Chapter 256 - 7 Howlers (1/2)

The next morning the entire school was abuzz with what had occurred. Apparently, several students had gone out into the Forbidden Forest and been caught. Among them was Quyen Crowley, Hortense Sicca, and Gertrude Fowl, who had each single-handedly lost their house fifty points, a total of 150 points all together. Though that wasn't the worst part as a Gryffindor had actually been injured by a creature in the Forbidden Forest and would have died if not for Hagrid.

All the house heads were furious as each of them found that at least a single student from their house had participated in the night's fiasco! Though Slytherin was the house that had lost the most house points. Professor Slughorn was absolutely furious and had assigned them detention for the rest of the remaining year with himself and the rest to be with Filch. All three girls weren't very pleased but the worst was what occurred the following day on Saturday morning.

Everyone was sitting down at breakfast rather pleased that it was the weekend. Rowan was still feeling rather pleased as neither she nor Severus was caught. And thanks to her quick thinking neither were the marauders either. They seemed rather pleased to as James flashed her a wide grin from across the Great Hall.

Suddenly, the Great Hall grows silent as a six owls flutter inside with a red envelope in the beaks with the seventh owl heading past them and towards the infirmary. Only the first year muggleborn students glanced upwards in confusion as everyone watched as a single owl head towards Hufflepuff, two for Ravenclaw, and three for Slytherin. Instantly everyone goes pale as hands rush to cover one's ears or plug them with fingers as the envelopes all respectively were dropped before the guilty culprits.

Rowan always kept a pair of magical earplugs on her person after the incident with Sirius hurriedly reaches into her pocket and plugs them. The smoking Howlers were quickly opened as six loud tyrannosaurs roars fill the great hall causing the hall to shake with the chandeliers dangerously swinging from above. When the roars were finally over a few students seemed ill, while several others suddenly had loud stabbing headaches. More than a few students clutched their heads as they all headed down to the infirmary. The rest were left with ringing ears as they waited for the buzzing to subside.

Quyen Crowley's eyes were full of moisture as Hortense Sicca's lips trembled while Gertrude Fowl loudly sniffed. One of the culprits, a girl from Ravenclaw burst into noisy tears, while the other two boys from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw stared at the floor in utter mortification. At least the injured Gryffindor had the privacy of the infirmary.

Nonchalantly Rowan pulls out the earplugs from her ears and begins to dig into her plate before her. Severus holds his aching head and glowers darkly at her. It wasn't her fault that he wasn't prepared. He should have really learned after the last time. Howlers weren't that uncommon especially for the younger years and the troublesome ones.

Being the first one done, Rowan goes off in search of a nice place to curl up and begin to read in the common room. Alchemy was presently dozing in a chair by the fire, while Bram happily trotted up onto the couch and curled up at her side. Bram was personally responsible for half of the ghost trauma in the boy's dorms.

Being a gentleman and not a pervert, Bram who liked to swim regularly jumped into the warm shower alongside one of the male students. More than one boy had screamed in terror at discovering a white thing with blue eyes staring up at them in the early morning hours. On the bright side, Darcy Travers when using the Prefect's bathroom allowed Bram to tag alone to enjoy swimming in the giant bath.

”What are you reading?” A voice asked from behind her.

Craning her neck, Rowan looked up to see a smiling Wilkes. ”I'm just reading the next assigned chapter for Arithmancy.” She raised her book flashing the front cover, before lowing back down in her lap. ”Shouldn't you be off with your girlfriend?”

”I will shortly, I just forgot something and came back for it,” Wilkes answered as his face grew a bit tight. ”I'll be seeing you later,” before rushing out.

Rather puzzled Rowan stared after his vanished figure. Wilkes didn't seem very happy about his current relationship. Maybe it would be best to call it quits or better yet beg Jezebel to take him back. Not that she should, but he did seem an awful lot happier with Jezebel. Then again, Jezebel body is rather luscious to begin with. That fact might actually have something to do with it.

Returning back to her book, Rowan ignored the studying 5th and 7th years as they each kept to their own spots. Alchemy's spot was reverently left alone as they all did their best not to disturb his sleeping royal majesty. Bram tended to take a superior attitude with his followers and regularly looked down upon them. And they must all be hidden closet masochists as the 5th and 7th years all adored him the more for it.

Finally, she got up around lunchtime and headed back out to eat. Rowan hadn't even gotten to the front hall, when she was dragged away. ”What the-!” Rowan started to say as the words died down in her mouth as she stared at her would-be kidnappers.

”What do you four want?” Rowan said as she eyed the four second-years.

Dirk perked up and said, ”We need some help.”

”On what exactly?”