Whitney Writes…

The castle had long gone dark. Fadama had gone back to the Hufflepuff dormitory near the castle kitchens and returned with blankets. The girls sat huddled together, wrapped tightly in their blankets, across from the phoenix statue. Cirice’s head was on Fadama’s shoulder, and Fadama’s head rested against Cirice’s hair. Cirice could hear her friend snoring softly, but her gaze was fixated upon the statue. Even though Fadama had brought one of her older brother’s movement detection devices – a small magical firefly that flighted around in the air, it’s movements becoming more frantic as it detected movement, and it’s color changing from blue to gold when someone was coming – Cirice still felt she had to keep a concentrated eye on the statue. It was the Headmaster’s office, after all, who was to say there wasn’t a secret way out of there.

When the clock in the hall chimed two am, Cirice’s eyes were beginning to burn. She could hear some of the castle ghosts somewhere in the distance, having a revelry of some sort. It seemed to her, that if this was taking such a long time, it did not bode well for Joanne.

Suddenly, the little firefly turned gold and its flight became erratic. Cirice nudged Fadama urgently. The phoenix began to rotate. Stone grinding against stone. And then, there was Joanne. She burst forth from the chamber and ran straight to Cirice. The other girl’s eyes had been red and puffy, the rest of her face pale. Cirice had barely gotten up in time, Fadama catching her sleepily.

“What are you two doing out here?” came the voice of their Charms professor.

Three more professor’s emerged from behind him: the brown-haired witch from the sorting ceremony, the professor of Transfiguration; an ancient, grey-haired witch, the professor of Potions; and then a young, golden-hair wizard, the professor of Herbology. And behind them all, loomed the Headmaster; a middle-aged man with sleek black hair and a mustache with the slightest of curl to the tips.

“Surely you haven’t been out here all night?” their Charms professor was saying, as the others all looked at them a bit startled.

Joanne was crying into Cirice’s hair, and Cirice held her friend tightly, looking at the professors lined up before her. “What’s going to happen to her?” Cirice demanded.

The Headmaster sighed. “We have deduced she has no magical abilities. Her invitation to Hogwarts was a mistake. While it is extremely rare, it has never taken this long to be caught before.” It was here that the Headmaster cast a discerning glare upon the members of his staff gathered. “I fear the three of you must say your goodbyes,” he added sadly.

“I’ll write to you,” Cirice promised.

“I am afraid, Ms. Forge, that will not be possible,” the Headmaster cut in. “We are going to have to perform an extremely extensive memory charm on Ms. Rowling; the result will be that she will remember nothing of her time here.”

Cirice looked up at the Headmaster in alarm. “She… she won’t even be allowed to remember me?” she asked weakily.

“I am afraid not, no.” The Headmaster shook his head. “There are some things you will need to agree to, Ms. Forge, at a later time, otherwise we can do a simpler memory charm on you, if needs be.”

“Thank you,” Joanne whispered, “for being my friend.”

The Headmaster’s hand appeared on Joanne’s shoulder. “Come along, Ms. Rowling,” he said softly, “this will take some time and we need to get started.”

The gaggle of professors gathered had closed in around Joanne, leading her away. Her sobs had echoed across the stone walls of the corridor. Cirice and Fadama had trailed along behind them. Joanne wailed about how if she promised not to tell, did they really have to wipe her memory? Couldn’t they just leave some of the good times? She promised not to tell a soul. Couldn’t she at least just remember her friend?

When they came to a pair of double doors in a fifth floor corridor that Cirice did not recognize, the gaggle of professors and Joanne disappeared inside. The young, blond-haired wizard, Professor Spritz, the Herbology professor and Head of House for Hufflepuff, turned back to Cirice and Fadama. He knelt before the girls, his face solemn.

“I need you both to return to the common room, now,” he said gently. “Try and get some rest, classes will be cancelled today, as this may take a while. But please know, support is available for all students in seek it in this ordeal.”

Fadama nodded and started to head for the stairs, but Cirice hesitated.

“Professor…” Cirice began hesitantly, “will… will Joanne be alright?”

Professor Spritz gave a sigh, and thought a moment. “This charm is perfectly safe, Ms. Forge, but I will admit, we have not had to wipe such a large expanse of a child’s memory before. But, she is in the capable hands of the Headmaster. So, I would try and rest easy if I were you.”

Cirice gave a nod and reluctantly turned towards Fadama, who had paused to wait for her at the top of the stairs. When the professor slipped through the double doors, Cirice could hear the screams of Joanne.

Inktober 2025, Prompt #23: FIREFLY🧡🖤👻🎃