𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙧

chapter 5

"talia. talia. talia!"

when talia opened her eyes, she was still in the bathroom. this time, however, there was a hand on her shoulder.

she jumped and pointed her wand to whoever was touching her. ginny weasley stood there, putting her hands up immediately.

"talia! it's me!"

"ginny? what the hell are you doing?" talia asked, picking the legillimency book quickly to shrink it down. she hoped ginny didn't notice.

"i was told to come find you. harry, ron and hermione made it here safely. everyone's waiting, and ive been looking everywhere."

she ginger started walking ahead, tal catching up and following.

"how did you find me? i thought id be fine."

"i searched practically the entire castle. i was about to give up until a ghost told me you were in here. then i heard heavy breathing in the bathroom's direction. talia..were you running?"

talia's face got red, for she knew what ginny really heard was not at all running. she was embarrassed that her noises were heard from outside of her head.

"yes! yes. i was running. just blowing off some steam. that's exactly what i was doing." she rambled. ginny looked confused.

"right. running in your head?"

talia didn't know what to say. she laughed out of nervousness as they continued walking, the two of them trying to stay quiet and concealed.

"exercise for the brain. read it in a book. great stress reliever."

slowly, they approached the room of requirement. ginny put her arm in front of talia as they turned a corner, though, scared of who would be in the other side. she let out a breath when she saw it was just a couple of ravenclaw third years.

"the grounds are crawling with deatheaters and dementors. haven't seen any inside of the castle. but i still get jumpy." ginny explained her actions. she seemed almost as though she was embarrassed to tell the girl next to her how she got jumpy. tal noticed this.

"i'm assuming things haven't been great since snape's been in charge." she brought up. ginny glanced her way.

"yeah. but you hardly ever see him. you have to watch out for the carrows."

"carrows?" tal asked.

"they're this brother and sister in charge of discipline. they like punishment."

talia thought back to when blaise got that mark on his face. must've been this brother and sister's doing.

the two girls came up to the door to the room of requirement after a few more moments. before walking in, though, ginny looked at talia one last time.

"ill have to come back. you'll go in alone, but..welcome to dumbledore's army."

ginny opened the door using her wand. as talia walked inside, she saw multiple students who turned to look at her. in the small crowd, she recognized faces like luna lovegood and neville longbottom. at the front, harry, ron and hermione were waiting for her.