Eddie did not really go to the common room. She just wandered the halls and
looked around a bit. Everything was strangely empty-not a person was in
sight. Just portraits, but even the people in the portraits seemed to have
vanished. Only walls and walls of emptiness.
Her footsteps echoed through the halls and Eddie wandered around for hours, thinking of nothing, and taking in nothing. It was as if she were sleepwalking. It wasn't until her feet screamed with a terrible ache that she realized how late it was. Most students were probably getting ready for bed or already asleep. Eddie looked around her, and recognizing the surroundings, pulled the last of her strength and ran into the common room.
The common room was just as empty as the halls had been a few hours ago. Not a person was there, but the fire was crackling merrily. Eddie was mesmerized by the dancing light, and soon fell asleep on the soft chair she was sitting on.
Eddie was strangely cold. And she felt uncomfortable. She was not lying down in a bed, but she was seated. Eddie frowned before remembering where she was. The last of the fire was dying out. She flicked her wand at the fireplace and the light roared back.
"Hey Princess," said a soft voice. Eddie's usual reaction would have been to hex Sirius into the oblivion, but this time it was different. He had not said Princess in that offending, scornful mocking tone of voice, but more in a soft, playful one. Eddie turned around as she yawned. Sirius stood behind her.
"Whatcha doin'?" he asked.
"I was sleeping."
"I see. So how come I don't have something sprouting out of my skin?"
"I dunno. Because you're not being a prat?" Eddie suddenly clamped lips together. She was mentally beating herself up. Sirius laughed and sat himself in the chair opposite of her. Eddie gave him an odd look.
"So..."
"So..."
"Er, I'm sorry about your family," he said jerkily.
"W-what? Oh, that's alright. It-it was 'expected.'" Sirius raised an eyebrow, but did not question her.
"How come you don't eat anymore?"
"Don't I?"
"No. I can tell-you look like skin and bones. Plus you didn't even touch your food at the feast."
"Mmm."
"Come on, Princess! You've gotta eat sooner or later, otherwise you'll die!"
"Well I'm not hungry," she replied firmly.
"Hmmm. Well what if I take you to the kitchens-they have the best food there AFTER the feast. I'm hungry anyways..." Eddie perked up. THE KITCHENS? HOW THE HELL DID HE FIND THE KITCHENS? She thought to herself.
Eddie heaved a sigh and got up. She wanted to go into her dormitory, but she wanted to see the kitchens as well-this may be her only chance! So doing a random pick, she squeezed her eyes shut before letting Sirius drag her down to the kitchens.
The corridors were dark and empty, except for the occasional ghost who passed by. Eddie could feel her heart thumping every time she heard a sound. This was not how she had planned her year to start off. Normally the only time she would even SPEAK to the Marauders (or more like yell) was to tell them off for losing house points, or scream at them for hexing people in the halls. Oh, and for their midnight extravaganzas. And yet, here she was, roaming the halls in the dead of night with none other than Sirius Black, James Potter's partner in crime. WHAT HAVE I DONE, she thought to herself. I'VE BETRAYED MYSELF!
As the two silently walked around, Sirius abruptly stopped in front of a portrait of a bowl of fruit. Even in the darkness Eddie could see him grinning, his pearl white teeth sparkling in the dark. He reached out and tickled the pear and suddenly, a doorknob appeared. Eddie raised her eyebrows. She had passed this insignificant looking portrait so many times; she wondered how she had ever NOT seen a house elf come in and out of one.
"Wanna do the honours?"
"Huh? Oh, er, yeah." Eddie reached forwards and turned the doorknob, pushing the portrait forwards. She stared in awe at the sight-house elves were everywhere, scurrying about in their business. A particularly jumpy house elf ran forwards squeaking, "Master Sirius, Master Sirius! We is not expecting you so soon!" The elf seemed delighted.
"Is Master wanting the usual? And what about the Misses?"
"What? Oh, we're not married! I'm Eddie." Just then another house elf bound forward.
