Chapter 11
As it turned out, I wasn't particularly good at guessing Rose's reactions. She didn't blow up like with the Scorpius thing. She didn't yell. She didn't even look very annoyed.
She just said, "Congratulations, Allie! Now c'mon, don't you guys still want to explore?"
"Yeah, but… I mean not that I want you to be, but why aren't you mad?"
She shrugged indifferently. "I guess I wasn't really that into him. You know, just thought he was good-looking. Not like I had a claim on him or anything. Besides, I really don't want to fight." Here she flashed a small smile.
I smiled back. "Thanks. Will you three help me with an outfit, then? You know I'm horrible with fashion."
"Definitely!" said Kailey. "Ooh, this'll be fun!"
"Yeah, it will. Now back under the Cloak. And this time, watch for people coming our way." We all crouched back under it and started shuffling along again.
"Any guesses to where it'll be?" I whispered.
From beside me, Rose said, "Well, we know it's in a statue of some sort. The only thing I can think of doing is going up to every statue in the castle and saying the password."
"Zat weel take forever!" said Charlotte. "Zere must be a bettair way."
"Not that I can think of," said Kailey. "We might as well start with the first floor corridor and work our way up."
By the time we had gone up to every statue on the first floor and said "Dissendium", it was 10:30.
"Shouldn't we get back?" I asked. "We still have classes tomorrow."
Rose sighed. "I suppose. C'mon, we'll head back to the Common Room."
"Can we do this again sometime?" whispered Kailey as we started back. "I really want to find that secret passage."
"Yeah," said Rose. "We can do the second floor next time." We walked in silence for the rest of the way back, stopping every once in a while as a prefect came across our path. Right outside the portrait hole, we slipped the Cloak off, and Kailey stuffed it in her robes (we figured she was least likely to be questioned by James).
"Try not to attract attention coming in," Rose muttered. And I did try, honestly. But being the slightly-annoying-overprotective brother that he is, Will noticed us just coming in. He frowned and started towards us.
"Shoot," I muttered. "Guys, think of a cover story. Fast." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kailey struggling to compose her face into an innocent mask.
"Where have you four been? It's way past curfew."
I rolled my eyes. "Will, you don't get to be a prefect 'til next year. Give it a rest."
That made him frown even more. "I'm serious, Allie." Great. I was so busted.
"Oh, eet ees alright, Will. I had a question about Defense Against ze Dark Arts 'omework so I asked zem to come with me to ask Professor Potter about eet." She gave him a sweet smile.
He looked rather flustered. "Oh. Right. Nev-never mind, then." I could see his cheeks starting to go red. "I-I'll, uh, just see you later then, Lottie." He turned quickly and walked away, leaving me, Rose, and Kailey to burst into laughter while Charlotte blushed furiously.
"Shut up," she said, crossing her arms huffily.
We didn't.