"What am I going to do?" Sydney ducked as yet another fanged frisbee as it flew towards her head. She stood on the fifth corridors staircase, talking to what seemed like her last friend at Hogwarts. Sometimes Sydney would reflect on the fact that her friend was a half deaf portrait of an old man, but today she just needed someone to talk to.
"What did you say?" Sir Arthur of Prague had been a wonderful wizard in his day but as he liked to put it, "I was cast aside the moment those youngsters thought they were better and that I was an old coot!" He would often brandish his walking stick at whichever unfortunate student was walking by. As a result most of the witches and wizards at Hogwarts pointedly avoided this part of the staircase.
"I asked what I'm supposed to do!" Sydney shouted as a surprised first year looked up at her.
"What the...?" The boy stared at her, the confusion evident in his voice. "How am I supposed to bloody know what you have to do?" Slytherin. The word buzzed around on in the Gryffyndor's head as the first year stormed off.
"What's that, Syndy?" Sir Arthur cupped a vein-spiked hand around his ear. "What you're supposed to do?"
"Sydney Sir Arthur not Syndy." Sydney sighed and rubbed her pale forehead. She hadn't been able to sleep at all the previous night, and it was showing.
After the Scorpius incident, all her room mates had spent the rest of the night whispering insults to her, blaming her for waking them up.
"Murderous beast!" Priscilla Patil had spat as with a flick of her wand she caused the curtains on Sydney's bed to come crashing down. High-fifing her friends Priscilla felt bold enough to continue.
"I just can't understand how you turned out so awful Sydney!" Priscilla started circling her. "I mean, it's not like your mom was a raving lunatic is it?"
The next few moments of Priscilla's life were some of her most uncomfortable. She never saw Sydney's fist coming.
"My dear, did you really do that?" Sir Arther smiled down at her. "I recall a particularly feisty witch from my travels to Nigeria... She did much the same thing to me when I proposed!" Sydney couldn't help but smile at her friend. He was trying so hard to cheer her up.
"Well it earned me detention." She confessed. "Polishing all the portrait frames on this staircase." Sydney briefly made a mental note to get her revenge on Filch later.
"Why on earth are you doing it by hand then?" Arthur stared at her like she had suddenly admitted a dream of becoming an employee at the Ministry as an inspector of cauldrons.
"Filch." So much hatred in one response, Sir Arthur nodded his head in what he probably thought was a wise way before calling,
"Listen up you slackers!" His voice rang trough the whole wall and one by one the other portraits' inhabitants turned to look at him. "Because of your laziness this poor girl is being forced to clean up after you! On the double get to work!" Sydney watched as the witches wizards and magical creatures hastily began cleaning their own frames."
"I had no idea you could do that!"
Sir Arthur beamed down at her. "That's what those lazy fools want you to think!" He frowned. "Now... wasn't there something you needed help with?" Sydney nodded and began to describe in better detail what had happened with Scorpius. When she was finished he looked rather smug.
"What are you thinking Sir Arthur?" Sydney started in a knowing tone. Her friend was extremely unpredictable but she always knew when he had reached a point.
"There are some questions here that deserve answers." Sir Nigel beckoned her closer through his frame. "For starters we'll have to wonder how he got in to your dormitory. I thought there were enchantments on the place!"
"Well yes but.." Sydney was cut off.
"Secondly, how did this Scorpius boy know you weren't related and might he expect a favor from you as thanks for him telling you?"
"Sir Arthur!" Sydney shrieked, admonishing the old portrait.
"What?" He looked confused. "This boy wouldn't be expected to ask you to do his homework?" Sydney almost believed him until she saw his hand concealing a smile.
"If portraits could be smacked!" She shook her fist at him, only half joking. "Scorpius Malfoy is many things Arthur but he does not think like that, but evidently you do!"
"What's that Sydney? I couldn't hear you." Sydney couldn't tell if the old wizard was faking deafness or not. She sighed.
"Just... continue." She leaned on a banister.
"Well lastly why would he choose to tell you this? You hate each other right?"
"True." Abruptly Sydney turned around and ran. "Thank you so much Sir Arthur!" She shouted over her shoulder. "I have to have a little chat with a Slytherin!" Watching her black wavy hair bounce across her shoulders as she rounded the corner Sir Arthur shook his head and frowned.
"The poor thing." He whispered. "If only she knew how she was being toyed with, nothing but a pawn..." A sigh escaped his mouth. "That girl is in for surprises, that's for sure. Stupid Flitwick..." And Sir Arthur of Prague fell asleep, and if portraits could dream he would have dreamed of helping Sydney prepare for what lay ahead.
But alas, they did not.
A/N: Another chapter *cheer* Maybe another one later today, I'm not quite sure yet. Review. Or Snapella with attack you with a lunch card.