Chloe lay on the floor in the school Common Room, where all of the houses could converge for clubs, Wizard Chess, or just a chat. She was playing with the Snitch, in front of the warm fireplace. Unlike most Snitches, this one seemed to want to stay by her side. When she left it to go to class, its wings would droop and it would flutter half-heartedly over to her bed. When she came back and picked it up, its wings whirred and it circled around her head.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron walked over to three chairs in front of the fireplace.

"Hullo, Chloe," said Hermione, smiling slightly.

"Hi," mumbled Ron. His arms were full of small cupcakes from supper.

"You're so lucky to have parents that are part of the wizarding world, Ron," said Hermione, resuming whatever conversation they had been having before they joined Chloe.

"Well, it's not like Dad does anything interesting," said Ron through a particularly pink cupcake. "What do your parents do, Chloe?"

Chloe blushed. She didn't like lying. "Um...my mum owns a bakery. Levitating treacle tarts, flavor-changing wedding cakes, that sort of thing." That bit, at least, was true. Samantha's Sweets was quite popular in the wizarding village in Kent. "And my father..." She bit her lip self-conciously. "He's a banking correspondant for the Daily Prophet. It's a very dull job. I, um, have to go now. Lots of homework, you know?" She added a nervous giggle for effect before running up to her dormitory. The Snitch perked up its wings and fluttered after her.

"That was..." Harry began.

"Suspicious." Hermione finished.

"I was going to say bizarre, but suspicious works too," interjected Ron.

Chloe certainly had an air of mystery about her, and the three were determined to crack it- no matter how long it took.