Once the morning classes were over I headed straight to Hogsmeade, I went to get a new broom after hearing someone say Mr. Weeks had returned to open Spintwitches.

Flying back to the castle had felt amazing, I didn't realize how much I had missed the feeling, landing on the lawn outside the bell tower entrance I went to go find Imelda. Wanting to challenge her to a race after classes, walking into the the Great Hall I felt like I practically ran over to her sitting across from her at our house table.

Imelda looked to me as I took a second to catch my breath, Nerida, Sebastian, Ominis and Anne looking at me as well. "Are you okay?" She raised an eyebrow at me,

"Yeah, just out of breath." I sighed finally catching my breath, "I just got back from Hogsmeade,"

"What'd you do run there and back?" Nerida asked laughing as I looked to her,

"I feel like I did, but no. I went to Spintwitches and got a new broom, I was wanting to do a rematch of our last race." I said giving her a confident grin.

"You want to race me after just getting your new broom?" She looked to me surprised,

"Why not?" I shrugged, "It's not like I've forgotten how to fly on a broom in the span of five days."

"Fine, but don't cry when you lose like last year." Imelda smirked, I smirked back at her,

"You'll be eating those words when I beat you." I said crossing my arms.

My eyes drifted to Sebastian sitting a few seats away from Imelda, then noticing Theo sitting at his house table behind him looking at me.

Standing up I walked over to sit with Theo and his friends, sitting next to him as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders causing me to lean closer to him. "I noticed you had quite the competitive look on your face, what were you talking about?" He whispered in my ear,

"Oh, I was challenging Imelda to a race this afternoon, I just got back from Spintwitches." I explained, "Did you want to come watch?"

"When will you be racing?"

"After the last class of the day, I'll be meeting her in the quidditch pitch." I said turning to look at him, he was glaring forward as I followed his eyes to see Sebastian glaring back at him.

"I'll be there to cheer you on," he said looking down to meet my eyes smiling, I smiled nodding before he finished eating his lunch.

Meeting Imelda's eyes we shared a competitive smiled, pulling out my broom I turned to see Theo smiling at me, getting on my broom we watched for the signal before taking off.

Imelda gained some distance ahead of me, I gradually increased my speed until I was comfortable catching up with her. She looked to me over her shoulder giving me a slightly surprised look, I decided to speed up even more as we passed through the rings.

I could see the finish line, I gave an extra push making it through before her I turned my broom towards her cheering as she looked to me annoyed.

"I'll never hear the end of this will I?" Imelda groaned and I laughed,

"Nope, I'm never going to let you live this down," I grinned, she flew away from me heading back to the quidditch pitch as I followed her.

We landed walking over to everyone, "Did you win?" Theo smiled at me,

"Yes, I won!" I smiled running into his arms as he lifted me up, in the heat of the moment I pulled him into a kiss.

Quickly pulling away I felt my face heat up, turning away from everyone trying to calm myself down knowing that everyone, including Sebastian just watched that. I pulled out my broom again, "I, I just remembered I had somewhere to be. I'll see you all later." I said before taking off.

"Damn it. Damn it." I cursed flying above the trees making my way to Natty, "I didn't mean to kiss him, ugh."

Landing nearby Lower Hogsfield, I looked around for Natty before spotting her next a gate nearby, "Natty, why'd you have me meet you out here?' I asked her.

"Well, after hearing about how you took down that troll in Hogsmeade and how Sirona defended you, the two of you have inspired me to take a stand."

"What sort of stand?" I looked to her curiously,

"Men like Rookwood and Harlow are the reason my mother and I left Matabeleland, I am not going to sit by and watch them destroy my hew home." she gave a determined look.

I nodded, "You're right, Rookwood and Harlow are a dangerous pair,"

"They need to be stopped at all cost, I've heard that Harlow runs Rookwood's day-to-day operations, taking him down would cripple Rookwood's entire enterprise."

"I understand how strongly you feel about this, but shouldn't we let Officer Singer deal with them?" I asked looking at her concerned about getting into trouble.

"I spoke with her, understandably wouldn't divulge any details with students." Natty crossed her arms looking to the ground, "I heard Rookwood's lot talking about a massive poaching operation that Harlow is planning, I was thinking we could investigate a bit."

