Chapter sixty

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"You've got to take me along next time!" Maddie beams after I explain my slight detour to the twin's joke shop last night. "I would've paid nearly a dozen galleons to get out of that speech." She slouches against the wall behind her as we sit across from each other in a windowsill.

"What was Dumbledore on about anyway? I assume it's a new professor?" I ask, unaffected as I bore out the crystal glass beside me.

"How did you know?" She asks in disbelief, slightly leaning forward. Madeleine has always been bubbly, the personality slowly revealing itself the more time she spent at Hogwarts. It wasn't irking as it would be for anyone else; her optimism always just seemed to rub off onto everyone she conversed with.

"Just a hunch, I suppose." I smirk, releasing an airy laugh and she mirrors the gesture.

"Do you honestly believe we won't get caught if we sneak out to Diagon Alley?" She asks and I shrug carelessly.

"Everything's high security because of you-know-who but Umbridge is banished from the grounds so i'm sure the floo will be fine, especially if we can find a way to access a professor's. I have no idea about the fireplace in the common room; off limits for now until we find more out I reckon." She nods in understanding and I pause as a result of voice that comes toward us.

"Brooke, Morel, shouldn't you have classes to tend to?" McGonagall asks from above us and I shake my head.

"We have a free period profesor, said there was no more room in Divination." I explain, recalling the note I had been sent relaying the message of the mix up.

"Seems like a lot of your friends have experienced the same dilemma." She eyes us and tips her chin down knowingly.

"It's true, we swear." Maddie chimes in.

"I don't think you're lying Miss Morel, but I do believe there are a few more openings in Potions with Profesor Slughorn. You best be off, class only commenced a few minutes ago ladies." She winks at me and starts off toward a group of Hufflepuff girls who gossip around the doors to the Charms classroom.

McGonagall always had a soft spot for me, alike Harry, so I knew she didn't mean the suggestion to be taken harshly, but part of me wondered if the subtle favoritism stemmed from something other than my good grades in Transfiguration. How many professors who have instructed me since I first arrived here knew of my history?

It sure was a sensitive subject that couldn't be spoken about just anywhere, but Hogwarts is known to be the safest place in the wizarding world, so how many could've been trusted with my confidential backstory without Harry or I knowing? Clearly Snape; that was off the table, but McGonogall? Sprout?

"I can't believe we're actually going, we could've easily gotten out of it." Maddie wines and I nudge her shoulder.

"I'm sure it won't be that terrible. Besides if it is, I can always recreate the potion Draco made during fourth year. It completely blew up in his face."

"Merlin, I would pay to see that happen again!" She snickers as I push open the door to the Potions classroom and suddenly all eyes are on us.

"Oh come in, come in. We're just beginning our first test." Slughorn invites and Maddie gives me a grim look.

"A test already?" She huffs with her shoulders hung low.

"There should be a few extra books in the back for you. Weasley, Potter, you as well." He motions for the two boys in the front to follow us to the cabinet. Ron seems to share the same expression as Maddie as they scavenge the last three intact books.

"Really, Ron?" I scoff, sliding the remaining one off the shelf. It appears as if it's been sitting there longer than we've been alive.

"McGonogall got to you two as well?" Harry asks and I nod. "Here, you want mine? I'll take that one."

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