Chapter Thirty-Four

Being Resourceful

When Quintin had finally finished that evening, the Snow Festival was in the process of being cleaned up, and thankfully the Trade Elves had stepped in to take care of the bins. His father didn't question Quintin's choice of walking around the lake on his last run to check on his friends. Rather, he had expected it, and was holding a steaming cup in his hand.

"Here, take this to warm up. I am told that by those who purchased one that Toby's cocoa isn't to be missed," Severus told him, holding out the cup.

"Thanks," Quintin said, accepting the cup. "Does that mean you're done with the whole Headmaster part of this punishment now?"

"Yes, other than your activity restrictions, which you don't seem put out about," Severus acknowledged dryly.

"Well, I'm sorry I took it out of your desk like that without telling you. I was just worried about not having enough time to do research. Between what clubs I wanted to do and you wanted me to do for defense, I felt like I had no time left, while those Maxens had plenty of time," Quintin explained.

"Yes," Severus mused. "I suppose I went a bit too far by forcing you to do clubs and sports you don't care for... although both your grandfather and I want you to take your self defense much more seriously. You cannot always depend on us to be there for you. You must learn how to take care of yourself, especially as you grow older and want to spend more time away from your family."

"I know. And I know my grandfather is going to especially hard on me after nearly falling asleep during forms," Quintin said.

"And so he should, considering that he has to make time every morning to come all the way up here to teach you before work. The least you can do for him is do your best every day you have forms with him," Severus said sternly.

"I guess I owe him an apology too," Quintin realized.

"Your cocoa is getting cold," Severus pointed out, pausing a moment so that Quintin could sip it. "Tell me, just why are you so concerned about Bonnibel and her team's research? Even if you're researching the same subject, it has nothing to do with yours. It is hardly a competition."

"But they're only researching Bedivere because they want to find the Silver Box before we do!" Quintin immediately protested. "If they find it first, I bet they try to open it!"

"Are you so sure of that?" Severus inquired. "Do you know Moira and Bonnibel well enough to make that assumption?"

"Well, Zelda would try to open it..."

"One of many reasons that Zelda is not a part of this research," Severus pointed out.

"And I know that Aurelius is blocking them from each other's thoughts and all... I can tell by the way he's been watching them, and because I can't read them any more. But I think Zelda puts her nose in every chance she gets, and I bet that if they figure out where it's hidden, she'll be standing right there with them," Quintin said.

"An expert on the future as well as the past, are we?" Severus challenged him.

"Well no, but... in the name of defense, I should plan for every possibility! Especially the more likely ones!" Quintin declared.

"I see," Severus replied dubiously.

"Well, who would you trust more with that box? Bonnibel's team, or me?" Quintin challenged his father.

"After the stunt you just pulled?" Severus asked skeptically.

"Hypothetically... when I'm not in trouble," Quintin replied. Severus squinted at him and Quintin strategy took a drink of the cocoa.

"Why do I have the suspicion that you are after something other than an acknowledgment of our relationship?" Severus asked bluntly.

"You could at least give me some advice on where to go next on the research. After all, Mum is helping the Maxens with their research, and I'm allowed to ask anyone on staff to help with mine, right?"

"True, but I believe you are attempting to go to the wrong source. I will, however, make an observation," Severus offered, and Quintin gazed at him intently. "Time is only one resource of many. They may have time on their side, but that doesn't matter if you have resources they have no access to. Instead of lamenting what you don't have, I suggest that you take advantage of the fact that you have ways of getting information that they do not," Severus said.

"I do? Like how?" Quintin asked. Severus, who thought it quite obvious indeed, rolled his eyes.

"Put on your thinking cap and figure it out," Severus suggested with exasperation, opening the door and dismissing him the moment they were back inside the castle.

The next morning, Jeremy awoke to find Quintin waiting at the research table, his arms folded and his chin resting on them with the Sorting Hat on his head.

"Aren't we up early?" Jeremy said with a half laugh at the way he was sitting. "You smell better than last night, anyway... did you want to head down to breakfast, or does Jack need to hold your hand on the way downstairs?"

