Dumbledore took a seat behind his magnificent desk, sinking into the padded chair. Logan, Gwen, and Lance sat in armchairs stationed on the other side of the desk. Logan kept his gaze focused on the elderly wizard while Gwen and Lance were busy looking around the room. There was an impressive array of books and trinkets on display around the office. One of the most captivating was a red and orange bird that sat on a perch next to the desk. This was Dumbledore’s phoenix Fawkes who had played a vital part in the original movie.

“Once again I must thank you all for coming” Dumbledore began “I fear if this continues much longer the school will have to shut down, or worse a student will be hurt beyond repair”

“We’re happy we could come and help” Logan affirmed “Please tell us what has happened this year”

Dumbledore began to explain the events from the year, which followed the movie plot exactly. It seemed to be just a regular year with only the typical student shenanigans and breaking in a new Defense against the dark arts teacher. Things took a dark turn when a message was found besides a petrified cat. The message was a warning saying the chamber of secrets had been opened and all enemies of the heir must beware. Over the following weeks there were two more attacks which resulted in two students and one ghost being petrified. It was after the second attack that Dumbledore had agreed to help from the investigation team.

The headmaster also explained the previous history he had witnessed concerning the chamber of secrets. Fifty years prior similar attacks were occurring and climaxed with a student losing her life. This would have been the end of Hogwarts if a student hadn’t caught another student with a strange beast and claimed it was what killed the girl. The accused student claimed innocence but was still expelled and lost his wand.

“This student was Hagrid” Logan asked when Dumbledore finished “Your Gamekeeper correct?”

“Yes, and I would put my reputation on the line saying he has always been innocent” the headmaster affirmed

“But the attacks stopped after his expulsion, right?” Logan continued

“Yes, though I believe this was due to the culprit not wanting the school to close” Dumbledore explained.

“Has anything else of interest happened this year?” Lance spoke up “it may not seem directly related but we need to know as much as we can”

“There was an incident with a cursed bludger during a quidditch game” Dumbledore let out a sigh “the student involved also has been involved with the attacks”

“How so?” Lance probed

“He was the first one seen at the first attack” the headmaster said “he has also discovered he is a Parselmouth”

“Do you believe that is related to the attacks?” Lance continued his questioning

“I don’t believe he has anything to do with the attacks” Dumbledore stated confidently “but I must inform you there was another Parselmouth in the school fifty years ago. This was the student who had framed Hagrid”

“Do you think that student had some part in the attacks?” Logan asked

“There was no physical evidence to support that” Dumbledore answered, though his tone hinted that he wasn’t convinced of the student’s innocence.

“Well we will look into the past occurrences and see what we can find” Logan promised “is there any relationship between the two Parselmouths?”

Dumbledore let out another sigh “yes there is. Let’s take some time and discuss Harry Potter”

When Team West America had been escorted into the castle by the professors, the team was split up. Dumbledore took Logan, Gwen, and Lance to his office to discuss what was happening. McGonagall took the rest of the team to the rooms that were prepared for them. As Hogwarts was a large and ancient castle there were many rooms that regularly unused, so they were able to prepare five classrooms for the team to use. Four had cots and other furniture to be used as sleeping and relaxing areas. The fifth was made in mind for meetings and possibly interrogating students and staff.

It was in one of the relaxing rooms that Josh found himself playing babysitter for the newbies. He and Matt had split the newbies into two groups, Matt took Elijah and the two fast food workers. This left Josh to watch the botanist, Crystal, and Claire. The last was the one who really needed to be watched. The teen appeared to have limitless energy and was beyond excited to be in the castle. She kept looking out the window which gave a view of the castle courtyard. Josh had to physically stop her every time she thought she saw a character she recognized. Claire would shriek in joy and try to run out the room in order to meet them.

Josh was a little impressed by the teen’s memory, he had watched the entire franchise several times over the last few days, but he doubted he would know any characters aside from the main trio. Claire on the other hand was like an encyclopedia able to list off a student’s name, house, and every instance they appeared in either the films or books. Eve had decided to stay with Josh’s group to just listen to Claire’s ramblings. She made notes on everything the teen said but otherwise didn’t interact with anyone.

