Professor Quigley had Kate's full attention. How could he not? Number one, he was talking some serious business, and number two, he was the loudest person in the Great Hall. Yeah. Full attention. Plus, he was the one with the PLAN, and that's what Kate had found nobody else had--a good plan. It was a smart plan, too, and Kate thought it could work.

She didn't mind volunteering either, but she wanted to come with somebody. She didn't want to go alone, because ACROMANTULA. "I can go, too," she said. "Can I go with somebody? An older student, maybe?"

If she had to go alone, she was out. Sorry, Quigley. Not only that, but Kate didn't even know if she'd be allowed to go. She was only a second year, so she'd understand completely if they wanted somebody older. As a matter of fact, she'd probably feel really good about that decision, because she was...scared.