Chapter Two
It had been a month since their fateful meeting on Platform 9 ¾ and school was in full swing. Noah had had a few sleepless nights after being sorted into a different house than Luke and Athena, but Luke hadn't backed down from his solemn promise that they would remain the best of friends. The castle now had a familiar feel and he had gotten completely used to the routine of classes, ghosts, and moving staircases. Nevertheless, he had only been part of this world for a month and so whenever he thought himself completely acclimatized, there was always something else he's have to get his mind around.
It was Friday evening and Noah was walking to the dining hall keeping a keen eye on the students around him, searching for Luke and Athena. He was on his tip-toes looking over the sea of heads when a familiar hand grabbed his shoulder and steered him towards a crook in the hallway. Luke and Athena stood there excitedly, giggling and shushing each other with their hands on their lips. When all the students had passed they finally allowed themselves to speak.
'We finally convinced them!' Athena started, grabbing Noah by the shirt 'After weeks and weeks of persuasion we got them good and they finally told us where it is!'
'And we should definitely go tonight; I mean no first years have ever been, ever!' Luke chimed in, being just as unhelpful as Athena. 'I wonder if you can get out from there!'
'Get out from where?' Noah asked impatiently? 'What are you guys talking about?' Luke and Athena had the best of intentions, but being in different houses meant that they spent far more time together in classes and the common room. They usually did an alright job filling Noah in on all the happenings but he still felt a little left out.
'Oh sorry,' Luke responded apologetically. 'Okay, so you know how my brother knows her sister?' Luke said, glanced over to Athena.
'Aaron's in loooooove,' Athena mocked. 'It's totally disgusting. He's always following Minny everywhere. I don't know how she deals with it.'
Luke ignored her. 'So a few weeks ago we were in the common room and Aaron was trying to get her sister to go somewhere called The Shack. And as soon as they noticed us they got all mad and nervous and made us promise not to tell anyone what we heard'
'So obviously we were curious.' Athena continued, eyes sparkling. 'I mean, we knew there was something we weren't supposed to know. I desperately wanted to know about The Shack.' Athena paused dramatically.
'So basically we got dirt on Aaron and we made him tell us how to get to The Shack and we're gonna try and go tonight' Luke finished, succinctly.
'Lu-uke!' Athena whined loudly. 'I was telling the story!'
Luke rolled his eyes and Noah laughed at their constant antics. 'Anyways apparently there is a knot under the Whomping Willow which leads to a passageway in Hogsmede! We could hang out there with all the upper-year students in the Leaky Cauldron. It'll be a riot!'
It took a bit of convincing, but eventually Noah came around. They snuck into the dining hall late and made plans to meet at ten o'clock in the doorway near the transfiguration classroom.