“Do you really think that’s going to help anything?” Josh asked Eve after having to hold back the teen once again. This time she had seen someone on the quidditch team.

“Highly unlikely” Eve admitted, while still writing down the few facts Claire was spouting “but it’s better to have and not need than to need and not have”

“Sounds like something Lance would say” Josh chuckled.

“It's exactly what Lance said” Eve informed with no emotion in her voice. Josh looked at the young woman in front of him. Aside from the first day when she evaluated him after he first made his exchanges the two hadn’t spent time together just the two of them.

“Do you like working with Lance?” Josh asked suddenly. The question seemed to take her by surprise, she actually looked up from the notebook she had been writing in.

“I do” she said hesitantly, as if she was trying to figure out the reasoning behind the question.

“I just want to make sure” Josh explained, holding his hands up to show no hidden intentions “If you don’t you don’t have to”

“Is that really your place to decide?” Eve questioned, though the skepticism seemed to have gone.

Josh gave a dismissive shrug “I can make it my place”

For the first time Eve let out a smile “Thank you but I am happy working with Lance to help the team”

Josh could feel himself beginning to blush as he looked at the smile “I’m glad to hear that. Though shouldn’t you be more focused on helping Lance”

Eve actually let out a small chuckle from his statement “Didn’t Lance tell you he made my loyalty towards the team above my loyalty to him?”

“No” Josh was surprised at the information “I assumed he wanted someone who would always be on his side”

“Doesn’t he have you for that?” Eve asked with another smile.

“I don’t always side with Lance,” Josh defended himself.

“You really should” Lance’s voice came from behind Josh. The door to the room which had been open a small amount was pushed fully open showing Lance and Gwen.

“We finished with Dumbledore” Gwen said “Logan wants everyone to come to the meeting room”

The newbies stood up and with Josh and Eve began making their way out of the room and down the hall towards the meeting room. Claire had an excited step to her walk as if she would dash off at any moment but Josh and Lance each stepped to walk besides her. It was a noticeably short walk to the meeting room, Matt stood outside the door and greeted them. He was rubbing his head as if he were fighting off a headache.

“I’m not taking the next newbie shift” he said wearily “that Elijah didn’t stop complaining until Logan showed up”

Josh let out a good-natured laugh “At least you didn’t have to stop him from leaving the room every other minute”

“I’d rather that than listen to his criticism of the interior design of the room” Matt shook his head and opened the door to let everyone in. Inside Logan and one of the newbies were moving some of the furniture so everyone could sit relatively close together.

“Any incidents?” the dragonslayer asked as the rest of the team followed in. Elijah and the other newbie were seated already in front of a mobile chalkboard.

“Nothing to report,” Josh said and made his way over to help move the last few pieces of furniture.

“Good well everyone grab a seat” Logan ordered “we’ll discuss where we are in the movie first”

Josh helped push one last chair around the chalkboard and took a seat. Everyone except for Logan and Lance also took seats.

“To put it simply we seem to be a little bit before the climax of the movie” Logan said once everyone had sat down.

“We have arrived a couple days after Justin Fletchley was petrified” Logan elaborated “but before Hermione”

“We have to save Hermione!” Claire shouted suddenly, causing the botanist sitting next to her to jump.

“We actually don’t” Logan said sternly

“We can’t let her get hurt” Claire said stubbornly

“I understand how you feel” Lance spoke up “I would rather save her than let her get hurt but it's necessary for us to know when the plot is progressing. Besides, she isn’t seriously hurt and is healed perfectly at the end of the movie”

“Why do we need to know when the plot progresses?” Crystal asked, “Can’t we just go destroy the diary now?”

“Not necessarily” Lance answered “We have no means to verify where the diary is at the moment without searching every dorm room. I don’t believe the staff would allow that unless we give an actual reason for this,”

“Hermione’s petrification will be the warning for us to begin preparing to enter the chamber” Gwen added.

“So, what are we supposed to do until then?” Crystal questioned

“For the next day or two we should act out our identities” Lance explained “Our team will move around the school acting as if we are investigating these attacks,”

“During this time, it’s important to be friendly with everyone possible” Logan cut in “We plan to come back to this world a lot in the future so we must have a strong positive opinion with everyone we can meet”

“Why?” Elijah spoke up with a snort “aren’t the main characters the only ones who matter?”

