Chapter Six: The Annoying Portrait
Still Albus' Pov
My feet pound against the steps as we run up what seems like six flights of stairs until we have to stop, due to Scorpius's wheezing and panting. I don't know how he thinks he is going to make the quidditch team when he can't even run upstairs. Maybe I will need to spend more "help Scorpius deal with the real world" time and help get him in some sort of physical shape. Elora looks around confused and we soon realize that, once again, the stairs have taken us in the wrong direction. These stairs really seemed to be more of a curse than a blessing. Not only were we in the east wing, the opposite of where we want to be but we were on the eighth floor and therefore had climbed up an entire floor for nothing. The stairs really were a nightmare. As we near the correct staircase we hear the loud screaming and yelling of what seems like a thousand voices and see that the staircase is filled with a sea of first years. I know that I was a first year at one point in my life and that the year sixes probably thought me a nuisance, but they really annoy me. They travel in packs and make so much noise for such tiny bodies. I mean its inhumane the amount of sound they can make. Exhibit A; the staircase filled with mobs of them its less than 10 seconds and I already have a headache.
"Oh great, the dwarf like creatures more commonly known as first years" Scorpius says, his voice dripping with disdain.
"They're not that bad," Elora comments walking over to the banister, leaning against it. I am about to warn her, but Scorpius talks first.
"Not that bad" Scorpius starts, "Elora, let me explain this to you as you obviously do not understand. We'll be stuck on this staircase for another century because of them. By the time we get down there one of us will be dead and the others so old that they can barely walk. These first year's ruin lives and make you miss anything that is important to you".
"Um, quick question why do you think one of us will die?" I ask staring at him slightly worried.
"Well, statistically speaking Elora has a higher chance of living longer than us as women usually live up to 80-85 years and men only 79-83 years old. Also, I figured due to the time length we would be stuck there some of us may convert to cannibalism. To survive obviously… All because of those pesky little vermin" Scorpius says muttering the last part.
"Why do you hate them so much" Elora asks curiously.
"Have you not been listening to a single work I've said" Scorpius asks annoyed.
I decide now is probably the best time to intervene, "Well, it all started back last summer when we were in Diagon Alley. Scorpius was very… let's just say on edge because he did not want to miss the book sale. When we arrived at it was filled with first years buying their school stuff and, well, when we got to the bookshop the sale had ended" I explain.
"It was the last book of Fantastic Beasts to complete my collection. And when I got to the stand they were all gone. All because of those stupid little children" Scorpius says with deep emotion as it apparently still hurts him to think of it.
"Scorpius still takes it pretty hard" I say to Elora patting Scorpius on the back. Suddenly Elora's eyes light up.
"We could always…" she says with her voice trailing off as she stares down the railing. It takes a moment for me to realise what she was suggesting.
"Really?" I find myself asking as I raise eyebrows and smirk. We share a glance of approval and I run over to the banister and swing my leg over.
"Wait, guys, let's stop for a second and access this situation before it gets out of hand", Scorpius starts "This could go one of two ways for you. You could fall over on to a couple of first years, probably scarring them for life, which I wouldn't necessarily object to, or you could fall over the railing, hit your head on the ground, defy my statistics, and die before Madam Pomphrey can get to you. This will not end well either way!"
"Oh, come on Scorpius! Live a little," I hear Elora exclaim from behind me, but I am too busy getting into position. With a quick little wave to Scorpius, I start to slide down the staircase. I watch as the first years look at me with astonished looks on their faces as I zoom by. I near the end of the railing and land on the ground with a graceless thud. I move out of the way and watch Elora land next to me with ease. I look up at Scorpius, who towers over the confused first years, trying, and failing, to weave through them.
"I knew there was some Gryffindor in you" She says with a smirk and I just give a polite smile before looking away. "You don't believe me?" she asks, staring at me directly in the eyes.
"I guess I do, but there obviously wasn't enough" I respond avoiding her gaze and looking at the ground.
"What do you mean by that?" Elora asks, moving closer to me.
"Well, there was obviously not enough or I would have ended up in Gryffindor. I mean, I even asked the sorting hat and everything," I respond a little annoyed.
"I disagree. It's not a question of how much it's a question of why. I mean, if you weren't placed in Slytherin, then you would never would have become such great friends with Scorpius. Without Slytherin you would have never gone on that time-turner adventure, never learnt that actions have consequences, and never fixed things with your dad. I mean you said yourself, the issues were there even when you were in Gryffindor. I think you needed Slytherin more than you realize. Slytherin made you who you are today, and I'd say you're a pretty great guy." Elora finishes, playfully poking my chest.
"Wait, on second thought," Scorpius, who is almost at the bottom of the stairs, yells moving towards the banister. He awkwardly mounts it backwards, and slides down it slowly and awkwardly like a bear hugging a tree. He stumbles off of it and says, "Wow, that was exhilarating" with a huge grin on his face. We all laugh and make our way towards the painting, finally going in the right direction. We walk around the seventh floor for a bit until we eventually find the tapestry and stand in front of it.
"Okay, so now what?" Elora asks looking around.
"My dad said the door was across from Barnabas the Barmy." I tell her.
"AHEM" someone says which makes us all jump. We turn around and there is Sir Barnabas, staring down at us.
"Uh-oh, hello Sir Barnabas, how are you today?" Scorpius manages to muster out.
"Hello young ones, what you doing at my tapestry" he says in an intriguing manner.
