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It was a little past midnight when Aria leaned against the wall by Filch's office, trying to make herself less conspicuous behind a pillar

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It was a little past midnight when Aria leaned against the wall by Filch's office, trying to make herself less conspicuous behind a pillar.

She waited, trying to stay patient as the minutes seemed to drag by. Suddenly a crash resounded above her head. She cringed at the deafening noise, but smiled to herself.

Blaise (her partner in crime) must've found a suit of armor nearby and used that.

The door to Filch's office flew open and Filch himself raced off to the nearest stairs, his eyes wide and mouth scowling; Mrs. Norris streaked after him, and turns out Aria didn't even need the key that James had given her.

The girl rushed in the office, heading straight for the cabinet, hoping silently that Blaise was able to make a clean getaway. She wriggled her fingers excitedly and then pulled on the handle to open a drawer.

The drawer wouldn't budge. Aria frowned and pulled again, harder this time; still nothing. She began to sweat as she looked at the cabinet, noticing for the first time the lock. She cursed to herself and started searching Filch's desk for a key.

She heard a clatter above her head; Filch had reached the fallen armor. Aria looked more frantically but found nothing. No key, no lock pick, no way to unlock the file cabinet. Filch would be heading back soon, if not already. Aria panicked and pulled out her wand, trying to think of a spell to help her find the key.

Or...unlock the cabinet. Aria stared at her wand stupidly for a second, then pointed it at the cabinet.

"Alohamora?" She asked quietly and the drawer popped open.

Aria sighed with relief, deciding not to tell Blaise she had wasted precious time looking for a key when she could've just used magic from the start (at least not for a while, but later, when it would be funny, she would have to of course).

Aria rifled through the drawers, trying to find the bag with all her stuff in it. Filch would be back any moment...

Aria closed her eyes and reached into a certain cabinet with both hands, taking hold of the heavy bag. She opened her eyes in triumph and bounded out the door glancing back only once to see if the room looked more or less untouched.

"Good enough" the eleven year old whispered to herself and then ran down the hall and around a corner.

Just when she was about to take another turn, the girl stumbled when her body collided with something— someone.

Looking up, her wide blue eyes met Theodore's gaze, a mixture of surprise and relief dancing in her hues.

Theo's voice remained calm as he questioned her, his tone betraying a subtle sarcasm and curiosity. "Stark, care to share why you're out wondering around past curfew?"

Aria hadn't anticipated running into anyone, let alone Theo. She quickly realized that they were both doomed , considering Filch, whose approaching footsteps could be heard echoing down the corridor.

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