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ellie-e-marcovitz · 2 years

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Year 1, Chapter 10

Aftermath

We hurried back to the common room, just in time to catch the tail end of the match. Clearly, it was hotly contested one, and looking to be one of the longest school matches.

We’d come in during one of the attempts to catch the snitch, before one of the seekers was forced into the stands. Both me and Rowan joined the group huddled around the window. I borrowed the binoculars, as I spotted Charlie’s shock of red hair vibrating in the stands, no doubt itching to get up there.

Play resumed, with Hunnicutt extracting herself from the stands and sticking her tongue out at Yates, who returned the gesture. A quick glimpse of Madam Hooch, and she looked ready to throw them off for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Quaffle flew thick and fast, and I handed the binoculars back after Angelica threw another goal.

It all ended just as suddenly, with Hunnicutt catching the snitch mid-fall, after a bludger broke both her broom and her leg. There had been nervous mutters coming over the radio, as the whole school watched, followed by fragmented cheers from the Gryffindors as she caught the snitch, which quickly faded.

Hunter Yates managed to speed his way under her, catching her as she neared the ground. That was rewarded with louder cheering from three-quarters of the school, as he handed her off to Madam Pomfrey.

A more muted celebration commenced once the remaining members of the team made it up to the tower. It was once the celebration largely wrapped up, practically verging on dinner time, that I noticed something was off.

My hands hadn’t warmed back up much since the ice room. Some colour had appeared, but they were definitely cooler than usual, especially since the ledge had felt warmer.

Rowan seemed buoyed by the victory. “I think we got away with it, Ellie.” She mentioned, her tone light. I certainly didn’t feel as positive. Merula now had had plenty of time to spread her twisted view of events.

On our way down to the Great Hall, it became more and more obvious that news of more than Peeves’s prank was making the rounds of the gossip circuit at lightning speeds. The realisation of what was about to pass hit at the base of the Grand Staircase.

Angelica had no doubt heard about it now, from either the portraits (whose eyes seemed to follow me through the Entrance Hall) and/or the horde of students now flooding into the Great Hall for dinner.

Murmurs floating by me and Rowan didn’t help. I heard she’s friends with Penny Haywood… came from a first year Ravenclaw. An older Gryffindor, at least a couple years above me, was asking a friend, “Did you hear there’s cursed ice at Hogwarts? Where d’you think it came from…?” as they walked by us.

Angelica confronted me near the back of the Great Hall, and I could feel the eyes of everyone nearby, both Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, watching us. It didn’t help that Rowan peeled off to find us some seats, no doubt drawing even more attention to me and Angelica.

Said prefect glared at me, clearly not impressed with what she had heard. “I’ve been looking for you,” she started, holding her arms to her chest. No doubt, Madam Pomfrey had just released her from the hospital wing.

“I warned you that word travels fast around Hogwarts, Ellie…” A stern look. “Is it true that you entered a forbidden corridor with Rowan, Penny Haywood, and Merula Snyde?”

I froze, feeling like I was caught in one of the ice blocks from the room. “And don’t lie to me, Ellie.” She warned, sticking a finger out and pointing at me. “It will greatly damage our relationship…”

I slowly shook my head. “I entered the corridor alone.” I hated lying, but I didn’t need Rowan and Penny picking up any flack. Merula, I could care less about. “I thought it was connected to the Cursed Vaults, and I was hoping to possibly find a clue about my brother.”

Angelica’s expression was only partly disappointment. “At least you’re the only one who’s hurting our chances of winning the House Cup. On that note, Professor McGonagall would like to see you and Rowan as soon as possible, preferably before finals start.”

I nodded, feeling my appetite disappear. It was becoming clearer that Merula had fuelled the flames.

Angelica nodded once in acknowledgement, before finding her friends. I could still feel everyone’s eyes on me, and I couldn’t find Rowan. I scanned the table wildly, hoping to find her.

I eventually found her near the front of the Great Hall, talking with several of the older Gryffindors, clearly debating something. I hurried from the Great Hall, all but sprinting in an effort to not freak out.

