Chapter 19: The Not so Daring Adventures of Cho and Luna.
It was around midnight.Cho waited in the dark, with great anticipation in her dorm room for a message from Harry. She had not gotten to see him but in passing all day and again found herself in the library at breakfast and lunch finishing Professor McGonagall's assignment. At one point Marietta had stepped in to insult her, by saying that she had a flat nose, but she didn't care, she was feeling beautiful, and it had been a good day. She had even made up half her points lost in the Transfiguration class in Defense against Dark Arts. She had wished that Harry was teaching it though. The only bad thing about the day so far was that Cho's stomach was churning from so many missed meals. But now she was waiting for something that was going to make her feel a lot better. An actual letter from Harry. She had left the window open waiting for an owl, and had a few treats ready for its arrival. She was nervous and pacing the floor. Beverly, Nancy and Erica were a bit annoyed at Cho keeping them awake. Finally Beverly spoke.
"Cho what the bloody hell are you doing? Go to bed! It's late and it's cold, and were all freezing because you have the window open." Beverly complained.
"I'm not cold." said Nancy. Beverly gave a slight chuckle.
"You're never cold, Eskimo." Beverly joked.
"No, but Cho, your constant pacing the floor is keeping me awake. Why don't you pace in the common room. Cho stopped pacing, and sat down at the make up table on the internal wall.
"I'm sorry guys, really. I just need a few more minutes. I'm expecting and owl." Cho said apologetically.
"Well you could probably get it tomorrow morning with the rest of the mail. Why don't you get some sleep?" Erica put in. Cho felt bad to be causing her friends distress.
"I'm sorry guys. Really. Just five more minutes. I promise." Cho pleaded.
"Whatever, five more, than off to bed." Nancy finished. Suddenly Luna came in the room and although she tried to be quite, she was breathing heavily, and started shouting in the dark for Cho in a loud whisper. Cho beckoned her over to the makeup table with a softer whisper, and when Luna whispered in Cho's ear.
"Cho! Marietta is going down to the common room. I think that she's going to leave again. Come on, we have to go see what she's up to. Luna said. Cho looked worried. She and Luna had been hoping to catch Marietta at something all week, but never were able to. Now she was sneaking out, and it was past curfew. Cho hesitantly closed the window to the outside of the dorm room and followed Luna down the hall. As the two girls descended the curving stairs, they saw four flashes, in quick succession that looked as if someone was taking photos down stairs. They stayed around the corner out of sight, and could not see the people in the common room, but could hear them. Barely audible voices were heard down stairs, and Cho and Luna had to strain to listen to what was being said.
"…there is also a possibility that the head master is going to make an announcement tomorrow banning our information packets. And that he's going to speak out against us. Professor Flitwick already told me that we're forbidden from wearing our armbands. Marietta…what are we going to do?" came the voice of Danielle.
"Don't worry Danielle. We already have the information passed to all the necessary students, and it was all part of the plan in the first place to take the movement underground. Now you see though how biased the Head master is against us. This will be an example that we can point out about his favoritism to the mudbloods. Do you see how he's trying to keep the purebloods down? He's a traitor to his own race." Marietta said with a slight tone of anger.
"But poor Lori, having to spend four days detention with that slime of a teacher, because she implied that the Head Master was under Potters control. It's not fair." Danielle complained.
"Of coarse Danielle. That's the whole point I was making about the mudbloods trying to silence us. Its' a plot they have been at for years, but soon things will turn in our favor. Caoimhe and Pollyanna have already agreed to take the pledge, and soon others will want to join us. By outlawing our literature, Dumbledork is only making it more appealing to purebloods. It's like telling people not to push the preverbal red button. They can't resist just reading it, even if they don't agree with everything in it." Marietta finished.
"Yes, well I'll just be happy when our first Hogsmead weekend gets here. Once we meet with Professor Watson we can get an idea of what to do about the Head Master. How to get him out of our hair." Danielle said.
"Yes, well… first things first. Potter is our primary concern, he is a danger to us, and we need to show the other students that he is a danger to them as well. Once their hero has fallen from grace, again, we will have a free hand to take care of some of the more undesirables in the school. I'll finalize the plans for Phase one tonight. I want everyone ready if their services need to be called on. They all have to be one hundred percent committed. Their can be no turning back from this point. Are you ready Danielle, to do anything for the society, and our race?" Marietta continued in a serious tone.
"I am Marietta. You know I am." Danielle replied in a proud voice.
"Good! I have to go meet him now. I'll feel you in on everything tomorrow. Have everyone meet at the usual place. We'll wait until after Lori finishes her detention. I don't want her to miss anything." Marietta continued.
