Exploring the Ages Solo

January 19th, 2019, 9:44 p.m.

Bridget wandered down the dark corridors of Hogwarts. She needed to get back to her Common Room soon, but she was lost. Not that she minded though--she enjoyed exploring. She did feel a little anxious; after all, she didn't want to get into trouble and lose House points. But she had time, and she did have a fairly good excuse.

The corridor she was on came to an end, branching off the right and to the left. She went left, sure the stairs were around that corner. She walked a ways down and discovered the stairs were not down this corridor. It was hard to navigate the corridors with so little light. Besides, Hogwarts was huge and she really hadn't been at the magical school that long.

She was just about to retrace her steps when something caught her eye. On her right was the ornately carved wooden double doors, partially cracked open, with a bar of golden light pooling out of it. Bridget glanced down on her analog watch. 9:45. Everyone was supposed to be back in their Common Rooms by ten. She really needed to use the rest of the time to find her way back to the Slytherin Common Room, but curiosity overtook her. After all, she shouldn't miss a moment of this amazing world. She thought of her friends--Jemima and Lizzy--back home who would never experience all the wonders she was.

With the smallest bit of a mischievous grin, Bridget tip-toed over to the door, her sneakers silent on the stone floor. She peeked through the crack (just in case there was anyone inside). All clear. She gently eased the doors open, wincing as a loud creak reverberated off the walls.

Stepping inside, she gazed in wonder. All around her were trophies, medals, and plaques in glass cabinets--gold, silver, and bronze; elaborate tapestries depicting Hogwarts' victories through the years. She walked over to one of the cabinets. Inside it was two trophies and a wooden plaque. One was for the House Cup of 1837 (she smiled--Slytherin had taken the victory), another was for the Triwizard Tournament in 1792, and the plaque was for the 1994 Gryffindor winning of the Quidditch Cup. She squinted at the names. Harry Potter had been the Seeker that year.

She wandered around the room, looking at the plethora of trophies. A while later, Bridget checked her watch. 9:57. A wave of stress washed over her--she had just three minutes to find her way back. She dashed out of the room, sprinting down corridors. Luckily, she found the stairs down the right turn (which she really should have taken earlier). She made it back to the Common Room just in time.

"Dominare in Serpentes," she rasped out between heaving breaths. She clutched a stitch in her side, stepping through the unlocked door to her Common Room.

It had been a close call, but Bridget was glad she had found the Trophy Room. As she settled onto a couch, she vowed for her name to make it into the Trophy Room.