VALERIA

“What on earth…” I trail off, stepping back and letting go of the mop. I bump into Celeste, who doesn’t even notice. She’s too busy gaping at the trapdoor behind the painting.

I admit, I did assume that maybe trapdoors like these are common in a magic school. But judging by the look on Celeste’s face, it turns out to be not that common. She’s the Head Girl, so if this is common knowledge, she would know.

But she looks just as stunned as I am.

I ...