Closed Sunlit Cobwebs

[Nessie Westwick]

It had been surprisingly easy to get away from the Headmaster - Nessie hadn't even heard him following after her. It was much harder to figure out where to go next however - there were still people trickling back to their dorms from the feast, but she didn't know which part of the castle to be looking in. Some of the portraits were trying to get her attention, directing her to the dungeon in hatefully gentle voices that Nessie very aggressively ignored. Finally though she had spotted someone with a Hufflepuff tie slung untied around their neck and followed them, keeping silent and low in the shadows as she stalked her prey through the unfamiliar halls. She wasn't entirely sure which part of the castle she was actually in, but when she saw them slip through a hidden passage and disappear, Nessie knew she was in the right place. She didn't know exactly what her sister was planning - she had slipped after the Headmaster so quickly that she hadn't thought to check in with Arachne first - but if Arachne did come out to find her, Nessie would make herself easy to find. And if not... well, it wasn't like she had anywhere else to go. She tried searching where she had seen the older student disappear, but couldn't figure out how to get the passageway to open, eventually giving up with a bitter sigh. Well. This was it. Miserable, lonely, fighting off tears - Nessie curled herself up against the wall, and eventually a cold, angry sleep took her.

 

[Arachne Westwick]

Arachne hadn't slept well. Her roommates had been very nice and had comforted her last night, which she really appreciated. But she still woke up a few times during the night, disoriented and missing Nessie. When she finally opened her eyes early in the morning, around 5 am, she realized she couldn't wait anymore and had to go to her. She had heard that the Slytherin common room was in the dungeons, so she decided she would just... go there, she'd find it, right? Maybe there would be more nice students to help, though she wouldn't know what they would be doing up at that time. Arachne didn't bother getting dressed, just pulling a robe over her nightgown and putting on some slippers before darting out of the dormitory, leaving her sleeping roommates in peace. She rushed down through the common room and slipped out, ready to find some stairs heading down. She wasn't sure if she was allowed to be up this early, but at the moment she wasn't sure if she cared. She stepped out of the common room and ran a few steps until she stepped on something squishy. Arachne yelped and jumped back, her eyes slowly adjusting to the dimness in the corridor. The squishy thing was a person. "Sorry- I-" She gasped. "Nessie!?"

 

[Nessie Westwick]

Nessie had always thought she was pretty good at sleeping, but cold, hard stone was a real challenge. She had done her best to get comfortable, but it was without question the worst night of sleep she had ever had in her life. So when it was ended abruptly by the squish of something pressing down on her arm Nessie awoke with a jolt, screeching and grabbing at the offending intruder with sharp nails, ready to bite. She paused when she recognised the slipper as matching her own, looking up to see Arachne stood above her. "Arachne!" She let go of her sister's leg and wobbled to her feet, yanking her into a tight hug. "I tried to get in, but I couldn't hear the password."

 

[Arachne Westwick]

Arachne yelped in surprise as Nessie's nails dug into her leg, pulling back from her sharply. But then her sister got to her feet and hugged her, and Arachne hugged her back. Confused, but happy. "Nessie! What are you- how did you get here? How early did you get here?!" She asked, though the answer was clicking in her mind as she took in her sister's appearance. She was wearing her robes from last night and looked disheveled. Arachne pulled back, holding her at arm's length to look at her properly. "Don't tell me you slept here all night? Please? Nessie!" Guilt stabbed her firmly in the gut. She had been coddled and comforted by nice girls and then slept in the softest bed she'd ever known, and all that time her sister had been out here on the cold stones. Her face fell. "You can't do that..."

 

[Nessie Westwick]

Nessie couldn't quite keep the misery off her face as she let Arachne go, quickly doing her best to straighten her clothes and hair. "Well, I couldn't get in." She repeated, frustration edging into her tone. "I tried to make the Headmaster change my house, but he's pointless. Apparently a hat outranks him." She rolled her eyes, feeling the ripples of last night's anger flood back in. "But we can keep trying. Maybe your Head of House would say different. Hufflepuffs are supposed to be all nice, right? And if not I can just borrow your clothes and you can tell me the password, I guess."

 

[Arachne Westwick]

Arachne touched her sister's face gently, her heart sinking when she said she already spoke to the headmaster. How had she managed that? "I thought we would go together, today. Oh Nessie, please say you didn't... threaten him or anything? They'll never do it if you did that." She winced a bit at her sister's words, the misery and guilt written on her face. "I don't think my head of house has that authority, but- we can't do that either. We'll be found out so quick." She said, alarmed. "And I'm not allowed to give out the password." She added quickly and quietly.