The Third-Floor Corridor
“I never imagined that I could hate someone more than I hated Andrea, but her… Boscha Troisoeil… She is… Something else” Luz said to Willow “And now! We’re going to have flying lessons with her! ”.
To the distress of the first years in Gryffindor, starting on Thursday they would have lessons with the Slytherins, apart from potions. The entirety of the common room groaned when they read the pinned paper on the wall.
“Great, now I’m going to make a fool of myself in front of Boscha” Willow said darkly “Don’t say that, you’re going to do great!” Luz encouraged.
Quidditch was definitively a big deal; everyone from Boscha to Willow talked about it constantly, from histories of how they almost got spotted by muggles or hit something like a helicopter or an antenna.
Luz tried to explain to them football, but the concept of a game with only one ball and no flying allowed didn’t seem to interest them much. “Mom never let me fly a broomstick or my Palisman” Star said once.
“I imagine, considering that you are so prone to have accidents” responded Gloria Ironsmith, who shared a room with Luz, Willow, and Star “That’s not true” Star argued “You tried to turn water into juice, ended up exploding your cup” The girls laughed while Star hid her face embarrassed.
Augustus Porter gave out tips he learned in a book called ‘Quidditch Through the Ages’ during the breakfast before the first lesson. Luz, though not openly, hanged on to his every word, desperate to not fail miserably at it. To the enjoyment of many, his lessons were interrupted by the mail.
That day Star received a remembrall, a glass marble with white smoke inside, from her mother “So… it’s supposed to turn red when you forget something” As Star finished her sentence the smoke turned scarlet “But it doesn’t tell me what I forgot, so it is pretty much useless… thanks mom” Star said annoyed.
Star spent a few minutes focusing on remembering what she had forgotten when Boscha, who was passing by the Gryffindor table, snatched the remembrall from the girl. Luz and Willow were quick to jump to their feet; they were half hoping for a reason to fight Boscha.
“What are you three doing?” Professor Chariot, who seemed to be as good as the ‘Kare-takers’ when it came to sniffing trouble, was there in a flash. “She took my remembrall” Star answered “I was just looking, gee” Boscha put it back on the table and slid away to join Amity and Skara.
“Perfect weather for flying lessons” Said their teacher, Madam O’Neill; a witch with bright red hair with orange stripes. Luz believed that her teacher’s head was on fire for a second, but it was only her hair moving with the wind.
“Okay, 3 O’clock. Everyone put your Palismen, on staff form, 3 meters away from you, come on!” She barked “Now, extend your dominant arm and call for your Palismen!” She stomped and everyone started.
“Clover, come!” Willow’s Palisman flew immediately to her hand when she said. But she was one of the few who did succeed. Augustus’s Palisman, Emmiline Bailey Marcostimo, rolled its way to his hand.
“Come! Come! Come!” Luz said many times but her staff only shook “If you don’t say their names it’s highly unlikely it will work” O’Neill said, the problem was that her staff didn’t have a name, and being the beginning of the year, she did not have time to ‘bound’ with it, not that she knew how was she supposed to.
When Star called her Palisman, a monarch butterfly named Mewni, it flew right in her face, knowing her into the ground. Gloria’s Palisman didn’t come to her hand.
Madam O’Neill then showed the students how to mount their Palismen without sliding off the end. She walked up and down the rows correcting their grip, even Boscha’s, for the delight of Luz and Willow.
“On my mark, kick the ground hard, remember sturdy grip, rise a few feet and then come straight back down by leaning towards, slightly!” She gave emphases to the last word before whistling.
Before she even finished, Star shoot out of the ground like the cork of a champagne bottle on New Year’s Eve. “Miss Butterfly, I said only a few feet!” O’Neill yelled when the girl reached around 30 feet in the air “I don’t think she’s doing it on purpose” Gloria said concerned when Star started flying away towards the Forbidden Forest.
