Hesitation And Investigation
"Michael," Lisa asked. "what is that letter in your hand?"
Michael sighed and handed Lisa the letter, "It's a letter from the faculty congratulating me for being selected, from the pot, to be part of the Hogwarts/Ilvermorny student exchange program." he told her.
"What," Lisa said, scanning the letter, "when did you do this?"
"I didn't, I promise," Michael insisted. "somebody must have put my name in that 'pot'."
"But who?" Carole asked.
"I don't know," Michael said. "but I have a theory about the why."
"What's that?" Stevie asked.
"The old divide and conquer strategy," Simon replied. "someone is trying to separate Harry and Lisa from their friends and allies."
"That could mean, that Hogwarts has been infiltrated by another one of You Know Who's flunkies." Stevie said.
Lisa reread the letter for the third time.
"Whoever pulled this off was clever," Lisa said. "they would've had to forge an entire application for Michael complete with initials, signature, and everything!"
"I'm sure forgery isn't that hard for someone capable of magic." KC said, frustration in her voice.
"KC's right," Stevie said. "and anyone who could create forgeries good enough to fool the faculty..."
"Is probably smart enough to cover their tracks." Carole finished, nodding.
"It's not much to go on but I have an idea," Lisa said.
"What," Michael said. "we're all ears!"
"If we can get our hands on that forged application," Lisa said. "maybe that bionic eye of yours can detect a magical energy signature that can be traced back to the culprit!"
"Wait," Phil said. "are you talking about sneaking into the records office?"
Lisa nodded, "Exactly!" she said.
"But how will we get in there?" Desi asked.
"Yes," Simon agreed. "we would have to become invisible to pull that off."
"That's it! Simon! You're brilliant!" Lisa exclaimed.
"I am?" Simon asked Lisa.
"Yes! We need Harry to come with us," Lisa replied to Simon. "he's the only one with an invisibility cloak!"
"Come on," Rafael said. "we must get Harry to help us."
They all found Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the library during the free period studying for the class's next Defense Against the Dark Arts test.
"Harry?" Lisa asked.
Harry looked up from his reading, "What is it, Lisa?" he asked.
"We need you to come to the records office with us," Desi answered, beating Lisa to the punch. "and bring your invisibility cloak."
"Wait," Hermione said, putting down the book she was reading and pushing the rest of the stack that she had aside. "students aren't allowed in the records room."
"I know," Lisa said. "that's why we need the cloak, were going to sneak in!"
"You want to what?" Hermione whispered sharply.
"You heard me, Hermione," Lisa replied. "we need to sneak into the records room, and we can use the invisibility cloak to do it."
"But that would be very dangerous! if you get caught, you would be in so much trouble, and it could cost all of our houses a lot of points!" Hermione warned in a whisper.
"I assure you, we are very aware of that," Michael said. "but we have no choice."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.
In explanation Michael handed Hermione the letter.
"This wasn't my doing," Michael said as Hermione scanned the letter. "somebody put me into the exchange program without my knowledge or consent."
"Yeah," KC said. "We think somebody, possibly a flunky of You-Know-Who, is trying to pull the old divide and conquer strategy on Lisa, Harry, and their friends and allies."
"Right," Stevie said. "so don't be surprised if your names start popping up in places you didn't write them!"
"We've got to get ahold of the application they received to see if we can track it back to whoever forged it, before I get shipped off to Ilvermorny against my will!" Michael said.
"I'll still don't like it," Hermione sighed. "but I think you're right, Michael, we don't have any other choice. the faculty isn't likely to just let you see that application if you went up to them and asked them."
"Guys," Ron said. "we've got another problem, the Yule Ball is tonight!"
"Yeah," Harry said. "how are we supposed to attend the ball and sneak into the records room, the faculty members are bound to notice that some students are missing."
"That's why only a couple of us will do the actual sneaking," Lisa said. "with all the extra students here for the ball, a couple more or less won't be quickly noticed."
Hermione thought for a moment, "Okay, while you lot are investigating the records office, Ron, Harry, and I will cover for you at the Yule Ball." she said.
That evening just before the ball, Harry not only handed his cloak off to Lisa, but this time, he also handed her the Marauder's Map.
"Do you know how our father's map works?" Harry asked.
Lisa tapped the map with her wand and recited the charm to activate it.
Lisa: I solemnly swear that;
I am up to no good.
The map revealed itself to Lisa.