Closed Easy Mistake

[Freddie Lagowski]

Hiding was a strong word to describe what Freddie was doing in the empty classroom. No, no, he wasn't hiding. Recuperating - yes, that was more like it. He’d managed to get himself into a mostly comfortable position at a desk in the corner, a good book in hand, legs stretched out under the table, sunlight from the lead-paned window warming his shoulder. He could have stayed there all day. Alas, nature was calling. He left his book, sweater, scarf, and a bracelet on the desk. Nobody had come into the classroom all morning; the chances of someone turning up in the five minutes he was looking for a bathroom were minuscule.

He returned a few moments later and leaned on the door. It didn’t budge. He tried the handle. Locked? Someone had locked the door? But he’d only just come out! What about his book? His sweater? It was one his best! Damn it - what kind of idiot locked a classroom without checking it was empty? He swung his foot at the wood. This was ridiculous.

 

[Vanity Mettlestone]

Sixth year felt a little different to Vanity. No OWLs looming, no annoying older brother around, she still wasn't one of the oldest students so it was pretty easy to avoid responsiblity, even as a prefect. Life was pretty good. She hadn't done very well on her OWLs and only took a few classes now, which probably wasn't good in the long run but it was enjoyable right now. It wasn't like Vanity was every going to work at the stupid Ministry or whatever, so it wasn't a great loss. She was looking for someone to hang out with, maybe Morrie or Cornelius, when she suddenly heard a thud. She looked around and frowned as she spotted a young kid, probably a firstie, kicking a door. Vanity paused in her tracks. This wasn't her business, but she was nosy. Also, she supposed that as a prefect it was her business, in a way. She shouldn't let someone destroy school property, or whatever. Even if the kid didn't look like he could make a dent in the door even if they gave him a year to do it. "Hey, kid. What did that door ever do to you?" She called over.

 

[Freddie Lagowski]

Freddie turned, prepared to defend himself, or at least to let loose some coarse remark. By the skin of his teeth he managed to contain it. "It locked on me," he said. "Someone locked it. My stuff's in there." He shouldered the door again, just in case he hadn't given it enough force the first time, but it was definitely sealed. Someone had probably done it on purpose. They'd seen him come out and thought it'd be hilarious to lock the door behind him. Maybe they were still lurking about now, watching, laughing at him. If he found out who...

Wait - where had this girl been while he was in the bathroom? She could have done it. All right, she was wearing a prefect badge, but that didn't prove anything. It wasn't even pinned on straight.

Freddie shook his head. He was getting worked up over nothing again. "Just open it," he said. No 'please'. He was half-waiting for her to figure out he'd been hiding - sorry, recuperating - and being quiet and courteous didn't seem like it would build him a good defence.

(Badge godmod approved)

 

[Vanity Mettlestone]

The moment the kid looked at her and started explaining what happened, Vanity regretted being involved. She watched and tilted her head slightly as he tried to open the door again. "That sucks for you." She said, then she started to walk on. At least, until the boy commanded she open the door. Vanity stopped again, crossing her arms. "And why would I do that?" She asked him "Are you always this rude?"

 

[Freddie Lagowski]

Really? She was just going to leave him stuck here? Maybe the badge was a fake. Freddie's theory that the prefect had locked him out herself was fast gaining plausibility, and he felt himself blush as he imagined the inner giggle she was probably having at his expense. He folded his arms, mirroring her. "Yeah?" he said, as if he was surprised anyone had to ask. And then, because he couldn't help himself: "Are you?"

Good job staying out of trouble, dummy.

 

[Vanity Mettlestone]

Vanity couldn't help being amused by the kid's response. He still hadn't actually asked her for help, which was good because she was pretty sure even prefects had to be asked. No one was going around just doing nice things for no reason, surely. She tilted her head a bit. "Actually, no. I'm usually worse." She said, flashing her teeth in a quick grin.

 

[Freddie Lagowski]

Har-freaking-har. Freddie thumped the door with the soft side of his fist. "Come on," he moaned. Was she really going to make him say it? Really really? Uugh. She was as annoying as his sister - maybe even more so, and that wasn't easy. Freddie leaned his forehead on the frame, debating how much he wanted his stuff back. His book was replaceable, the bracelet pretty cheap, but he definitely needed his scarf and sweater. Fine. He took a deep breath. "Open it pleeeeeease."