“Not necessarily” Lance answered before Logan could “plot wise the main cast are the most important, but any student could be useful in the future. Students we befriend here may go on to have talent in arts like alchemy or charms which would allow us to work with them on getting magical items for our team”

“Oh!” Claire proclaimed “I should be able to find students like that”

“Probably” Lance nodded “but try to make sure you’re not obviously trying to get in their good graces for your benefit. This also goes towards the main characters you may see. Treating them differently than other students could result in issues with staff or other students”

“So, we’re just going to spend the next few days kissing up to brats who may or may not even help us?” Elijah asked in a condescending tone.

“Preferably” Lance answered “but if anyone isn’t confident in doing this, I’m planning on meeting with McGonagall later today and have it set up so some of us can spend time in the library doing research”

“What are we supposed to do when the plot picks up?” the botanist spoke up for the first time. He clearly looked scared of the idea of having to fight.

“That’s why the advanced warning is necessary” Gwen explained “once Hermione is petrified, we will have everyone not combat ready stay in their rooms where it is safe while we veterans move forward to destroy the diary”

“If everything goes well” Logan added “we all should survive and make it back to the Terminus Lobby”

“That just about sums up everything” Lance concluded “does anyone have any questions?”

Claire’s hand shot up “how do you plan on destroying the diary?”

“Well best-case scenario we can grab the diary before it is in the chamber” Lance explained “then we can hand it over to Dumbledore and have him destroy it safely. Worse case we can try to obtain a fang from the Basilisk or see if the abilities we got from God are enough to destroy it” Claire had a contemplative look on her face but didn’t voice any more questions.

“For right now you all head back to your rooms” Logan ordered “we will let you know when you can start moving around the castle”

Everyone stood up and started making their way out of the room. Josh was almost out of the room when he noticed Lance signaling for him to wait there. Eve and Gwen exited with the newbies, leaving just Logan, Matt, and Lance in the room with Josh.

“I didn’t want to say this in front of all the newbies, but I intend to use our time in this world a bit more productively” Lance explained once the door was shut.

“Figured you’d want to do something like that” Josh said unsurprised “What do you have in mind?”

“First” Lance began “my meeting with McGonagall will not only be about the library but I also intend to set up times to better assess the abilities of the newbies”

“How so?” Matt questioned

“I’d like to have Claire’s potion making abilities be tested” Lance explained “I’d also like to have the botanist work in the herbology class. If he can work with magical plants, he could be an asset to the team”

“Anything for Crystal?” Logan asked

“Occlumency and Legilimency testing for her” Lance answered “Their similar to Psyche Force skills so she might have some talent with them”

“That’s a bit of a stretch” Logan said doubtfully

“It’s better than nothing” Lance shrugged

“Is that all you wanted to talk about?” Josh asked, doubting he would be asked to stay for just this.

“No” Lance shook his head “I also want to discuss what else we will be doing during our time here”

“Like what?” Matt wondered

“Looking for Bonus Missions of course” Lance said with his signature smirk. Logan and Matt tensed at the teen’s words while Josh only looked confused.

“What are bonus missions?” the jock asked

“I think it would be better if our leader explained” Lance gestured to Logan who had an irritated look on his face

“How did you know?” he asked

“Matt mentioned in the last movie the possibility of getting points from killing the Creeper” the teen answered “plus I think I completed one before we left that movie”

“Can someone fill me in?” Josh asked again.

“Bonus missions are sort of like Easter Eggs” Logan explained “they are hidden inside movies and often won’t be found if the team focuses on just completing the main mission. They award extra points and rewards to whoever completes them, sometimes even to the whole team”

“Why didn’t you tell us about this?” Josh asked “we could’ve been looking for those this whole time”

“They’re extremely dangerous” Matt was the one to answer “they usually are more difficult than a movie’s rating would suggest”

“We intended to wait until we had a team of at least seven before we made it common knowledge” Logan added

“Great so you are still keeping secrets from us” Josh was fuming at the revelation “I thought we were a team who counted on each other”

“I’ve seen bonus missions wipe out over half an experienced team” Logan said “the faster we advance the further danger we will be in. I made a judgement call”

“I can understand your logic” Lance spoke up “but I don’t agree with it. Bonus missions could be the fastest way to build a powerful team. I think it would be best to seek some out this movie”

Logan waited a long moment before speaking “very well but we must act carefully. Any possible bonus missions should be discussed before acted on”

“What exactly could be a bonus mission?” Josh asked, he still wasn’t happy about Logan hiding this information, but he wasn’t about to have a pointless argument.

