Chapter Twelve: Summer's Almost Here (Elijah's POV)

Elijah couldn't remember a time where he'd sweated so much. Maybe it was the heat, or maybe it was nerves. He kept watching Granger's quill move across the paper during their Charms exam as he tried to recall the uses of the levitating charm. His eyes moved to a few seats up, where Ryan's quill was also moving. He sighed. He didn't know why he was so anxious. He knew this stuff. "Think, Eli, think." He mumbled. "You know this."

Finally, he'd finished. That was their last exam. When Professor Binns announced the end of the exam time, every first year cheered.

He found Oscar outside, laying in the sun by the Black Lake, and plopped down beside him. "That was brutal."

"For you." Oscar commented, his eyes shut. "Not for me, though."

"At least we have a week before we get our grades back. What happens if we fail?"

"You repeat the year, I guess. Now, relax, amigo."

Elijah obeyed, closing his eyes and letting the warmth of the sun take away his nervousness. "Hey guys!"

He groaned, squinting up at the ever-cheerful Ryan. "Go away."

"What? No." She laughed, laying down beside them. "It's relaxing time! School's almost over."

"Which means three months without you." Elijah retorted, half serious.

"I'll miss you too, Eli-what in the world?"

He sat up, looking to see what had caught her attention, and it was the outcasted trio, running back inside. Elijah shared a look with Ryan and he slowly got to his feet as she took off after them. "Come on, Oz."

"Oz, huh?" Oscar jumped up. "I like it. What's going on?"

"Ryan's about to get herself into trouble." He pointed to where they could see Professor McGonagall. "Let's go."

"It's tonight," Elijah heard Potter say, once Professor McGonagall had walked off. "Snape's going through the trapdoor tonight. He's found out everything he needs, and now he's got Dumbledore out of the way. He sent that note, I bet the Ministry of Magic will get a real shock when Dumbledore turns up."

"Dumbledore's not here?" Ryan asked in disbelief.

"But, Harry, what can we d-" Granger stopped mid-sentence.

Elijah stopped Oscar and they ducked behind a column as they heard Snape's voice. "Good afternoon." He said smoothly. "You shouldn't be inside on a day like this."

"We were-" Potter started.

"You want to be more careful," Snape said. "Hanging around like this, people will think you're up to something. And Gryffindor really can't afford to lose any more points, can it?"

"No, sir." Hermione's voice was quiet.

Elijah peeked out and saw them turn around, back toward where he was hiding. "Be warned, Potter, any more nighttime wanderings, and I'll personally make sure you're expelled." Snape stared at the young Gryffindor. "That goes for you too, Black." He sneered before walking off.

"I haven't been on any night adventures." Ryan said after he was gone.

"Right." Elijah stepped out, joining the four students. "What's the plan, Potter? If I'm going to get expelled, might as well go out with a bang."

Oscar laughed, his arm around the shorter boy's shoulders. "We're all ears."

"Well, one of us should keep an eye on Snape." Harry started as they got to the stone steps. "Hermione, it should probably be you."

"Why me?" She asked.

"Because Snape hates Ryan and Harry. Plus, you can wait for Flitwick, worrying about how you got question fourteen b wrong." Ron teased.

"Shut it." Hermione huffed. "But, alright, I'll do it."

"And we'd better stay outside the third floor corridor."

"What about us?" Ryan piped up.

"Um, Ryan, you can go with Hermione. Maybe Snape'll believe both of you." Harry suggested. "And Holmes and Rosado can help us with watching the third floor. Maybe with four of us, it'll be harder to get into."

Elijah nodded, following them up the stairs. All four boys had their wands out, ready for whatever tried to attack. He, however, was not ready for Professor McGonagall to show up. "I suppose you think you're harder to get past than a pack of enchantments!" she stormed. "Enough of this nonsense! If I hear you've come anywhere near here again, I'll take another fifty points from Gryffindor! Or maybe I should make it a hundred points for dragging two more people into this!"

Ron opened his mouth to protest but Elijah kicked his leg. "We'll go, Professor. Come on."

He led them away and Harry took over, all going to the Gryffindor common room. "At least Hermione's on Snape's tail." He said, sticking his hands in his pockets.

The portrait over their door swung open and Hermione and Ryan came in, upset. "I'm sorry, Harry!" Hermione wailed. "Snape came out and asked me what I was doing, so I said I was waiting for Flitwick, and Snape went to get him, and I've only just got away, I don't know where Snape went."

"Well, that's it then, isn't it?" Harry said solemnly. "I've got to try and get to the stone first."

"Are you insane?" Ryan asked, her mouth open. "You can't expect to take an adult down by yourself."

"Look, I appreciate it, but you can't be getting into trouble for me." Harry smiled at them. "Thanks for all your help, guys, but I need to do this on my own."

"Be careful, Potter." Elijah said as they turned to leave.

"Are you seriously going to let him go by himself?" Ryan hissed as soon as they were walking back down the stairs. "He could get himself killed!"

"Yeah, well, he didn't die the last time someone tried to." Elijah pointed out. "Maybe he'll get lucky again."

"What if he doesn't?"

"The headmaster won't let anything bad happen." Oscar tried to calm her down. "He'll be fine, don't worry."

As Elijah went down to his dormitory that night, he felt a twinge of guilt for not trying to talk Potter into letting them help. "How'd the exam go?" Justin asked, bringing him out of his thoughts.

"I don't know. That last one was hard." Elijah sat down on his bed. "Hopefully I passed though. You?"

"I think so." Justin replied. "I ended up making things up at the end though."

The boys laughed. "Maybe Binns will think they actually happened."

Elijah drifted off to sleep, dreaming of the summer not too far out.