Jane Fizzle and the Chamber of Secrets

Chapter 16

    "All those times we were in that bathroom, and he was just three toilets away," Scarlett says bitterly at breakfast the next day, "and we could've asked him, and now..."

    It has been hard enough trying to look for spiders. Escaping their teachers long enough to sneak into a boys' bathroom, the boys' bathroom, moreover, right next to the scene of the first attack, is going to be almost impossible.

    But something happens in their first lesson, Transfiguration, that drives the Chamber of Secrets out of their minds for the first time in weeks. Ten minutes into the class, Professor Evans tells them that their exams will start on the first of June, one week from today.

    "Exams?" Vasper howls. "We're still getting exams?"

    There is a loud bang behind Jane as William Cipher's wand slips, vanishing one of the legs on his desk. Professor Evans restores it with a wave of her own wand, asking if he's okay, and turns, frowning, to Vasper. "The whole point of keeping the school open at this time is for you to receive your education," she says sternly. "The exams will therefore take place as usual, and I trust you are all studying hard."

    Studying hard! It has never occurred to Jane that there will be exams with the castle in this state. There is a great deal of mutinous muttering around the room, which makes Professor Evans scowl even more darkly.

    "Professor Harrington's instructions were to keep the school running as normally as possible," she adds. "And that, I hardly need to point out, means finding out how much you have learned this year."

    Jane looks down at the pair of white rabbits she is supposed to be turning into slippers. What has she learned so far this year? She can't seem to think of anything that will be useful in an exam.

    Scarlett looks as though she's just been told she has to go and live in the Forbidden Forest. "Can you imagine me taking exams with this?" she asks Jane, holding up her wand, which has just started whistling loudly.

    "Oh, quit your complaining," Gavin tells her. "I barely studied at all this year, my Father is going to be so disappointed if I fail my tests!"

    "My family doesn't even ask what I got, only Jacob," Jane shrugs.

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    Three days before their first exam, Professor Evans makes another announcement at breakfast. "I have good news," she says, and the Great Hall, instead of falling silent, erupts.

    "Harrington's coming back!" several people yell joyfully.

    "You've caught the Heir of Slytherin!" Vanessa squeals, looking at Gavin and Erik hopefully.

    "Quidditch matches are back on!" Mason roars excitedly.

    When the hubbub subsided, Professor Evans says, "Professor Sprout has informed me that the Mandrakes are ready for cutting at last. Tonight, we will be able to revive those people who have been Petrified. I need hardly remind you all that one of them may well be able to tell us who, or what, attacked them. I am hopeful that this dreadful year will end with our catching the culprit."

    There is an explosion of cheering. Jane looks around and everyone seems to be excited about this news, even Bill. Scarlett, however, is looking happier than she's been in days. "It won't matter that we never asked Morgan, then!" she says to Jane. "Rachel will probably have all the answers when they wake her up! Mind you, she'll go crazy when she finds out we've got exams in three days' time. She hasn't studied. It might be kinder to leave her where she is till they're over."