering if it was some sort of furniture. He reached out to touch it and felt the most soft and warm fabric he had ever touched. It was nice. He rubbed it with both of his hands, very curious as to what it was. He even attempted to lay on it. He jumped when he felt it move. Curious, he lifted his wand. "Lumos," he incantated. The tip of his wand lit up and he saw black. He touched it again and then the word fur came to his mind. He traced his wand down a little towards a slit. He moved in closer and was shocked when it opened to reveal a large eye. Josh stood up straight in an instant, and began taking steps backwards. He slowly bumped into Sophie, looking at her. She was frozen, wide-eyed, staring ahead at the thing in front of them. It turns out the Sophie had been watching Josh the whole time.

"They're gone," Ron said as he, Harry, and Hermione leaned away from the door. "I wonder why this door was locked?" Ron asked.

"I may have a very good reason," Josh commented. Harry and Ron walked up next to Josh while Hermione walked up next to Sophie.

"What is it? It's too dark to see," Hermione said, and as if her prayers were answered, a nearby by braizer lit up, lighting up the whole entire room, revealing a enormous beast.

Everyone's eyes widened in horror. This beast was revealed to have black fur and three heads. It was a three-headed dog. It was now glaring at the children for having interrupted its sleep and began to growl.

The five Gryffindors screamed in terror, turning back towards the door. They all reached for the door at once, yelling at one another and struggling in opening it back up. The dogs barked at them and the first years finally opened the door and exited the forbidden corridor and closed the door. They all looked at one another in terror and ran all away back to the pink lady portrait in mere minutes with fear in their eyes. Luckily, the pink lady was there. Harry nearly shouted the password. The five Gryffindors clambered into the common room and fell to the floor in a huff of exhaustion and in terror.

"What do they think they're doing keeping a thing like that locked up in a school!" Ron finally spoke up after minutes of silence.

"I wouldn't have expected any less," Josh commented, "Besides, weren't we on the floor Dumbledore mentioned about. Something about staying away if we didn't want to die?" Sophie and Harry nodded. "I didn't think he was serious."

"You don't use your eyes, any of you, do you?" Hermione hissed at the others. "Didn't you see what it was standing on?"

"The floor?" Harry suggested, his arms leaning on his knees.

"I wasn't looking at it's feet," Josh said through his teeth. "I was too busy looking at it's three angry and barking heads."

"No! It was standing on a trapdoor," Hermione said as it was obvious. "It was guarding something," She added.

"Guarding something?" Harry repeated, suddenly curious.

Hermione nodded. "Yes. Now if you four don't mind, I'm going to bed before any of you come up with another clever idea to get us killed or worse expelled," she said in a warning tone. "Let's go, Sophie."

Sophie nodded. "Goodnight, boys," she said to the three boys who waved by to her. Josh watched as she and Hermione left up to the girls dorm.

"She needs to sort out her priorities," Ron commented.

"Well, would you either die or miss out on experience the castle of Hogwarts and its magic?" Josh asked, turning to Ron and Harry.

"He's got a good point," Harry agreed. Ron shrugged and nodded.

"We should get to bed as well," Josh suggested, standing to his feet. "Malfoy'll be surprised that you're still here." Harry and Ron agreed as all three boys headed up to their dorms to go to sleep.

A/N HPSS gave me most of this stuff so i don't own it all. I think i might do it this way with some changes cause it helps.