"You mean we gather evidence against Harlow?" I looked to her concerned, "I'll help you as long as you promise to be careful, I don't feel like losing a friend."

"I promise, I'll be sure to be cautious and keep my distance." she smiled as I nodded, "We should head back to the castle, it is almost time for dinner."

We walked back together to find Sebastian and Theo fighting in the Quad courtyard, I looked to the two of them with their wands in hand as they glared at each other. Their eyes fell on me as they froze, I stared back at them my shock becoming anger, "What you idiots doing?" I shouted glaring at them.

"Your boyfriend here just started attacking me, I was only defending myself." Sebastian argued as I looked to Theo for his explanation.

"He's lying, he came after me." he countered as I rolled my eyes,

"What in Merlin's name is going on here?" Professor Weasley's voice called from behind me, "Were the two of you fighting?"

"Yes, Professor." Sebastian said lowering his face,

"I apologize Professor," Theo looked to the ground,

"Did either of you girls see who started the fight?"

"No Professor, we'd only arrived a moment before you." Natty informed her, I was still too angry with the two of them to respond.

"I will see the two of you first thing after breakfast for detention, now off to bed you two." she ordered them as I didn't look at either of them as they passed me.

Once I was done eating dinner, I headed back to my dorm laying down on my bed after changing clothes, I heard the door open as I turned to see Imelda followed by Anne.

"Sebastian just told me he and Theo Bergeous got detention with Professor Weasley for fighting, he also told me you saw them." Anne said as I glanced at her,

"Yes, what about it?" I shrugged laying back on my bed.

"He's afraid you'll hate him for defending himself, he feels really bad about the whole thing." Imelda said, I turned to see her looking at me,

"They shouldn't have been fighting in the first place," I countered,

"No, they shouldn't have been fighting, but Katherine, Theo evidently hates Sebastian enough to try and start something." Anne stated looking to the floor concerned.

"He's evidently the jealous type, since you've always had eyes for Sebastian." Imelda smirked, I glared at her feeling my cheeks begin to burn.

"Imelda!" I scolded her, Anne looked to me,

"If you like Sebastian, why not tell him how you feel? Why are you with Theo?" she questioned as I realized she wasn't informed of my situation.

"I honestly wanted to, but I was scared and chickened out, then Theo blackmailed me into dating him." I explained looking up to see her shocked face.

"Have you told Penelope, Poppy and Natty about this?" Imelda turned to me,

"The only ones who know are the two of you, Sebastian and Ominis." I explained as they looked to me surprised.

"Sebastian even knows?" Anne asked as I shot a glare at Imelda,

"Imelda told him, Ominis found out when I was talking with Sebastian earlier." I said before laying back staring at the ceiling, "I'm going to bed."

"Night," I heard them say before shuffling and getting into their own beds, I turned away from them on my side before falling asleep.

It had been almost a week when I finally heard from Fig, he sent me a letter stating that he would be back today which was Thursday.

I headed to his office to find him sitting by the fireplace, I walked over to sit with him, "It feels like it's been forever since we talked last," I smiled looking to him.

"It has felt like that indeed, I hope you had more luck than I did." he turned to me looking hopeful, I begun telling him about everything that happened with Scrope and the missing pages and Richard Jackdaw.

Leading him down to the stairs, "The room is called the 'Map Chamber' and a portrait of Percival Rackham awaits us there." I explained turning to him behind me,

"Professor Rackham. I look forward to meeting him. How did this 'Jackdaw' get the pages from the book?"

"Apparently Peeves decided to steal them, and Jackdaw stole them from him." I spoke as we walked down the corridor leading to inside the Map Chamber.

I heard Fig sigh, "Peeves," he said as we walked into the chamber, he carried the book as I stopped to look out at the room, "To think it was beneath us all this time."

Placing the book on the pedestal the floor began to light up showing a map of the highlands, moments later Professor Rackham appeared in his frame. I informed him that we placed the book where he asked and introduced him to Fig, he began explaining about the trials.

"Do you recall the Pensieve memory you viewed in my vault in Gringotts?" he asked me as I thought before nodding,

"You and your friend Charles spoke of the Portkey, and of the trials you'd created for one who could see traces of ancient magic." I said looking to him.

