Cursed With Curious Minds | Hp Next Generation

35 - Rule Breakers

By the end of the apparition lesson, Astrid had mastered disapparating and apparating into the same spot, but hadn't succeeded in actually moving anywhere yet. Delilah had made it into the hoop a couple of times, but spent most of the lesson just turning on the spot, and not going anywhere. She was feeling quite dizzy. The best of all of them, however, was Ophelia. She could successfully apparate every time, however her aim was slightly off and she kept leaving her earrings behind. James had refused to apparate again that lesson for fear of splinching.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow!" Ophelia said, running off in the direction of the Hufflepuff common room.

The other three continued up the stairs.

"I think I aced that." James said.

Astrid laughed heartily. "James you only tried once, and you left your leg behind!"

"Yeah, but who else actually apparated successfully on their first try?"

"James, it went wrong in every way possible." Delilah replied. "Like Pugs said, you weren't determined enough."

"Or I was just focusing my determination on the wrong thing." James added. "I am very determined."

Astrid almost replied with 'Yeah, you're determined to be on top of Delilah.' But thought better of it, remembering the last time she implied that the two of them were flirting.

Suddenly, the stairs that the three of them were walking up started moving.

"God dammit." Astrid muttered.

Delilah was equally as annoyed, but James was looking quite excited.

"What's got you so happy?" Astrid asked.

James grinned. "Do you not remember where this corridor leads?" he asked, running up the stairs as they came to a halt.

It was at that moment Astrid and Delilah realised what corridor they were about to walk down. It was the corridor that lead to the room.

"Do you want to have a little looksee?" James asked. "Maybe we could try and figure out what spell is on it, get the door to open up."

"Oh yeah, about that." Delilah said. "We found it out."

James looked baffled. "You did what?"

"Yeah," Astrid confirmed. "It's a really complicated spell, though, and we won't be able to open it unless the caster is there."

"We can always try." James said, and ran off before the other two could argue.

To the bewilderment of both Astrid and Delilah, the door was actually there. By the time they had caught up to James, he already had his ear pressed to the door, and was listening in.

"There's someone in there." He whispered. "I have an idea."

James started rummaging about in his pocket. "Come on, I know it's here somewhere..."

Suddenly the group heard footsteps from the other side of the door; whoever was in there was coming out.

"James whatever you're going to do, do it quickly." Astrid hissed.

"Found it!" James said, and three what appeared to be a silvery cloak over the three of them.

"Muffliato." James whispered. "Dad taught me that. We can talk as loud as we want and nobody can hear us."

"Is this your invisibility cloak?" Delilah asked, remembering it from back in November.

"Hold up." Astrid said. "Invisibility cloak? Aren't they extremely rare and expensive?"