We reached town that afternoon. I noticed Caleb was a little doubtful on entering but he appeared to manage to brush this away after a little while. We proceeded straight to a Motel, and I, with a few coins (most of my money had been stolen by the Death Eaters when they ransacked the house) didn't think we would be able to afford it, but Caleb produced enough at the desk and we immediately proceeded to our room.
It wasn't the fanciness yet luxury to me - sleeping outside for a night had inflicted considerable discomfort on me already! I collapsed on a bed in the cramped bedroom and flung my pack down. "Finally proper accommodation at last!" I ejaculated, gladly enjoying the comfortable and soft mattress beneath me. I closed my eyes. "I'm in for a nap, if you don't mind," I added.
"We don't have time, Julia," Caleb said impatiently. "We need to start planning. How do you actually expect to rescue your parents from Malfoy Manor?
I sat up abruptly. "How do you know about that?" I asked sharply.
"It was obvious," Caleb said simply, pulling out a chair at the small table in the corner and sitting down. "But that's not the point. Did you arrange a plan before you left?"
"Er - no," I replied awkwardly, blushing. Annoyed by his scepticism as he raised his eyebrows, I added, "Well, I wasn't going to sit down and pull out my papers when my parents had just been captured by Death Eaters, was I?"
Caleb shrugged. "I suppose," he replied. "But if you don't have a plan, we need to make one now."
I slipped off the bed and sat down at the table beside him. "Any ideas?" I asked.
"Is that my responsibility?" Caleb said. "You should be grateful enough already that I'm coming with you."
"So you're an excellent wizard or something, are you?" I said sarcastically.
"I attended Hogwarts just like you, if you're wondering!" Caleb snapped irritably. "And I wasn't a Slytherin."
I hesitated. "What house were you?"
"Ravenclaw."
"That smart, huh?"
Caleb raised his eyebrows again. "Ravenclaws aren't just smart, Julia."
"I know that!" I replied huffily.
"Anyway, Malfoy Manor will be securely protected," Caleb said, placing his hands on his table, his wand grasped in one, "so that's the first thing we need to consult. How we're going to get in. They'll be loads of shield charms applied. But shield charms can be tricked. If we perhaps disguise ourselves, it won't be too difficult."
"So... How are we going to get in?" I asked with a yawn, impatient.
Caleb frowned. "I'm getting to that, Julia. We'll apply Polyjuice Potion."
I started. "WHAT?"
Caleb nodded. "I'll be disguised as Amycus Carrow. However, it will only be me using the Polyjuice Potion. You'll be yourself."
"So it's perfectly fine if I get killed, then, is it?"
Caleb sighed impatiently. "I'll be my stepfather bringing you in, but I'll take you down to the cellar where I presume your parents will be, in a fake act of imprisoning you there, when actually I'll free your parents and we can all escape together."
"Now you put it that way... You're a genius, Caleb!" I said, a grin spreading across my face.
Caleb smiled ruefully. "I didn't know you could be so complimentary."
"Only sometimes," I said. "But for now can we please sleep? I'm exhausted."
"Very well, then," Caleb said. "But only for a little while," he warned. "I've only paid for one night."
"You knew I would sleep till afternoon tomorrow then?" I asked.
Caleb nodded. "It wasn't too hard to gather."
I smiled. How on earth could he be the stepson of a Death Eater?