"Precisely. Charles is another of the Keepers, a designation we gave ourselves centuries ago in the light of the knowledge that we have been bound to keep hidden. Until, perhaps, now." He gestured to me.

"You're telling me the passage from your ruins to Gringotts, everything in the vault, the Restricted Section, even finding this room - none of these were a trial?" I looked up to him confused and a little annoyed as I crossed my arms.

"They were an important part of the journey, but they were not trials themselves. The fact that you have come this far, however, bodes well." he continued explaining more about the trials, I lowered my arms to my side as I listened. "You will need patience. The trials have much to teach you. It will take time."

"I'm afraid we don't have the luxury of time." Fig said shaking his head, I turned to him,

"We have waited this long, Professor Fig, surely a few more-"

"Respectfully, sir, while I do not know the secret you keep. I do know that our young friend here has seen traces-" Fig paused turned to me, before turning back to Percival.

"Traces of a powerful Dark Magic being wielded by goblinkind, and we encountered an uncommonly powerful goblin wielding such magic as we prepared to leave your vault at Gringotts. We may already be too late."

"This is grave news indeed. Young friend, do you trust Professor Fig?" he looked to me as I nodded,

"Yes, of course I do." I smiled, he nodded before showing us the location of the first trial and explaining that I would have to completing it alone.

Fig and I looked over the map, "I know that tower, it's not far. You may have seen it yourself." he said looking to me,

"I believe I've flown over it once or twice, when visiting Pitt-Upon-Ford," I nodded, "I've gone there to collect dugbog tongues before."

"As your 'mentor' the least I can do is go ahead to make sure it is safe. Join me as soon as you can." he smiled,

"I'll find you at the tower as soon as I can,"

"Until then, be careful and do not tell anyone where you're going." he said giving me a worried look before walking out of the Map Chamber.

I left the Map Chamber making my way back to the Bell Tower entrance, I spotted Sebastian and Ominis sitting on a bench talking, walking past them as he looked to me. I hadn't talked with Sebastian or Theo since their fight last Friday, I'd been avoiding them for the last few days to try and cool off.

"Kat, wait, please." I heard Sebastian call after me, I sighed before turning to look at him with my arms crossed,

"What is it?" I asked meeting his eyes.

"I'm sorry for what happened the other day, I honestly didn't want to start a fight with him." He stated keeping his eyes on me, I frowned uncrossing my arms.

"What really happened between the two of you before Natty and I got there?" I asked, giving him a curious look,

"I just needed some fresh air, he followed me out there threatening me to stay away from you," he explained, I shook my head glaring at the ground.

"He's the one who started the whole thing, you were only trying to defend yourself and I got mad at both of you for it." I frowned turning away from him.

"I thought I warned you Sallow, imagine my surprised when I find the two of you chatting in the corridor." I heard Theo's voice from behind me, feeling a hand on my shoulder before turning to see that it was his and glaring at him.

"I'm not scared of you Bergeous, wonder how Professor Weasley and the headmaster would feel about you blackmailing her?" Sebastian glared at him,

"Is that what she told you?" he asked turning to me with a smirk, I looked to him worried, "That was true at first, she decided to give me an actual chance without blackmailing her."

Sebastian looked to me surprised, I felt my heart drop before angry tears spilled from my eyes, "You can't be serious, you were willingly date this bastard? You even kissed him."

"Why do you care so much?" I shouted at him, turning to see his eyes looking to me coldly,

"I don't. Do as you please, just leave me out of it." he said as I looked to him turning to walk away, I was about to stop him until I felt a hand wrap around my wrist.

"Haven't you done enough? You hurt his feelings, wasn't it obvious that he likes you." Theo said as I turned to glare at him,

"Let go of me." I hissed at him, "I hate you and our deal is over."

He pushed me against the stone wall of the empty corridor, I gritted my teeth in pain as he leaned into me to whisper in my ear, "This isn't over until I say so, my dear Katherine. Did you really think it would be that easy to get rid of me?"

He pulled his face away smirking at me, pulling away from me I glared at him tears streaming down my face watching him walk away. I covered my face sliding down the wall to sit in the corridor alone,