(12. restricted section )

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THE CORRIDOR outside the library was pitch black save for the faint moonlight filtering through the high windows. Iris and Jade stood pressed against the wall, hidden in the shadows of a suit of armor. The castle felt different at night - every creak and whisper magnified in the darkness.

"You're unusually quiet," Iris murmured, glancing at her friend. "Not getting cold feet about breaking about fifty school rules, are you?"

Jade didn't respond immediately, which was odd in itself. She was fidgeting with her wand, a habit she only had when genuinely nervous.

"I will hex you if you start with your theories," Jade whispered, noticing Iris's studying look.

"Both of you can shut it," came Fred's whispered voice from the darkness, making them both jump.

Fred materialized from the shadows like he'd been there all along, followed by George carrying what looked like an ancient piece of parchment.

"I hate when you do that," Jade muttered.

"No you don't," Fred said cheerfully. "Now, shall we focus on not getting expelled?"

"If any of you make one more comment about anything other than the plan," Jade cut in, her wand raised threateningly, "I will actually hex you. And I'm not joking."

"She's not," Iris confirmed. "I've seen her do it."

"Right then," George said, unfolding the parchment. "Business first. This is how we're getting in..."

He tapped the parchment with his wand, murmuring something Iris couldn't catch. To her amazement, ink began spreading across the surface, forming what looked like a map of Hogwarts.

"Is that-"

"Questions later," Fred interrupted. "Filch is on the third floor, Mrs. Norris is prowling near the kitchens, and Peeves is... actually, we might be able to use Peeves."

The plan, it turned out, was elegantly simple. Fred would convince Peeves to cause chaos near the trophy room - "He owes us a favor" - while George would get them into the library through a secret passage behind a tapestry Iris had passed a hundred times without noticing.

"The real trick," George explained as they crept through the narrow passage, "is getting into the restricted section itself. The chains are charmed to alert Madam Pince if anyone unauthorized touches them."

"Leave that to me," Jade said confidently. Iris raised an eyebrow - she hadn't mentioned knowing how to break library security charms.

They emerged behind a bookshelf in the main library. The moonlight cast strange shadows through the windows, making the rows of books look almost alive. Jade worked quickly on the chains while George kept an eye on the map and Iris scanned the restricted section titles.

"There," Iris pointed to a shelf near the back. "Advanced Magical Maladies and their Origins."

She had just pulled the heavy tome from the shelf when George hissed a warning. "Filch is coming - Fred's distraction must not have worked!"

"Split up," Jade whispered urgently. "We'll meet back at the common room."

Jade darted toward the passage while George followed, checking the map. Fred quickly came through the library doors before Filch, and gestured for Iris to follow him behind a different shelf, just as the beam of Filch's lantern swept through the library.

"Well," Fred breathed against her ear as they pressed against the wall, the book clutched to her chest, "this should be interesting."

"Who's there?" Filch called. "I know you're in here..."

Fred tapped her shoulder and pointed upward. Iris followed his gaze to see a narrow gap between the top of the bookshelf and the ceiling. He cupped his hands together, offering her a boost.

"Are you mad?" she mouthed silently.

He just grinned, gesturing again. The lantern light was getting closer. With no other choice, Iris stepped into his hands, letting him lift her with surprising strength. She scrambled onto the bookshelf just as Filch rounded the corner.

"Weasley!" Filch's triumphant cry made Iris's heart stop. But Fred just smiled lazily, empty-handed and looking perfectly casual despite being clearly out of bounds.

"Evening, Mr. Filch. Lovely night for a walk, isn't it?"

"Out of bed! and in the library! Where are the others?"

"Others? Just me, enjoying some late-night... architecture appreciation." Fred stretched dramatically. "These buttresses are really something in the moonlight, don't you think?"

Iris bit back a laugh as Filch spluttered. She could practically hear his blood pressure rising.

"My office! Now!"

"Lead the way," Fred said cheerfully, shooting one last wink toward Iris's hiding spot before following Filch out of the library.

Iris waited until their footsteps faded before carefully climbing down. The book had left an impression on her chest, but she couldn't help grinning. Trust a Weasley to create the perfect diversion out of getting caught.

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She made it back to the dungeons without further incident, though she had to duck into an alcove once to avoid Peeves, who was cackling about something involving Mrs. Norris and a suit of armor.

The Slytherin common room was empty except for Jade, who was pacing by the fire.

"Finally!" Jade rushed over. "Did you get caught? Where's Fred? Is the book-"

"Fred got caught so I wouldn't," Iris said, dropping onto a couch and pulling out the heavy tome. "Where's George?"

"Got back to Gryffindor tower fine," Jade said quickly - too quickly. Her slightly mussed hair suggested the journey might not have been entirely direct.

"Mhm," Iris smirked, but her attention was already turning to the book. "Help me look. Snape said something about hereditary curses in pure-blood lines..."

They pored over the pages, the fire burning lower as the night wore on. Finally, Jade's finger stopped on a passage.

"Here - 'The Crimson Veil: A rare blood malediction affecting primarily pure-blood families, theorized to be a result of excessive blood-status preservation spells cast by ancient houses. While no cure has been found, certain dark magic practitioners claim success in---'" Jade broke off, her eyes widening as she read ahead.

"In what?" Iris demanded.

"In transferring the curse to another host," Jade finished quietly. "Iris... this is dark magic. Really dark."

"Keep reading."

"The transfer ritual requires--" Jade stopped again, looking sick. "No. Absolutely not. This involves willing sacrifice. Blood magic. This is the kind of thing that gets you sent to Azkaban." Her eyes scanned further down the page, and her face went even paler. "Wait... it specifies the sacrifice must be blood-related. Typically... typically a female..."

"Stop," Iris said sharply, but something cold settled in her stomach. Immediately, she thought of her mother. "The only other female is my mother and I'd never let her..."

"There's more," Jade said softly. "The ritual is most effective when performed on the winter solstice, and the sacrifice must be..." She swallowed hard. "Must be made willingly, with full knowledge and acceptance. The stronger the love, the more powerful the transfer."

Iris slammed the book shut, her hands shaking. "We need to hide this. Somewhere my mother will never find it. Who knows what kind of reckless thing she'd do if she found this"

"Iris-"

"No. Promise me you won't tell anyone about this." When Jade hesitated, Iris grabbed her hand. "Promise me. My mother's already lost enough to this family's pure-blood mania. I won't let her sacrifice herself too."

"I promise," Jade said finally. "But maybe we should tell someone. Snape-"

"No one," Iris insisted, though her voice shook slightly. "This stays between us. And..." she hesitated. "Maybe the twins. They did help us get it. But nothing about... nothing about the sacrifice part."

"George would never tell anyone," Jade said automatically, then flushed when Iris raised an eyebrow. "Oh, shut up. Like you weren't thinking about telling Ron."

"I would never-"

"I don't believe you."

They stared at each other for a long moment before Jade spoken again quietly.

"We're in trouble, aren't we?" Jade asked finally.

"When aren't we?" Iris tucked the book deep into her bag, trying to ignore how her hands shook slightly.

Including, she thought but didn't say, a pair of redheaded twins who were proving to be far more interesting than either of them had expected.

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