It was later, after dinner, that Rowan found me in our dorm room. I still felt cold and shivery and maybe a little bit nauseous. This morning felt so long ago.

We quietly talked, with Rowan filling me in on what she had been talking about at dinner. She’d even brought me a plate from the Great Hall, and I picked at the contents. She quietly persuaded me to finish the plate, before coaxing me downstairs and Angelica quietly escorting us down to the kitchens to return the plates.

Talking with McGonagall, after Transfiguration just before finals, turned out to be less terrifying than I imagined, but no less nerve wracking. She had decided to check in with all the first year Gryffindors, a sort of end-of-year check before the summer break.

Apparently, the gossip around the ice room had reached the teachers. And if it had reached McGonagall, there was a pretty good chance it had reached Professor Dumbledore. She had taken part of the short check in to stare sternly at me and Rowan.

“…Ms. Cole mentioned that you told her that it was only you who entered.” A stern look, and I fidgeted with my hem. “Miss Marcovitz, if that is what really happened…” McGonagall frowned tightly, lips pressed together tightly in a disappointed look, before speaking again. “Try better to not let the portraits see you and your friends next time.”

I could feel my jaw threaten to drop, my expression no doubt shock, contrasting Rowan’s more reproachful look. McGonagall seemed unmoved.

“As it is so close to the end of the school year, there won’t be detention…” she riffled through several papers, and I suspected she was doing it for show. “I will have to take points. 70 points from Gryffindor, for lying to your prefect, and for entering a forbidden corridor.”

I slumped at my desk. Rowan looked shocked, but neither of us disagreed. It would only mean more points taken, so close to the end of the year. “You are dismissed.”

We nodded, getting up from where we sat. There was a part of me that was at least appreciative that she had done that in private, though it would be all over Gryffindor house by curfew.

Both of us silently decided not to go back to Gryffindor tower, instead we opted for the library, while the upper years still had classes. I plopped myself in the Astronomy section, Rowan the History section.

Dinnertime arrived with a growl, and Rowan and I grabbed spots nearest the doors. We had taken to quizzing each other over various classes and topics as the end of year finals approached. I questioned with Astronomy, Rowan tended to ask about History.

Classes had turned to review sessions, covering everything learned over the past few months. Snape had us all fervently brewing anything he had “taught” us, picking at the smallest mistakes. Flitwick had us pouring over our textbooks, making intricate diagrams that only Rowan and Ben seemed to understand fully. Hooch had us circling the training field slowly gaining and losing altitude that had me sticking with Ben half the time, especially on dives.

History of magic was mostly re-learning the important dates, locations and events that were possibly going to be covered on the final.

It was as we headed to lunch after leaving History of Magic that Penny hurried towards us, dodging between several upper year Ravenclaws, who were discussing one of the upcoming exams.

“Ellie! Rowan!” Penny called, barrelling down the corridor towards me and Rowan. “You won’t believe what I’ve just heard…!” We paused near a couple suits of armour, as Penny reached us, skidding to a halt.

“We lost our Defence Against the Dark Arts professor!” she exclaimed, clearly out of breath. “Snape just went up to Professor Dumbledore’s office to campaign for the post, even if it’s cursed.”

I groaned, not able to contain it. Snape was bad enough in the potions dungeon. We didn’t need him in DADA as well. “Oh no…”

“I’ll let you know if I find out anything,” she promised. “Rumour is, he’s not going to get it. Supposedly, he’s been trying for a couple years now.” I didn’t feel nearly as optimistic about it as Penny did.

I nodded, and she scurried off towards the Great Hall. We followed her direction at more sedate pace. “I feel like I didn’t really learn anything in DADA this year…” I grumbled, as we took out usual spots at the Gryffindor table.

It was a couple days later that the finals schedule appeared in the common room, along with which rooms the exams were taking place in. There were murmurs among several of the older students about unexpected classrooms and the Charms exams.

Nothing unusual stood out to me, considering I didn’t need to look farther than the first sheet. I shared a shrug with Rowan, and buried my head back in my Transfiguration textbook.