“For the love of…” O’Neill ran forward and whistled again, this time her Palisman, a red Pegasus, flew to her hand. She effortlessly mounted it and ordered, “You stay all in the ground while I bring her back, if I see anyone in the air, you will be out of Hogwarts before you can say Quidditch!” Before flying away, faster than a missile after Star.
As soon as she flew away from earshot Boscha burst into laughter “How can someone be so bad at everything? She can’t walk five steps without causing an accident!” Other Slytherins joined her as well as some few Gryffindors who masked their laughter with coughs.
“She even let this fall” Boscha said when she found the remembrall on the grass “Give it back” Willow said angry “Come and get it” Boscha invited. Faster than Augustus could say “No!” the two girls were already on-air “I guess she wasn’t lying when she said she could fly” Gloria said.
“Let’s go, Park, show me what you got!” Boscha was standing in her Palisman like she wasn’t flying 6 meters above the ground, but walking on a skate. Willow, holding Clover tightly with her two hands, shot forward like a javelin, faster than anyone, even Willow herself could believe.
“Come on, Maya!” Boscha set down on her Palisman, she had clearly misjudged Willow, and the two started a chase, the violet hair girl keeping a small advantage over her pursuer “We can do this all day Boscha!” Willow yelled. They flew in circles above the other students, who gasped or stayed in silence watching the pursuit.
“You want this? Grab it!” Boscha tossed the ball up. Everything went slow-motion when Willow noticed the ball starting to fall to the ground. She leaned forward, diving to catch it before it hit the ground.
Four meters away from hitting the ground. The wind whistled in her ears as she gained more and more speed. Three meters away from hitting the ground. She stretched her arm to catch the ball. One and a half meters before hitting the ground. Student’s gasps and screams joined the sound of the wind on Willow’s ear, her glasses almost falling from her face. 50 centimeters away from hitting the ground. She grabbed the ball, just in time to pull Clover straight and topple gently onto the grass with the remembrall in her hand.
“Willow Park!” Willow’s heart sunk faster than she just dived. Professor Chariot came running towards them, Willow got up to her feet trembling. “Never in all my time at Hogwarts! How, how, how dare you?! You could have broken your neck!” She seemed unable to form words properly due to shock.
“It wasn’t her fault” – “Be quit Miss Uri!” – “But Boscha” – “That’s enough Miss Noceda! Follow me, Miss Park” The two walked towards the castle with Luz following behind.
“What are you doing?” Willow whispered when she noticed Luz sneaking behind her “I’m not going to let my friend be expelled because of Boscha”. Chariot was sweeping along without even looking back, so Luz stayed close to them, following in silence.
Chariot wasn’t the head witch of Gryffindor, so Luz assumed that she couldn’t expel Willow, meaning that she was going to talk to either Principal Bump or Professor Clawthorne to do it and Luz was ready to talk and convince either to not send Willow home.
After a while, Professor Chariot stopped outside a classroom, she opened the door and poked her head inside “Excuse me, Professor Moncullus, could I borrow Wood for a moment?”. The two girls exchange looks not knowing who or what ‘Wood’ was.
Oliver Wood, a 5th-year boy came out of the classroom very confused “Now, follow me you two” She said and the three followed her, Wood looked at the girls confused. They entered a mostly empty classroom, except for Edalyn, who looked puzzled just like the students.
“Hey, Cha, I received your Palisman, did something happen to miss Park and Noceda?” Eda asked “Not with Miss Noceda” Chariot said “Them, why she’s here?” Eda pointed and Chariot looked back “What are you doing here Miss Noceda? I didn’t ask you to come here”
“I had to; I’m not going to let Willow get expelled because of Boscha, I won’t go back until you change your mind” She said bravery “I like the spirit, 3 points to Gryffindor,” Eda said smiling “First, you disobeyed me, 3 points from Gryffindor” The light tickle was quickly transformed in a weak shock “Second, I’m not here to expel Miss Park”.
“I’m sorry Professor Chariot, but why I am here?” Oliver asked “Right, Miss Park and Noceda, this is Oliver Wood. Wood, I just found you a seeker, miss Park” Oliver’s and Eda’s expressions changed from puzzlement to delight and Willow widened her eyes.
