A/N: The plan was to get this chapter posted before Halloween but obviously that didn't happen. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Don't own it…wish I did…
As it turns out, Lindy's intuition was not correct immediately. The next week was not just uneventful but down right boring. It rained almost every single day and the students were stuck inside the castle with teachers, work, and normal secondary school drama.
Lindy found it very entertaining to listen to the older students in the Great Hall gossip about dates, cliques, and normal teenage stuff. "He likes her, but she doesn't like him." "Marcia's wearing such and such on her date with what's his name on their date to Hogsmeade next week." "I think Andrew is an inspiring Death Eater." Lindy concluded that if Muggles and wizards had anything in common in was that in the end, they were both human.
Lindy also was beginning to notice that the first years were starting to break away from their houses a bit, or at least from their dorm mates. She and Lily Jane barely spent any time with Ariel, Ophelia, and Cindy except for the early morning and late evening. They also spent more time with Celina, since she hardly had any friends in her own house.
Celina was still rather attached to her gold locket. She would fiddle with it in classes and show it off to anyone who seemed the slightest bit interested. Frankly, Lindy was getting tired of hearing the same story of how she found it over and over again. Her cousin, Isadora, would constantly remind her that if it wasn't for her, Celina never would've found it in the first place.
Even though Jamie didn't exactly catch the snitch at Quidditch practice he did end up making the team. "I knew he would," Lily Jane said, "Our father was really good, I figured even if Jamie stunk they would still want him just to rub it in the Slytherins' faces."
Jamie, by the way, was still ignoring Lindy. Not insulting her like Rubella did, just ignoring her. Lindy really could care less if he paid any attention to her but she couldn't help feeling like he was hiding something. Something that Lily Jane knew about and wasn't telling her.
Lindy's secret, by the way was kept very private with Lily Jane as Lindy knew it would be. They would sometimes talk about Liam when they were alone and Lily Jane would give Lindy dreamy glances when she blushed in front of him but she never made fun of her for it.
Since the students at Hogwarts were spending a great deal of time indoors Liam and some of the other boys did get a chance to teach Lindy how to play Gobstones, which turned out to be a game much like marbles except whenever a player lost a point the ball would shoot out a very foul smelling liquid. Lindy was terrible at it, so she much preferred to watch the boys and Lily Jane play. However, about three days into their tournament Professor Longbottom came in and told them that there was a rule against playing the indecent game inside and everyone was bored once again.
"I'm sorry," Adam said one afternoon at lunch, "Hogwarts is cool and all but I'm sick of this rain. I hate being stuck inside, it's so boring."
"You kids just don't know how to have fun indoors," Isolde said.
"Some people don't find getting our butts thrown in detention fun," Lily Jane commented.
"The trick is to learn how to not get you butt thrown in detention," Isolde said slyly.
"Students! Can I have your attention, please?!" McGonagall's loud voice shouted over the noise of the whole hall. Lindy has looked multiple times, and she's pretty sure that McGonagall doesn't use one of those voice carrying charms, which is shocking for someone who had to be at least eighty.
"As you know, next Thursday is All Hallows Eve, or Halloween. And as most of you know every year Hogwarts has a special feast for the occasion," McGonagall said.
"Best pumpkin bread I've ever tasted," one of the triplet's friends whispered to the first years.
"However," the whole hall got quiet as the headmistress spoke, "This year we have something extra special."
Murmurs, whispers.
"The folks at Zonko's Joke Shop have agreed to supply Hogwarts with a haunted house."
Lindy's face lit up and most people cheered, but to her surprise most of the Weasley cousins groaned. "What's wrong with a haunted house?" she asked.
"Oh, nothing," Lily Jane answered, "It's just, my uncles own a joke shop too and Zonko's is kind of their competition. Even though they do shop there and their stores are in different parts of the country."
"It sounds cool anyway," Adam said.
"Now, in order to attend this haunted house you must be on your best behaviour. No detention students will be allowed to participate!" (That 'I'm talking to you' look was beginning to creep Lindy out. It really did look like she was staring at everyone in the hall directly.)
The triplets and Sebastian groaned again. "Blast," Aiden whispered, "There goes putting a spider in Snape's hair."
"I also warn you," McGonagall said in a very serious tone, "Weak stomachs back out, because this'll be something to scream about."