"Mistress Angelica!" Eddie winced. "Just call me Eddie. Please?" KwiKwi brought forward a plate of éclairs and milk. Eddie wasn't feeling particularly hungry, but the food looked so delicious. She shoved one in her mouth. Sirius looked amused.
"Ow come ou on't ferve vees," Eddie swallowed, "How come you don't serve these things during meals?"
"These is being special treats for kitchen visitors," said the first elf.
"Interesting." Several other elves came forwards with a platter of roast chicken, gravy and potatoes. For some reason, Eddie was hungry now. Her mouth was watering. She greedily ate the food, as if she had not eaten for a month. (Which was almost true, since she nearly never ate anyways).
"So how come you're so nice to me all of a sudden?" Eddie asked Sirius as she helped herself to another éclair. Sirius pursed his lips together before speaking.
"You know my family-dark idiots and such..."
"Uh huh."
"Well they were planning something when I left last year. I just didn't know what. They're Death Eaters you know-even Regulus, and he's only fifteen."
"What!"
"Yeah... I think that they were the ones who killed off those muggles last week. I-I guess I felt," Sirius paused. "I guess I felt guilty."
"Well don't be," said Edie curtly, "You're not a Death Eater I hope, so you have no reason to be."
"But I could have told somebody that they were planning! Of course I bet that everybody knows who they are." Eddie spoke no more. She took the butterbeer and got up.
"Some on-we'd better get going. It's getting l-early."
"Good idea. Let's go."
After thanking the house elves, Eddie and Sirius left. They were just nearly at Gryffindor Common room when Sirius swore.
"What?"
"Filch is headed this way," he hissed.
"What? How can you tell?"
"Never mind! Just hurry up and run. Professor Holloway is in the other way."
"What! Oh shoot!"
"Just run-we can't risk being slow. We're almost there. Ready? 3, 2, 1!" Eddie ran-she could hear Filch's footsteps and professor Holloway shouting. Eddie ran. Sirius was already at the portrait. He muttered the password and waited for Eddie to get in before letting it shut.
The two panted before dropping onto the floor.
"No, not now," wheezed Sirius, "They'll be coming in-get into your dorm."
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it. EVER."
The two ran into their dorms just as the portrait slammed open. Eddie threw on her pyjamas right on her robes and jumped into bed as noiselessly as possible. She could hear Filch cursing in the common room, and boys complaining angrily as Holloway was ransacking their dormitories for anybody out of bed.
"We're trying to sleep here!"
"Yeah-go bother somebody else!"
"How do you know it was even us? It could be the girls!"
"SILENCE!" screamed Holloway. All was silent.
"Should I EVER catch anybody out of bed, you can just imagine what'll happen to you as punishment. Filch-get those ruddy girls out of their beds." Eddie bit her lip. Thanking God that she was in seventh year and not first, she quickly changed her clothes completely, and messed up her hair. She could hear the younger girls complaining now as filch screamed from the bottom of the stairs. A fifth year came in and woke up all the seventh years.
"There's a dorm check or something going on. We have to get down." Grumbling, the girls put on their robes before slipping downstairs.
"What's going on?" whispered Lily, "and where were you?"
"Shh! Not now!"
"SILENCE! No more complaints! Tonight somebody was out of bed in this area. I don't know who it was, but rest assured that I WILL find out whom," he spat, glaring at the Marauders, "and the person WILL be punished accordingly." Everybody glared at him. He smiled sweetly.
"And since you're all awake now anyways, I suppose I might as well pick up your essays." The common room exploded with whines and complaints.
"SILENCE!" Suddenly professor McGonagall stepped into the common room.
"Christopher! I believe that I'm head of house here! What is going on? And so early in the morning too...One would think that you were a mere child!" Holloway huffed indignantly.
"There were students out of bed this morning, MINERVA. Filch and I was checking around the area when we heard running. The Fat Lady would not tell us who was out."
"Well you should know to leave this for me-you do not see me barging into the Slytherin common room at 1:00 in the morning, do you? I think not!" Holloway scowled and motioned for Filch to follow him out. McGonagall smirked before turning back to the students.