"My father didn't go so far as to assign me an escort," Quintin said.

"Oh yeah? What about that Hat on your head?" Jeremy taunted.

"I'm just an unofficial member of the research committee," said Sir Hat.

"Unofficial?" Jeremy questioned.

"I don't think the Headmaster would want my name on any paper, and frankly, neither would I. Too many questions would be asked and I think it's better for the security of the school if I continue my supportive role in silent dignity," the Hat said.

"Since when are you silent?" Jeremy said.

"Alright Jeremy, thank you. Stop being so hard on us this morning, you're practically gloating just because you got in less trouble than I did," Quintin said.

"True. I was allowed to stay on the paper and my detention was helping Professor Anna clean the press and go through the type-setting drawers looking for rogue letters, but it was pretty tame. I told you it was time to walk away," Jeremy said.

"Yeah, I know," Quintin acknowledged.

"Aren't we forgetting something?" the Hat reminded Quintin.

"Fine. Father told me to tell you he's giving ten points to Dusthorn in honor of you having enough sense to take your advice and walk away when "things started getting silly"," he said, adding air quotes. Jeremy grinned with a raised chin. "But how about being a good mate and not rubbing it in? As far as I'm concerned we both took a risk, considering you didn't know what was going to happen any more than I did, considering you never did write that letter that you found."

"That's true. That was really weird. But your father wasn't worried about it at all?" Jeremy asked.

"Apparently there's a lot of levels to this paradox thing. Father says what we experienced at the start was just a 'hiccup' caused by all the Time Turner activity," Quintin explained with a shrug. "And he said it took him years to figure it all out what was dangerous and what wasn't, so I should stop messing with it."

"Well, I'll buy that. I'm also betting that using the Time Turner is off the table from now on."

"Way, way off the table," Quintin agreed, getting up. "He told me that instead of worrying about how much time I have that I should concentrate on resources that we have that they have no access to."

"Oh. Like the Sorting Hat?" Jeremy guessed as they walked towards the stairs.

"I believe the Headmaster meant something of a larger scale than that," the Hat informed him.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that there is a large group of denizens in the castle that refuse to even appear before the Maxens who also happen to be some of your best friends,Quintin," the Sorting Hat explained.

"You mean the ghosts?" Jeremy said.

"Of course," the Sorting Hat. "Some of them may even have been in the castle at the time Bedivere received that box."

"I get it now! We should to talk to Professor Ravenclaw," Quintin replied. "I wonder if he's available for breakfast?"

"Wait... I'd like to get a clean, fresh meal in before I have to eat in the presence of ghost food," Jeremy protested. "Let's have breakfast before we make an appointment."

"Why bother with an appointment? He already knows we're coming. If he didn't, he'd be a lousy Divination teacher," Quintin said, heading down the stairs.

"We've had plenty of those at this school," the Sorting Hat commented dryly, then quieted down as they began running into other students on their way to breakfast.

As predicted, Professor Ravenclaw was waiting for them when the two boys and the Hat stepped out of the Doorlift and into the North Tower, because the door was open and the two of them could hear the whistling of a kettle sitting on the stove that warmed his office. Considering that he often forgot to light it when he was alone, it was double reassurance that they were expected.

"Good morning, Professor," Jeremy said as they approached the doorway.

"Good morning! Do come in. Isn't the snow beautiful? Such a shame you missed the festival yesterday, Quintin," Icarus said conversationally as he set up the tea. "I heard the fund raising did quite well."

"Yes, but at least I did my part making mittens," Quintin said.

"The Order of the Owls raised enough money that as long as we pitch in the labor of making racks and shelves for the new cold cellar, we've covered of our half of the expense," Jeremy explained. "The account that handles crop sales can cover the rest."

"Excellent work," Icarus said. "It is nice for the school to finally have a cold cellar again after all these years. Don't you agree, Sir Godric?"