"Marietta, what about the ghost? Are you sure your memory Charm will work on one of them if you come across them?" Danielle asked nervously.
"Don't need to give them a memory charm. I've got this!" Marietta said in a jovial tone. After a moment Danielle let out an excited yelp, that Marietta chastised her for.
"Shhuuu. Be quite, and don't tell anyone, not even anyone in the society." Marietta said.
"Can I try it on Marietta?" Danielle pleaded. "I've never seen one before."
"Danielle, it's not to be used for our personal enjoyment, The note said not to play around with it. I have to go, Goodnight." Marietta finished.
"Goodnight." said Danielle. Cho and Luna heard footsteps coming back up the stairs and ran as quietly as possible back down the hall to Cho's room. Cho peaked back around the edge of the door to see Danielle walk into her room alone at the opposite end of the hall. After a few minutes, Cho and Luna exited the room and sat in the hall as not to disturb Cho's roommates.
"I wonder what all that was about." Luna said. Cho frowned.
"I don't know, but it had something to do with Harry. And what ever Marietta is up to, I have a feeling it's more than just Danielle, and Miss Parkinson involved. We have to find out who this Lori friend of hers is, and then we'll at least know one more of her gang." Cho said. Luna gave a slight smile.
"I think I know who that is. Ron told me about it today. Professor Sprout gave one of the Gryffindor girls' detentions for arguing with Harry yesterday. I think her name is Lori. I know what she looks like; I saw part of the argument yesterday, but I didn't know it was with Harry until Ron told me today. Well are we going Cho?" Luna asked. Cho looked with her at a blank expression.
"Going where?" She asked. Luna rolled her eyes.
"Why to follow Marietta of course. This is what we've been waiting for." Luna said. Cho thought for a minute, a worried look on her face.
"Well, how are we going to find her? And I mean, what if we get caught. It's against the rules to be out past curfew. And I'm expecting an owl from Harry." Cho continued nervously. Luna put a hand on her shoulder.
"Look Cho, I know how you are about breaking the rules, but this is about Harry. I mean you know how much Marietta hates him. What if she's planning to hurt him?" Luna cautioned. The thought sent a shiver up Cho's spine. Luna didn't have to say anymore. The two of them headed off to the common room, and noticed that the pictures were again frozen. After they exited out the passage. Cho noticed that the outside painting was also frozen still. The two of them looked around. Marietta wasn't in sight.
"We should have left earlier. Now she's got a head start on us. I don't even know where to start looking. Maybe the library." Cho said in a worried tone.
"If we had left right after her, we would have run into Danielle. And you're the only student that would go to the library at this hour Cho. Were looking for a room that the ghosts usually don't go to. Some place out of the way. Any ideas?" Luna finished. Cho scratched her head, trying to think of an answer.
"Well… if I wanted to go to a place in the castle that no one else went to, than I'd choose the dungeon. The side opposite that the Slytherins have their quarters." Cho said unsure. Luna nodded in agreement.
"Well what side do the Slytherins have their quarters on?" asked Luna. Cho gave a shrug. The exact location of the Slytherins quarters was a mystery to all but themselves. "Alright then, we'll just have to look over the entire dungeon." Luna said assured she was making a wise decision.
"The entire dungeon? Tonight? Luna, Hogwarts is a big place, it would take us weeks. And how are we going to know the difference between a ghost proof room, and a non ghost proof room. All walls are solid to us. And we can't just go up to a ghost and ask them if they can help us look for the room. They would be obligated to report us for curfew violation." Cho said. Luna lowered her eyes.
"Your right Cho. I guess I didn't think about that. But what are we going to do. Luna said disappointed. A tear fell out of Cho's eye.
"Oh Luna, I really am worried about Harry, but I know we'll never be able to find Marietta tonight, we can't search the who dungeon. I failed Harry. I just wanted to help him, but I'm useless." Cho cried. Luna gave her a hug.
"Look Cho, we haven't failed anyone. We know that Marietta is up to something, and we know at least three of her gang. We know that there is a ghost proof room in this castle somewhere, and we can ask the Gray Lady to help us tomorrow when it's not past curfew. Cho wiped her eyes.
"Your right Luna, I… I'm sorry; I just want to help Harry. I lost my head." Cho said remorseful. "Lets get back inside, this was a mistake." Cho and Luna said the pass word in unison, but the portrait did not respond. They looked at each other, and gave each other a horrified expression. With the portrait frozen, the two of them were trapped out side. Cho was about to suggest that they hide in a corner until Marietta got back, to unfreeze the portrait, when Filch was heard walking down the hall.