"Bed. NOW!"
Her footsteps echoed through the halls and Eddie wandered around for hours, thinking of nothing, and taking in nothing. It was as if she were sleepwalking. It wasn't until her feet screamed with a terrible ache that she realized how late it was. Most students were probably getting ready for bed or already asleep. Eddie looked around her, and recognizing the surroundings, pulled the last of her strength and ran into the common room.
The common room was just as empty as the halls had been a few hours ago. Not a person was there, but the fire was crackling merrily. Eddie was mesmerized by the dancing light, and soon fell asleep on the soft chair she was sitting on.
Eddie was strangely cold. And she felt uncomfortable. She was not lying down in a bed, but she was seated. Eddie frowned before remembering where she was. The last of the fire was dying out. She flicked her wand at the fireplace and the light roared back.
"Hey Princess," said a soft voice. Eddie's usual reaction would have been to hex Sirius into the oblivion, but this time it was different. He had not said Princess in that offending, scornful mocking tone of voice, but more in a soft, playful one. Eddie turned around as she yawned. Sirius stood behind her.
"Whatcha doin'?" he asked.
"I was sleeping."
"I see. So how come I don't have something sprouting out of my skin?"
"I dunno. Because you're not being a prat?" Eddie suddenly clamped lips together. She was mentally beating herself up. Sirius laughed and sat himself in the chair opposite of her. Eddie gave him an odd look.
"So..."
"So..."
"Er, I'm sorry about your family," he said jerkily.
"W-what? Oh, that's alright. It-it was 'expected.'" Sirius raised an eyebrow, but did not question her.
"How come you don't eat anymore?"
"Don't I?"
"No. I can tell-you look like skin and bones. Plus you didn't even touch your food at the feast."
"Mmm."
"Come on, Princess! You've gotta eat sooner or later, otherwise you'll die!"
"Well I'm not hungry," she replied firmly.
"Hmmm. Well what if I take you to the kitchens-they have the best food there AFTER the feast. I'm hungry anyways..." Eddie perked up. THE KITCHENS? HOW THE HELL DID HE FIND THE KITCHENS? She thought to herself.
Eddie heaved a sigh and got up. She wanted to go into her dormitory, but she wanted to see the kitchens as well-this may be her only chance! So doing a random pick, she squeezed her eyes shut before letting Sirius drag her down to the kitchens.
The corridors were dark and empty, except for the occasional ghost who passed by. Eddie could feel her heart thumping every time she heard a sound. This was not how she had planned her year to start off. Normally the only time she would even SPEAK to the Marauders (or more like yell) was to tell them off for losing house points, or scream at them for hexing people in the halls. Oh, and for their midnight extravaganzas. And yet, here she was, roaming the halls in the dead of night with none other than Sirius Black, James Potter's partner in crime. WHAT HAVE I DONE, she thought to herself. I'VE BETRAYED MYSELF!
As the two silently walked around, Sirius abruptly stopped in front of a portrait of a bowl of fruit. Even in the darkness Eddie could see him grinning, his pearl white teeth sparkling in the dark. He reached out and tickled the pear and suddenly, a doorknob appeared. Eddie raised her eyebrows. She had passed this insignificant looking portrait so many times; she wondered how she had ever NOT seen a house elf come in and out of one.
"Wanna do the honours?"
"Huh? Oh, er, yeah." Eddie reached forwards and turned the doorknob, pushing the portrait forwards. She stared in awe at the sight-house elves were everywhere, scurrying about in their business. A particularly jumpy house elf ran forwards squeaking, "Master Sirius, Master Sirius! We is not expecting you so soon!" The elf seemed delighted.
"Is Master wanting the usual? And what about the Misses?"
"What? Oh, we're not married! I'm Eddie." Just then another house elf bound forward.
"Mistress Angelica!" Eddie winced. "Just call me Eddie. Please?" KwiKwi brought forward a plate of éclairs and milk. Eddie wasn't feeling particularly hungry, but the food looked so delicious. She shoved one in her mouth. Sirius looked amused.
