The Lost Prophecy | Year One

Reading the Room

"What did Professor McGonagall even mean when she said the poor Troll was disarmed? That thing wasn't even armed!" Phoenix complained as Theodore rolled his eyes for the thousandth time.

"How did it even end up on the third floor?" Phoenix added, as they slowly made their way to their common room.

"White, just be glad that none of them found us," Theodore stated, as he shot her a warning look indicating her to drop the subject.

Phoenix sighed shaking her head. "I'm just curious," she mumbled.

"Salazar Slytherin," Theodore uttered the password. He held onto Phoenix's shoulder, pulling her closer to his side as they stepped into the narrow pathway. "Thank you, Theo," Phoenix muttered, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of pink as she smiled gratefully at the boy.

"Theo?" he asked, smirking. "I didn't realize we were already giving each other nicknames, White."

"Well, Theodore is a mouthful," Phoenix chuckled. "So, Theo it is."

"Looks like I have no say in this, now do I?" Theodore laughed, removing the bag from his shoulders.

"Nope."

He placed the bag on a nearby table and plopped some pillows on the sofa behind Phoenix's back as she sat down. "Where is everyone?" he asked, looking around the empty room. "I thought we'd be ambushed the minute we walked in."

"I don't know," Phoenix confessed. "Maybe they're all huddled upstairs."

"Or maybe they are waiting for you two to finally show your faces," echoed Marcus's voice, as he came marching down the boy's dormitory.

"Gemma just managed to wind up the rest of your crew and drag them upstairs, White. They're all waiting in Nott's dorm," Marcus added, plopping down on the sofa before them.

"In my dorm, why?"

"I'd rather have the girls visit the boy's dormitory than you buffoons sneaking out to theirs," Marcus stated, as Phoenix smiled at him apologetically.

"When have I ever done that?" Theodore demanded, looking rather offended.

"Can you vouch for the rest of your dorm mates?"

"Why should I?" Theodore snapped. "I am not responsible for their foolish actions."

"Hey, stop it, you two, please," Phoenix pleaded, glancing back and forth between the pair. "I'll try and make sure that doesn't happen again."

Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Try?"

Phoenix shrugged. "If they don't listen to a Prefect, what makes you think that they'll listen to me?"

Theodore snorted at her reply but quickly masked it behind a cough. Marcus shot him a glare before turning to Phoenix. "I am assuming you did what I asked you to, correct?"

Phoenix nodded in agreement. "Yes, and guess who just won twenty more house points?"

Marcus grinned proudly, as he said, "Snape gave you twenty points? Well done, White."

"Well, technically Professor McGonagall did. Ten for each of us," Phoenix said, pointing to herself and Theodore.

"Don't forget, Lupin got ten points too," Theodore added, reminding her.

"Lupin?"

Theodore nodded and filled Marcus in with the details of their conversation with the two Professors, omitting everything else that had transpired that evening. Occasionally, Phoenix would chime in, and fill in the details of how she managed to get the Troll away from the dungeons. Marcus listened to them with utmost attention, and seriousness, and praised them for a job well done.