A/N: Thanks to Blue Raging Fire111 for reviewing and being so supportive and thanks to everyone who's actually reading this story!

Chapter 12

Click, click, click.

The Hogwarts corridors were completely silent save from the echo of three student's footsteps as they trooped back to their common room.

A little way away from the Fat Lady's Portrait, Mat and Rosie stepped in front of Molly, blocking her path.

"What was that?" Rosie demanded quietly; it was way after curfew and they didn't particularly want to be caught out of bed at such an hour.

"I'll explain tomorrow, we can't get caught now!"

"And give you however many hours to think of an excuse overnight? I don't think so," Matt said, "What was that?"

"A potion," Molly sighed.

"Where did you get it?" Rosie whispered urgently.

"Some weird wizard made me take it," Molly said, "I don't know what it's meant to do but I was too scared he'd hurt or something and I had to get back to my dad so-"

"So you took it?" Rosie sighed loudly.

"Sh!" Matt hushed before turning to Molly, "You're an idiot."

"You would have done the same! That guy was seriously creepy, I don't know what he would have done if I hadn't," Molly explained, trying to push past her friends.

Matt caught her arm, concern filling his eyes, "Why didn't you tell your parents? Or us?"

"Mum and dad have way too much on their mind right now, I don't need to give my dad another reason to worry and my mum another reason to hate magic. If I brought home an unknown potion and told my parents, my mum would stress too much and an argument would start. The last thing any of us needs is another fight, especially about me."

"What about us, Mol?" Matt said, "We're your best friends!"

"Or we're meant to be!" Rosie snapped coolly, "Although, after all your adventures last year I suppose you think we're not good enough for you?"

"What? No, Rosie, not at all it's just-"

"Yeah, you've said, Molly. Things are tough at home, blah, blah, blah. Well guess what? You're not the only one with a difficult life!"

"Roz, I know! I'm sorry! But we've been back at school all of two days! I wasn't exactly just going to waltz right up to you and go, 'Oh hey guys, how was your summer? By the way, some freaky dude on Knockturn Alley gave me some potion the other day!' Was I?"

"Knockturn Alley?" Matt repeated, shocked, "What on Earth were you doing there?"

Molly's face fell. She wasn't going to mention where she actually got the potion from, but she'd been so annoyed at Rosie, it just slipped out.

"I was waiting for my dad to lock up the shop and got bored," Molly said sheepishly.

"You're an idiot," Matt repeated.

"Such an idiot," Rosie added unhelpfully.

"Thanks, guys, I love you too," Molly muttered sarcastically, "Now let's get back to the common room before Anguis finds us."

They began to creep back through the halls, treading as lightly as they possibly could.

"So you really have no idea what it does?" Matt asked.

"Not a clue. I'm kind of hoping that because I didn't drink it then it won't affect anything," Molly admitted.

But before either of her friends could reply, a soft hissing sound wound its way into their ears and the three froze in fear. That hissing was a sound every student at Hogwarts learned to fear. Molly sighed and closed her eyes in annoyance. They were so close to the portrait- it was visible at the end of the corridor. Molly looked at Rosie then Matt and nodded.

They ran.

The Gryffindors sprinted toward their common room entrance and barked the password at the Fat Lady who was dozing in her frame. Waking with a start, the Fat Lady looked around her before her eyes fell on the students in front of her.

"What in Godric's name are you three doing up?"

Again, the students yelled the password, becoming jumpy and nervous. The soft hiss was gradually becoming louder and angrier as the school caretaker slithered towards them in her animagus form.

The deep green serpent was practically at the student's feet when they leaped through the portrait hole and into the safety of the common room. Without a word to Matt, Rosie and Molly bounded up the stairs to their dorm and collapsed onto their beds, completely out of breath and hearts racing.