Thus came some really obnoxious "ooos" from some Slytherin boys. Sebastian, the triplets and some of their friends, "oooed" right back at them.
"Looks like no Hufflepuffs are coming then," Cole said to himself. Liam gave him a harsh look.
After the bell rang Rubella and Alexia caught up with Lindy, Lily Jane, and Alan in the hallway. "Hey, you heard what McGonagall said, Paxton," Alexia sneered, "No babies in the haunted house."
"Shut-up, Zybrick," Lily Jane said very casually.
"Hey, keep your robes on, Potter," she snapped back. The two of the laughed as if it was the funniest joke of the year.
Lily Jane didn't even flinch, "Don't let 'em see you sweat, Alan."
The three of them were on their way to Potions. Lindy was really not looking forward to Godwin's speech on base ingredients of all magical mixtures. But when they approached the classroom, Godwin wasn't there, Snape was. Lindy thought Alan was going to be sick.
"Just sit in your assigned seat, you will not be continuing with your usual lesson today as Professor Godwin is out sick…or…wherever he is these days," Snape growled.
"Oh, perfect, just what I need right now," Lily Jane whispered as they sat down. Snape was perhaps she and Alan's least favourite thing about Hogwarts. They may have even hated him more than Rubella. But it was different for Lindy, it's not that she liked Snape or even his class, but at least he was polite to her.
"Please take out a sheet of parchment and a quill. I'll be right back." Then Snape left the room and automatically the chatting began.
"Damn," Cole swore, "Big nose just ruined my good day."
"What happened on your good day?" Lily Jane asked.
"Just the haunted house, I guess. I don't know, but he didn't need to ruin it," Cole crossed his arms around his chest and pouted like a child.
"I'll bet you guys anything he makes us write an a thousand word essay by tomorrow," Hemal Thomas, another Gryffindor whined.
Snape was back in the classroom in a jiffy holding a large cylinder shaped package. His harsh glare made everyone shut-up in an instant. "If anyone can guess what I have in this package I'll give that student fifty points and a piece of Honeydukes new Luscious Chocolate Logs."
Cole immediately rose up from out of his chair and raised his hand towards the ceiling "ooing" like crazy. Lindy, Alan, Hemal, Ariel and a few Ravenclaw students decided to take a shot as well. But Snape called on Cole first.
"Yes, Mr. Finnigan," Snape said clearly expecting a nonsense answer.
"Um…" Cole hesitated. He obviously hadn't thought about it. "A…dark thingy."
The whole class giggled.
"Actually, Mr. Finnigan you couldn't be more wrong." Some hands went down.
"Mr. Weasley," Snape called next.
"A potion," Adam guessed.
"No."
"Well this is a…" Adam began.
"No, Mr. Weasley."
It wasn't a book, a food container, a cauldron, or a Muggle artefact. When Lindy guessed a cage Snape actually half smiled. "I'll give you twenty five points and a Fizzing Whizbee for that, Beiner. The real question is what is inside the cage."
As he was unwrapping the package Lily Jane leaned over and whispered to Lindy. "I can't believe he just gave Gryffindor twenty-five points. He would never do that for anyone but you."
"I'll continue when Miss Potter decides to...stop…CHATTING," Snape walked right up to Lily Jane to get a full glance of her glaring green eyes. After a few seconds of staring menacingly at each other Snape walked back over to his desk and continued unwrapping the package.
A lot of students got up to get a closer glance at what was inside. Lindy was in the back row so at first all she saw was the top of a metal cage and a beam of dim light. "Would someone close the drapes please," Snape ordered. A Ravenclaw girl did as he said and Snape backed away from the cage.
"Ooooooo," everyone cooed. There standing in that cage were three tiny fairies, miniature women with leaf dresses and small flower headbands. They were very beautiful, but perhaps the most glamorous thing about them was their transparent sparkling wings.
"What on earth do fairies have to do with potions?" the same girl who closed the drapes asked.
"Absolutely nothing," Snape said in his normal harsh tone, "I just thought you might want to know how your haunted house is being lit."
"Cool," Lindy heard Alan whisper. Lily Jane was still not smiling.
"Now can anyone tell me a common Muggle misconception about fairies?" Snape asked. Lindy knew this.
"Yes, Miss Beiner," he said immediately.
"They don't talk, just make a high pitched humming noise, and they don't produce any sort of dust, plus there magic is very weak."
