𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 (OC x OC)

[001] CHAPTER 17

Annelise

"Ann! . . . Ann!" I hear someone shout behind me. Their voice is familiar. Oh right! It's Katelyn.

She runs up to me, out of breath. "Bloody hell, you walk fast–but that's not the point!"

"What's up?" I ask, perking my eyebrow up.

"We need your help with getting Makayla to get the–," Katelyn pauses. Her expression tells me that she's trying to tell me what they need to get without giving it away. That expression quickly changes when she finally finishes her statement, "the thing that it's guarding." Wow Katelyn, great riddle making skills.

"Makayla? Why do you need Makayla for it?"

"Her and Hermione are both super smart, and we could use the brains in case if anything bad happened."

"You guys are planning on bad things happening?"

"Well not exactly!"

"Mhm," right when I say that, she starts making a pleading face, as if she's begging me to help her. "but fine I'll help you."

She jumps up and gives me the tightest hug of the decade, constantly repeating "Thank you!"

"Of course!"

Katelyn runs off to find Harry, Ron, and Hermione and I am left to figure out how I'm going to convince Makayla to help us. She hasn't really gotten fond of me yet, so I don't know how well this will work.

When I walk into the Slytherin common room, I notice dirty looks from the other first years, in which I ignore. Louis isn't here. He's probably wandering the castle or something.

I walk up to the girls dormitories and softly knock on Makayla's door, with a muffled voice replying behind it, "Come in!"

From the moment I walk into that room, I smell the stench and odor from fresh paint and see Makayla painting a canvas, humming some random song as she does so. "Makayla?" I say, questioning why I'm even trying.

She turns to me and sets her paintbrush down, "Ann? What're you doing here?"

She remembered my name again! I must be special. . . "Well, I need a favor."

"And what is that favor you ask for?"

"Can you help Hermione, Ron, Harry, Katelyn, and I find the Sorcerer's Stone so that Voldemort doesn't find it, because he is 100% back and he's after it so that he can be immortal and Hagrid might've accidentally–" I talk so fast that Makayla needs to cut me off.

"Annelise," she chuckles. "Talk slower and maybe I'll help."

I take a deep breath and start over, "Can you help Ron, Hermione, Katelyn, Harry, and I find the Sorcerer's Stone?"

"What is a Sorcerer's Stone?

"It's kind of like a rock that makes you immortal–"

"Jeez–and the stuff you were saying about . . . Voldemort?"

I take a long pause to commemorate what I said when I was talking faster than Harry's parents being Avra Kedavra'd. "Oh yeah–so basically, we think that the one who shall not be named is back and he's after the Sorcerer's Stone so that he can be immortal."

"And–you're telling me this? Why not Dumbledore, or Professor McGonagall, or Snape?"

"No one is believing us."

She sighs, "Fine I'll help."

"You're literally the best, Makayla, thank you!"

Louis stands in the doorway as I have begun to walk out. "Help with what?"

Makayla and I both keep quet. He's suspicious. But when is he not, am I right? Heh . . .

"Malfoy, what are you helping my sister with?"

I give her a look that reads, "Please don't tell him!"

She looks at me, then at Louis. Then at me, then at Louis again. She slowly gives in.

"Ugh, fine! I'm helping her find some Sorcerer's Stone that is in the castle so that Voldemort doesn't get it."

"Voldemort?" Louis almost loses it.

"We have to stop him, Louis!"

"No! Not you! You're not going!"

"Why not!"

"Because it's dangerous!"

"I'll have Makayla! I'll have Hermione, I'll have Katelyn, I'll have the boys!"

"You really think that Makayla would do anything for you? Don't you know her family by now?"

"I'm literally standing right here–" Makayla says over all the arguing that she can't seem to flush out of the room.

We argue for a few minutes until Makayla comes up with a bright idea, "Louis, how 'bout you just go with us if you're so worried about her safety?"

He takes a long time to think about it and finally decides, "Fine."

I sigh out of relief, then Makayla's best friend, Jordyn Riddle, runs in, "Do I smell danger? I want in–"

"I have known you for more than 365 days and to this day, you still are full of surprises," Makayla says.

"Can I come with you guys, please!"

"Yeah, why not?"

Usually, I would revolt against the idea of two of the meanest girls at Hogwarts coming with us to find the Stone, but I am desperate right now.