Later that evening we were heading back to the Common Room when we encountered a large group of people standing around the entrance to the Common Room, "what's the hold-up? Ron asked, "only Neville ever forgets the password," Neville glared at Ron but said nothing, partly because it was true.
It was times like these when I really hate being short, being in a crowd and not being able to see what everyone else was seeing is really annoying, I was contemplating the problems with my height when Percy started pushing through, "let me through, please, excuse me, thank you, I'm Head Boy." He was a little way ahead of us when he stopped, he spun around, his eyes bulging in fear and started shouting orders. "Back! All of you! No one is to enter this dormitory until it has been fully searched!"
We exchanged glances, 'what has happened that has Percy so riled up?' I wondered as I saw a familiar face emerge from the crowd, it was Ginny and she was very ashen faced.
"The Fat Lady, she's gone," Ginny said quietly as she reached us.
"Probably stuffing her face with the apples in that still life on the second floor again," Ron said angrily.
Ginny glared at her idiot brother, "no, you don't understand," Alice jumped and grabbed my arm, I looked up, the crowd had parted to reveal the portrait of the Fat Lady torn to shreds.
Just then Dumbledore, McGonagall and Filch arrived, "oh my," McGonagall said in shock as she covered her mouth with one gloved hand.
"Mr, Filch," Dumbledore said to Filch, "round up the ghosts, tell them to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady."
A scream pierced the air, everyone ran in the direction of the sound, the Fat Lady was cowering in the background of another portrait, "there'll be no need for ghosts, Professor," Filch said with a lopsided smile.
"Dear lady, who did this to you?" Dumbledore asked, his voice devoid of emotions.
The Fat Lady, whose voice is usually loud, booming and full of emotion, spoke quietly and as if she were in a trance, "eyes like the devil he's got, and a soul as dark as his name, it was him, Headmaster." She spoke far louder now, but still devoid of emotions, "the one they talk about, he's here, somewhere in the castle, Sirius Black."
The effect was immediate, pupils started talking, some excitedly, most were people terrified, some even rushed off to the bathrooms, everyone quietened when Dumbledore spoke, "secure the castle, Mr Filch, the rest of you, to the Great Hall," McGonagall started shepherding us in the direction of the Great Hall, I extended my senses, searching for the mind of Sirius Black, but I could not find him, he was not hiding in the castle in any form that I could track.
We spent the night in the Great Hall, and the next day it was announced that while the Fat Lady was being repaired Sir Cadogan would be taking over, Sir Cadogan was a short knight standing in a field of grass wielding a sword, which he would swing at anyone who approached, he was annoying, insane and changed the password almost daily. But, worst of all he kept calling me fair maiden and sometimes even tried to flirt with me, which was absolutely hilarious to everyone else, but mortifying to me.
A couple of months later Snape took a cover lesson in Defence, we were sitting in the usual classroom, the usual happened, Draco missed his chair, three times today, he made a paper moth that he sent at Harry. I hijacked it and sent it back at him, so he spent a good amount of time trying to swat his own creation. Snape strode in, the blinds lowered as he did so, "turn to page 394," everyone moved hesitantly, eyeing Snape with curiosity.
"Excuse me, sir," Harry said nervously, "but, where's Professor Lupin?"
"That's not really your concern, is it, Potter? Suffice it to say, your Professor finds himself incapable of teaching at the present time," he sneered more than usual. "Page 394," a screen lowered over the blackboard and an old fashioned projector showed a picture of a wood cutting of a Werewolf.
"Werewolves?" Ron asked.
"But, sir," Hermione said, causing Ron to jump in surprise, "we've only just begun learning about Red Caps and Hinkypunks. We're not meant to start nocturnal beasts for weeks."
"When did she come in? Did you see her come in?" Ron asked Harry.
"Now, Which of you can tell me the difference between an Animagus and a Werewolf?" Hermione and I raised our hands, he pointed at me.
"Animagus are wizards who can willing turn themselves into an animal whenever they want to, a Werewolf has no control over their transformations and do so once every lunar month when the moon is full, when they transform they will no longer be able to distinguish between friend and foe, meaning they will hunt either with equal pleasure." Malfoy, having finally caught moth, let out a howl.
"Quiet, Malfoy! Your homework is two rolls of parchment on the Werewolf by Monday morning, with particular emphasis placed on recognising it." A piece of paper hit Harry in the head, he leaned over and picked it up, "passing notes, Potter?" He snatched the paper away from him and sneers, "not exactly Picasso, are you? I hope you demonstrate more talent on the Quidditch pitch this weekend then you do as an artist. If not, I fear you'll perish, given the weather forecast, until that time, however, you'll forgive me if I don't let you off homework. Should you die, I assure you, you need not hand it in," lovely thought, he returned to giving the lesson.
