Chimaera Of Judgement

48: Praecessi's Room

Albus cast a quick glance at Rose, brow furrowing, before asking, "A way to what, Wayne?"

The prominent ears of Wayne Elphinstone were now reddening, and it didn't take them long to find out why. "Well... sorry, didn't mean to eavesdrop, but you weren't much bothering to keep your voices low." He paused a moment for them to scold him, but both only stared at him expectantly. "That Jezabel girl... she's disappeared? Really?"

"Afraid so," Rose began nervously. Not that they felt especially good about it, but neither she nor her cousin were as close to the skittish young man as they could be, and discussing a sensitive topic such as abductions and near-murders they had been present for with a stranger seemed unwise. "Er... but anyway, what do you mean, you know a way we can get to her?"

"Just that." But now his tones were becoming more suspicious. "What did you mean when you said Dryden looks like ground beef?"

"Just that," Albus echoed without enthusiasm. "He's been slashed to ribbons and he's in the hospital wing."

Wayne's eyes went wide, which only accentuated the bags under them. "No!" He looked between them, as if waiting for one or the other to shout "April Fool!" or something similar, but when they only stared down at the floor dejectedly, he continued, "But... he's been rather hard on me, all right, but he did inadvertently manage to teach me how to brew the Draught of Disaster, which saved my bum in our O.W.L.s. Is he- I mean, are they going to be able to patch him up?"

Albus shrugged. "Longbottom said it's likely, but Merlin, he was a mess."

"So... you're trying to find Jezabel because she did it?"

"Of course not!" Rose snapped. "But she might be the next victim if we can't find her in time!"

"Victim?" The pair of them could see the last variables of the equation clarify in their classmate's expression. "The ghosts! Not still, even after they carted Dorika away!"

"You can help us, then?" Albus pressed - there wasn't enough time to put the kettle on and chat. "If you can't, we won't fault you, but anything-"

"Yes, yes," he said hurriedly, colour steadily draining from his cheeks. "B-but I don't know much about it, and if it doesn't work y-you can't put the blame on me, all right?"

That did nothing to assuage their skepticism. "You're not going to try burning some mallowsweet or some such bilge, are you?"

"Eh? Oh, don't be silly," he snorted, scratching his chin. "It's... well, Tranquilius told me about something that may be of use - hang on-"

They could only look on in bewilderment as he crossed to the nearest window, stared outside, then pulled both of them into a huddle.

"There's a locked door down the sixth floor," he whispered. "Near the Arithmancy classroom. You ought to know the Unlocking Charm by now, I should think."

"Yeah," Albus assured him urgently; the area he was describing began to jog something in his memory. "And?"

Wayne smiled uncertainly. "From there, you can get anywhere... at least, according to Tranky. Don't hold me responsible if it turns out to be some daydream of his, though - you know how he gets."

"We won't," Rose told him with a smile. "And if this does work, I might snog your face off - thanks!"

And they were off toward the stairs, leaving Wayne clutching for the wall near the Fat Lady, aforementioned face burning.

"Reckon we're off on a fool's errand?" Albus asked as they ran.

"Likely," Rose panted. "But it really is about the only thing we could be doing right now save biting our nails and waiting for the teachers to turn up with Jezabel's corpse."