Everywhere

Before Gavin could decide how to talk his way out of it, Cordelia tossed aside the Nimbus 2000 and strode toward him.

She walked fast.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Each step rang sharply against the stone floor.

In just a few strides, she came at him like a gathering storm.

Her robes billowed behind her in a blur of silver and green, while her silver-gold ponytail whipped a sharp arc behind her shoulder.

Her face showed nothing. She looked calm—

The way everything looked before a storm.

Gavin's instincts told him to back away.

His feet refused to move. Probably because he knew it would do no good.

Cordelia stopped in front of him, close enough for him to make out her long eyelashes.

Cordelia said nothing.

She only stared at him, her silver-gray eyes startlingly bright in the Chamber of Secrets' dim light.

Gavin hurried to speak. "I can explain."

Cordelia said nothing. Not even an eyebrow moved.

She just watched him.

But Gavin could read the unspoken message in her eyes: Go on, then. Explain.

"When I came back from Lockhart's office, I really did mean to go straight to you." Gavin spoke a little faster than usual. He knew her patience would not last long, so he had to get the important part out first. "But I ran into Hermione on the way—and Justin, of course."

Cordelia raised an eyebrow.

It had risen slightly at Hermione's name, then slowly dropped again when he mentioned Justin.

"I ran into Hermione and Justin together! Justin was crying his eyes out. He'd even wiped his nose on his sleeve. I stayed and comforted him for quite a while."

Cordelia's expression softened the tiniest bit—

From you're dead today to keep talking, and I'll decide whether you're dead afterward.

Justin's name meant