"Excellent, Miss Beiner, two more points to Gryffindor." Lily Jane scoffed.
"Which can be taken away with a wave of a wand Miss Potter, for your haughtiness," Snape retorted. Lily Jane rolled her eyes.
Snape ignored her, "Now, what you must understand about fairies is they may look human but they are far from it. As Miss Beiner stated they do not talk and do not produce powerful magic. They also do not contain nearly the amount of intelligence humans posses."
Snape pointed to one of the very frightened creatures with his wand. "But as you can see," he said, "They are dressed in although barbaric, a form of clothing and seem to value fashion. In fact, fairies love anything worth value, they are quite greedy creatures."
"Can we touch them?!" Celina exclaimed.
"If you wish, but then immediately go back to your seat and begin the assignment on the board." Snape waved his wand to the black board and as each letter began to appear more and more groans came from the students.
Write an essay on potion safety. Make sure you include at least five reasons as to why you should take precaution while working in this class. Grammar and spelling mistakes WILL NOT be ignored. Professor Godwin will be grading this tomorrow, if he is not back by then I will be. Get to work.
"Oh, honestly, did you think we were going to have fun all class period?" Snape said wittily.
"Do you think he was told to show us the fairies?" Alan asked Lindy.
"Nah! Ya think?" Lily Jane rudely whispered.
Alan turned red. "Sorry," Lily Jane said after glancing at the fairies for no more than three seconds, "I just can't stand that man. I mean did you see the way he looked at me? Plus, I think it's unfair that he treats Lindy nicely just because her father was Malfoy. I mean it's not like she's anything like him."
It was at that moment when Lindy began feeling very ashamed of herself. She knew she shouldn't be but Lily Jane was right, she would rather have Snape hate her for who she is than like her for who her biological father was.
Sure enough Lindy and Lily Jane did both the same amount of work on their potions safety essay and Snape gave Lindy sixteen points higher than Lily Jane. "I spelled cauldron wrong," she said.
After Snape's surprising lesson school began to get less and less tiresome. The weather was improving so the teachers didn't seem depressed enough to give a lot of work. Godwin, however, was still missing. For the next four days Potions was taught by an older women named Mrs. Dunburry who was cheerful and barely taught anything at all. "Maybe Godwin died," Aiden suggested, "That'd be two in a row."
"You sound as if that's an accomplishment," Isolde laughed.
"I don't know…" Aiden said, "I'm just enjoying Mrs. Dunburry while she lasts."
"Hey, everyone look outside!" Celina cried running up to the Gryffindor table. Lindy turned around to see many students staring out the large hall windows.
"SIT DOWN!" McGonagall cried standing at the podium. Everyone took their seats but Keith Damien who was still looking out the window not paying any attention. Snape stomped right over and elevated him in the air then plopped him down right next to Alexia who was in an unsustainable fit of giggles.
"Yes, they are setting up the haunted house which you will, hopefully, all see tomorrow. For now no student is permitted to go near the green houses," McGonagall said.
Lindy could've sworn she saw the triplets and Sebastian exchange menacing glances.
"I wonder what a haunted house with real monsters will be like," Ophelia Urchart wondered out loud later that night in the common room as Lindy and her roommates were doing their homework near the window. The older students were on a trip to a village near Hogwarts that first and second years weren't allowed to attend so the room was rather empty and pretty quiet.
"Really, Ophie," Ariel Grey said in a 'kids these days' type of tone, "Monsters do not exist, magical dark creatures do."
"Some refer to them as monsters," Lily Jane said matter-of-factly, "And I wouldn't know Ophie, the only haunted house I've been in is the Shrieking Shack which isn't even haunted at all."
Lindy was going to ask what the Shrieking Shack was but look up from her Charms homework to see a bunch of students crowding around the door. It appeared as if the older years had returned from their trip. Lily Jane immediately got up.
"Please, please give the masters some air!" one of the triplet boys exclaimed. Lindy could see his identical was carrying a very large box of what appeared to be…body parts. Some second year girls shrieked and jumped as soon as they got close.
"Geez, you guys, they're fake!" Sebastian cried.
"Just got back form Hogsmeade and we're loaded," Fritz, who turned out to be the one with the box, announced proudly. Isolde coughed up an evil laugh.
