Around Midnight, December 30th, 1888 — Hogwarts Library
Myrtle Potts

Being at Hogwarts for the holidays offered an unusual sort of peace, but over the past week Holly learned that it also came with an unusual sort of loneliness. The castle wasn't empty, per se, but the dungeon corridors were empty many nights, as was the common room itself. Holly had gone to bed early that night, book in hand, but found the clock ticking by hour by hour until she finally decided to throw her book to onto her pillow, slip a cloak on over her nightdress, and venture out of the common room and up to the library.

It was against the rules, of course, but Holly was under the impression that the rules were less likely to be enforced. It was break, of course, and other students weren't actually around to lose points. How unfair it would be for professors or prefects to take points away from the remaining students!

She'd weaved her way through rows and rows of shelves before the sight of a flickering light caught her attention, causing her to instinctively duck down.

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— set by MJ <3 —

Tilly had finished her nightly rounds and had an excess of energy, as she tended to, and decided she would take a stroll through the library and ensure that no wayward student had stayed out past curfew. Summoning a small light to float over her shoulder, she pushed her way into the library and began her rounds, treading softly through the stacks. She was still in her robes from the day but she had let her hair down, a veritable waterfall of curls falling around her shoulders.

She had paused to pick up a stray book that some careless student had left out when she saw a whisper of movement out of the corner of her eye. Setting the book down slowly, she turned towards the movement, leaning against the table and crossing her arms. No member of staff would bother to hide themselves - or, if they did, they would have done a better job of it. "I know you're there," she said in an even, unimpressed voice. "And I know you're not a teacher, so I'd suggest you identify yourself." She didn't elaborate, but her tone brooked no argument and implied that if she had to go looking for the source of the noise the punishment would be worse.

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she's tall, she's strict, and she looks like your lesbian aunt (because she is)

For all Holly thought herself a great witch, she was quite aware that suddenly becoming invisible was beyond her skill-set. She stood up straight and stepped from behind the bookshelf, regarding the matron with a confident wave.

"Forgive my instinctual reaction, Madam Potts," she said, letting a smile slide onto her face. If she was going to get caught breaking the rules, the least she could do was act innocent. "Even when permitted to, being in the corridors after hours comes with an unshakable feeling that I'm committing a crime."

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— set by MJ <3 —

Myrtle almost laughed out loud when Holly Scrimgeour implied that she was allowed to be out this late at night. She settled for raising an impassive eyebrow and thanking higher powers that she was not the woman in charge of the Slytherins all the time. "Allowed? What makes you think you're allowed to be roaming the halls this late, Miss Scrimgeour? Do you think yourself above the rules?

Tilly stayed exactly where she was and stared down the young girl. She had to admire Holly's tenacity, at the very least. She herself had been caught roaming the halls countless times during her time as a student, off on one foolish dare or another, and had never been good at talking her way out of it.

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she's tall, she's strict, and she looks like your lesbian aunt (because she is)

Holly did not stutter, nor did she stumble. She may not be the best at controlling her temper with students, but with professors—well, feigning innocence was the worst of her crimes against them.

She perked up as she spoke her next words, a smile on her face. "Why, Madam Sykes of course!" she lied. "She knows I've been lonely in the castle, and also that I love to read. She suggested a handful of books for me, and told me I could come this evening." She didn't have a pass, though, but she had a plan. Sort of.

"You can ask her if you'd like."

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— set by MJ <3 —

Myrtle was.. impressed Holly's grace under pressure, and let a bit of a smile creep through. "I must say, Miss Scrimgeour," she paused, pushing off the table, "this seems well past evening to me." She didn't believe Holly, not one bit, and it was the lying that irked her more than the after-hours jaunt. She also had no doubt that Holly thought she had a way of convincing Constance to back up her story. Damn Slytherins, she thought.

"Now, I don't think you have a pass, nor do I believe you can produce one for me, but I am willing to speak to Miss Sykes. Unless, of course, you want to tell me why you're really here?" If the girl would just tell her the truth, she would be willing to let the whole thing go. It was break, after all, and Tilly of all people understood the draw of the library so late at night. Somehow, of course, she didn't think she'd be getting even a drop of truth from Holly.

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she's tall, she's strict, and she looks like your lesbian aunt (because she is)

Holly did not like ultimatums, but she was stubborn enough to fight through one. The Gryffindor matron might not believe her, but if there was a small chance that Madam Sykes would back her up, Holly would seize the opportunity to continue her story.

