Coral Fernsby ~ Chapter Eight

Instructions

The next morning, Coral woke up super early. She dressed and went out of the common rooms. She decided to sneak into the kitchens, where she was greeted by lots of tiny house-elves. “Greetings!” said an elf. “Hi, um, can I have toast or a cinnamon roll or something please?” Coral asked. At once, a silver platter of a stack of toast, cinnamon rolls and a jug of orange juice was carried over to where Coral stood. She took two pieces of toast and a cinnamon roll, thanked the elves and left the kitchens. She walked outside, where the sun was just visible over the trees in the forest. The floodwaters reached the bottom step on the castle stairs. It was pretty beautiful. Coral took a deep breath. She saw, out of the corner or her eyes, Bella Archpurk. Bella was hiding by a bush that was peeking out of the water, next to a tree that still poked up through the water. Coral followed Bella’s gaze up the tree where no other than Flynn Mayer was sitting up there. Coral rolled her eyes. She strolled as far away as she could from the duo. Bella was really desperate. Flynn started climbing down from the tree. Bella tried getting his attention, and failed. Coral realized with a start that Flynn was walking towards her. “Oh, no, no, no…” she whispered, running for the large doors to the castle. “Hey--Coral?” Flynn called. Coral, cursing quietly, turned around. “Heh-um- Hi.” She saw Bella glaring furiously at Coral. “I see you’ve been to the kitchens..” said Flynn. “Um, yep! I figured breakfast wouldn’t have started yet—and I was hungry,” Coral said awkwardly. “I’m hungry too, I should’ve thought of the kitchens.” He said. Coral figured she ought to be polite, “Here, I have an extra piece of toast,” she handed him a piece. “Thanks…” Flynn said, taking it. “Well—“ Coral began, before she was interrupted by a high pitched scream. Bella was running up the steps, away from the floodwater. Coral looked at what she was running from. Two large tentacles rose above the water. These must belong the giant squid. The tentacles slammed down on the steps by Coral and Flynn. Coral screamed and ran for the doors after Bella, followed by Flynn. All three made it inside, panting slightly. Bella glared at the other two. “This is your fault!” She screeched. “Our fault? How is it our fault?” Demanded Flynn. “Well, I wouldn’t be out there if it weren’t for you!” Bella replied. “It’s your decision you decided to stalk him from the bushes,” Coral said. “The bushes?” Flynn echoed. “Yes, I saw her there when I came outside!” Coral chirped. Bella grunted angrily and stalked away. “I don’t get her sometimes,” said Coral. “I’m ashamed she likes me,” Flynn admitted, chuckling a bit. “Why do you think the lake is flooding? I’d think there’d be some enchantment of some sort on it…” she said. “Yeah,” agreed Flynn. “I’m, er, going to go back to the common room,” Coral said, dashing away before he could respond. Whitney was awake when Coral got there. “There you are!” She said, “Where have you been?” Coral told Whitney everything. “Woah, drama!” She giggled, “But the squid? What do you think made it so grumpy?” “I don’t know,” responded Coral, “but it’s not normal…I think we should try and figure it out. With help from friends, maybe.” “Like Lainey?” “Yes—“ “What about me?” Said a new voice. Coral and Whitney swung around. Flynn was back. Coral sank lower in the chair she sat on. “Er-it’s fine with me,” said Whitney. “It’s fine with me too, I guess,” mumbled Coral. Flynn beamed. “I’ll go wake Lainey to tell her,” said Whitney. Coral groaned. She picked up a random book to avoid another awkward conversation with Flynn. Whitney went over to the girls’ dormitory and came out a moment later with Lainey. “‘Morning,” Lainey yawned. “Alright, Coral will you tell her what happened?” Whitney asked. “The whole story or just the tentacle part?” Coral asked, tossing the book. Her pet cat, Bear came padding into the room and jumped up onto Coral’s chair. “I want to hear the whole story!” Lainey chirped. “Ok, fine,” she said, “So I woke early, and went outside, the floodwaters were really high, they were at the stairs. And I saw Bella Archpurk hiding by a bush, and she was looking at a tree, where Flynn was.” Lainey interrupted, “Flynn was in a tree?” “Yes,” Coral said, “but then he climbed down and then two giant tentacles came out of the water and slammed down onto the stairs. Bella got mad at us when we made it inside—“ “Us? Who’s ‘us’?” Lainey asked. “Me and Flynn….Anyways, Bella got mad and stormed off. I came back and told Whitney I don’t think Hogwarts is flooding because of rain or whatever the teachers might tell us. I think either there’s someone behind it all or something, right?” “Maybe…” said Flynn, “it hasn’t rained in a while, and the water keeps coming…” “It’ll be up to our waists by water by Friday, which is two days away!” Whitney added. “We’ll have to start looking for clues after Friday,” Lainey decided.