Gloria sniggered to herself with glee as she made her way through the halls of Hogwarts and headed for the school grounds. She navigated her surroundings, making sure to avoid teachers, and in her rush bumped into two second- and third-year boys; a dark Ravenclaw with short braids and beads in his hair and a tall, light brown-haired Slytherin.

"Hey, watch it!" The Ravenclaw cried. Gloria stumbled backwards and apologized, realizing she was interrupting what looked like a duel.

"I'm sorry," she gasped, not expecting this interruption in her journey.

The Slytherin put down his wand and stepped aside, "Don't worry, if you don't tell, I won't."

"What are you two doing, anyway?" she asked, letting her curiosity get the better of her, "Aren't you supposed to be at the Halloween feast?"

"We don't have to if we don't want to," The Slytherin replied.

"We're practicing dueling," the Ravenclaw butt in, earning himself a jab in the arm.

"What are you doing?" the Slytherin asked, raising an eyebrow.

Gloria turned her head, hearing footsteps. She gasped, thinking quickly. She continued on her way in a rush, breathing heavily, "Well, like you said, if you don't tell I won't!" And she scurried for the door that lead outside.

"Hey!" yelled the Ravenclaw, but she was already outside.

***************

"We might as well continue, Jacob," the Slytherin encouraged, raising his wand.

"Alright, Simon," the Ravenclaw smiled, raising his.

"Hey!" came a young, female voice. The boys groaned, turning to find a frantic and worried Luro and Tobias.

"Why are there so many first-years out tonight?" Jacob complained, slouching his shoulders.

"Have you seen a girl with a purple streak in her hair?" Luro asked, ignoring his question.

"Yeah," answered Simon, "she went that way," he pointed with his wand towards the direction in which Gloria had gone.

"Thanks!" Luro sighed, then ran off in that direction, dragging Tobias behind her.

"Okay then," Simon sighed, "Now we can duel."

Jacob flipped up his wand, "Finally! Those kids are weird."

**************

Luro and Tobias trod across the school grounds carefully and silently, looking around for their friend.

"I wish we had an invisibility cloak or something," Tobias whispered, "We could really get in trouble." Luro nodded.

"There she is!" she pointed, spotting out Gloria on her way to explore the forbidden forest.

"Gloria!" Tobias whisper-yelled. Gloria turned around and smiled, hopping over to them.

"I knew I could convince you to join me!" She squealed.

"Seriously, Gloria!" Tobias scorned, "We're going to land ourselves in detention!"

"Oh come on, lighten up and have a sense of adventure!" Gloria laughed. She skipped off into the forest, unafraid of the dangers lurking there.

"Gloria, he's right," Luro protested, "You're being irrational."

"But, please?" Gloria insisted.

"Gloria," Luro started, but was interrupted by a large hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see the tall, burly man that had brought them across the lake on their first day.

"Well, what 'er ye doin' out 'ere at this time o' night?" He asked the three of them.

"Gloria here was, er, sleepwalking, sir," Tobias stammered, gesturing to his friends, "but Luro and I are, erm, getting her back inside, before she causes any trouble, sir."

Hagrid gave a hearty laugh, "Alright, then. Ye'd better be off. I'll escort ye back so ye don' try any funny business, eh?"

Gloria frowned. Her plans had been foiled. Luro lifted her head.

"Did anyone else hear that?" she asked, looking in the direction of the forest.

"No," Tobias replied, still walking.

"I thought I heard... nevermind," she shook it off, then skipped back towards her her friends and the groundskeeper taking them back to the Hogwarts castle.

Hagrid left them and they decided amongst themselves that they could probably sneak back in to get the best of the feast . They scurried along, running into Simon and Jacob once again.

"Expelliarmus!" The Ravenclaw yelled, sending his Slytherin friend to the floor. He walked over and put out his hand, chuckling, "You still have a lot to learn, Simon, but you're getting better." Simon laughed and took his hand, getting up to see the Hufflepuffs that they had seen before. Jacob turned around, also noticing them.

"Hello again," Simon said cautiously.

"Sorry to bother you," Luro apologized, "but if you could just point us to the great hall we'll be on our way."

"Wait," Jacob said, looking at Tobias, "You're that guy that got that embarrassing howler that one morning!" He gave a soft laugh at the thought. Tobias slouched his shoulders.

"Not everyone has such a loving mum," Simon added. He pointed to his left, "The great hall is over there."

"Thanks," Tobias smiled, and the three of them went back to finish their feast.

"Hey purple streak!" Simon called, making Gloria turn around. "Remember, if you don't tell I won't." Gloria nodded, then went to catch up with her friends.