“Are you serious Professor?” Wood and Willow asked “Absolutely, as long as Miss Park accepts and Professor Eda allows it” Chariot turned to Eda who seemed not-convinced “She is a natural, never seen anything like it since you and your sister” Eda seemed to like the description “If she wants, I’ll allow it”.
Chariot told what Willow had done, which impressed Oliver, it appears as if all his wishes had been fulfilled “She has more of a beater build, but if what you say is true, she will not have any problem” Oliver said walking around Willow and, respectfully, analyzed her body.
“I wouldn’t lie about it, we need a batter team this year, that defeat to Slytherin last year cannot be repeated” Chariot said “You tell me, I couldn’t look my sister in the face for weeks” Eda added “Of course, miss Park must agree to it” Willow nodded in excitement “So, it’s done, welcome to the team” She gave Willow a thumbs up.
Before they could leave Eda looked at Luz “You know, actually I expected you to be in the team, your father was one the best players this school had ever seen, since me and Lily, of course” She said before heading out to her office.
Luz, Willow, and other students went to the infirmary after dinner to check on Star, who had fallen from her Palisman and fractured her left arm. Willow told them what had happened, leaving all speechless “You’re the youngest seeker in Gryffindor in the last century or so” Augustus said very surprised “But that doesn’t change the fact that what you did was reckless at least, had been other teacher who saw you we could have lost many, many points”.
“Had it been Lilith, you probably would be expelled” Gloria said. The twins peeked in “Well done, Luz. Wood told us, we’re in the team too, beaters” Edric said “Training starts next week, remember” Emira said and they slide back outside.
Someone far less welcomed appeared right after the twins “Won’t you look at that? The butterfly can’t fly and the willow will never grow, so Park, how long until you are back with that family of yours?” Boscha mocked, Skara scoffed and Amity sighed.
“You are very brave now that you’re on the ground” Willow walked up to Boscha and stared at her “What? This is the part where I get scared? I can take you and your friends anytime anywhere” Boscha smirked “So can I” Willow responded angrily.
“Is that so?” Boscha looked to a golden watch on the wall, marking 9 PM “Meet me in the trophy room in 2 hours, we can have a witch’s duel and see what you are made of. Skara will be my second” Willow nodded and Luz added “And I’ll be Willow’s”. When the Slytherin trio headed out Luz and Willow stared back to Star’s bed “That was cool, though a witch’s duel between first-years is just sparkles flying around” Willow said.
One by one the students went back to their common room, Star thought she was going to stay the night there but she was sent back around 10:30 PM. Luz, Willow, Star, and Augustus, who for some reason stayed longer than most, were making their back to the Gryffindor tower.
“Here’s the plan” Luz whispered to Willow “We’re going to stop in the bathroom on the way and wait for them to leave, then we go to the trophy room” Willow nodded. And so, when they passed by one of the bathrooms “I’ll go to the bathroom, you guys can go ahead” Luz said “Me too” Willow added.
“Don’t worry, we’ll wait right Star?” Augustus said and the blonde girl nodded confused “She needs to rest, you should take her to the common room” Luz argued “It’s better if we all go together, in case she needs help with the stairs” The boy responded “She’s tired” Willow said “As she said, she can wait a little longer”.
“What’s your problem?” Luz asked starting to get annoyed with him “My problem is that my housemates want to wander around school grounds after curfew and risk us losing more points” Willow and Luz exchanged looks “Yes, I heard your talk with Boscha” He crossed his arms “Haven’t occurred to you that this is a trap? She wants you two to get caught out of bed late at night; you’ll get detention and will make us lose even more points”.
“And? We are not going to cower in fear, we are Gryffindors” Luz argued “Bravery and stupidity are two different things. And besides, there is a good chance she won’t even show up. You are letting her enter your mind, use your heads” He said, pointing to his with his finger.
None of the two wanted to admit it, but he was most likely right, it was obvious that was a trap and they would almost fall for it, they lowered their head both angry and embarrassed “Now, let’s go, before the password changes and get trapped outside”.