"Halloween really is the best holiday ever," Aiden said stretching out on one of the couches after successfully scaring one of the second year girls with a bloody hand he pulled out of his jacket.
As the common room filled up with students more and more people began rummaging through the triplets' box and scaring anyone they could with the props. Lindy had to admit it was pretty funny when Adam made Bainbridge (who was lying on the couch reading and not paying any attention to the excitement) shriek like a little girl at the sight of a rubber blood-shot eye.
Gordon was rushing up behind the group. "Hey!" he shouted when he saw Bainbridge jump. Even though it was Adam who just planted the last prank Gordon went straight to the triplets. "No funny business with those things, okay?" His girlfriend, Florine, was behind him massaging his neck which just made most everyone laugh in his face. (Gordon gave Florine a harsh glance and she slowly backed off)
"Aw, Gordy, you're missing out on the holiday spirit," Isolde cooed imitating Florine who was looking very offended.
"I don't want to see you guys getting into trouble, is all. You know I have to report you if you try anything, right?" Gordon was making many students loose interest in the box.
"Just let them have fun, Gordon," Lucinda said taking off her deep purple jacket that matched her hair perfectly.
"Fun's fine, but I'm not about to let them kill anyone," he snapped at her. Lindy hated that she was feeling amused by this. (Although she wasn't the only one standing around to watch them fight)
"Man, you really are becoming too much like Uncle Percy," Aiden retorted picking himself and the box off the couch.
"Is there something wrong with that?" Bainbridge was obviously trying to sound brave, and it wasn't working. When Sebastian nodded Bainbridge made a fist which only made his cousin shake his head once more and laugh. Sebastian and the triplets did nothing more but speed up into the boys dormitory.
"You know I really don't need you supporting them, Lucinda," Gordon said sternly catching the metamorphogus as she was going with another girl up to the girl's dorm. Lindy and her roommates were just about ready to get back to their homework but turned around when they heard this.
"Oh, Gord, how long have you known them? You know they don't mean any harm," she said casually.
"I'm doing my job!" he barked, "And you should too!"
Lucinda looked at him blankly then walked over to Florine who standing with some girls in the corner listening to their less than friendly conversation. "Do you even know him?!" she screamed at her, "This isn't Gordon. You're turning him into an uptight-lovesick-looser. I hope you're happy!" Both Lily Jane and Lucinda's friend looked impressed. Adam and Cole "oooed" quite loudly. Florine just stood there with her hands on her hips, mouth wide open. Lucinda walked back over to Gordon, slapped him upside the head, and stomped upstairs.
Gordon was beat red and didn't waste anytime to head back up too his dorm. After he was out of sight the remaining students let out bursts of giggles and applause. Lindy looked to Lily Jane for an explanation.
"They used to date," she said, "Broke up over the summer, Florine's the most popular fifth year in Hogwarts and Lucinda's mighty pissed. We…we meaning me, Sebastian, Adam, and Jamie…think she still likes him."
"Oh," Lindy said feeling a bit overloaded.
"There break up really was pointless," Adam stated fiddling with the rubber eye he stole from the box behind Aiden's back, "Mum thinks so too. Gordy's a big chicken, is all."
Liam, Jamie, and a few other second years immerged from the boys' dormitory. (Ariel and the other girls went back to the window but Lindy took a seat in one of the chairs near her not about ready to return to working.) "You guys just missed a big fight," Adam informed the boys.
"Yah we were just coming down to ask what that was all about," Jamie said.
Something just dawned over Lindy, "Hey, have any of you seen Alan?" she asked. They all shock their heads. "He went to the bathroom a half-an-hour ago."
Cole and Adam just laughed, "Pity when that happens," Cole whispered. Lily Jane shut them up with a powerful glare. Right on cue Alan stepped through the doors.
"Where were you?" Lindy asked.
"Uh…I ran into Longbottom he wanted to congratulate be one my good exam," Alan was a terrible liar. Lily Jane nudged Cole before he or Adam could say anything else.
The next day was very easy. With the exception of Snape no teacher bothered to give any work. Professor Bones even played a Halloween game with the first years. (Although, it got a bit out of hand when everyone began throwing candy at Declan.)
But the real Halloween excitement began at dinner that night. Nobody was kidding when they said how marvellous the feast was. There had to be twice the amount of food as usual and it tasted almost twice as good. "Just wait until Christmas," Liam whispered to Lindy when she complemented the roast beef. Her face matched her beets.
