8-8
"Well," Harry asks. "What do you think?"
"Eh?"
"You are the most logical one here after all." Harry states.
"Oh, right." Logan replies. "Well, we need to find out what that three headed dog is all about."
"I still can't wrap my head around it." Jessica says, shaking her head. "I mean, come on, a three headed dog!"
"Me neither," Grace sighs. "I bet it's awesome."
"Awesome?!" Ron exclaims. "It's terrifying."
"Yeah, but that's just you." Stephanie rolls her eyes.
"She's got you there." Lee says, laughing.
"A three headed dog..." Cedric thinks aloud.
"You got something?" Jessica asks, noticing his dazed state.
"Wouldn't a three headed dog be a 'magical creature'?" He asks.
"I'm confused." Jessica says, not knowing what he is getting at.
"We all know someone who loves creatures of all sorts-" Logan starts, before Hermione finishes.
"Hagrid."
"And he was also there with you at that vault." Grace says, looking at Harry and Stephanie.
"That's right." She nods.
"I think it's time we do some snooping and gather information." Logan says.
"What do you propose?" Fred asks.
"As long as we get to pull some pranks." George smirks.
"Calm down, you will." Grace laughs.
"Harry," Logan says, looking at him. "You've got your first Quidditch game coming up in a few days don't you?"
"Oh, yes." He nods. "That's right."
"I think you should focus on that." Logan says, before adding reassuringly, "For now."
"I guess." He mumbles.
"That goes for you two, too." Grace says, looking at the troublesome Weasley twins.
"Ugh." They groan, dragging it out.
"And Lee," Stephanie turns to him. "Aren't you commentating it?"
"Yip." He nods, excitedly. The duo had recently discussed quidditch and the boys love of commentating.
"I think you should also-"
"Sit this one out?" He guesses. She just nods, with an apologetic expression.
"We get it." Fred says, before George adds.
"As long as we at least get kept up to date and small tasks to do so we don't feel too useless."
"Or left out." Lee says.
"I'm sure we can think of something." Chloe smirks.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Jessica asks, also smirking.
"Pranking Pugface." Chloe, Jessica, Grace and Stephanie say, before looking at each other and laughing.
"Jeez, your minds are already connected." Cedric joking tuts, with crossed arms.
"I've got an idea." Ron pipes up. Everyone one stares at him in utter silence with poker faces before erupting with laughter.
"Yeah right." Jessica snorts.
"Don't make me laugh." Fred adds.
"Hey! I'm being serious." Ron huffs.
"Let's hear it." Grace says, after everyone had calmed down.
"Why don't we just wait until after the quidditch match, that way we'll have everyone and won't need to stress about anything." He concludes. Silence and stares.
"Wow." Stephanie gapes.
"I'm impressed." Jessica mock gasps.
"This is the first and last time but," Logan says. "I agree with Ron."
"Just give me a minute to recover." George says, holding a hand over his heart.
"Admit it, you are incredibly impressed." Grace smirks.
"You got me there." He grins, his hands raised.
"Right, so, this makes it easier and more efficient." Hermione says, everyone agreeing.
"I think we should make this out meeting point." Cedric says.
"Definitely." Jessica nods.
"Oh, I didn't realise it was this late." Stephanie says, looking at the big clock.
"I don't even know how you're keeping it together, Hermione." Ron smirks. "It's so unlike you, little miss perfect."
"That must make you little miss idiot the sidekick." Grace says, warningly.
"Miss?!" Ron says, high pitched.
"With the way you're screeching, you'd pass for one." Jessica laughs.
"So," Logan says, gaining their attention. "We'll discuss everything after the Gryffindor vs Slytherin quidditch match?"
Everyone nods in confirmation.
Before anything further could be added, Madam Pince rounded the corner and stopped at the end of the isle.
"Shouldn't you be on your way?" She asks, her attention on a large book. "It's quite late."
"We're just leaving." Cedric says politely, standing up and then holding his hand out for Jessica.
"Why thank you." She giggles, taking his outstretched hand, as he pulls her up and then hesitates before letting go.
Grace coughs awkwardly, breaking the silence enforced by the awkward situation.
"Goodnight." They say to the librarian before leaving.
"How many paintings do you think'll shout at us, again?" Grace asks, shivering at the thought.
"Oh, only all of them." Stephanie says, sarcastically joyful.
"Again?" George asks.
"Yip." Grace grimaces. "Our last encounter with those in the dungeons wasn't the nicest."
"Not to mention the confrontation with my brother." Chloe adds, laced with attitude.
"What a prat." Jessica sighs.
"No offence, but Malfoy's a spineless git." Hermione adds, her nose crinkling.
"None taking." Chloe laughs.
Along the way, Logan and Cedric had left. In Cedric's case, rather awkward and silently. Followed by Hermione, Harry and Ron, who were told to head back before they were late by the older boys.
"Em," Stephanie starts. "You do realise you're going the wrong way, right?"
"We're just being gentleman." Lee smiles.
"You know, to make sure no paintings shout at you." George teases, nudging Grace with his arm.
"Git." She mumbles, nudging him back.
Soon enough, too soon in some cases, they'd made it to the Slytherin entrance.
"You still up for that thing?" Lee asks Stephanie, as the trio were readying to leave.
"Of course!" She replies, flashing him a grin.
"Great!" He says clicking his fingers at chest height and grinning.
"Well apparently they hit it off." Grace whispers, sarcastically, this earning snickers from Chloe, Jessica, Fred and George.
"What was that?!" Stephanie asks, referring to what she'd said.
"Wait till I tell your brother!" She laughs jokingly, as Stephanie lunges at her and she dives to the entrance, muttering the password and flashing a quick smile at the others. "Goodnight!"
"Goodnight!" They call back, laughing at the two's antics.
"You come back here!" They could here Stephanie whisper/shout.
"Make sure she doesn't get smothered during the night." George says.
"Yeah, I don't want to have to deal with a depressed brother." Fred teases, ruffling George's hair playfully.
"Speaking of-" Lee starts.
"What happened with you and Cedric?" Fred and George question.
"It was nothing." She murmurs.
They each raise an accusing eyebrow but drop it, knowing it was a girl discussion. "Goodnight, you two."
"Goodnight." Chloe replies.
"Night." Jessica says, finally meeting their eye, only to be kissed on each temple by her brothers. They smile reassuringly, Fred ruffling her hair, before they all head off. The paintings shouting in disapproval of the disturbance.