If Chantal had known the cost of her choices, she would have never left her compartment on the Hogwarts Express. The students of Hogwarts still speak about the infamous Miss Sparrow's years at Hogwarts.
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''Please tell me you didn't forget that,'' Victoria whispered as the two girls were packing up their bags already early in the morning.
The Slytherin Girls' Dormitory had not fully woken up yet. Chantal and Victoria were the only two girls awake.
''Okay, so- I might have forgotten this...'' Chantal replied, showing her a Potions book. She gestured with her head towards the door.
The two girls stepped out.
''Let's run off and return the book now,'' Chantal said.
''We've got lots to pack. I don't want to do that after everyone's awake. You know how Audrey gets. She panics every time...''
''Okay, fair. I'm going alone?''
''Yes. But be quick!''
Chantal stepped out of the Slytherin Common Room and prayed that the coldness of the air in the Dungeons would somehow keep swarming around her as she walked throughout the rest of the castle. June had been brutally hot that summer and she couldn't remember the last rainy day.
She ran upstairs and into the Viaduct Entrance. She turned left and walked upstairs into the Tapestry Corridor, passing the portraits quickly, trying not to make too much noise.
''Ahh, this is just-'' she whispered to herself, hiding the sunlight from her eyes when she entered the Middle Courtyard. It was the fastest way to get to the Library. There were only a few people sitting under trees or hiding in the corners by the walls of the courtyard.
As she rushed through the second-floor corridor, leaving the Middle Courtyard behind her, turning to the hallway that lead to the Library, she heard loud breathing. She stopped immediately.
''What the-'' she whispered to herself and turned to her left.
The chaotic breathing was coming from the spiral staircase. She slowly approached the door, starting to even hear the person crying. She placed her hand on the handle, thinking whether to interfere or not. She looked back to the hallway, thinking she shouldn't waste any time, however, a picture of a first-year in misery rose to her mind. She pushed open the door.
''Manuel!'' Chantal exclaimed, ducking down. ''are you all right?''
Manuel immediately covered his face with his hands, wiping away the tears that had been running down his cheeks. Clearly, for a while.
''Ahh- yeah, I'm okay, thanks,'' Manuel stuttered. ''I'll get going.''
Chantal realized that, apart from the people who had been with her to the Ministry, had no idea what had happened to her. Dumbledore had only explained Sebastian's situation and how it had nothing to do with Chantal. She never told Manuel or Stephen.
''Uhh, I just...'' she began as he was already standing up. ''I just heard someone crying and- hey, don't rush away!''
