Closed AND THEY'RE OFF! PV Esmeray Rosslyn

17 October 2022.

It began as any other chill evening at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Supper had ended and most of the students were winding down - finishing some last-minute or perhaps forgotten assignments and getting ready to settle in for the night. Simon sat leafing through the pages from his newest edition of Enchanments Magazine, a monthly magazine about spells and charms. This world of magic never ceased to amaze him.

*Squeak*

Simon glanced up mid-sentence to see his gray pet rat staring directly at him, as it rested on the arm of the sofa next to him.

"Rascal, I've already told you. We can't go outside and you can't go exploring. It's late."

Simon went back to his reading - finishing that sentence and the paragraph, then those that followed. He flipped to the next page.

*Squeak* *Squeak*

He looked up once again from his reading and his brown eyes locked with the little beady black ones. Rascal slowly raised up on his hind legs to show his discontent and Simon knew that look.....that look meant trouble.

"Rascal, no. No, Rascal. We'll go to the dormitory soon and I'll get you a treat before bed."
Slowly the rat brought himself back to all-fours and Simon thought he had won until he noticed the rodent giving what seemed to be a curious peer down to the floor. Oh no, he was up to something. The promise of the treat wasn't going to cut it.

With one more defiant *Squeak* the rat took off like lightning!



WELCOME TO THE RASCAL RACE AT HOGWARTS DOWNS! HE'S AT THE GATE! AND THEY'RE OFF! ER- HE'S OFF!" Down the rat jumped from the sofa and scurried across the Hufflepuff Common Room floor, dashing straight towards the door. Oop, skidding slightly to the left... RASCAL MCKENZIE-KINCAID HAD A BIT OF AN AWKWARD START, LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, BUT BROKE WELL! HE RUNS TO THE OUTSIDE AND MAKES A MOVE FOR THE FIRST TURN! HE'S UP AND ON THE PACE!

Simon was up from his seat now, his magazine abandoned on the sofa as he headed toward the doorway. Please stay closed, please stay closed. It was most unfortunate for him in that moment that he belonged to perhaps the most socializing group at Hogwarts and, of course, a group of three Hufflepuffs made their way, the doorway now clearly open.

AND HE GATHERS UP SPEED! HE MOVES TO THE CENTER OF THE TRACK! HE'S OUT, MAINTAINING THE LEAD AND PICKING UP SPEED, RASCAL IS OUT IN THE CORRIDORS!

"Pardon me, excuse me, my apologies, sorry," Simon said as he pushed past his fellow Hufflepuff housemates and watched as his rat dashed like a blur down the long corridor of the First Floor. He sighed. Leave it to him to deny Rascal one of his wishes to have an adventure and for being guillible enough not to realize that he would take one regardless of being given the opportunity or not. Seize the day, Rascal!

Simon never quite knew what got into the rat during times like these, but it was probably similar to how they say dogs get the zoomies - a burst of energy resulting in wild abandon.

Simon took a deep breath and then began after the rat.

AND KINCAID NOW LEADS THE WAY TO THE BACKSTRETCH! HE'S GOT A LOT OF GROUND TO COVER! RASCAL, ALONG THE RAIL! CAN KINCAID OVERTAKE HIM? IT'S RASCAL, AHEAD BY A LONG SHOT! KINCAID, PICKS UP THE PACE...

The track would be unspecified that evening because that rat was capable of anything - weaving in and out of people, stopping to hide behind suits of armor, running up or down staircases...

IT'S RASCAL STILL IN THE LEAD WITH KINCAID CLOSE BEHIND!