"Food stores are of vital importance, especially in those days when a bad year was devastating to the surrounding farmers and villages," Godric replied. "Wizards or not, the situation would have been dire for the school during the famine. Hogwarts may not have survived at all without it."

"Anna told me about it once. It was under Hufflepuff, right?" Jeremy asked.

"The main storage was, but there was another... hey, what are you doing?" Godric questioned when he was lifted off of Quintin's head.

"I made you some tea as well at my table," Icarus explained, setting the Hat down on a stool that came even to the table with the moldy tea and cakes.

How exactly is that going to work?" Jeremy wanted to know with a half laugh.

"Food in decay is in transition, and because of it, ghosts can manipulate its ethereal form. It is almost as if it is half in your material world and half in ours," Icarus said.

"So just like the Hat," Jeremy concluded.

"In a way, but the difference is that Godric isn't the essence of the Hat itself, he is the essence of his mortal self. He has simply bound himself to the Hat as surely as he and all ghosts are tied to their remains," Icarus explained.

"A bit of help, if you please," Godric said, and the cup lifted up to his mouth folds while Jeremy and Quintin watched curiously. "Ah. It's been decades since the last time I had even so much as drink... it's been quite some years since a Headmaster's known the truth about me. Of course, the first time anyone gave me tea, I didn't care it. In my day, everyone drank beer and wine. Grass in boiled water was a medicine, not a drink."

"Have you tried coffee yet?" Quintin asked curiously.

"Not yet, but I'm hoping to save that for a special occasion," Godric said.

"Have some lemon," Icarus offered. "I'll give you my moldiest bit to bring out the flavor."

"Better," Godric decided after a sip.

"Can we get back on topic now?" Jeremy asked impatiently. "We were talking about the old cellars. Are they still there? Is it something we can reuse?"

"Ah, well, I believe the original was likely filled in; and the smaller one was just below the kitchens."

"That's a rubbish room now. I was just in there yesterday," Quintin said, then snapped his fingers. "That's why there's a secret passage the ends in the kitchen cooler! The passage originally linked the kitchen to the main cellar."

"Of course," Godric confirmed. "Even in the days before Elves maintained in the castle, it was castle etiquette for the servants to remain unseen, especially from the students. Therefore, all of the back passages were made with them in mind, so they could go about their business without disrupting the daily operations of the school."

"That makes sense," Quintin replied.

"Let me get this straight," Jeremy said at the same time, apparently nowhere near as impressed. "All of the secret passages were literally built to hide the movements of the servants and staff..."

"That is what I said, yes," Godric replied.

"So that when the students arrived, everything from dinner in the Great Hall to laundry to building the fires in the room looked like it was done with magic... even when it wasn't," Jeremy said with distaste.
"Yes, obviously. Oh, don't look at me like that. What do you expect from a feudal society? Equality? Fair treatment? You haven't even achieved that in this day and age, it should come as no shock that we were even farther from it in my day. We all had servants and plenty of them. Beddie was my servant before my apprentice, but he rose above the rest. His calm demeanor even in the worst of circumstances impressed me to no end. Even when he rose in stature and became a trusted advisor, he never forgot his humble beginnings."

"And that is how the most modest wizard in the castle came to be the apprentice of the most pompous one," Icarus tittered.

"Considering you were completely insane when you were alive, you have no room to talk about how I behaved!" Godric retorted.

"True, true," Icarus replied unconcernedly.

"Anyway, since you know him so well," Quintin interrupted, a bit worried the two of them would start a bickering war across the table, "maybe you have some ideas on where he might have hid the Silver Box, Professor?"

"Certainly not in the old cellar, if that was what you were thinking. It was filled in, and the space was moved elsewhere sometime after I was interned at Azkaban," Icarus said.

"Moved around? Oh, you mean just like that first year at Dusthorn when our bedroom windows looked out on scenes that made no sense for where we were in the castle, right?" Jeremy guessed.

"Oh, yes, it took all four of us working together to accomplish it... it was one of those rare moments when we set aside our differences and created something brilliant," Godric murmured.

