Rose Evans and The Scroll of Life [HIATUS]

I.IX

(My dad's like, "Do you want me to create a wordpress for you so you can publish the chapters anonymously?" And I'm just like . . . father, you know about this account. I had to tell you because you found it in my history. But I don't want to bring it up in case you forget . . . should I just agree? But I already am publishing the chapters anonymously online for anyone to find. . . .)

(BTW HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRED AND GEORGE!! Here's a special update for them!)

Rose lay awake that night, straining to see the words on her ceiling from the clouded-over moon's weak light. Catrina's usual snores reverberated through the room. She could hear Zoee tossing in her sleep; Victoria and Ruth's curtains were drawn firmly closed as the clock in the room ticked towards eleven o'clock. Rose could feel sleep pulling at her, but she, although against what she'd told Fred and George, desperatedly wanted to explore the castle—sleep could wait.

Half past eleven. The moon came out from behind a cloud, and suddenly the room was awash with light. Rose counted the seconds until a quarter to midnight. Finally, it was time; she sat up and slipped out of bed slowly, trying to make as little noise as possible. One foot hit the ground . . . and her bed made a dreaful creaking noise that was even louder than Catrina. Zoee sat straight up in bed, staring right at Rose, who jumped. But Zoee's eyes were glazed over; she was still asleep.

"Don't die," she told Rose, almost conversationally; she was staring right through her. "It would be awful." Zoee turned over in her sleep and curled right back up again in a ball under her covers, making a snuffling sound like how Rose'd imagine a puppy.

"I won't," Rose promised Zoee, slipping her shoes on. She stood up and slipped out the dormitory door, which thankfully was perfectly silent. There was nobody in the common rooms; Rose imagined they'd all gone to bed long ago, mindful that they had classes tomorrow even if it was a Friday night. She opened the door: The knocker surprised her with a gruff:

"Where d'ya think you're going?"

"Nowhere," Rose said, trying to look wide-eyed and innocent. The knocker humphed.

"Don't expect me to give you an easy one to get back in," it told Rose grumpily. "When I was brand-new, students never snuck out of the dorms! And they got it on their first try every time, not like you slackers . . . Young lady, are you aware you have classes tomorrow!?"

Rose didn't reply as she creeped down the staircase, trying not to let her shoes make a slapping sound on the stone like they were prone to do. The belled tolled midnight; Rose stepped out into the corridor and almost screamed when two figured emerged from the shadows—but it was just Fred and George, and they were grinning as usual.

"Good morning," Fred greeted Rose in a whisper, bowing dramatically.

"Thanks for showing," said George.

"We didn't think you would."

"Well . . . I'm here," Rose said, "let's get going . . ."

George reached into his back pocket and pulled the map out. Tapping his wand to it again, he whispered "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." The crimson ink started to spread across the parchment.

"You really aren't up to any good," Rose whispered lightly.

"We are exploring the castle for future generations of rule-breakers," Fred said defensively. "If that's not up to good, I don't know what is. Onward, Marauders!"

"What?" George asked. "When did we come up with that?"

"We didn't," Fred said, "it's on the map. The Marauder's Map? It's our map now . . . so we're the Marauders. . . ."