A Dementor's Kiss - Phan

Somewhere in the Forbidden Forest

In which Dan persuades Phil to overcome his fear of flying

~

They flitted along corridors striped with bars of moonlight from the high windows. At every turn, Phil expected to run into Filch or Mrs Norris, but they were lucky. They slipped behind a tapestry and down a hidden passage way, emerging in a gallery full of suits of armour.  They hadn’t gone more than a dozen paces when a doorknob rattled and something came shooing out of a classroom in front of them. It was Peeves. He caught sight of them and gave a squeal of delight.

“Shut up, Peeves – please – you’ll get us in trouble.” Phil pleaded in a hushed whisper.

Peeves cackled. “Wandering around after midnight? Tut, tut, tut. Naughty naughty, you’ll get caughty.”

“Not if you don’t give us away, Peeves, please.”

“Should tell Filch I should,” said Peeves in a saintly voice, but his eyes glittered wickedly. “It’s for your own good, you know.”

“Get out of the way,” snapped Dan, taking a swipe at Peeves – this was a big mistake.

“STUDENTS OUT OF BED!” Peeves bellowed. “STUDENTS OUT OF BED DOWN THE CHARMS CORRIDOR!”

Ducking under Peeves they ran for their lives, right to the end of the corridor, where they slammed into a locked door.

They could hear footsteps already, running towards Peeves’s shouts, and Phil hurriedly drew his wand and whispered, ‘Alohamora!’

The lock clicked and the door swung open – they darted through and pulled it to as quietly as they could behind them.

“Okay,” Phil whispered, “slight deviation from the plan. We’re in the third floor corridor. You weren’t here, but it was closed off a while back ago due to a nasty incident with a three headed dog. I’m not quite sure what happened to the dog in the end, but I suggest we proceed with caution. We should be able to come out the other side and make it out yet, as long as Peeves keeps Filch distracted for a while.”

They stole silently down the corridor, ears alert for the slightest whisper of three headed panting. Luckily it seemed Fluffy had been relocated somewhere tropical and they made it to the other end with all important limbs still firmly attached.

~

Outside, the night air was crisp and fresh. A touch of frost lay on the ground and, although the spring days had turned sunny, the nights were still cold enough to draw their breath out in a cloud in front of their faces. Phil was glad of his winter cloak. He wished he’d worn gloves too as he rubbed his red hands together and plunged them deep into the folds of black fabric.

Dan squinted into the darkness. “We need to veer left so the castle lights don’t catch us, just in case anyone’s looking out the window. Avoid that tree though. I discovered its hospitality in my first year. I told Madam Pomfrey that I’d fallen down the stairs, but I don’t think she bought it. Something tells me she’s had to patch up a fair few whomping willow victims in her time.” he muttered, leading the way and clinging close to the shadow at the base of the castle walls. “I keep my broom inside a hollow tree. It’s a bit weird I know, but breaking into the broom shed every evening would be a nightmare and I can’t really pretend to be sleepwalking if I’m caught in the corridors with my broom over my shoulder. Also, just to let you know, I’ve never tried to put more than one person on it. I think you’re supposed to get special brooms for that. We might die. Just a disclaimer, all activities are undertaken at your own risk and I will not be held accountable for the outcome. Really I should make you sign something.”