Midnight Marauding – Chapter 8

The three boys had always snuck out. But usually right after curfew only. They were always back before midnight since they needed some sleep in order to pretend to be awake at classes the next morning. But tonight was different.

All Ethan knew was that they were sneaking out in the middle of the night. But he didn't understand why they were sneaking out in the middle of the night. Maybe he should ask James why they were sneaking out in the middle of the night. "James, why are we sneaking out in the middle of the night?"

It was Fred who answered that question while covering his prominent red locks under a black, woolen cap, "We're not sneaking out in the middle of the night, we're sneaking out at midnight."

"Ok, why are we sneaking out at midnight?" Ethan enunciated the last word carefully in his weak, reedy voice.

Fred, now tugging on a sock, intoned in a solemn, grave voice, "Because midnight is when ghosts glide and goblins gallop."

"I didn't know that goblins galloped," James piped up from where he was donning a dark brown coat.

Fred dismissed him with a shrug, "Alliteration is part of my artistic license."

"Oh sure, Fred."

"But we see ghosts all the time! And there are loads of goblins at Gringotts……."

"That's not the point, Ethan!"

"Shhhhhhhhhh! You want those mutts to wake up?" James hissed, throwing a meaningful look at the other two beds in the room, where the occupants were snoring blissfully.

Ethan's face paled and he shakingly shook his head. The chubby boy watched as the other two readied themselves. "James, why are we sneaking out in the middle of the ….sorry, sorry, at midnight?" Ethan whispered, hastily correcting himself mid-sentence as Fred glared at him.

Ethan visible deflated as James completely ignored him, "Actually, Fred, midnight and middle of the night are the same thing. I mean, think about it…." James was halted as a sock was lobbed into the air and neatly landed straight in his open mouth.

"You coming or what?" Fred asked Ethan offhandedly, grinning wickedly as James spat out the dirty sock with an expression of disgust on his face.

"Thanks Fred. That was disgusting."

"No, thank you James, that was very amusing."

The two exited the dormitory, James playfully punching Fred. "Tell the other two goodnight for us, will you?" the redhead nastily threw over his shoulder to the still seated Ethan. The boy hastily scrambled off the bed and ran to catch up with the now chortling duo.

Alicia Longbottom smiled sweetly at the Fat Lady and pleasantly wished her goodnight as she entered the common room. Stifling a yawn, the blond, slightly chubby girl proceeded to make her way up the stairs to the dormitories. She was exhausted.

Her Dad had been freaking out about some new girl and her Mom had been going on about some strange thing or the other as usual. Alicia loved her parents but she was looking forward to a peaceful sleep. She placed a hand on the banister of the common Room stairs when a noise at the top startled her.

She sharply called out," Who's there?" and looked up to see a weird but hilarious sight. James Potter and Fred Weasley were fumbling at the top of the stairs. Desperately clinging to each other for balance, they were trying their utmost not to fall down the steps. However, unfortunately for them, a hurtling cannonball, AKA Ethan barged into them from behind, sending them over the brink. As the three tumbled down the stairs, in a jumbled mass of legs and arms, Alicia neatly stepped out of the way to let them land ungracefully at the foot of the stairs.

Barely containing her laughter, she walked over to the heap of boys who were picking themselves up in a dignified manner.

"Get your arse off my face, Ethan!"

"Fred, your foot is poking me!"

"You're crushing me!

After the boys had dusted themselves off and Alicia had stopped giggling, the group surveyed each other.

Alicia spoke up first, "What are you doing, sneaking out of the common room?"

The two cousins evilly grinned at each other and moved as one towards the now slightly nervous girl. Simultaneously draping an arm each over her, they in turn asked her.

"What are you doing…."

"Sneaking in to the common room?"

The flushed girl breathlessly answered, 'I was just returning from saying goodnight to my parents."

"Oh."

The boys visibly deflated and detached themselves from Alicia. Fred yanked Ethan along to the portrait, clutching a sheaf of parchment in his hand while James bid farewell to her with a jaunty salute.

"Wait! It's after curfew! Where are you going?"

James stopped and pivoted, "To take a stroll in the Forbidden Forest."

"But you'll be killed! Or worse, expelled!"

Furrowing his eyebrows at her thought process, James cheekily winked at her, "Don't worry my Lady, I promise to return safe and sound," he left, a furious Gryffindor in his wake.

Albus Potter woke up with a start. He surveyed the dark Hospital room with bleary eyes, wondering what could have startled him out of a deep sleep. A sudden muffling sound was heard. Albus straightened up and reached for his glasses, slipping them on quickly. The room sharply came into focus as he padded over to Arianna's bed, emerald eyes still scanning the room.

"Arianna?"

"She's sleeping," a voice answered from the blanket covered girl on the bed.

"Arianna. Get up. I hear something."

No reply. The scuffle of footsteps became more distinct.

"Arianna, I really hear something!"

"Perhaps it is the voice in your head," came back the sardonic whisper.

Another shuffle echoed throughout the room. Even Arianna's dark head rose slightly upon hearing the noise. Albus's socked feet made no noise as he pivoted slowly, giving the room a once over. His left hand absentmindedly prodded the still lying down girl as his right hand toyed with his wand. The noise was getting louder and nearer. Uttering a sigh of frustration, Arianna sat up and glared at the Gryffindor.

"Stop prodding me."

"Someone's coming!"

"It's probably that worrywart of a nurse. Cease your poking."

"Hey! She was pretty nice! And it's coming from outside the Hospital Wing!"

"All right, I believe you. Desist the prodding."

"What do you think we should do?"

"Let me think and I swear, if you don't stop that incessant poking………"

"Oh sorry! I didn't even realize. You should have said something," the bespectacled boy stepped away from the bed and moved towards the door, thereby missing the glare and eye roll directed at him. The Slytherin opted to stay in bed, whispering Lumos to illuminate the room in a pale glow.

Then the Hospital Wing door opened and three boys casually strolled in.

"Hey, Al! What do you think of Hogwarts so far?"

A/N – Ok, I have a very good excuse for being so lazy1! My exams came up and I'm doing 14 subjects and so I had a LOT to study! Also, I hit a bit of writer's block which I've thankfully been able to cure. I'm also on the lookout for a beta reader. Not just a good one, but someone who will berate me for slow updating and nag me until I finish a chapter. I have no intentions of abandoning this story……..so please don't' abandon me! Thanks again for reading! More soon!