"You can say that about the whole school," Icarus reminded him. "As terrible and precarious as things got, it did pull through, and we have the honor of now witnessing it... even if it's because I'm a condemned soul and you are stuck in that ruddy hat."

"Are you quite finished?" Godric huffed.

"Just when are you going to come out of there?" Icarus taunted him.

"Now, you know perfectly well that I can't. Just when are you going to stop being condemned?" Godric retorted.

"Yes, well, that's forever. Let's hope the same can't be said about you," Icarus replied.

"I happen to like being the Sorting Hat," Godric informed him. "Probably a lot more that you like being condemned."

"I get to teach class every day. You sit on a shelf all day then tell bedtime stories," Icarus pointed out.

"I don't think we're going to get any more out of them," Jeremy said to Quintin when the two ghosts continued to bicker.

"We learned Ick wasn't around and that it's not in the old cellar," Quintin said. "But if that passage used to connect the kitchen to the cold cellar, I wonder what the cellar door leads to now? Assuming there's even a door, that is. Father can move those too."

"Why don't we go check?" Jeremy suggested.

"Alright," Quintin said.

After a futile attempt at saying thank you and good morning, the two of them walked out of the room and took the Doorlift down to the second floor.

It was nearly ten minutes later when Icarus finally looked around.

"Where did those boys go?" Icarus asked.

"Did they leave?" Godric asked, not being able to turn around. "God's Bones! I lost my hat stand!"

"I'll take you downstairs when we're done. Care for a biscuit?" Icarus offered.

"I suppose I might as well," Godric replied, "Since I don't seem to be going anywhere."

"Is this really worth wasting our time on?" Jeremy asked. Knowing that Jeremy phrased it that way to annoy him, Quintin pretended not to hear him at first. "I mean, I know the new cold cellar is important for the Owls and all, but not as important as the research paper. Priorities and all of that."

"Considering I'm the current chairman, I think I've already been putting Owl priorities on the back burner. I wasn't even there to support the Snow Festival," Quintin reminded him.

"That wasn't your fault. You were taking out the trash," Jeremy shrugged. "I thought the whole point to interviewing Ravenclaw was to find out more about that box. I wouldn't be surprised if he intentionally misdirected us."

"Maybe. But then again, learning more about what the castle used to be like back then may give us some ideas on where to look. It's this way," Quintin added, turning down a side passage.

"Does that mean you're going to be breaking out those old castle plans again? If so, I want a look as well since I'm allowed in the Research Library now," Jeremy said.

"Sure, we can grab our books and go in there after lunch," Quintin agreed, pointing. "Do you see this recessed lamp in the wall?" he asked, then pushed to reveal a door behind it. "This is the door closest to the Hufflepuff rooms."

"Really?" Jeremy said, taking a moment to peek out to get his bearings.

"They're in a good position for a late night snack run, aren't they? Considering this secret passage is in a bee-line with the one in the freezer," Jeremy said.

"Yeah. Actually, if you know how to navigate the secret passages and how they connect with one another, the other four houses can make it to the kitchen without anyone looking too hard. I'm afraid we're a bit disadvantaged in that. Since our rooms were worked in later, we have an extra secret passage to navigate. But having a quick way onto the school grounds more than makes up for it in my opinion," Quintin said, then continued down the corridor.

It was very dimly lit, so Quintin resorted to extra light from his wand to see the large wooden door at the other end with large diagonal slats on the top and bottom of the door.

"That definitely looks more like it should lead outside or to a barn or something, doesn't it?" Jeremy commented.

"It does, doesn't it?" Quintin agreed. "I don't think I've been down this corridor but once or twice as a kid and this door was locked every time, so I didn't bother after that. I'd just use this passage to get to Hufflepuff."

"Then it's locked?" Jeremy said and tried the door, unable to budge it. "Guess so."

"Surely there's a spell we can use to get it open," Quintin said, trying the handle himself. Fortunately, it opened quite easily. "Never mind... apparently being a castle resident is enough to open it."

