#9 Actions Have Consequences.

Sinead left the dorms and common room, heading out to the caretaker's office. The youngster's shoulder was very sore and she decided that if it wasn't better in a few days, she would seek out Madam Pomfrey.

As she walked along the well trodden corridors, her uneasiness at what was going to happen during her time with Filch grew. Like most of the students at Hogwarts, Sinead was not a fan of the man so she was understandably nervous. Eventually she arrived at Filch's office and saw Elara already there knocking on the door.

"Evening Elara....oh before I forget....here take this. Hana wrote it and err judging how she asked me to make sure you got it. I think its pretty important that you read it, once...this rather lovely task is over." The young girl said tiredly.

Though she tried to make some light humor on the last part to cheer both themselves up at the thought of this as she held the letter out to Elara.

Elara waited impatiently for the caretaker to answer the door, tutting her tongue when the door didn't open after a couple of minutes. She found it hard to believe that someone would've neglected to tell Filch to expect them, especially knowing the pleasure he derived from watching students suffer.

"Evening" she greeted, turning to face Sinead upon hearing the other girl approach. She was about to comment on Filch's apparent absence, but before she had the chance, a letter was being presented to her. That was odd, usually those arrived by owl... Sinead did not look like an owl.

Brow furrowed in confusion as she turned the letter over in her hand, contemplating what it might contain- an apology? That seemed long overdue and entirely inappropriate if Hanna assumed she could just apologize by way of a letter, then she was sorely mistaken.

Shaking her head, she resisted the urge to tear the letter up without giving a thought to what was written upon the parchment, but pocketed it with the intention to read it later- if they even survived the night.

"It can't be that important, if she can't say whatever it is to my face" she said, her tone coming across a little more harshly than intended- Sinead hadn't done anything wrong, apart from being partially responsible for their current predicament.

"I don't think he's here" throwing up her hands in defeat, she then crossed them and glared a silent accusation at the unopened door- as if daring it to open. Did this mean they could return to their dormitories?

A frustrated sigh escaped her and she stepped forward, fist raised to knock again when a rather loud and demanding meow caused her to freeze in place and she saw Mrs Norris lurking nearby.

Ugh, that cat always had an unnerving way of sneaking up on people, she was the only cat in the entire castle that Elara would never attempt to offer belly rubs and chin scritches... She'd probably lose a couple fingers, or her entire hand.

"I... Think she wants us to follow?" she asked, looking at Sinead as if for confirmation- cats typically, from what she knew of them didn't request for people to follow them... Unless food was promised, and feeding that creepy feline was Filch's responsibility.

After a moments pause, Elara began walking slowly after the cat- hoping that Sinead would not be far behind, considering that this was surely the part of the movie where an axe-wielding psychopath emerges from the shadows and picks off the unsuspecting teenagers one by one.

The voices became clearer as the two students followed Mrs Norris along a corridor, then round a corner. She sat, watching them, and didn't go further. They couldn't see the adults yet, but it was clear who was speaking as they were able to eavesdrop. 

'There's no need to alert anyone,' Professor Hathmore said. 'Things are going as planned. I still need the rest of those files, though. Particularly for the students we discussed.'

'You'll get them, Professor,' Filch answered. 'I'll make sure of it.'

'Good.' Hathmore sighed. 'Discreetly, of course. This must remain between us. The betrayal...'

Whatever he said next was cut off by a meow from Mrs Norris. There were whispers, then the footsteps of Professor Hathmore departing the corridor. Filch's approach forewarned the girls to back away so it was less obvious they may have overheard something.

'There you are.' He glared suspiciously at them, but was calmed by seeing they had Mrs Norris with them. 'Come on. We've got work to do.' Filch headed back to his office. He unlocked the door from one of his many keys, but Mrs Norris blocked them from entering as if knowing he was just there retrieve something.

All they could hear was rummaging through filing cabinets, then drawers getting slammed shut. Finally, Filch returned and relocked the office door. He had a toolbox with him.

'You'll be accompanying me in the Entrance Hall,' Filch explained, leading the way. 'Some steps have been tampered with. Got to check each one and get them fixed up. No magic.'

When Mrs Norris stopped at the corner, Elara made sure to keep some distance between her and the feline. There was something about that cat, the way she always seemed to be watching with a greater understanding than other cats possessed. The fact that this cat worked with Filch, did little to reassure the girl and so she figured her best course of action was to maintain some distance from the animal at all times.

Realizing that she could hear voices, Elara turned her attention away from the cat and scowled. She wasn't usually one to eavesdrop, private conversations were often private for a reason and she never wanted to over hear something that was personal. However, something in the tone of the conversation drew her attention, and the fact that she recognised clearly who was speaking, just added to her intrigue.

No need to alert anyone? About what? And what files were they talking about? What plans?

Something about the conversation stirred up an uncomfortable feeling in her gut, especially as Filch was involved with whatever this was- the guy was dodgy and nothing he involved himself in could be good news.

Whatever it was, they obviously wanted to keep it private and hadn't counted on Mrs Norris guiding a couple of students over, just in time to overhear some of the details. Elara exchanged a look with Sinead, obviously trouble by what they had just heard.

Backing away from Mrs Norris when she decided to announce their presence- rather rudely, considering they were trying to listen. Then Filch came around the corner and Elara grimaced, of course the night would get worse before it stood a chance of getting better. They had to spend time with Filch after hearing him discussing some shady plan about betrayals and students and secret files.

Nobody would ever find their bodies.

Following Filch back to his office, she waited impatiently- thankful that she had Sinead with her to suffer through the ordeal together. She didn't know the Slytherin girl very well, but she'd literally take having anyone with her, over spending the night alone with Filch- even Ashworth. That was a troubling thought.

When Filch informed them exactly how they'd be spending their night, it took every ounce of strength within her not to groan outwardly- that'd probably earn her another night of this hell. Whenever someone gave a student a task that was strictly 'no magic' it was sure to be a hard and torturous experience- one she'd rather live without.

"Uh, yeah... This isn't dangerous, is it?" she backed Sinead's question up, she didn't think there was much risk to fixing some stairs, but with Filch as the supervisor, anything was possible.

Having exchanged looks with Elara on what they had heard, Sinead ended up being more than a little miffed with the caretaker when he didn't bother to answer her question. S

he simply gave a nod of acknowledgement when he told her to start at the bottom as she was tired and just wanted to get this over with so she could sleep. The youngster did as she was told and began to examine the steps at the bottom.