The four of them reached the staircases, now it was just a question of climbing it, Star’s body was still a little stiff from the de medicine and the fall, so they took extra time to do it “Come on, we’re halfway thereeeeee” Before Luz could finish her sentence, the staircase they were on started to move, it spans around a few times and while it moved, Star almost fell back and rolled down it but she was saved by Willow.
When it came to a stop, the stair now faced a door “We better get going before it moved again” Luz said and the others nodded, Willow Star’s arm around her neck to help her walk. When they crossed the door they found themselves in the Trophy Room on the third floor.
The crystal trophy cases glimmered where the moonlight caught them. Cups, shields, plates, and statues winked silver and gold in the darkness. Boscha was nowhere to be found. “Told you she wasn’t coming” Augustus said “We need to get out of here before…”. What they heard after struck terror.
“Trouble… Students outside bed” Ken, their ‘Kare-taker’ was in the other room. Luz waved the other three to follow her as quickly as possible to the door away from Ken. Star’s hair had just whipped around the corner when they heard Ken enter the Trophy Room “Trouble… Students out of bed…”.
They ran as fast and silent as they could, dodging suits of armor along the way, Star and Willow were doing their best to keep up with Luz and Augustus. They swung around the doorpost and galloped down one corridor and another, Luz led them even though she had no idea where they were or where they were going. They only stopped when they found themselves in front of their charms classroom, but before they could rest, Peeves appeared above them and started yelling
“STUDENTS OUTSIDE OF BED, STUDENTS IN THE CHARMS CORRIDOR” He yelled like a police siren “Oh corn” Star said and they ran once again, only to slam into a locked door at the end of the corridor “It’s over…” Willow moaned, they could hear the footsteps, Ken and the other‘ Kare-takers’ were running as fast as they could to catch them.
“Oh come on, step aside” Augustus pushed Luz aside, reached for his Palisman, a blue chameleon, tapped the lock, and whispered “Alohomora”. The lock clicked and the door swung open, they entered, closed the door, and press their ears against the door, on the outside, they could hear Peeves mocking Ken and the others “We’re safe, they think it's locked”.
“I wouldn’t say safe…” Star said and the others turned back to see what she was seeing. It felt like Luz had walked into a nightmare, they were on the third floor, in the forbidden corridor, and now they knew why it was out of bounds.
A giant, big enough to fill the whole space between floor and roof, three-headed dog, stared at them with 6 big eyes, 3 giant noses, and fangs about the size of a sword. Luz knew the only reason they were still alive was the fact that their sudden appearance had taken it by surprise, but it wasn’t going to last long.
Luz grabbed the doorknob behind her, between Ken and death, she preferred Ken. They fell backward, Luz slammed the door shut and they ran, they almost flew back down the corridor. Ken must have hurried off to look for them somewhere else because it was empty. Not that they care, they only wanted to put as much space as possible between them and that monster.
They didn’t stop until they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady on the 7th floor, even Star with her bruised and somewhat numb body ran as fast as they could, they even jumped from one stair to another when the one they were in started to move “Where have you been?” the Fat Lady asked when she saw them, huffing and puffing, their faces covered in sweat “Never mind that, pig snout, pig snout” Luz shouted and the portrait swung open.
They scrambled into the common room, collapsing in armchairs “That was… something” Star managed to say almost passing out “Why in Azura’s name do they keep that thing in a school?” Willow said after a while in silence “It… it was… guarding… something…” Augustus said still breathing heavily.
“What? How?” Luz asked, too tired to form long sentences “It was standing on a trapdoor, so yeah, probably guarding something” He stood up, using his Palisman for support “Well, hope you’ve learned your lesson, do not wander around after dark! We could have been killed, or worse, expelled! I’m going to my room”.
The boy’s words were food for Luz’s thoughts, if Hogwarts was the safest place to hide something, according to Hagrid, then she had just found out where the grubby little package from vault 713 was.