Chapter 235 - Girls Bathroom (1/2)

The rest of January quickly passed as Rowan caught up on her lessons. She was rather busy as they were now doing arithmancy charts and translating portions of ancient rune scripts that she had a rune dictionary on her at all times. On the last weekend of January, Rowan found herself in the company of the four marauders and her rather cross twin brother, Severus.

”Why have we gathered here again?” Severus grumbled in the empty stone corridor. ”I've got plans and places to be.” Which all of them knew meant that he was missing out on being with Lily.

”We need to start gathering the things,” Sirius excitedly said as Lupin shushed them and glanced around.

”We need to find a good hiding spot,” Pettigrew grunted. ”And we can't use any of the unused classrooms as the teachers and Prefects check on them at random intervals.”

”That was actually rather well thought out and proposed,” Rowan commented.

It earned her a scowl from Pettigrew that said, ”I'm not an idiot!”

For some reason, everyone turns to glance at Rowan as she says, ”Why are you all looking at me for?”

”Because you're the only one of us who managed to sneak out of the castle without getting caught,” Lupin wryly explained. ”And even if you were caught because of your roommates you were still only in our second year. So, you must have some sort of inkling.”

Severus studying his twin sister's calm demeanor rolls his eyes and says, ”She already found a place. Hurry up, Rowan! And let's get this over and done with. I'd like to be free for the rest of my afternoon.”

”I knew you'd come through for us,” James flashed her a beaming confident smile.

Stifling the urge to smack his smug face, Rowan snaps, ”Hurry up and follow me.” They all trailed after Rowan to the second floor, where they paused outside of the girl's bathroom.

”What are we doing here?” James said in confusion as Rowan snickered and stepped around the OUT OF ORDER sign. ”Why we're going inside,” Rowan said as she stepped inside.

”But it's the girl's bathroom!” Both Sirius and Pettigrew whined.

”Let's get this over with,” Severus grunted as she shoved his way past them and entered the murky bathroom. James shrugged and also went inside as Lupin firmly grabbed Sirius and Pettigrew by the collar and dragged them inside.

”This is seriously gross,” James muttered under his breath as he studied the gloomy bathroom. Under the large, cracked, spotted mirrors are a row of chipped sinks. The floor is damp and reflects the dull light from the few stubs of candles, burning. The wooden doors of the stalls are flaking and scratched as one of them dangles off its hinges.

Lupin finally releases Sirius and Pettigrew who both rub their red necks and glare at Lupin, who merely innocently smiles back. Severus impatiently taps his foot and says, ”Well?”

”No one comes down here,” Rowan paused as she pointed her wand at the door and cast Muffalito. ”And as long as we don't all come and go at the same time; we should be fine.”

”So, when do we start?” Sirius eagerly said as he still rubbed his red neck.

Rowan pulls out two identical sheets with instructions and a list of ingredients needed for the potions. She hands the first to Lupin and the other to Severus. Severus snatches the sheet out of her hand and begins to read. Interest slowly begins to appear in his eyes as Severus says, ”The potion is simple enough to brew. But the tricky part will be getting the mandrakes leaves and keeping them in our mouths for an entire full moon.

And we can only spit the mandrake leaf back out under the light of the full moon if not have to start the entire process all over again. Not to mention that once the potion is completed, we have to wait to chant at sunrise and sundown, Amato Animo Animato until the next electrical storm, before chanting the spell one more time before drinking the potion. At which point, anything can go wrong as we will be transforming without being under supervision. Are you all barking mad?!”

”Well, you'll be participating too,” Rowan drily said earning her a dark glare from Severus. ”Anywho, I'm sure you will be able to come up with the means to secure said items from Professor Slughorn's storage. Just makes sure to grab enough for four.”

”You're not going to do it, Rowan?” James blinked in surprise.

”Goodness, no,” Rowan sniffed. ”I'm already an accomplice and I've no desire to end up as a snake in real life.”

”That would be fitting,” Pettigrew smirked.