"I'm sure, Madam Potts," she said, "that Madam Sykes would not wish to see your good opinion of me damaged. I'll admit that no pass was given, and that it may be a bit past evening, but I could not sleep." She gave a sad, resigned sigh, that in truth was still an act. "You may ask Madam Sykes if you don't believe my word." The word of a girl who, while perhaps not the kindest, was from a mostly-good family.

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— set by MJ <3 —

Myrtle sighed uncrossed her arms. "Very well, Miss Scrimgeour. I have no desire to wake Madam Sykes at this hour, nor do I feel it necessary." Sweeping one arm towards the doors of the library, she stepped aside. "It is, however, entirely too late for students to be up and about, regardless of what permissions they have been granted. I will escort you back to your common room, and we will speak to Madam Sykes in the morning."

Myrtle would, indeed, be speaking to Constance in the morning, but she had plans to see the woman before that. Hoping the matron would not resent an interruption of her sleep, Myrtle planned on putting Holly to bed and then going immediately to Constance's quarters. There would be no chance for Miss Scrimgeour to plead with Constance that way. Raising an eyebrow at the girl in question, Myrtle gestured to the door. "Please, Miss Scrimgeour, lead the way."

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she's tall, she's strict, and she looks like your lesbian aunt (because she is)

Her fate was in Madam Sykes' hands. Holly didn't really enjoy corporal punishment nor the ingenious ways they made students miserable in detention, so she hoped the Slytherin matron—who had been something of a mother figure for the motherless snake—would have mercy on her. If anything, Holly deduced as she led the Gryffindor matron out of the library, it would be a good test of loyalty. A good test of whether or not Madam Sykes actually cared for her, or whether she was only pretending to do so to give Holly incentive to behave.

"May we stop so I can use the lavatory beforehand?" she asked, continuing to test her limits as they exited the room.

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— set by MJ <3 —

Myrtle followed in Holly's wake and rolled her eyes silently when the girl asked if she could use the restroom. Merlin's beard, she hated how Slytherins never stopped pushing. Gryffindors just took their punishment and most of them couldn't lie worth a damn.

"Your dormitory has an adequate restroom, if I am not much mistaken." Myrtle was finally flagging, and just wanted to get the damn girl back into bed so she could go talk to Constance.

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she's tall, she's strict, and she looks like your lesbian aunt (because she is)

Holly frowned. "But it's all the way in the dungeons," she complained. "And then I have to go into the common room, and then into the dormitory. I'm sure you wouldn't ask me to wait that long." Especially with a restroom right around the corner.

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— set by MJ <3 —

Myrtle resisted the urge to scream out loud, and instead uncrossed her arms and sighed softly. "Very well, Miss Scrimgeour. I will wait outside." She led them both around the corner to the restroom and parked herself outside the door, unable to resist crossing her arms again in irritation. "Please do not dally. It's quite late and we both are in need of sleep." Well. Myrtle certainly wanted to sleep, but also she wanted to speak to Constance as soon as possible.

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she's tall, she's strict, and she looks like your lesbian aunt (because she is)

Holly went into the restroom, but did not use the restroom. Instead, her time was spent trying to calculate the best way to contact Madam Sykes before Madam Potts would. But as Holly had learned by now, being a second year had its limits, even if her mind did not; while perhaps creative enough to ponder on ways to send a magical message without parchment and quill, she did not have the magical ability to actually do so. Nor was the possibility of escaping the lavatory without Madam Potts seeing her, she admitted to herself with a resigned sigh. She'd actually have to face the consequences for her actions, whether by having points taken from Slytherin or having to face a silent, disappointed-looking Madam Sykes in the morning. Neither was ideal.

With a recognizable scowl on her face, Holly left the lavatory, eyes avoiding Madam Potts' gaze, and walked past her. She was not prepared for the morning.

/wrap?

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— set by MJ <3 —

If Mytrle had held a sliver of hope that perhaps Madam Sykes had given Holly permission, it disappeared as soon as she saw the petulant scowl on Miss Scrimgeour's face. Slytherin though the young girl may have been, she was only 12, and she wore the pout of someone who had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar just the same as any other child her age.

It was with great relief on Myrtle's part that they reached the entrance to the Slytherin common room. "Straight to bed, Miss Scrimgeour," she instructed. "Miss Sykes and I will find you tomorrow after breakfast."

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(Wrap, yeah?)

  

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she's tall, she's strict, and she looks like your lesbian aunt (because she is)