10:26 pm

All day after packing, the girls planned on how to get to the Third Floor without being detected. At 10:30 pm, the girls would sneak out of their houses and meet up at the Hufflepuff entrance. From there, Nesta would wrap her cloak around them to get to the Third Floor undetected. Because the staircase only changes when it's only Nesta, Gwyn, and Emerie, Catrin was forced to stay behind. Not because the girls didn't want her of course, but in order for the Third Floor to be accessed, it had to be just the three of them. She only agreed if they all promised to come back in one piece.

Now it was almost time and Nesta had just walked out of the girls' room, her invisible cloak tucked away in her arm. Her cat, Lucky, stood guard at the door, ready to attack anyone who stood in her owner's way. "Thanks for the help girl. I promise to return soon."

"I knew it." Nesta refrained from screaming as she noticed her friend Nora. She was in her PJs looking distorted. "Nesta, don't do this. You'll get Slytherin in trouble again." she pleaded with her.

Nesta knew Nora meant well. She's one of the nicest Slytherins on campus. She's always there for everyone. Even for the Gryffindors. Unfortunately, Morrigan would always take that for granted. Tricking her, giving her fake promises, always cheating on her test, and blaming it on her. Nora never got the blame which caused the Gryffindors to lose 15 points. Boy was Rhysand unhappy. However, Nora never even complained. She took it like a champ, even though everyone can tell that she was crying on the inside.

Nesta shook her head. "Nora, I have to do this. Or else, Hogwarts will fall."

"No, Nesta. I won't let you!" Nora pulled out her wand. Her arm held firm as she prepared to do a spell on her. "If you won't listen then I'll have to fight you." Nesta gulped. She didn't have a choice. In order to leave, she had to fight her own Slytherin sister.

Nodding in acceptance, Nesta pulled out her wand and announced the spell: "Petrifucus Totalus!"

On command, Nora's entire body turned cold and stiff. Completely paralyzed from the neck down. She fell to the ground with a thud. The spell is only temporary, but it was still a pain to see her fall so hard. God, she hoped that Nora won't be mad. Nesta turned to her cat who watched the whole thing. "Watch over her, Lucky." she ordered as Lucky meowed and walked over to Nora, resting her paw on the young Slytherin's shoulder. Nesta turned her head back around one last time. "Sorry, Nora. It's for your own good."

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Right on time, Nesta arrived at the entrance to the Hufflepuff dormitories and saw Emerie, Catrin, and Gwyn waiting for her. Catrin hugged her sister one more time, promising to call for help whenever they needed it. "If we don't return by sunrise, send an immediate owl to Kallias and Viviane."

"You got it Nes. Just be careful." Catrin had said to them before Nesta put on the invisible cloak and wrapped it around Gwyn and Emerie.

Now, the three of them had just finished walking up the stairs, cloak still wrapped around them. "You're up, Em," Gwyn said as Emerie nodded and readied her wand: "Alohomora." The lock on the door clicked and the girls walked into the Third Floor.

They continued through the Third Floor until they made it to Fluffy's room. Once they'd opened the door, they heard the soft tone of a harp playing as Fluffy slept soundly. Nesta and the others took off the cloak. "Looks like Tamlin beat us to it." Emerie declared. "Look, its paw's on the trap door."

"Let's lift it." Nesta suggested as the girls worked together to pick up the paw. They slowly and softly placed the paw off the door. Being as silent as they possibly could, the girls opened the door. It was dark down there. Nesta heard Gwyn gulp. "I-It's d-d-dark."

"It's okay Gwyn. You guys stay up here. I'm gonna find the stone."

"No. We all agreed to go."

"I don't want you guys getting-why is it suddenly so quiet?" Nesta asked suddenly. Emerie looked at the harp, its musical tone fading away. "I think the harp stopped playing."

"Ack! Ew!" Immediately, Emerie and Nesta whipped their heads at Gwyn who had a huge slobber drop on her shoulder. "Gross, gross, gross."

A low growl filled the room, causing the girls to tense up. "Uh oh." They all said before Fluffy began to bark loudly. Screaming at the top of their lungs, Nesta, Gwyn, and Emerie jumped into the trap door and closed it shut, letting the darkness consume them.