“Well killing monsters within movies could be one” Logan explained “so likely the Basilisk is one. There’s also the option of seeking out items or beings in future movies”

“That’s actually something I was hoping to test out” Lance cut in “for right now we should limit ourselves to what we can do within the castle, but our mission may be a clue to some bonus missions”

“The horcruxes?” Logan asked

“Exactly,” Lance said “the diary isn’t the only one that can be found in the school”

“Are you talking about harry?” Matt asked

“No” Lance answered “the Room of Requirement holds another one; Rowena Ravenclaw’s Diadem”

“You want to destroy it?” Logan asked

“I think we should” Lance confirmed “Overall it doesn’t have a major contribution to the movie plot, and it doesn’t have any real defenses around it. This makes me believe God may have it be a bonus mission but one with little difficulty”

“I suppose that might be right” Logan mused “How confident are you that you can get to the room and find it?”

“I believe I could do it” Lance answered “but with Claire’s extensive knowledge I don’t see any trouble getting into the room. This is part of the reason I want to test her before we complete any bonus missions”

“Why not do them at the same time?” Matt questioned

“If we determine any of the newbies are worth investing in, we can take one with us to complete the mission” Lance explained

“Wouldn’t that put them in too much danger?” Josh pointed out.

“Maybe but the rewards will go a long way towards their enhancements” Logan countered “I’d say it’s worth the risk”

“Besides, we’ll have the team with them to keep them safe” Lance added

“Not the whole team though” Logan said “the more team members completing the mission the less rewards we can expect”

“Interesting” Lance looked contemplative at the new information “then yeah we should have a small team go for a bonus mission”

“What other bonus missions might there be?” Josh asked also trying to think of possibilities

“Aragog” Lance answered though he was met with skeptical looks

“The giant spider?” Logan asked

“He’s actually an Acromantula” Lance corrected “a magical spider species”

“What about it makes you think there’s a bonus mission?” Josh asked

“In the original movie plot Harry and Ron look to him for answers” Lance explained “with our mission we really don’t have a reason to visit him, but he may hold information regarding other bonus missions. If I were God, I would hide one with him”

“That’s another stretch” Logan said skeptically “I don’t know if the danger their colony holds would be worth the risk”

“I researched them the best I could in the Lobby” Lance assured “their only danger comes from the venom they produce. I’ll do some research here as well, but I think a small team of veterans will be enough to leave the colony without casualty”

“Hmm” Logan thought for a moment “do your research first and then we can decide on what to do”

“I can do that” Lance nodded “Other than that I don’t know of any other bonus missions we can find on the school grounds”

“I think the two will be more than enough” Logan decided “Don’t mention these to any of the newbies until we have them evaluated”

“Speaking of the newbies” Matt said “That Elijah has a serious attitude problem. He actually tried to order me to get him food”

Logan let out a small growl “I know he’s going to be trouble the longer he’s around”

“Do we have another option?” Lance cut in “we need to start building up a psyche force user as soon as possible. If we wait for one with a perfect personality, we’re putting all of our lives in danger”

“Still” Logan rumbled “maybe I could take that jade away from him a little bit and give him an attitude adjustment”

“No!” Josh started seriously “give him time. I’m sure he’ll come around and work well with the team” Logan matched Josh’s glare and neither looked ready to back down.

“I agree with Josh” Lance declared suddenly “Given time and the right treatment Elijah will become more friendly with the team”

Logan chuckled at the thought “I’ll believe it when I see it”

“I guarantee it,” Lance smirked as he made the promise.

“Fine” the leader submitted “I’ll leave it to you two then”

“Thank you,” Josh said, though his gaze was still hard.

After the final exchange, the team moved back to the rest of the team and began moving out to explore the castle. Lance was the last to leave, but he was the only one with a set destination in mind. It was time for him to make his plans with Professor McGonagall.