9 Third-floor Corridor (1/2)
They flitted along corridors striped with bars of moonlight from the high windows. Arth seemed to be extraordinarily good at finding the way that wouldn't get them caught. In about five minutes, they had arrived at the third floor and tiptoed toward the trophy room.
Malfoy and Crabbe weren't there yet. The crystal trophy cases glimmered where the moonlight caught them. Cups, shields, plates, and statues winked silver and gold in the darkness. They edged along the walls, keeping their eyes on the doors at either end of the room. Harry took out his wand while Arth walked around admiring and reading off of the trophies. The minutes crept by.
”He's late, maybe he's chickened out,” Ron whispered.
Arth groaned.
”We've been had, it's a trap.
Sure enough, someone started to speak In the next room.
”Sniff around, my sweet, they might be lurking in a corner.”
It was Filch speaking to Mrs. Norris. Harry waved madly at the other four to follow him as quickly as possible; they scurried silently toward the door. Neville's robes had barely whipped round the corner when they heard Filch enter the trophy room.
”They're in here somewhere,” they heard him mutter, ”probably hiding.”
”This way!” Harry mouthed to the others and, petrified, they began to creep down a long gallery full of suits of armor. They could hear Filch getting nearer.
Neville suddenly let out a frightened squeak and broke into a run -he tripped, grabbed Ron around the waist, who poked Arth in the eye, before crashing into a suit of armor.
The clanging and crashing were enough to wake the whole castle.
”RUN!” Harry yelled, and the five of them sprinted down the gallery, not looking back to see whether Filch was following. They swung around the doorpost and galloped down one corridor then another, Harry in the lead, due to Arth still experience pain and partial blindness.
They ripped through a tapestry and found themselves in a hidden passageway, hurtled along it and came out near their Charms classroom, which they knew was miles from the trophy room.
”I think we've lost him,” Harry panted, leaning against the cold wall and wiping his forehead. Neville was bent double, wheezing and spluttering.
”I really want to hit you once, just once. Hard enough to hurt.” Glared Arth.
Hermione felt the same way.
I - told -you,” Hermione gasped, struggling for air, ”I -- told -- you.”
”We've got to get back to Gryffindor tower,” said Ron, ”quickly as possible.”
”You don't say?” Arth said with a voice dripping sarcasm.
”You were right...” said Harry a bit dejected. ”It was a trap.”
”You realize that now, don't you? He was never going to meet you. Filch knew someone was going to be in the trophy room, Malfoy must have tipped him off,” said Hermione, to much of their displeasure.
”Let's go,” said Arth, all the while still glaring at Harry and Ron.
It wasn't going to be that simple. Harry had managed to lead them somewhere Arth had never seen. They hadn't gone past more than a few rooms when a doorknob rattled and something came shooting out of a classroom in front of them.
Arth groaned.
”Whatever you do, don't provoke him. Especially you Ron.”
”What do you mean-”
It was Peeves. He caught sight of them and gave a squeal of delight.
”Shut up, Peeves. Please, you'll get us thrown out,” whispered Harry.
Peeves cackled.
”Wandering around at midnight, Ickle Firsties. 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-,” snapped Ron, and was about to take a swipe at Peeves when a hand held him back.
”Ron, shut the hell up. I am this close to punching you in the face, so before I snap, be quiet and stay put,” said Arth with bone chattering cold voice.
Arth turned to Peeves.
”Hey Peeves, we meet again.”
Peeves cackled with delight.
”You're the little boy who told me to throw mud all over the second floor. You were right, the old git did indeed despise that.”
Hermione gasped.
”It was you!”
Arth just dismissed it with a wave. ”Don't mind it, it is just a small harmless prank.”
Peeves narrowed his eyes.
”So what do you want smarty warty Arthy?”
Everyone had put on a weird face as they discovered a new side of Arth, one that was very mischeivious.