"Then why couldn't you open it as a kid?" Jeremy wondered.

"My father's doing more than likely... oh!" Quintin said in surprise as he opened it up fully. The two of them stared at a curtain of twisted vines that blocked the doorway.

"Maybe he just didn't want you to hurt the plants. Or do you think they're carnivorous?" Jeremy asked suspiciously.

"This is Weeping Witchweed. It's a harmless cave plant, often grown for its florescent properties or used to brighten up dark spaces," Quintin said.

"Oh yeah, I remember us studying about them in Herbology. They're one of the main ingredients in tracking potions, and sometimes added to compost to help harden plants sensitive to light after spending much time in the dark," Jeremy recited.

"Right. Let me see if that spell Rose taught us to detangle vines will help us get past without hurting them," Quintin said.

Jeremy pulled the door all the way open and watched as Quintin cast at the vines. The plant quivered a moment before finally becoming more loose and relaxed. Parting them as easily as a curtain of beads, Quintin peered in with a smile and stepped inside with Jeremy coming in right behind him. Closed and open crates were stacked in the room as well as a few tables and a stack of chairs one on top of another, rising up to a tall ceiling where, at the very top, were small rectangular windows letting in a tiny bit of light... apparently designed more for air than for light. On the other side of the room were miscellaneous boxes of gardening supplies and stacks of large ceramic pots, as well as another wooden door that was much sturdier and better maintained.

"I know this room," Quintin said. "This is the Hufflepuff's storage room. I've played here often when I was little... I didn't know there was a door behind all of those vines! Look, they completely cover that back wall. I wonder if the Hufflepuffs even know it's back there?"

"Hard to say," Jeremy said, and started poking around in the crates. But a lot of it was no different than what was in their own storage room; there were banners, extra candelabras, bookshelves, and fireplace grills. "So we're under Hufflepuff, then?"

"Next to it, really. There's a stair just outside that door that leads to the back grounds, which is probably why the Herbology department is making use of this corner for storage," Quintin agreed. "No mystery here! They simply moved this space up from where it must have been. Really, I should have already realized this was borrowed space a long time ago... come on, I'll show you what I mean," he said, and Jeremy followed him out the door, the two of them walking past the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room and up the stairs. They didn't notice when someone opened the door behind them.

Antonio frowned as he watched them ascend the stairs then glanced across at the storage room, seeing that the door was slightly ajar. Squinting suspiciously, he quickly grabbed his coat and scarf and followed them outside.

"You see, Jeremy? This is the corner of this castle wing," Quintin said, the two looking over at an extended patch of garden that the Herbology department that extended to the back wall.

"You're right. There's nothing where that room should be at all, is there? I suppose there are a lot of rooms like that in the castle that don't match up, aren't there?" Jeremy observed with interest.

"Yes, which is why trying to navigate this castle when you don't know your way around can be so confusing. Even if you have really good bearings, it wouldn't do you any good because it's had hundreds of years of room switches and renovations."

"And yet... despite that... some areas haven't been changed at all," Jeremy said.

"Obviously not, but some of the original areas have been expanded. You'll see what I'm talking about when we go to the Research Library," Quintin explained.

"Researching again?" They heard Antonio's unmistakable accent and looked over at his suspicious expression. "Just what do you hope to find in our storage room? Did you think Bedivere's Box was in there?"

"Actually, we were trying to find out where the old cold cellar was. You know, for storing the castle's food supply back in medieval times," Jeremy explained. "Apparently the borrowed space was turned into the Hufflepuff storage room."

"I do not understand. How can use a space that when it has been filled in?" Antonio said curiously.

"Because the Headmaster can move rooms around," Jeremy said. Quintin gasped.

"Jeremy! Don't tell him that! That's not common knowledge!" Quintin snapped.

"It is alright, Quintin. I am very good at keeping secrets. It is my cousin Zelda you have to worry about," Antonio warned. "When she hears about things, she tends to use them to her advantage. Right now she's very interested in finding that box and will stop at nothing to get it. You knew that already, vero?"