"I wonder when we'll go into the haunted house," Ophie said excitedly.
"Just be patient," Ariel said. (Her rudeness was really beginning to irritate Lindy)
As McGonagall approached the podium everyone cheered. "I take it you're anticipating this," she said, "That's most pleasing considering the construction of the haunted house was time consuming not to mention costly to the school. However, without further a do would prefects please lead their first, second, and third year students out to the green houses," students immediately rose from their seats, "In SINGLE FILE!"
Lucinda gave Gordon an angry look as she volunteered herself to bring the Gryffindors outside. Lindy followed behind her classmates out into the night. The haunted house looked like just that. It was blackish-grey with many windows and appeared to be very old. Monstrous sounds were heard all around. Students cheered, awed, and screamed.
"It's a full moon," Lucinda said.
"So pretty," Ophie whispered.
"If you say so," the prefect answered sounding a bit like Ariel.
"Prefects separate your students by year and give them their cards!" Hagrid's loud voice ordered. He seemed to be guarding the entrance to the house.
"Okay everyone," Lucinda said to the first years, "The haunted house works like this. I'm going to give you a red card with a gold number one and a small button on it. First years enter the house on the first floor and follow the red arrows with number ones. When you reach the end of your trail you'll receive a special prize. If anyone in your group needs to exit the house for what ever reason push the button on your card and someone will come and retrieve you. Any questions?"
The students shock their heads.
"Who wants to hold the card?" Lucinda asked.
"Give it to Alan," Hemal said, "He won't loose it." Alan took the card hesitantly.
"Go line up," Lucinda said.
They obeyed and walked over to Hagrid with the rest of the first years/
"Stay in yer groups," he said, "And don't loose yer cards. Oh, 'n 'ave fun." He smiled and opened the door with a loud screech. The children tip-toed in slowly. The Gryffindor and Slytherin arrows were on the left, Ravenclaw's and Hufflepuff's on the right. The Slytherins automatically pushed the Gryffindors aside a boy Lindy didn't know stomped on her foot, obviously deliberately.
"I hope you die, Paxton!" Rubella's voice called.
"Shut-up!" he surprisingly called back. Rubella just laughed.
The Slytherins had just turned another corner but Gryffindor was still being directed straight ahead down a long hallway. Lindy couldn't see the end or even any doors. The only light were the fairy lanterns hanging on the walls.
"This is boring," Cole said.
"We've been here for two minutes," Ariel said smartly.
"I hate waiting," he answered. Right on cue a distant moan was heard from down the hall. The sound appeared to be coming closer…closer…Ophie screamed.
"It's a ghoul," Cindy said.
"No," Lindy said, "It's someone acting like one, the sound is just coming towards us, there's nothing in here."
"Well that's lame," Cole said.
"Give it a chance!" Lily Jane said.
They proceeded down the hall and finally reached a large sitting room with furniture covered in white sheets, and many cob-webs.
"Was that it?!" Adam cried, "It's a dead-end!"
"Look around for a secret passage way or something," Ophie suggested.
Ariel was beginning to tell her that it was a dumb idea when Declan whispered, "Guys…look at the sheets." They appeared to be rising up off the furniture…faster…faster…when they were well above their heads the sheets twirled around and split into little pieces of white fabric.
The kids just watched in amazement as the pieces of fabric moved together to form a full-fledged mummy. Cole, Declan, Ophelia, and Cindy shrieked everyone else just stood mouth-wide open, backing up. Ariel stood in her spot with her hands on her hips. "Honestly, is this supposed to scare us?"
"Yes," Alan whispered.
Before she could reply the mummy turned and pointed to the back wall. A door with a red arrow appeared and the mummy vanished. Everyone took a moment to take everything in before heading towards the door which took them to the kitchen. Inside were bats who made rude comments but eventually they figured out following them led to another arrow which led to a ballroom with obviously fake dead people hanging from the ceiling along with fake body parts immediately recognized to be the triplets'. "How in world did they manage…" Adam said, "Oh, I don't even want to know.
The next arrow led bedroom with a zombie standing on an entrance to the basement. She told them in an extremely creepy voice to open the door by placing the card in the crack. "You mean we go down?" Ophie asked. She was gone before they received an answer.