"Come on Luna! Cho said nervously, we have to keep moving. Miss Norris will be able to sniff us out." Luna didn't need telling twice, and she followed Cho in the opposite direction of Filch. After they were sure that they were out of earshot of anyone, Luna asked Cho where they should hide while they waited for Marietta to return from wherever she went.
"Well… how about the library?" Cho asked innocently. Luna rolled her eyes.
"Why did I even bother asking", she said.
Cho and Luna spent their time in the library quietly pouring over several books that might contain blueprints to Hogwarts, and especially to the dungeons, hoping to find anything that might be a room that was out of the way in the dungeon. Only a single lantern provided any illumination. After a couple of hours Cho yawned, and stretched. She was looking depressed.
"Wow, it's amazing. I didn't realize how many of these books I've already read." Cho whispered. Luna just smiled at her.
"It's not so amazing. You practically live hear lately. And lets face it you've always been a bookworm." She joked. Cho's eyes lowered.
"Do you suppose he doesn't like girls who study a lot? Cho asked. Luna looked confused. (I mean more than usual)
"Who?" she asked.
"Well, Harry. What do you think he likes in a girl. I mean you… talked to him more than I did last year. How should I act to get him to like me?" Cho asked. Luna gave her a pat on the shoulder.
"I think that you should be yourself Cho. I think that Harry will like you for who you are. Maybe you could be a little more outgoing like you were the year before last, but besides that. Just be yourself." Luna comforted. Cho looked at her reflection in the glass of the lamp. "Well, I guess so." Cho said weakly.
"Come on we have to keep looking for a book that might hold a clue to this special room that Marietta was talking about" Luna said as she took another handful of books off the shelf, and put it on the already cluttered table. Cho helped her sort them out, and they each started on a separate book, about Hogwarts. It was amazing how many books there were, several yearbooks going back from hundreds of years ago. On one page of a yearbook from thirty years ago, Cho and Luna found a picture of Marietta's mum, who had been a student in Ravenclaw during her time in Hogwarts. Cho and Luna read on with interest in this particular book. It seemed that Marietta's mum was popular in her day, being on the student council, and being apart of several clubs, and societies. As Cho read Luna taped her on the shoulder.
"Um Cho. I have to go to the bathroom. Stay here, and keep the door locked, until I get back. I'll give three raps on the door when I come back, so you'll know it's me. If you need to go next I'll do the same. But I think it's safer if we go one at a time. Cho nodded and let Luna out, telling her to be careful.
Cho went back to her seat and continued reading over the yearbook with Marietta's mum in it. She was in so many pages, as she seemed to have garnished a lot of awards, and recognition. Cho could see why she was in Ravenclaw. She remembered seeing some of them adorn the walls of Marietta's house when Cho used to visit there. Cho turned another page, to see Marietta's mum in a picture with several other girls and boys in front of a flag with a teardrop on it. It was in black and white, so Cho could not know the colors of the flag, but the wizards and witches were all smiling and moving around in a jovial fashion. On witch in front had her hand on a book and looked to be taking an oath to a young wizard in a top hat. The caption read: Members of the "Society of Truth, Uniformity, Purity, Intellectualism and Domination, enjoy their annual banquet and swearing in the Hogwart's Auxiliary building. Cho then noticed a clipping of news paper folded up at the center of the page. She unfolded it and began to read. "Hogwart's Auxiliary building burns down in mysterious fire. No fatalities, but foul play suspected. The…" Rap, rap, rap! Cho jumped at the sound of the noise, she put her hand to her heart as it skipped a beat. She put the piece of newspaper in her pocket, and went to the door and let Luna in.
"Did you find anything out?" Luna asked. Cho nodded.
"Look lets get these books back on the shelves, and clean up a bit. Maybe the paintings are set right again, and Filch is in another part of the castle. I'll tell you about what I found tomorrow, at lunch." Cho said. Luna nodded, but put in a condition.
"Only if you're not thinking of taking lunch in the library." Luna smiled. Cho nodded with a smile, and picked up the yearbook, to take with her.
"What's this Miss Chang? Taking out a library book without permission? Shame on you!" Luna whispered. Cho had a look of guilt on her face, and seemed as if she wanted to put it back.
"I'm just kidding Cho. Good grief, Lighten up. Look it's to help Harry right?" Luna smiled.
"Yes, it really is." Cho whispered.
"And you intend to bring it back when you're done right?" Luna continued. Cho nodded sincerely. Luna gave her a pat on the back.
"Than let's go you wild, reckless, and crazy rebel you." Luna said jokingly. The two stopped off at the girl's lavatory, ignoring their previous decision to go one at a time, and continued back to the North Tower from there. Cho couldn't help but feel a little adventurous at sneaking around at night, past curfew, but she worried that if Harry found out he wouldn't approve of such behavior.