The Old Office | #5 CURFEW

'I think so.' Jade shrugged, having caught up with Amy. 'Too bad I lost my map last year. Figured I wouldn't need it anymore. I'm sure we can nick one from a younger year if we don't turn up anything tonight.' She peered around the corridor, then pressed her hands to some of the walls - looking for any clue or something that was amiss.

Following Amy's line of thinking, Jade tried to remember anything else that could help them. 'It was guarded, right? By uh... Griffin? Or something. I don't know. It had wings and a beak?' She shrugged again, annoyed that she'd been wandering by it for four years and then the one time she actually needed to know exactly where it was - nothing.

'If we can't remember this perfectly, then it's probably not in the direct path. Maybe a weird alcove area or around a corridor?' Jade wandered a bit, but figured Amy might have a better guess. She preferred letting others lead the way when trying to figure things out, as it was just easier. 'Any other brilliant ideas?' 

Amelia wished she had her map, which she thought might be in her trunk... Or maybe her sister's trunk, as her sister was more likely to remember that sort of thing compared to her. The idea of getting one from the younger students wasn't a bad idea. "Toby might still have his own map, I could get it off him tomorrow if we have no luck tonight." She said as she looked about for a moment and thought about the older office.

At the mention of the guard to the office, Amelia nodded and thought about it. "Yeah, I think you're right... Stairs as well... I think." She said before Jade mentioned about the alcove. She was about to answer when she saw movement and looked up to see the Ghost of Gryffindor house near them.

"Hello Sir Nicholas." She said to the Ghost, remembering once that he had not been too pleased by being called 'Nearly-Headless Nick.' At his question, Amelia thought of something and smiled.

"Oh! We were just heading to the common room, but we have been having a little discussion, maybe you can help us so we don't have to go and look ourselves." She said as she made sure to word this correctly. "The old Headmaster's Office... Was it guarded by a dragon at the end of a hall or by a griffin inside an alcove?" Amelia asked as she stood there, a kind smile on her face as she hoped they could get at least pointed in the right direction. Maybe he would let it slip the location too, but having just that information would help them a little.

As Amelia listened to the Ghost, she had to try and keep herself from shaking with excitement at his words. Sealed off? Quite a Scene? Oh, this was fantastic to her, as it just made her want to check it out more. There had to be a way into the corridor one way or another, right? There are always secret tunnels among the castle, there are to be one opening into that place.

"Ah! See, I knew it was a Griffin." She said, giving Jade a small little shoulder shove with her own, hoping she might play along in their little jest. "I thank you Sir Nicholas." She said with a nod of her head before she looked past him down the corridor. It was possible to get there in a way that would make one appear there were going to the towers.

"Well, I guess we will be off. Bye!" She said, giving a wave and heading off like she was going to the Gryffindor Common Room.

Jade was happy to let Amy do all the talking. She nodded and played along well with any excuse or story the other girl told the ghost, and listened carefully to the response. She also mimicked a fake leaving movement, until the ghost had left and they could talk freely again.

'Yeah, thanks,' she said. Once sure the ghost was indeed gone, Jade faced Amy. She was eager and intrigued, though wasn't sure what to do with the information they'd been given. 'Too bad he didn't tell us where that corridor is. I haven't seen it lately, I don't think? Ugh - we really need a map.' Jade grumbled.

Of course, the one thing they really needed and found themselves without was one of the few things that they had easy enough access to. In fact, it was such a basic item for students that it was rather embarrassing that neither of them had one on them.

'So, what now?' Jade wondered. 'Do we head back to the common room and steal-er-find a map, then try again tomorrow? Or do have any other ideas? Why would they seal off a corridor like that - or did the castle do that on its own? I need to know!'

'Sounds like a plan. Or the beginning of a plan, anyway.' Jade nodded. 'And maybe Tiana will join us next time? We should get going though, yeah.' She glanced around the corridor, not really afraid of getting caught but rather not wanting to deal with that right now.

She peered around a corner, then gestured for Amy to follow as the coast was clear. 'We can talk about it over breakfast, probably.' Jade joined her on the walk back to the common room, trying to resit checking every corner or shadow for Mrs Norris or worst. 'It's getting pretty late. I might just head to bed.'

She certainly planned to go to their dorm soon after returning to the Gryffindor Tower. Jade didn't mind if Amy joined or not, though hoped Tiana would be around at least. If not, or if she was already asleep, Jade would just get ready for bed herself. It had been a weirdly long day, and she was sure tomorrow would keep up that trend. Especially with their upcoming plans.