"Ow come ou on't ferve vees," Eddie swallowed, "How come you don't serve these things during meals?"
"These is being special treats for kitchen visitors," said the first elf.
"Interesting." Several other elves came forwards with a platter of roast chicken, gravy and potatoes. For some reason, Eddie was hungry now. Her mouth was watering. She greedily ate the food, as if she had not eaten for a month. (Which was almost true, since she nearly never ate anyways).
"So how come you're so nice to me all of a sudden?" Eddie asked Sirius as she helped herself to another éclair. Sirius pursed his lips together before speaking.
"You know my family-dark idiots and such..."
"Uh huh."
"Well they were planning something when I left last year. I just didn't know what. They're Death Eaters you know-even Regulus, and he's only fifteen."
"What!"
"Yeah... I think that they were the ones who killed off those muggles last week. I-I guess I felt," Sirius paused. "I guess I felt guilty."
"Well don't be," said Edie curtly, "You're not a Death Eater I hope, so you have no reason to be."
"But I could have told somebody that they were planning! Of course I bet that everybody knows who they are." Eddie spoke no more. She took the butterbeer and got up.
"Some on-we'd better get going. It's getting l-early."
"Good idea. Let's go."
After thanking the house elves, Eddie and Sirius left. They were just nearly at Gryffindor Common room when Sirius swore.
"What?"
"Filch is headed this way," he hissed.
"What? How can you tell?"
"Never mind! Just hurry up and run. Professor Holloway is in the other way."
"What! Oh shoot!"
"Just run-we can't risk being slow. We're almost there. Ready? 3, 2, 1!" Eddie ran-she could hear Filch's footsteps and professor Holloway shouting. Eddie ran. Sirius was already at the portrait. He muttered the password and waited for Eddie to get in before letting it shut.
The two panted before dropping onto the floor.
"No, not now," wheezed Sirius, "They'll be coming in-get into your dorm."
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it. EVER."
The two ran into their dorms just as the portrait slammed open. Eddie threw on her pyjamas right on her robes and jumped into bed as noiselessly as possible. She could hear Filch cursing in the common room, and boys complaining angrily as Holloway was ransacking their dormitories for anybody out of bed.
"We're trying to sleep here!"
"Yeah-go bother somebody else!"
"How do you know it was even us? It could be the girls!"
"SILENCE!" screamed Holloway. All was silent.
"Should I EVER catch anybody out of bed, you can just imagine what'll happen to you as punishment. Filch-get those ruddy girls out of their beds." Eddie bit her lip. Thanking God that she was in seventh year and not first, she quickly changed her clothes completely, and messed up her hair. She could hear the younger girls complaining now as filch screamed from the bottom of the stairs. A fifth year came in and woke up all the seventh years.
"There's a dorm check or something going on. We have to get down." Grumbling, the girls put on their robes before slipping downstairs.
"What's going on?" whispered Lily, "and where were you?"
"Shh! Not now!"
"SILENCE! No more complaints! Tonight somebody was out of bed in this area. I don't know who it was, but rest assured that I WILL find out whom," he spat, glaring at the Marauders, "and the person WILL be punished accordingly." Everybody glared at him. He smiled sweetly.
"And since you're all awake now anyways, I suppose I might as well pick up your essays." The common room exploded with whines and complaints.
"SILENCE!" Suddenly professor McGonagall stepped into the common room.
"Christopher! I believe that I'm head of house here! What is going on? And so early in the morning too...One would think that you were a mere child!" Holloway huffed indignantly.
"There were students out of bed this morning, MINERVA. Filch and I was checking around the area when we heard running. The Fat Lady would not tell us who was out."
"Well you should know to leave this for me-you do not see me barging into the Slytherin common room at 1:00 in the morning, do you? I think not!" Holloway scowled and motioned for Filch to follow him out. McGonagall smirked before turning back to the students.
"Bed. NOW!"