Trial of Time: A Hogwarts Legacy Story

(P1) Chapter 13 - When In Detention...

I spend the next two days in a blur. After hanging out with Natty and rescuing Archie Bickle from one of Harlow's camps, I feel nothing but rage for the poachers and Dark wizards who follow him and Rookwood. The threat of Rookwood and Harlow needs to be eliminated almost as urgently as Ranrok.

Especially since they're working with him and want to capture me.

Naturally, Professor Onai found out about our adventure from Officer Singer. We both received detention, just as she promised we would the last time we were caught.

I arrive for my last detention session after classes and sit at a desk behind two Slytherin girls. I recognize them as Violet McDowell and Grace Pinch-Smedley. Earlier in the year, I dove into the Black Lake to help Grace retrieve her family astrolabe. Based on things I've heard, Grace and Violet are quite the typical mean girls. They've never given me a hard time, though I suspect it's purely because I helped Grace with something that meant a lot to her.

I smile and wave as Natty walks into the room. She sits at the only empty desk across the room and smiles back at me as we both take out our books.

"I can't believe we got detention for skipping Weasley's class," Grace yawns as an enchanted nail file works on her left hand.

"Totally ridiculous," Violet nods in agreement while drawing doodles on her parchment.

"Oh Merlin, I can't believe I forgot to tell you!" Grace leans into her excitedly and whispers, "I finally figured out how we're going to get revenge on Imelda."

I lean forward slightly, my interest completely piqued at this point. This should be interesting. I thought Imelda was friends with them?

Luckily Mr. Moon is overseeing detention today. He frequently steps out of the room and leaves us to our own devices. What a perfect time to plot revenge.

Grace waits until he leaves the room again before she continues. "Dugald figured out how to get access to the Veritaserum in the school's potions closet."

She leans in closer to Violet, her voice even lower, "Once we have it, we're going to put it in her pumpkin juice at breakfast tomorrow. I'm going to enchant a letter using a disguised voice and have it ask her about all of the most embarrassing things I've read in her diary. In front of everyone!"

Violet turns pale. "Are you sure that isn't... a bit too much? I mean, Veritaserum is prohibited at Hogwarts-"

"It's what she deserves for asking Alistair to go to Hogsmeade with her," Grace seethes, the distaste clearly written all over her face. "She knows how I feel about him."

I assume they're talking about Alistair Avery, a very popular sixth year Slytherin prefect.

Their plan is absolutely ruthless. I may not be fond of Imelda myself, but I'd never want to put anyone through that level of public embarrassment.

I have to warn her.

When detention finally ends, I practically run to the Great Hall where dinner is being served. I scan the entire hall and Slytherin table, but no Imelda in sight. I spot Sebastian and Ominis sitting at the end of their table enjoying the feast.

"Sebastian, Ominis. Have either of you seen Imelda?" I ask, nearly out of breath.

Sebastian looks at me dumbfounded. "Reyes? Uh, no. Why in Merlin's beard would you want to talk to her?"

"It's a long story. Can you take me to the Slytherin common room to see if she's down there?"

They agree, and we begin our descent to the dungeons. I try my best to avoid the lower levels of the castle since I ended up getting lost down there the first time I visited the Map Chamber.