Genre Savvy: What prevents Corine's escape. The secret passage she went through exits into Mel's room, and Mel stops her from leaving. Corine says she has no time to explain, but Mel knows better than to trust someone who just entered through a secret passage.
"Scooby-Doo" Hoax: The Black Cat attacks were perpetrated by Corine. She wanted to find Rita Halloway's treasure but couldn't find the clues Nancy would, so the only other option was to search each dorm individually, creating the Black Cat myth to drive the other students away from their rooms.
Spanner in the Works: Cornie's escape is foiled by Mel being in her room at the time and refusing to let Cornie leave without an explanation.
Throw the Dog a Bone: While Rachel and Kim end up getting expelled, some of the alumni support the twins, claiming their quest for education should be rewarded, not punished. As such, both girls receive full scholarships.
