On the morning of the Halloween Feast, it was a Friday. The students awoke to the fragrance of pumpkins and sweets in the air. All day long students excitedly chattered during their classes. So much so that even the strictest professors gave up on getting their students to do much of anything.
The Slytherin third year's last class of the day was DADA with Professor Pollen. It was a rather enjoyable lesson as Professor Pollen had brought in a glass box containing a hinkypunk. A hinkypunk is a little one-legged creature that looked as though it were made of wisps of smoke and appeared to be rather frail and harmless looking.
"Don't let its innocent looks deceive you," Professor Pollen sternly warned them as they all intently took notes. "It lures travelers into bogs. You'll notice the lantern dangling from his hand? It hops ahead – people follow the light – and then –." The hinkypunk makes a horrible squelching noise against the glass as if in response.
The bell suddenly rang causing a few Slytherins to flinch as everyone eagerly gathered their things and went out the door. As they made their way down to the dungeons, Severus unhappily says, "I still need to finish that dastardly Divination tea reading. As if tea leaves could predict the future!"
"Really, I finished mine ages ago," Terry innocently remarked causing Severus to fiercely scowl at Terry.
"You really should have taken Arithmancy with us, Severus," Tiffany happily chimed in. "Unlike hazard guessing games, numbers always calculate the truth."
"I'm starting to see that now," Severus griped as he glared at Terry, who had begged him to take the class with him. He really should have stuck with his original choice.
"You're looking a bit pale, Rowan, are you alright?" Bethanie said causing the rest of them to glance over at Rowan. Sure, Rowan seemed paler than usual as her face looked rather wane.
"I'm not feeling very well," Rowan confessed, which was not an entire lie. She had a strong cramp at the moment. Nothing that the pain potion stored in her trunk could not dull. "I don't think I will be going to the feast."
"But it's the Halloween Feast! You'll miss all the candy and food!" Terry protested in abject horror.
Silvia jabbed Terry painfully in the ribs with her elbow. "Don't worry, Rowan, we'll bring you something back."
"I would appreciate that," Rowan sincerely said.
They separated in the Slytherin common room, each heading to their dorms. Rowan is the last to arrive as it was exhausting to climb up the stairs. She slammed the trunk of her open and reached inside for a large vial of murky pain potion. She grimaced at the taste, but she gulped it all down in one big gulp.
Rowan tiredly closed her trunk and crawled into bed. She wrapped herself in her blankets and looked rather miserable. The terrible cramps dulled into a sore sensation.
Tiffany, Silvia, and Bethanie quietly chat amongst themselves knowing perfectly well how Rowan felt. They had all experienced it before, some worse than others. They tidied their robes and made themselves presentable.
Finished Bethanie stops by Rowan's bed. "I will let Prefect Pizarro know that you'll be staying behind."
Tiffany leans over to gently pat the bundled form of Rowan. "I will save you some of your favorite sweets, Rowan."
Silvia remains standing to the side and mutters in sympathy, "Girls always get the short end of the stick."
Bethanie hurries away first while Tiffany and Silvia remain behind to watch over Rowan. Bethanie returns not long after accompanied by the tired-looking figure of Prefect Pizzaro. Prefect Pizzaro scribbles a note of Rowan's condition, before rushing off to complete another errand.
"Is it just me or does being a Prefect seem more like a form of cheap labor than an honor?" Rowan drily remarked out loud.
"Why do you say that?" Tiffany asked from her seat on Rowan's bed.
"Well, Prefect Pizarro's a 5th year and she's supposed to be studying for her O.W.L.s," Rowan thoughtfully replied. "And on top of that Prefect Pizzaro is still in charge of all the students in our house and any other student belonging to another house that she might come across on. Not to mention, the Prefects are to help the younger students. When does Prefect Pizzaro or any other Prefect have the time to study?"
There is a lapse of silence as Tiffany's eyes go wide at the horrible realization. "I hadn't thought of it like that." Then she optimistically shrugged, "Does it really matter? There's not much of a chance that any of us would ever become a Prefect."
"I don't know," Silvia calmly retorted. "I'd say that Rowan might have a pretty good chance."
Rowan shivers at the dreadful thought. "Merlin, so help me, I'll kill Slughorn if it comes to that."
"Well, I wouldn't mind it all," Bethanie explained as everyone gazed at her with skeptical expressions.
"If it was you, I'd think the younger things would be rather lucky to have you," Silvia remarked with a smile as Tiffany and Rowan both gestured in agreement.
"Thank you," Bethanie sincerely said with a smile. "I'd be honored, but if it went to someone else, I wouldn't mind that very much at all.
The four of them chatted for some time before the girls finally got up to go. Making sure Rowan was comfortable, Bethanie patiently tucked her in, before saying, "We'll return early if we can."
"Don't!" Rowan protested a little too loudly and instantly rectified the statement. "What I mean to say is just enjoy yourselves. It's not like I'm going to be going anywhere."
"All right then," Bethanie sagely said, "But we'll make sure to bring you something back."
"Me too," Tiffany piped in as Silvia cheerfully added, "Me three." Laughing, the three girls left as Rowan waited for the dorms to slowly empty and fall silent.
Certain that the girl dorms were empty Rowan quickly got out of bed feeling that much better thanks to the pain potion. With a flick of her wand, the pillow transformed into an image of herself as she tossed the covers over the still form leaving only the back of the head poking out. Pulling the bed curtains shut, she pops open her trunk and gets out her carefully already prepared pouch. Giving herself a quick glance, she nodded in satisfaction and quickly ate a chocolate bar for energy and to quiet her rumbling stomach.
Soundlessly Rowan teleported herself up to the seventh floor and warily peeked around and most especially into Professor Vector's classroom. To her relief, Professor Vector wasn't there as she slowly made her way to the left corridor that held the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy attempting to teach trolls ballet.
Closing her mind, she slowly thinks of what she wants and needs, before very carefully holding the thought in mind and walking up and down the corridor three times. The tapestry gently moves as if by a hidden breeze as Rowan glances directly in the opposite direction at the gleaming oak door that is located directly across from the tapestry. With one final glance behind her, she pulls the door handle and enters the room, firmly shutting the door behind her.