"Yes, we know, and so does my father," Quintin pointed out. "That's why she's banned from helping with the research team."

"Ah yes, the research. But researching is not finding, is it? She is actively searching for it without having to worry about doing any research. She is also watching so that if you find the box, she will know about it. She will certainly try to take it from you," Antonio explained. "But perhaps we can work something out? Perhaps if we work together, we can find it first and stop her from getting it. I make a very good friend because few people can say no to me, including my siblings. What do you think?"

Quintin did a double-take when he saw Jeremy nodding.

"We don't make split-second decisions!" Quintin snapped. Jeremy blinked, then nodded at Quintin in agreement. "Thanks, we'll think about it. Come on, Jeremy, let's head to lunch."

"No problem! It is good to think about it. Invite me over to Dusthorn for lunch sometime, okay? I know you're allowed guests over there," he suggested with a friendly wave.

"Yes, we are- ow!" Jeremy suddenly rubbed his arm after being elbowed.

"We gotta go," Quintin said, pulling Jeremy back into the secret passage.

"Why did you do that?" Jeremy complained.

"Let's get away from here first," Quintin insisted, leading him towards the library. Halfway there, Quintin finally turned to make sure they were alone before finally shaking his head. "What were you thinking? Why did you tell him about the room changes?"

"Is it really that big of a deal as all of that? It's not like anybody couldn't have guessed who hasn't spent a lot of time looking out windows in this castle... especially after the Headmaster made space for Dusthorn. Our entire class knows about it... including Pete, Oscar, and Virginia, who are known to speak their minds on any subject no matter who's around," Jeremy pointed out. "It only makes sense that he was curious what we were up to outside of his common rooms considering the only students that come down this corridor other than Hufflepuff are Slytherin students cutting over to Herbology. There's seldom any reason for us to be in that wing."

"That didn't mean you had to answer him or agree to be his friend," Quintin said.

"What? I never agreed to that," Jeremy protested.

"Yes you did. You nodded when he suggested it," Quintin said.

"No, I didn't," Jeremy said. Quintin stared at him fixedly with a frown.

"You really don't remember that part, do you?" Quintin said after reading him.

"That's because I didn't nod. You must have imagined it," Jeremy said with exasperation.

"I didn't imagine it. He totally got into your head. You were telling him everything," Quintin informed him.

"I only replied because he asked nicely and I didn't see any harm in him asking why we were there. I don't remember saying anything remotely questionable."

"Do you at least remember him warning us about Zelda?" Quintin asked.

"Why wouldn't I remember that? Not that we already didn't know. There's never been a doubt in my mind that she's hoping to find the box before us whether she's allowed to do the research or not. She's just waiting for someone else to find it so she can swoop in and take it," Jeremy paraphrased, then slowed down as he thought about it. "Maybe we should take him up on his offer to help, Quintin. I know he's a bit self-centered, but he seems nice compared to the rest of them."

"Just because someone acts nice doesn't mean they are. There's a difference between being genuinely nice and being nice because you're trying to get an advantage," Quintin said.

"You act like it's something unique for some reason," Jeremy replied, shaking his head. "There's not a person alive who doesn't act nice on occasion just because they want something, whether it's a job, or to be included in something, or just to try to get people to listen to their point of view. Being nice for the sake of being nice is rare. It's more likely people are just being polite because they were raised that way or because they want to look good in front of others. They're not doing it for the other person's benefit, not really... not unless they're a family member or friend they care about. Strangers always get the polite treatment."

"Wow, Jeremy. I never realized just how cynical you've gotten," Quintin commented critically. Jeremy shrugged.

"It's all a part of being an investigative reporter," Jeremy replied, opening the door into the main corridor.

"Fine, I'll give you that. But a real reporter doesn't answer questions. They ask them," Quintin said.. Jeremy pondered that.

"Okay, so you have a point," Jeremy decided. "Maybe I should go back to writing everything down. That way, I can go back and edit my thoughts before I give out information."