The staircase was very narrow, steep, and extremely dark. Everyone proceeded down one by one: Ariel first, then Cole, Adam, Cindy, Ophie, and Hemal. Lily Jane and Lindy held back when they saw how scared Declan and Alan looked. "Come on," Lily Jane said, "They would never have anything down there that would hurt us."
"I know," Alan whispered.
"It's okay if you're afraid, we'll be right behind you," Lindy said.
"I'm not afraid!" Alan said harshly, "I'm going. I'm just waiting for Declan."
"I'm not going," Declan said directly, "Give me that card." Alan handed it to him and began to walk down the stairs. Lindy and Lily Jane followed leaving Declan upstairs with the card.
The basement was completely black. No fairy lights or anything. In fact, it was dark Lindy couldn't see her feet or even Lily Jane standing right next to her. "Wh-what now?" Lindy asked.
"I think we should form a chain and feel around," Lily Jane said.
"Yah, maybe there's a light somewhere," said Ariel's voice. They did just that but didn't feel anything but air, no walls or anything.
"I don't like this," Ophie said.
"Me neither," Adam and Lindy said together.
"I used to be afraid of the dark," Hemal said, "Now I know why."
"Guys," Alan uttered quietly.
"What?" Lily Jane asked.
"I know what's going on."
"What?!" everyone demanded.
"We…um…well…" he began.
"I found the door!" Cole exclaimed seemingly from across the room, "And…AHHHH! There's blood on it!"
"It's fake," Ariel said.
"I hate blood!" Cole cried.
"It's fake!"
"I KNOW that!"
"Well, someone open it," Hemal said impatiently.
"It's locked."
"Use the card."
"Declan had it and he left," Alan said.
"WHAT!" many voices screamed.
"You mean we're stuck in here!" Ariel sounded horrified.
"It appears so," Cindy snapped.
"We can't even call for help," Adam said, "Nice work guys."
"HELP! HEEELLLP!!" Ophie shrieked.
"Oh for goodness sake it's no use!" Ariel retorted, "We're trapped."
"Eventually they'll realize we haven't come out and they'll come and get us," Lindy said trying to calm everyone down even though she didn't feel the least bit brave.
"Why are we in such a dark room anyway?" Lily Jane asked. "What's the point?"
"How should we know?!" Ariel said rudely, "But we're not getting the prize if we just stand here."
Just then something came over Lindy. She remembered that she read about a light spell in one of her books. It started with an L...Lomes? No, Lunnes? That wasn't it…L…L… "Lumos!" She remembered waving her wand. It wasn't a lot of light but at least she could see what was in front of her.
"Why didn't you do that in the first place, Beiner?" Ariel asked in her rude way.
"I forgot," she said fiercely.
"Everyone say it, so we have even more light!" Lily Jane suggested. Lindy told them the spell, soon the whole room was lit, and it wasn't a pretty sight.
"What the…" Adam began.
"Slytherin," Lily Jane whispered harshly.
On the floor in the left corner was a torn up banner that seemed to have said "Congratulations Gryffindor First Years!" Next to it was a black cauldron Hemal walked towards it, "Wrappers," he said, "Someone ate all the candy." The most horrifying sight of the entire room was the little fairies sprawled out on the floor, motionless. Their lanterns were still hanging on the wall, glass cracked.
"Are they…dead?" Ophie asked she appeared to be close to tears.
"Probably just stunned," Lily Jane said quietly.
"Now what?" Cindy asked.
"Know any brilliant spells to get us out of here, Beiner?" Ariel rudely offered.
Lindy blushed when she remembered she did, in fact, know one. She walked over to the door and outstretched her wand, "Alohamora," she said. The door opened to reveal the dark Hogwarts grounds. Lindy turned away from Ariel's mean glance.
Cindy immediately ran up to Snape, Longbottom, and Bones who were coming up from behind the house. "Someone took all our candy!" she whined to them.
"We know," Professor Bones said, "Sebastian and the Weasley triplets told us after they decided to place their contraptions in the ballroom."
"It was Slytherin wasn't it?!" Lily Jane cried, "They saw them following our trail and caught them stealing our candy!"
"It was not Slytherin, Miss Potter," Snape interrupted, "It was only Miss Parkinson and her friends."
"Same difference," Lily Jane muttered under her breath.
"Do we get our candy?" Cindy asked.
"Yes," Longbottom said.
