Chapter 17

"What's wrong?" James asked Lily, who was deathly pale. Alyssa and Alaina had already left to go and retrieve Madam Pomfrey, the school healer. Both Sirius and Remus were extremely uncomfortable about the two girls going away by themselves.

"Is it Dumbledore?" Brittney asked, her face showed evident worry. Lily shook her head roughly, her hands covered her face.

"No! Its Naida!" Lily moaned. "The sixth year! One of her roommates came out screaming that Naida was fast asleep. Oh, she was covered in blood!" Lily sobbed, and James wrapped his arms tightly around her shoulders.

"Its okay, Lils'," James muttered, though he looked unconvinced. "Lyssa and Alaina went to get Madam Pomfrey. Naida will be alright."

"Are you talking about Naida Kinni? My ex-girlfriend?" Sirius asked, with his eyes wide. Naida had been the only girlfriend that had broken up with Sirius instead of the other way around. Two years ago, Sirius had caught

Naida making out with Chambers in a closet on the fourth floor. Though, he had to admit, it was not as painful as he thought it would have been. It however, made him seriously dislike Jake Chambers.

"Yes, she is the only Nadia in the school," Remus muttered, though not unkindly in any way.

The portrait suddenly burst open and Madam Pomfrey came in bustling in with Professor McGonagall right behind her. "Where are they?" Pomfrey asked, sweating slightly. Alaina, who had just came in with Alyssa, led the way up the stairs. Sirius felt the sudden urge to grab her around the waist and pulled her to him, however Sirius

resisted the urge. Alyssa walked over to Remus and grasped his hand tightly. Sirius pondered these new signs of affection between the two of them.

"What's going on?" Alyssa asked as she clutched Remus' arm. Remus and Peter relayed the information that they knew to her.

The common room was almost silent. Even though several students had awoken up and trudged down the stairs, it was as still as a summer night. James was holding Lily to his as chest as she continued to sob. Even when she did stop, neither of them felt the need to release another. Remus and Alyssa were sitting on a window seat, farther away from company. He had his arm draped over Alyssa's shoulder and she was leaning onto his chest. Brittney and Peter were sitting side by side with her hand gently on his knee. At first, Peter had turned pink but relaxed and had gently laid a hand on hers.

Sirius was standing in front of the fireplace. Over the mantle was a large mirror, which showed nearly every aspect of the crimson common room. Sirius was shocked at his appearance. His normally tan skin was extremely

pale, and his shiny, smooth black hair was lank and unkept. Through the mirror, Sirius was able to see the worried little boy that had wanted to escape all night long.

Instantly, the curly haired girl stepped out from the girls' staircase, looking almost as pale as Sirius. Pomfrey, McGonagall, and Dumbledore followed her. They were levitating a strecther in between them. Pomfrey and Dumbledore left, leaving McGonagall behind. She turned to the students in the common room.

"As many of you have more than likely heard, there has been an attack inside our tower. In twenty minutes, the headboy and girl will escort you down to the Great Hall, where you will be staying whilst we clear this mess up. Please, awaken any stragglers and get dressed." With those words, McGonagall left.

So that was how the day commenced. The four boys and the four girls separated for only five minutes, and they rushed to prepare for the day. Then they meet back downstairs, and helped Lily and James escort the Gryffindors to the Great Hall. Sirius greatly appreciated that he had never had to do this job permanently. It was hard keeping all of the annoying first years from running off in their frightened state. It was quite a hassle.

After the Gryffindors arrived in the Great Hall, the were soon meet up with the other three houses, who were all obviously confused. So it was in there hours following in the Great Hall that many things happened, that made the previous night seem even worse.