"That is a great idea. You should get a new journal, but this time, don't burn it," Quintin suggested, and Jeremy grinned.

"Don't expect it to be all about you this time," Jeremy warned with a grin.

"Good. I'm glad we're over that," Quintin replied sincerely.

"We were such kids back then!" Jeremy agreed as the two of them walked into the Library.

"You're still a pair of kids," Boulderdash grunted from where he stood at the reference shelf. "And lower your voices."

"Sorry," they both replied before ducking into the Owl Room.

"Oh look, it's Quintin! Are you here to take out the bin?" Joey asked expressionlessly while there was a round of sniggers at the table.

"Alright, alright! He's done his time, let's leave it," Jeremy said, ignoring the dirty look that Quintin gave him for using the word time. "I'm sure he's interested to know all about how well we did at the Snow Festival yesterday."

"It went splendidly well!" Mindy immediately chimed in. "Especially at the mittens booth, the snow events that Joey and Jack were running, and the most profitable was Sissy and Olivia's hot chocolate stand!"

"No kidding," Olivia chimed in. "When Mr. Toby said I only needed one bag of large cocoa and that a little went a long way, I still thought I'd run out and brought some regular cocoa just in case. But it lasted the whole day through! I think I probably underpaid him for it," she admitted.

"I'm sure he didn't care. He likely made that batch to help the school, so there's no reason to worry about it," Jay said.

"And it was scrummy delicious. I had a few cups myself once I realized it wasn't going to run out," Sissy confessed. "It's a shame you weren't there, Quintin."

"It's alright. My father saved me a cup of cocoa when I got done with detention. By then, I really needed the pick me up," Quintin admitted.

"I bet. I've heard a lot of horror stories about detentions over the years, but that's got to be one of the worst detentions yet," Jay decided.

"It was more tedious than anything, with a lot of sorting and walking," Quintin explained.

"All I had to do was clean and sort the Journalism Room. What did those Maxens have to do during their last detention?" Jeremy asked.

"They had to clean the Memoriatorium. That's the standard punishment for upsetting ghosts, and it involves a lot of bucket scrubbing," Joey explained.

"Yeah. We've run into people doing that detention on occasion when we tagged along with Dad on his ghost wellness checks," Jack said.

"I'd rather take out the rubbish, and I'm actually more than a little glad that they took my extra activities away, because I've got too much to do already," Quintin said. "My priority is to find that box and getting it into safe hands, because time is running out. We just ran into Antonio, and he warned us that Zelda had every intention of getting her hands on Bedivere's box."

"Don't trust anything he says," Agatha snapped. Everyone looked around at the youngest Slytherin, whose dark eyes flashed fiercely. "Antonio Villin has a lot of mental power, especially over the witches in our class."

"He definitely has some power over me," Kitty agreed. Agatha gave her a dirty look.

"He's good looking and he knows it. Of course he's going to take advantage of it," Duncan replied.

"Actually, I'm with Agatha on this. I'm starting to think there's more to it than just that," Quintin said. "He even offered to help us find it to try to keep it from her."

"If you need help finding that box, you certainly don't need to look any further than this room," Mickey said. "Did you need more research help?"

"To be honest, I'm wondering if the research isn't holding us back at this point," Quintin replied. Jeremy looked over at him thoughtfully. "The Maxens are too far ahead on their project for us to catch up to them, and frankly, I don't care to try. Let them finish their research and get their article approved first. I'd rather concentrate on just finding the Silver Box before Zelda does."

"Now you're talking! That's the most intelligent decision I've heard you make all year!" Dawn exclaimed approvingly.

"I wouldn't mind participating in an old fashioned bit of treasure hunting myself," Olivia offered. "Growing up, I've heard plenty of stories about Grandfather Harry looking for missing items around the castle... like the Stone."

"The Stone wasn't missing. It was hidden," Jay immediately corrected. "This is different because the Headmaster actually wants the box found so that he can secure it."

"Does that mean you're in as well, Jay?" Sissy asked.

