Vega
I eagerly waited for March 30th, the second-to-last Hogsmeade trip. I wanted to see Sam; he seemed like someone who can calm you down well. He didn't seem anything like his sister, Sophia.
On the day of the Hogsmeade trip, I had a sudden thought to look nice. I put on a dark green blouse and black jeans. I also fixed my hair into a neat bun. Wow, I guess I can look nice if I try to.
I took a bag filled with coins and walked down to the portal. On the way down, I saw Alina. Hiding behind the tapestry of the troll ballet until she left, I continued on my way.
"What are you going here?" Filch demanded.
I rolled my eyes. Filch had known me for two years.
"Nothing."
''Scram.'' he grunted.
I had to make another pass at the entrance.
The village of Hogsmeade was joyful as ever. Students from all ages laughed and chatted with friends. Even some professors I knew were there.
Even though there were a bunch of stores I wanted to go to, I went straight for The Three Broomsticks. I had a feeling a certain someone wanted to see me just as much as I wanted to see him.
Because it was so early in the day, The Three Broomsticks was deserted. Everyone probably wanted to get to Honeydukes before all the good candy was out. Even teachers needed candy once in awhile.
''Vega! Why isn't it my favorite Black!'' Sam hugged me as I entered the door. We had been good friends over the last few months. We'd written letters and the like, and I was really beginning to consider him closer than even Cho Chang.
''Hi Sam. How have you been?'' I took a seat at a table.
Sam joined me and smiled sadly. ''My grandmother, Rosalie, passed away over holidays. Other then that, I've been fine. You know, putting up with Sophia and all. How have you been?''
"Not the greatest. Fighting with Alina, a lot. I've had my share of putting up with Sophia. I'm sorry about your grandmother.''
''It's alright. And fighting about what?'' he asked.
I swallowed. Could I trust Sam? I decided to confide in him.
''Well. . . " I hesitated. "My father, Sirius Black, sent a letter to Alina, but she wanted nothing to do with him, so I answered instead. Alina saw that I wrote him back after I got the reply. So. . . she freaked out a bit. Yelled.''
I remembered what she had said about the boys and love potions. But it wasn't my fault. She'd driven me away long before then.
I glanced back up at Sam.
He blinked, in pure shock before his features twisted to anger. ''Vega. You sent a letter to a killer! He could put some kind of magic on the letter! You could've been hurt! Alina has a right to be angry.'' Sam stood up.
''Sam!" I stood up with him. "My father couldn't have put magic on it. Do you know why? BECAUSE HE'S IN AZKABAN! HE'S IN AZKABAN AND HE'S LONELY! HE KNOWS THAT WHAT HE DID WAS WRONG! AND EVEN THOUGH HE KNOWS IT, HE STILL HAS TO STAY IN AZKABAN AND NOW EVERYONE HATES HIM! SAM, I'M NOT GOING TO BE STUPID AND I'M GOING TO BE NICE!''
''Oh, you think that he knew he was wrong? JUST BECAUSE HE WROTE A LETTER DOESN'T MEAN THAT HE'S GOOD!'' his voice rose to match me, so loud that people were starting to stare, the few that were in the bar.
''I don't care. I didn't know my father, and I want to!''
''Vega, this isn't about you! If you help him get out, even if you don't try to, he could kill so many people! Your family! Innocent muggles! You think he won't target muggles? Squibs? Half-Bloods, even? Because he will!'' Sam shouted.
''It won't affect you!''
''Vega—you don't understand! When Sirius Black killed thirteen people, they were people like me," he said. There was something in those gray-green eyes, begging me to understand. "They didn't have any magic to defend themselves!"
''Well that's not my fault! And I hardly see why this has to do with the letter!'' I yelled back.
''Don't you get it! He could use you! And then who do you think he'd go after? Probably me and Sophia! The boy you like and the girl you hate!''
He saw people staring, and stumbled back, as if I'd struck him.
"Sam—"
He walked out, the door closing with a loud thud behind him.
Serena
It was a lonely spring.
Ariel became more wrapped up in Malfoy and his friends, not even bothering to attempt talking to me anymore, or even look my way at dinnertime. Vega was sneaking about all the time, and Alina was more withdrawn than usual. Of course, this happened at the one time I would have welcomed her meddling.
Even the Golden Trio wasn't exactly talking to me. While they were grateful for my research on Flamel, they refused to confide in me at all.
Even though others such as Fay talked to me, it was all pleasantries and small talk. I had no bridges, no support anymore at Hogwarts.
The night of June 18th, all of that changed.
I dreamed of a man with two faces, neither of which I recognized, but the image was all I remembered of the dream as I woke up screaming. I knew there was more before, but I couldn't remember it.
I sat up in my sweat and terror, looking around.
The other girls in the Dormitory had learned to put up with my night terrors long ago. But I noticed immediately that Hermione was gone. I started out of bed, remembering the adventure with the forbidden corridor earlier in the semester.
I somehow knew that they were there. It was only intuition— no real logic or rationality behind it— yet I knew it all the same.
I grabbed my dressing gown— really, Mum's ratty old powder blue one— and ran down the staircase in bare feet.
I had to get to them un time.
My feet pounded the stones as I stumbled about, grasping the walls and pushing off of them. I had to get there. I had to find them.
Before I knew it, I was at the corridor— Naturally that was when I realized I'd forgotten my wand. There was no time to go back for it. The Trio needed me. I glanced around, and grabbed a sword off of the wall, one stuck in a crest display of some sort.
I then broke down the door, revealing a snarling, snapping Fluffy. But he wasn't snarling at me— Ron and Hermione were just under the trapdoor, whimpering at the dog. Well, Hermione was.
Ron was unconscious.
"Hey!" I yelled to get the dog's attention.
Fluffy froze. Six yellow eyes were trained upon me.
The intuition returned in that moment, and I began to sing a song that Mum once had, when I was a little girl.
"Lavender's green, dilly-dilly, lavender's blue," I crooned. "When you are king, dilly-dilly, I shall be queen."
Fluffy seemed to quiet at that, and stepped away from the trapdoor, towards me. Hermione took this opportunity to take Ron out of the trapdoor, practically dragging him.
"Shh," I whispered as I pet the dog. "It will be alright. But I need you to sit and lie down, alright? DOWN."
Surprised by the force of my words, Fluffy did in fact lay down. I smiled, satisfied.
"Good dog, I'll be back as soon as I can," I promised, feeling sympathy for him. I went over to Hermione. "I'll help you take him to Madam Pomfrey's."
When Madam Pomfrey found them, Hermione and I confessed everything.
I learned about a Philosopher's Stone, and so many other things, filling in the gaps of the year. When I looked over to Ron, I felt guilty. I was a part of the puzzle. I'd helped cause this.
"Merlin's beard," Pomfrey said. "Miss Granger, remain here so I can treat any injuries you may have— as for you, Miss Black, you should go wake Professor McGonagall immediately. She will know exactly what to do."
I turned on my heels and sprinted to through the castle, torches lighting in my wake. I wasn't going to go to McGonagall. I would go to the Owlry, and use Avernus to write a notice to Professor Dumbledore.
We needed him now, more than ever.
The Owlry was cold at night, and there was only one sheet of parchment and a quill with very little ink in the pot. Quickly, I scratched out a message.
Harry Potter in trouble- return to the school immediately SNAPE WILL STEAL THE STONE
I then found Avernus in the center of the owl flock. I got to work tying the message to his feet, and stroked his feathers.
"I need you to find Dumbledore," I whispered. "I'm sorry to ask this of you. But I must. Thank you, Avernus."
With that, the owl took off, leaving me wondering if I'd made the right choices.
