Jade, Alana, West, the rabbit, and Abigail all sat on cots in the Hospital Wing, nervously awaiting the headmaster's arrival. After the requisite indignant tirade ("Oh-my-goodness where-were-you worried-sick thought-you-were-dead oh-you've-saved-Miss-Skyfaul-nicely-done-dears WHAT-WERE-YOU-THINKING"), their Head of House had taken a second look at them and rushed them all to the Hospital Wing.

Abigail was fine, and her glow would return to normal by the end of the month. Alana had cuts on her hands from trying to break the chains, and she had three broken fingers, but those were being mended that very second. West had a concussion and was suffering a mild inability to process things (a result of being hit with too many Stupefying Spells), but she was sleeping peacefully now, and was due to wake up any moment. The rabbit had been contained, and its cage was sealed with extra-strength Locking Charms.

Jade stretched an arm over her head and winced. Her tricep and bicep on that arm had been slowly paralyzed by the blast of electricity. They were being relaxed, but if she moved that side at all they seized up again. Her fingers also twitched, sometimes, and there was a crackle of electricity around her wrist. She also had performed her Protection Enchantment wrong, which was why the bubble had fractured, and so there was a shard of thin, sharp bubble that had been pulled from her forehead.

She, Alana, and West were all resting, waiting for Headmaster Thornbeck to come to speak to them. What if they got expelled? What if she had to go home and couldn't come back? She loved her family, but Eaglesclaw was her home. she couldn't leave! There was so much more to learn, so much more time to spend with her friends...

"Wake up Miss Skyfaul, Miss Pevensie. The headmaster is here." Madame Santana's voice shook Jade from her worry, and she giggled to hear herself and West addressed in such a formal manner. Obligingly, she reached over and brushed West's red hair away from her face.

The headmaster came through the doors with a swoosh and a soft jingle of bells. His long, rose-colored cloak trailed on the floor, and his peaked cap nearly brushed the low ceiling. He gazed at the three girls, lying in their cots and looking small. "Well? What do you ladies have to say for yourselves?"

Jade raised a hand, and he chuckled and nodded to her. "Well, sir, I know that there's a lot of rules which we broke. I know we're in big trouble. But we had a good reason, really we did."

Alana picked up Jade's train of thought. "We rescued a true friend from danger. Jade came out of her shell and found herself."

West interrupted, and Alana shot her a look. "She was so brave! She took down the Lagomorph, and she had a wound on her arm but she kept going. And Alana helped me out- she broke my chains. I hope they're not in too much trouble for saving me."

"That will be decided shortly. We have more pressing matters to deal with. Madame Santana, open the cage." Madame Santana unlocked the cage with her wand, and the rabbit hopped out. It made a beeline for the electric staff, which was propped up in the corner of the room, and it instantly transformed into the woman from the secret chamber.

"Hullo," she said, in a bored voice.

"Why do you need that staff to be human?" Alana blurted. Jade playfully slapped her, instantly regretting it when her arm seized up once more.

"Lagomorphs have to be in direct contact with the rays of the moon to regain their humanity. The orb is made of collected light from a blue moon over a thousand years ago. If I could have gotten that girl's spirit, I would have become fully human once again, and I wouldn't have needed my staff." The woman's eyes were wild. She raised her hand to throw a ball of light, but Headmaster Thornbeck grabbed her wrist.

"Why did you choose us to attack?" Jade was surprised by her own daring.

"All of the students here are so full of magic and potential. Your spirits, your minds, your very essences are powerful. Just one of you, and I could fully return to power."

"Well?" Madame Santana was unimpressed. "What are we going to do with her?"

The headmaster considered for a moment. "If we shatter the staff, she must return to her rabbit state." He reached out and, using the handle of his wand, smashed the orb at the top of the staff. A swirl of blue light escaped into the air, but disappeared quickly.

"No! You don't understand what you're doing to me! I can't be a rabbit again! You'll rue this decision one day...." The woman's protests were cut off by her transition back into a small rabbit. The headmaster lifted it up and placed it back in the cage.

"As for you three...you girls put your very lives in danger! I should expel you right now-" He was cut off by a passionate outcry by Jade.

"No, no you can't expel us! Please, sir. I know we were out of line, but it was to save a friend. What's more important than friendship and a true bond with the people you love? And I can't leave Eaglesclaw! It's like my home." Jade buried her face in her hands, but didn't cry.

"What I was attempting to say," the headmaster continued, "is that, despite your behavior, you may have saved us all. So one hundred points to Grizzleheart, and ten to Lammasador for courage in adversity, Miss Skyfaul. The whole school is very proud, and you girls may come to the end-of-the-month feast this evening if you wish. But," he cautioned, seeing their delighted faces, "do not let this inspire you to further glory. Sneaking off at all hours of the night is not encouraged, and I worry that I am continuing to allow your misdemeanor. But I am impressed, girls. You've done Eaglesclaw proud today."

And with that, he turned on his heel and was gone.