"Well, we were wondering if you knew where the room of requirement was" Elora asked him sincerely and sweetly.
"Sorry, can't tell you that" the painting answers abruptly.
"What why not?" I ask angrily.
"Orders from Headmistress McGonagall herself," he says proudly, "but I can be persuaded" he adds in a whisper.
"What type of persuasion?" Elora asks him, fed up.
"Persuasion? I am a good citizen; I cannot be bought!" he yells offended, but winks at us. I turn back to find Scorpius pacing back and forth, once again, there's Scorpius the Unanxious avoiding conflict.
"What do you mean you can't be bought you jus-"
"-what my partner is trying to say is that of course we know that you cannot be bought. We would never suggest such a thing. We know that you are a man of high moral standing." I tell him.
"Albus what are you do-" I nugged Elora in the side, and she stopped talking, realizing my master plan.
I clear my throat and continue, "As I was saying, hypothetically, if one was able to persuade you, how would they go about doing that?"
"OH MY GOD WHY WON'T YOU OPEN!" Scorpius screams frustrated.
"Now let me guess, he's the smart one" the painting says pointing at Scorpius.
"Wha-," Elora and I say simultaneously.
"Since you already did it, I guess there's no harm done," the painting started, "all you have to do is walk in front of the door three times and want it to open and voilà"
"Oh well, thanks, I guess" Elora responds. The three of us walk towards the now open door and step inside.
"The Scorpion King does it again" Scorpius boasts loudly.
"Good job Scorpius" Elora says running over to the couch that was in the room. The room contained two couches a table and a chest filled with all these games. "This place is so cool," she says, hugging a soft throw pillow. Scorpius and I are just standing there awkwardly looking around the room when I feel a pillow hit my back.
"Really Elora" I respond, throwing it back to her.
"What?" she giggles. And I walk over to sit by her. Scorpius was examining all the games.
"Hey, I was just wondering Elora, when is your birthday?" Scorpius asks, picking up a game and walking over towards us.
"Oh, it's April 12th" Elora responds picking up the game Scorpius has set down.
"Wait April, then you're a month older than Albus" Scorpius says trying to repress a laugh. I roll my eyes and glare at him.
"Okay?" she says, confused.
"Oh, it's just" but Scorpius does not finish his sentence as I elbow him in the stomach.
"It's nothing" I finish.
"I'm fragile" complains Scorpius, but lets the whole age thing go. The game that Scorpius had brought over was truth and dare. This was going to be an interesting game.
"I am not playing this with you two," Elora says after reading the title.
"What, do you not trust us?" I questioned winking at her.
"No, I most certainly do not. You'll probably make me do something stupid," she says defending herself.
"Okay, how about a game of truth, then" Scorpius suggests.
"Alright" Elora says and I just nod my head. Scorpius puts his hand to his face and leans over so that Elora cannot see and winks at me. I stare back at him, completely confused.
"Okay, as you are a Gryffindor and you are supposed to be brave and everything, Elora you will go first. Alright, question number one, have you ever dated someone or are you currently dating someone?" Scorpius says mimicking a game presenter's voice.
"I am not going to answer that" Elora says laughing it off.
"It's the game you have to" Scorpius responds and I realise exactly what he is doing.
"Why do you want to know?" Elora challenges.
"Well, what if there was some awful guy that you needed us to beat up" Scorpius points out. Elora starts laughing and Scorpius questions her, "What do you think I can't take him?". Scorpius stands up begins flexing imaginary muscles and I cannot help myself from joining in on the laughter. He eventually stopped and sat back down.
Catching her breath Elora responds, "though I do not doubt your great fighting abilities, I don't think you would be able to take on Charlie". Charlie. Why did it have to be Charlie? I hate that guy.
"Oh… Charlie. Um, this would not be that freakishly tall guy that plays seeker for Gryffindor?" Scorpius says and then gives me a sympathetic look. Scorpius knew that I have never liked that guy, even since year one. He seemed to be everything that I was not; amazing at spells, popular, a Gryffindor, seeker for the quidditch team etc.
"He's not that tall" Elora says defending him. Then, sensing the awkwardness, she asks, "Okay, as I answered the question, it's someone else's turn". We play several rounds and Elora soon finds out my spider phobia, the fact that I don't visit Hogsmeade, and many other details that I did not want her knowing. Thank you, Scorpius. I look down at my watch and realise that it is starting to get late. Elora sees me checking and she starts fidgeting. Come to think of it, she has been a little off since we started playing.
Elora pulls her jumper sleeves over her hands, clears her throat, and starts, "I am about to tell you something that only a select few people know. A secret that I have been told and choose to keep close to my heart. You both have been completely honest with me and I, sadly, have not returned the favor". Scorpius and I look over at each other and we both mirror a confused look. Elora takes a deep breath and then continues, "You too have become my best friends in the entire world, better friends than any of my old ones were, and I know that I can trust you to keep the secret". She pauses for a long time, her face twisting in pain. Then lowering her eyes to the ground, she says, "I am going to tell you exactly what happened last year".
Author's note:
First, let us say how sorry we are that it took too long! This is not like us to upload late, but school work is a real thing that apparently becomes more and more as you get older. But don't worry as we promise, at least for the next 4 chapters, that they will be published weekly. We have already written them and they are currently in the editing process. And hopefully you will enjoy next two chapters as they are jammed packed with tension, excitement etc. and are also super long. If you like our story, please follow or favorite. And if you have comments or opinions please leave a review as it would mean so much to us.
-Clara and Penelope