𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐄𝐑 || 𝐒𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Polyjuice Potion

Chapter Twenty-Nine

After returning from the mine, Matty ran straight down into the Map Chamber, hoping Professor Fig would be there so that she could tell him about Ranrok's plans. This was serious and she needed to get through those trials before Ranrok found the final repository that Lodgok had spoken of.

Sadly Professor Fig was not in the Map Chamber, much to Matty's disappointment but she hoped he'd be down here soon so that she could inform him of what was going on with Ranrok. But Headmistress Nimah Fitzgerald was in her portrait and looked as if she wanted to speak.

Matty, knowing that she had to get through the trials soon if she wanted to be able to beat Ranrok to the repository, had to inform the Headmistress about what was going on.

"Hello, Headmistress! I have news." She said to Professor Fitzgerald. "The goblins are looking for something. Another 'repository'. They've built drills to help with their search." She reported, still not knowing the full story about the repository but needing to tell someone.

Professor Fitzgerald sighed. "Most troubling." She spoke.

"Are these repositories like the broken container I found at Rookwood Castle?" Matty asked, hoping to get a confirmation on whether that was actually a repository or not.

The Headmistress nodded her head. "They are. I fear we have no time to lose. Have a look at the map." She instructed. Matty looked upon the big map that was on the floor of the map chamber. "Fortunately the next trial is fairly nearby."

Matty looked confused. "It's at Hogwarts?"

"As you know, I was Headmistress in my time. My portrait hangs in the Headmaster's office. In fact, I witnessed Professor Black lean of your arrival—and I'll confess that I wondered about you." Professor Fitzgerald replied.

Matty furrowed her brow. "Wait—is the next trial in the Headmaster's office?" She asked, hoping it was. In the Headmaster's office? That seemed like a vacation compared to the other trials she had faced.

"It is. I had hoped that when the time came the occupant of that office would be of help to us." Professor Fitzgerald said. "Unfortunately, this Headmaster seems wildly unconcerned with anything but himself. You'll need to access the office while he's away."

Breaking into the headmaster's office under any other circumstance would seem completely out of bounds—but a former Headmistress was telling her she could do it, so Matty was all in, especially if it made the trial easier. "I understand. Very well, I'll find some way to get in."

"Good. I shall meet you in my portrait there. Until then." Professor Fitzgerald said, giving Matty a curt nod.

Matty had no idea how she would sneak into the Headmaster's office but she felt like perhaps Professor Fig would be able to help her. She quickly ran out of the Map Chamber and up all the many stairs of the castle to get up to his office.

It was late and she hoped he was awake because this seemed like a desperate situation and she needed to get into the Headmaster's office.

She ran up the stairs to Professor Fig's office and banged on the door. "Professor Fig! Professor Fig are you up? This is important!" She shouted through the door, hoping that if he were in his office he would answer.

But no response came and Matty was starting to get worried. She eventually decided to wait in the classroom until morning—after all it was pretty late. She'd just sleep there until he arrived. She couldn't waste a moment and she needed to speak with him the moment he came.

***

A few hours later, Professor Fig walked into his office, not expecting to see Matty asleep sitting up on one of the seats, her head resting on the desk. At first, the Professor was concerned to see his student asleep at a desk but he realized she had probably been waiting for him. He walked up and gently shook Matty by her shoulder.