"Except," Snape said, "These two delinquents." He pointed at Lily Jane and Lindy.
"What'd we do?!" Lily Jane demanded.
"Miss Parkinson has told me that you have been having a little competition with her group. You're pranking back and forth, each breaking more and more rules each time," Snape said.
"But we've stopped!" Lindy jumped in for their defense. The other Gryffindors just watched in amusement.
"I don't care, Miss Beiner," Bones said, "This sort of behaviour is not tolerated at Hogwarts. Now, Professor Longbottom will escort you to the headmistress's office."
"The headmistress!" Lily Jane whined.
"NOW," Snape ordered. T
They did. Silently they walked up to the castle up to the seventh floor. Lindy had never been down that way before.
"Here we are," Longbottom said as they approached a large stone gargoyle. "Pumpkin Juice." The gargoyle moved aside and revealed a large staircase. "Go on you two," Longbottom said. Lindy began to climb the staircase soon to find it moved by itself. Lily Jane hopped on just before it stopped moving.
Lindy was now standing in a large circular room. In front of them was McGonagall, sitting at her desk and sitting on the couch in front of her…was Rubella, Alexia, and Ursula. Lily Jane stared them down. "Have a seat, girls," McGonagall's raspy voice ordered. They sat on the couch opposite of Rubella.
"Care to explain what's been going on?" McGonagall asked after a period of awkward silence. Rubella and Lily Jane proceeded to answer, "Miss Beiner," McGonagall finished.
"Um…" she began, "Well I guess it started the first day of school when we realized we didn't like each other. Then the next day they put dissolving acid on Lily Jane's robes. After that we put slippery salve on Rubella's broom and then this I guess. A long with a few harmless pranks in-between."
"And do you girls realize that this could have done some serious damage?" McGonagall was showing no sympathy.
"Do you realize that dissolving acid can burn skin and Miss Potter could be seriously hurt? Do you realize that this slippery salve that you used could've done permanent damage to Miss Parkinson or the broom? And do you realize that you may have killed those fairies, vandalized our lanterns, and ruined Hogwarts privilege to ever have this haunted house again!?!" If looks could kill, McGonagall would be one of the foulest murders of all time. Lindy was certainly beginning to regret everything she did.
"But…" Lily Jane decided not to speak.
"I know you barely did anything Miss Potter but wouldn't it have been easier just to come to a teacher and tell them you were being harassed instead of trying to get even? I know you have been hearing of stories about your relatives getting famous for making trouble but that doesn't mean it's your destiny. Have some self-control!" Lily Jane looked down at her feet.
"You and Miss Parkinson have no right to drag these other girls into this. The three of you would be wise to reconsider who you have made friends with." Rubella looked utterly offended but Alexia and Ursula just nodded.
"I…I…" Lindy began.
"You what, Miss Beiner?" McGonagall asked.
"I value Lily Jane's friendship, she's the nicest person I've ever met and I'm just as responsible for this. In fact, it is my fault entirely. Or, I'm the root of the problem." Lily Jane smiled a little.
"Thank-you, Miss Beiner," McGonagall said more comfortingly. "I appreciate you owning up to yourself. You and Miss Potter may proceed to your dormitories. Go to Professor Longbottom tomorrow, he will decide your punishment."
"What about us?!" Alexia screamed.
"You three have done terrible damage!" McGonagall was now not just talking firmly but yelling at them. "I have no choice but to suspend you."
"What!" all three of them exclaimed. Lily Jane and Lindy exchanged pleased looks.
"I believe I told you girls to leave!" They rushed back down the staircase.
Lily Jane laughed and clapped as they reached the bottom, "That was so worth it!" She exclaimed.
"Yah, but I'm never doing it again," Lindy said.
"Oh, we will just not anytime soon and not for something as stupid as this. And we'll be sure not to get caught, of course." Lindy just nodded, deciding it was much too late to argue.
Back in the dormitory their roommates were very eager to hear what had happened. After they told them Cindy said, "Hemal found something in the cauldron I think you should see, Lindy." Her tone was serious. She handed Lindy a small slip of folded up parchment.
Lindy opened it. It read:
Beiner,
This isn't the end. You will be finished, by someone a thousand times more powerful than us. You will regret ever coming here. This we swear on your dead father, by spring you will be gone and the Secret Scroll will reveal the truth.
A/N: OOOOOOOO REVIEW!!!