The temperatures both inside and outside the castle picked up as finals week started, and a part of me wanted to hide on the fifth floor corridor, where it was undoubtedly cooler. It didn’t help that most of the classrooms chosen were limited to two windows, which were shut.

Most of the subjects had a written and a practical. Flying just had a practical, a short-ish obstacle course around the training grounds that had us putting our broom skills to the test. Astronomy’s was split, with an afternoon exam in the lower classroom, and a late night practical portion, where Sinistra had us filling out a basic star chart.

We split what free time we had during the weekend and evenings between the crowded common room, our dorm, and the very busy library, trying to prepare as much as we could.

History of Magic only had a written exam, which turned out almost as easy as the Defence Against the Dark Arts exam. Granted, not much was easier than showing up, signing in, answering a couple questions and being free to leave not long after.

Said professor who was bailing hadn’t exactly taught us much magic, just that he was terrified of a poltergeist and school children.

The rest of the final exams passed in what seemed to be a more normal manner, not counting Snape near literally breathing down our necks as we each brewed a cure for boils and a forgetfulness potion to the best of our abilities.

I couldn’t remember much of the day after that.

McGonagall approached Rowan and I after breakfast the next morning, along with a note from the Headmaster himself, which she gave to me.

“Professor Dumbledore would like a word with you, Miss Marcovitz. You will hear from me when it is time,” she noted, before moving away at my nod. I shared a shrug with Rowan, before we started quizzing each other on the Transfiguration alphabet.

It turned out to be useful a couple days later, with the Transfiguration final being cumulative. I noted several times during the exam that McGonagall prowled the aisles in her cat form, alternating with being perched on the desk at the front of the room.

It was after the Transfiguration final that McGonagall let me know Professor Dumbledore wanted to see me after dinner. I nodded, and hurried up to Gryffindor tower to drop off my bag beforehand.

Dinner finished, Rowan patted me on the back, and muttered, “Good luck,” as we split at the fifth floor. I pulled out the scroll as I neared the griffin statue.

“Password?” it asked, voice gravelly.

“Erm…” I squinted at the tight print. “Rhubarb custards…?”

“Correct.” It slid aside and I hurried up. The door seemed to open on its own just as I was about to knock.

“Come in Miss Marcovitz…” came the Headmaster’s voice, and I followed it over to where he was standing and looking out over the grounds.

“Thank you for meeting me, Miss Marcovitz.”

I nodded. “Of course, Professor. I…”

“You’re probably wondering why I asked you here.”

I nodded again. “Both Professor McGonagall and my prefect said that you wanted to see me about everything I’ve done wrong this year…” I trailed off, wondering why I was here. “And about what happened with the cursed ice…”

That seemed to pull him from his thoughts.

“You are expecting a lecture,” he intoned, starting slowly. “But I feel as though you want to ask me about something…”

I hesitated. There was plenty I could ask him about. My vision earlier in the school year, the cursed vaults themselves, or my brother and what happened when he was expelled. “Will you tell me about the cursed vaults?” I asked, feeling that it was less risky than bringing up Jacob, and feeling safer asking about them inside the Headmaster’s office.

Dumbledore appeared contemplative. “Hmm… I’m afraid I don’t know much more than you do, Miss Marcovitz. I’ve been seeking an expert on the subject, hoping to find out more from them. This castle holds many mysteries, of which I know only a few.”

A gentle twinkle appeared briefly, along with an enigmatic smile. “But I generally recommend exploring those that aren’t life-threatening.” His tone turned to warning and I nodded.

“We can never know everything,” he continued, his tone lightening some. “But I believe that you will learn more in the coming years at Hogwarts.”

I nodded again, not sure what to say.

“For now, I believe you should go and reassure Miss Khanna and enjoy the rest of term.” Professor Dumbledore noted, settling into his chair. “Dismissed.”

“Thank you Professor,” I mumbled hurriedly, before quickly leaving the office, my thoughts churning.

End of Year

#Hogwarts Mystery tweaked #year 1 chapter 10 #fic

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