"Yes, but we need to set some ground rules," Jay said, sitting up in his chair seriously and looking over at Jack. "I don't know about you, Jack, but as much as I'd like to help secure that missing artifact, I have no intention of doing it in a way that jeopardizes my position as a prefect. Not to mention that my house pride has already been dragged through the mud lately, and I personally don't want to add to our problems."

"What sorts of rules?" Jack asked with interest.

"The kind of rules where they get into trouble and we don't," Jay said evenly.

"Now that's something from my old house that I don't mind doing," Jack responded with a soft chuckle.

"You know, when my father told me to use my other resources to catch up with Bonnibel's team, I thought he was talking about ghosts," Quintin admitted it a smile. "But maybe he was referring to all of you."

"More than likely it's all of your extra resources, including us," Jay replied.

"But he also said not to get carried away with how many people are on the research team," Jeremy reminded Quintin.

"We're not volunteering to do research. We're volunteering to help the school recover a missing artifact," Jay explained with an even expression. "As for the research, the answer for how to finish that is right in front of you, really. Don't you agree, Quintin?" Jay asked, glancing over at his uncle.

"I see what you have in mind, yes," Quintin replied after studying his expression. "But your plan would only work if we actually found the box."

"And that is where we come in," Jay explained. "All right, Head Boy and Head Girl, help me come up with a rules list. And Jeremy, you might want to write these down."

"I'm way ahead of you," Jeremy assured him, rolling out a piece of parchment and getting out a Never-Dry Quill.

At the far end of the table, Mindy and Ella refreshed everyone's drinks, knowing it was likely to take them all afternoon to work it out.

On the other side of the Owl Room door, Zelda sat at a small table near where her escort was sitting with his friends doing homework. Her own homework hadn't been touched, for she was too busy squinting at the door. Eventually, even Boulderdash became curious and found an aid to take over the counter so he could go in and find out what the Owls were up to.

Antonio walked in just in time to see Boulderdash slip inside, smiling softly to himself as he stepped over to Zelda's table.

"They're up to something in there today. They're conspiring against us," Zelda murmured irritably.

"I do not doubt it in the slightest," Antonio said, pleased with himself.

"Are you saying that you did something?" Zelda asked, squinting at him.

"I told them that you were planning to find the Silver Box on your own," Antonio explained. Zelda stared at him.

"Why did you tell them that?" Zelda demanded.

"Because they probably already came to the same conclusion, of course," Antonio said calmly. "But I knew that if they heard it from me, they're more likely to drop everything and go looking at it now rather than waiting. Personally, I have no intention of waiting all term for them to find the thing. Quintin has many more resources than we do, after all. He grew up in this castle and has everyone at his beckon call. So I say let's let him do the dirty work for us and then be there to collect. Really, Zelda, what's the point of having all of these mental powers if we can't use them to get what we want? Maybe if you weren't so keen on seeing everyone hurt all the time, you'd realize that all of that can be accomplished without the drama just by being friendly."

"I would never stoop to that! Have you no dignity?" Zelda snapped loud enough that several people shushed her, including her escort.

"We simply have different views on what that word means, cousin," Antonio said. "I am superior to them in every way, and I can do whatever I want. The fact that you are worried they will catch up shows that you are afraid of losing your power over them. I know better, because I have no equal. They do not stand a chance."

"You're delusional," Zelda informed him.

"I understand why you'd think so, cousin," Antonio said in a patronizing tone. "Would you like me to convince your escort to leave before I go?"

"You mind your own business! I can take care of myself," Zelda told him.

"As you wish," Antonio said. "Have a nice day! I am going somewhere with a more pleasant atmosphere."

Zelda seethed until he stepped out the door, and everyone heard a very loud SLAP outside the door. As Antonio let out an exclamation of surprise, everyone turned to look out the door... everyone but Zelda, who opened her book and pretended that nothing had happened. Let that be another reminder, Zelda thought to herself. There were a lot of things she could do to make his life miserable if she really wanted to.