 

[Vanity Mettlestone]

Vanity was enjoying herself, she had no real reason to help this kid. Especially since he was being rude. She watched as he tried to fight with the door some more, wondering if he would give up soon or keep trying. She took out her wand when he finally said please. "Here's some free advice, next time you ask someone for help, try to sound a little less sarcastic." She said, moving the wand over to him and letting it pause there before she finally pointed it at the door. "Alohomora." She cast in a bored tone.

 

[Freddie Lagowski]

Freddie took a small step back from the door, followed by a second, more generous one, just to be safe. He was pretty sure a prefect wouldn't hex him... but she looked like she was considering it, just for a moment. Manners deserted him again as the lock clicked and he burst into the classroom. Right. His stuff. Wait - where was it? His sweater had been right there, on the desk by the window, and now it was gone, along with his scarf and books and bracelet. Not on the chair. Not on the floor. Gone. Gone. Someone had stolen them. Someone had taken his stuff.

He turned on the prefect, stalking across the room. "Not funny," he said. He was trying to sound angry, but there was a note of panic in his voice. His best sweater. His favourite sweater. The one he kept on his bed - not like a blanket, not like a stuffed toy - it was just soft, that was all - there was nothing childish about it. "Not funny. Where is it? Please. Seriously - please. I need it."

 

[Vanity Mettlestone]

Once Vanity had opened the door, she was ready to move on. So she was already in the process of walking away when the kid came to her, upset and saying it wasn't funny. Clearly, something was wrong. She glanced into the classroom and saw that there was nothing there. Huh. Vanity guessed that was why he was upset now. Though it frustrated her a bit that he clearly seemed to think it was her. It wasn't! This time, at least. "I was just walking by, I didn't steal your crap." She told him. "Pretty weird thief though, stealing stuff and then locking the classroom." She frowned. "Listen. I helped already, you can look for your stuff yourself, right?"

 

[Freddie Lagowski]

Freddie turned and smacked the wall with both hands. No! Either she was lying, or somebody else had his stuff, which meant he was wasting precious time. The thief wasn't weird - they were smart. His sweater was probably half way across the castle by now, if it hadn't been shoved down a toilet, or something. "What?" he said. Man, he'd clearly been stupid to think that people at Hogwarts would be any nicer than they were at home. He massaged his stinging hands. "You're a prefect - you're supposed to help me. H-E-L-P - help me. Do some spells. Do something!"

 

[Vanity Mettlestone]

Vanity was quickly growing tired of this conversation. The one time she decided to help some poor firstie in need, and he turned out to be kind of insufferable. She sighed deeply. "Yeah, well You're supposed to ask me nicely, kid." She told him, a little petulantly. "And I did help, I unlocked the classroom for you. I'm not a detective, I can't find your stolen sh*t." Maybe she shouldn't be saying sh*t as a prefect, but Vanity didn't care. "Maybe you should be a bit more careful about where you put your stuff, you know?"

 

[Freddie Lagowski]

Freddie looked down at his hands. They were turning a bit pink. Maybe he shouldn't have smacked the wall so hard. Maybe he shouldn't have talked to a prefect like that, either - the last thing he needed was Professor Josephs finding out he'd been giving people attitude. It was the stupid lump in his throat, that was all. If he didn't shout, if he didn't smack something, he might feel like crying, and nobody ever came back from that. He took a deep breath. OK, but maybe he didn't have to cry or get angry. Use words. That's what Susie had told him. Use words.

"Sorry," he said, with some effort. There had to be something they could do. They were wizards. "What about Accio? My aunt uses Accio, when she loses stuff. Try - I mean, please can you try? Please."

 

[Vanity Mettlestone]

Vanity let out a loud sigh when the guy apologized, only to then immediately ask her for another favor. She looked at him for a moment, frowning. "Fine." she snapped. "But it's the final thing I do, understand? I have better stuff to do" She said. She took out her wand and realized she had no idea what to summon. "What's your name?" She asked him. She somehow didn't think 'accio this guy's stuff' was going to do it.

 

[Freddie Lagowski]

Freddie didn't even care any more that the prefect was being so rude - she was going to help him get his stuff back, and that was all that mattered. "Freddie. Lagowski," he said. She needed to know what she was summoning too, didn't she? Freddie wouldn't forget the time his uncle had accidentally buried himself under the entire family's collection of socks after forgetting to specify which pair he wanted. It was great - some of them had been fermenting under Susie's bed for ages. "I lost, um, my green sweater, my book called 'Newport Junction', my yellow scarf, and my bracelet with a phoenix on it. You have to say that because I have loads."