It hadn't even struck midnight before panic had begun to ring throughout Hogwarts.
Harry didn't have to spend the night in the hospital ward after the Dementor attack at the Qudditch game, thankfully, which meant Rose was allowed to sleep in her own dormitory again.
Rose was actually looking forward to being able to catch up with Hannah and Bridget, although Bridget was still in somber mood after hearing about what had happened to Bellamy's father- Blaine Brownwood.
"Well, come on," Rose tried to encourage Bridget lightly, "You've got to distract yourself from it a little bit you know…"
Bridget shook her head, "I just can't get the look on Bellamy's out of my mind," Bridget remarked, "She's devastated, and I'm worried for her."
"We're all worried about her," Hannah Baker said from her bed- she was lying down reading her Charms book.
"Well," Bridget said slowly, "How's Harry after that bloody Dementor attack?"
"He's fine," Rose answered softly as she took a moment to look out her window- it was wet and pouring outside, "He won't be in the hospital long, in fact he just has to stay one night."
"It's ridiculous," Hannah Baker chimed in, "How the Dementors just go after you and Harry- and there's nothing the Professors can do to protect you more from them?"
Rose scoffed at Hannah's reply and shook her head, "It's all about self-defense. We have to learn the Patronus spell according to Professor Lupin."
Bridget's eyes widened, "That's like- really advanced magic, Rose."
Rose nodded, "Yeah, so you can imagine what it's been like for me- haven't even managed to get out a mere spittle of light from the end of my wand."
Bridget and Hannah fell quiet.
"Well, I wouldn't panic yet," Hannah tried to reassure Rose, "It's not like Sirius Black is at Hogwarts right now as we speak. And it's honestly a miracle Gryffindor still won that match and beat the Slytherin team!"
Rose sighed. Her attempts at having a girls night had been thwarted.
Just then a knock came pounding on her door. Rose and Bridget looked at each other. Rose slowly got up to answer the door- there was a pale, scared looking Cedric standing out front.
"Cedric!" Rose greeted, but he quickly shook his head to stop her cheerful response.
"We have to go to the Great Hall now," Cedric panted, "And I have to go before I get zapped by the big plant out front for being in the girls' section."
"Cedric?" Bridget asked in concern as she walked over to stand by Rose, "What's happening?"
Cedric gulped and it looked as if he was about to start dripping sweat before he said, "Sirius Black's entered the castle."
Rose suddenly felt as though she might faint.
"Alright," Hannah Baker said, "I take back what I said earlier."
Bridget shook her head. Together, her Bridget and Hannah followed Cedric down to the Great Hall. Rose made brief eye contact with Harry upon entering the Hall but she quickly had to sit with her fellow Hufflepuffs as they waited for Dumbledore to make some announcements.
"Students!" His voice echoed and boomed across the Great Hall, "As you may have heard Sirius Black has entered the castle. We found out from the Fat Lady's portrait as he slashed her picture when he tried to enter the Gryffindor Tower. For your own safety as we are unable to trace the location of Sirius Black all students will sleep in the Great Hall tonight- no one is allowed to leave or walk around by his or herself."
And just like that the lights dimmed and the tables began to push themselves against the walls as the students quickly stood up to make way for the tables to move. Rose accidently bumped into someone and she turned to apologize but stopped when she saw it was Pansy Parkinson. Pansy was of course smirking at her.
"Hello, Pansy," Rose greeted her dryly, "It's been a long time."
Pansy nodded, "We've been avoiding each other pretty well this year."
" I've noticed. Let's keep is that way?" Rose asked tightly. Pansy chuckled.
"I'd be scared if I were you," Pansy said darkly, "Knowing that Sirius Black is in this castle looking for my own head."
"Thanks for the encouragement, Pansy." Rose muttered. Pansy shrugged and walked away over to Draco who eyed Rose coldly as if wondering what kind of exchange had just occurred between her and Pansy. Rose quickly turned away to find a spot to sleep on the floor. She spotted Harry from across the hall with Ron and Hermione. He looked at Rose desperately as if wanting to tell her something- but they were too far away to actually be able to communicate. Rose shrugged apologetically at a loss of what to do.
She scanned the room George was already sleeping and Fred was chatting casually to Angelina. Ginny was talking to Neville right by George. She sighed- she guessed she'd just have to hope to speak to Harry and George in the morning.
In line with the events of the day Rose had a fretful sleep- in fact, it was the opposite of sleeping, Rose was trying to keep herself awake. She didn't want to dream about anything at all tonight, because she feared that if she did she would be stuck in her sleep with Sirius Black. And for some reason, that prospect was far scarier than staying awake and being aware of what was happening.
