Chapter Four
A Bump in the Night
Garreth sat down at his desk while he waited for Charlemaine to change into some pajamas. He pulled his bag to him and began to take his homework out to finish it. He grabbed some parchment from the stack on his desk. When he lifted it he found a page filled with doodlings. He smiled when he found a picture of a unicorn standing next to a flower. The bathroom door opened and Charlemaine walked out combing her wet hair, which put dark droplets on her pink pajamas.
"Did you draw these?" Said Garreth lifting up the pictures. She nodded and gave him a cheeky grin. "I didn't know you liked to draw. Too bad I didn't know earlier. I could've bought you a sketch pad." "Well your just going to have to wait until Christmas now."
"That's ok, I have enough to preoccupy myself now." She dropped on the bed and slipped under the covers. "Time to go to bed." She ordered.
"I can't, I still have to finish my potions essay."
"No you don't, you can copy what I wrote for you in the morning."
"what?" He laughed pulling the paper out of his potions book. "Alright then." He blew out his candle and slumped onto the sofa. He curled up under the covers and let out a sigh.
"Garreth, thank you for the clothes and stuff. I'll pay you back someday." Said Charlemaine from across the way.
"They're presents; you don't have to pay me back."
"What ever you say." She replied softly. They both quietly went into a deep sleep.
Charlemaine woke to a loud rapping on the window. She lifted her head and stared out it. A dark owl kept flying at the window hitting it with its wings.
"Garreth you have mail." She said sitting up. When she didn't hear an answer back she walked over to the sofa and looked at Garreth. No need to wake him. She opened the window and let the owl in. it swooped onto the bedside table and dropped the letter onto it; then with a flurry of feathers flew out the window and disappeared into the night. She picked up the envelope. How strange a crimson envelope; must be a party. She then flipped it over and got a shock; the letter was addressed to her. Perplexed, she opened it.
"CHARLEMAINE!" Yelled a deep male voice. "I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE! IF YOU DON'T COME HOME I'LL COME AND KILL YOU. YOU BETTER DO AS YOUR TOLD!!" " Come back." The voice whimpered and the letter exploded. Charlemaine was backed into the corner, white as parchment, and trembling from head to toe. Garreth ran over to her and tried to console her as best he could but as soon as he reached her she ran away towards the window. She frantically tried to crawl out of it. It was difficult because she was a lot shorter than Garreth.
"Ch'lemaine!" He growled grabbing her around the waist, trying to pull her from the window. "What are you doing? Get away from there!"
"Let me go Garreth! I have to go!" she said gripping the sill. "He'll do as he says, if I don't he'll kill me, or worse." Garreth gave one last tug and pulled her away from the window and slammed it shut.
"What could possibly be worse than him killing you?" Said Garreth in a burst of anger.
"Hmm, I wonder," Said Charlemaine sarcastically. " Have you ever thought that he could kill you Garreth?" Garreth stood stunned. Of course he hadn't thought of that, but why had she?
Thump thump thump thump.
"Some one's coming." Said Garreth in a whisper. "Quick! Get under the bed!" Charlemaine quickly responded. Garreth jumped on the bed and flung the covers over himself. The door opened and professor Snape walked in, leaving the door ajar.
"Stone." Said Snape. Garreth faked a startled jump and looked at Snape with artificial wonder.
"Is there a problem sir?" Snape looked around the room.
"I don't know what you were doing in here but it better not happen again." He gave him one last look and left the room. "Ten points from Slytherin." reverberated Snape's voice from the hall. With that Garreth gave a long sigh and got off the bed.
"You can come out now." Said Garreth to Charlemaine.
"No, I'm staying down here." She replied. "It's safer, for the both of us." Her hand appeared from under the bed; she pulled the blanket and drug it under the bed with her.
"Are you sure?" Said Garreth grabbing his blanket and pillow.
"Yes." Garreth jumped into his bed and gave a good stretch. It felt good to be in his own bed and not scrunched up on the sofa. He would have been totally comfortable if not for the person under his bed. "Have you ever thought he could kill you Garreth?" Charlemaine's voice echoed in his mind. Some one was actually worried about him; he was not sure how he was supposed to feel, happy or embarrassed.
A.N. My twin sis (the ticklish pear) has started a fanfic. So look her up for a good read.