Shreya had been watching. Not obviously...but subtly keeping an eye on what was happening in The Room. It was easy enough, given that her office was in the dungeons. She heard the students pass by her several times per day on their supervised excursions. From what she had observed, they were let outside around noon and before dinner. But meeting them in the courtyard would be dangerous. There were too many guards and Squad members.
That was why Shreya had been keeping track of their bathroom breaks instead. And she knew that around this time each day, the girls were allowed to use the facilities.
Which was why she was currently hiding in a stall, her arm aching from the multiple bags that were slung over her shoulder. The bags (charmed with an extending spell, of course) were filled with various items, such as blankets, toothbrushes, lotions, candies, decks of playing cards, and warm socks—basically anything that might help make the children's captivity less horrific. Shreya felt bad enough that she couldn't help get them out. And that the staff couldn't put up a fight against Rosier—it was clear that they were strikingly outnumbered and outpowered. So providing the kids with some commodities was the least she could do. From what she had overheard, there were no guards inside the room—only outside of it. So as long as the kids could hide the goodies when the door was opened for a break, they might be safe.
Her plan was to give each girl that came into the bathroom a bag or two. They were crossbody bags, so they could be easily hidden underneath their school uniforms, if they were careful. Since Shreya couldn't go into the boys' restroom, she was hoping the girls would volunteer to take an extra bag to share with the male students.
It was risky, sure. But Shreya felt like she had to help them, in any small way she could. So she waited, hovering silently in the stall, for the restroom break to begin. Hoping to Merlin that her plan could work. |