Book 1 - James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing

“I don’t see why all three of us need to do this anyway,” Ralph complained. “I trust you two. You
could’ve just told me about it tomorrow at breakfast.”
“You seemed plenty excited about it when we planned this, Ralphinator,” Zane whispered. “You
can’t lose your nerve now.”
“It was daytime then. And I wasn’t born with any nerve, just so you know.”
“Shh,” James hissed.
Zane bent over the map. “Is anyone coming?”
James shook his head. “No, looks safe. Filch is in his office downstairs. I don’t know if he ever
sleeps, but for now, at least, the coast is clear.”
Ralph straightened up, pulling the Invisibility Cloak a foot off the floor. “Then why are we under
this thing at all?”
“It’s tradition,” James said without looking up from the map.
“Besides,” Zane added, “what good’s having an Invisibility Cloak if we don’t use it to float around
the halls unseen every now and then?”
“There’s nobody to see us, anyway,” Ralph pointed out.
James directed them toward the right angle of the intersection and they shuffled on. Soon enough,
they came to the gargoyle guarding the stairway to the Headmistress’ office. James could tell it was watching
their feet under the raised cloak even though it remained perfectly still. James hoped that the password hadn’t
changed since he’d accompanied Neville to the Headmistress’ office a few months earlier.
He cleared his throat and said quietly, “Er, Gallowater?”
The gargoyle, which was relatively new, having replaced the one that had been damaged in the Battle
of Hogwarts, stirred slightly, making a sound like a mausoleum door grating open. “Is that the one with the
forest green field and the sky blue and red patterns?” it asked in a carefully measured voice. “I can never
remember.”
James conferred in harsh whispers with Ralph and Zane. “Forest green field? I don’t even know
what it is! It’s just the word Neville used to get in!”
“How’d he answer the question, then?” Zane asked.
“It didn’t ask him any questions!”
“It’s a tartan pattern, I think,” Ralph rasped. “My grandmum is mad about them. Just say yes.”
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