disclimer...ok ive said it lots before...this aint mine...well the story is but not the mauruders or other noticable characters from JKRowlings books so deal with it!!!!!

Hogwarts Second Years

Chapter Nine – The Aftermath

The first thing Dumbledore established was silence. Once that was achieved he saw that Professor McGonagall went to the hole to see if she could get any students safe. As she was doing that, Professor Sprout and Professor Slughorn organised the students into a long line.

"A buddy system!" suggested Professor Dumbledore. And he read down a list pairing the students off. "Stay with your buddy and make sure you are both all right!" The Headmaster said as he continued down his list. Slowly, the second years searched for their buddy. James, Remus and Peter stayed close together, still searching for Sirius as they gathered their buddy's. Lily, Madelyn and Mackenzie were all fine, only suffering a few cuts and bruises. To the six of them found a little corner and sat there. They were soon joined by Frank and his buddy Cortessa. Alice was still searching for Sirius. It was perhaps bad luck that she found her sister first.

The Ravenclaw's sat in a small group on the steps. They were mostly fine, Amira and Padriac a little the worse for wear. Jetta and Lyam both had at least one broken bone from being thrown. They sat quietly next to their buddy, not saying a word. Nearby sat the Hufflepuff's. After being rescued, Arabella and Hamish seemed perfectly fine. In fact, Hamish was still looking for his buddy, Melody. Amelia Bones had a rather nasty bump on her head and Charlie Seymour was supporting a wide range of cuts on his arms. They too sat in silence, waiting for Hamish to find Melody.

The Slytherin's were perhaps the loudest. Jackson Nott was screaming that they find his sister and completely ignoring Taliyah, who was trying to get him to sit down. Scarlett, who had a rather nasty cut on her forehead, was screaming at him to shut up as she leaned against her buddy, Rabastan Lestrange. Morganna and Severus were sitting in silence, each ignoring the other and surveying the damage, Morganna with a look of glee, Severus with one of horror. William Boyd was searching around for Isabella and having no luck. Noticing that her cousin was missing, Bellatrix started to scream for attention too. Then a cry came that silenced them all. It was a cry of horror mixed with sadness. It was a cry of regret and loss above all else.

"NO!" screamed Alice above all the noise, "No," she whispered into the deafening silence. And she sunk to her knees, reaching out a hand to her sister. In an instant McGonagall and Sprout were by her side. Melody looked so peaceful. She was half covered by a large slab of rock, her blond hair soaking up blood and dirt and her eyes closed. Before moving the rock, Professor Sprout checked to see if she was all right. To her immense relief, Melody was still breathing, if only just.

By now the fifth year Prefects had arrived with the Head Boy and Girl. Professor Slughorn gathered all the injured students and told two Prefects to escort them to the Hospital Wing. James sat and watched Ackerly Finch and Dolores Umbridge head off with the small group. He looked over and saw Andromeda trying to calm her sister down. Then when she found out Sirius was missing she turned to Dumbledore and started shouting angrily. He saw Bellatrix crying into a third year's shoulder, and realised it was the other Black sister, Narcissa. Ted Tonks and the Head boy, Fredrick Moron headed to their Common Room with the Ravenclaw's but no one else moved from where they sat. Three teachers were gathered round the gaping hole with their wands out. James turned his attention on them, blocking out Andromeda's shouts. Over where Alice was sitting, Professor Sprout was carefully lifting Melody off the ground and beginning to take her to the Hospital Wing, Alice following close behind. James could see Arabella crying and gripping onto Hamish tightly. The other Hufflepuff's were gathered around them, each one either looking lost or crying. Giving a great sigh that was countered by Mackenzie, James looked back to the hole in time to see them lifting two bodies from it. One had the unmistakable black hair of Sirius Black; the other had long blonde hair. Jumping up, James went to race over to see his friend, but when the Black sisters gathered around Professor McGonagall he stepped back and sank to the ground. Mackenzie placed an arm around him consolingly and he relaxed into it.

Sirius was falling. Beside him he could see Isabella. She looked terrified but refused to scream. He reached out and gripped her hand; he didn't want to be alone. It was so dark. Like his worst nightmare. They never seemed to hit the bottom and that scared him. All of a sudden he felt something wrap around his middle and begin to pull him upwards. He shot a frightened glance at Isabella which she returned. The next thing he knew, he was being held by Professor McGonagall. He was soon surrounded by Bellatrix, Narcissa and Andromeda. No one hugged him, but Bella attached herself to his hand and for a moment it was like they had never fought. But they had and that nagging feeling in the back of his mind told him over and over. When he was placed on the ground, he looked around for James, wanting his friend near by. Seeing him leaning against Mackenzie, Sirius felt tears well up in his eyes. Andromeda crouched in front of him and tried to get him to respond to her and Bellatrix was gripping his hand. Kind Narcissa was standing to the side, letting him have room to breath. He wished the other two would leave him. James looked over to him and Sirius made eye contact for the briefest of seconds before Andromeda pulled his head back to face her. Sirius did the only thing he could think of and started screaming and screaming, throwing a tantrum. He just wanted James and Remus and Peter to come over. He didn't want this family who didn't really care for him. He was dimly aware of Bella letting him go and beginning to cry. Andromeda was hugging her sister and Narcissa was watching him with a slightly amused expression on her face. Out of all of them, Narcissa knew him best. She knew he only threw tantrums to get his way and sometimes to be left alone. She knew he wanted his friends more than anything. Still, once he had started, Sirius always had trouble stopping. So he screamed and flung anything he could until he tripped over. Then he lay on the ground kicking his legs and screaming. He felt a hand rub his head and another rub his shoulders. Then he heard the voices of James, Remus and Peter talking to him, trying to calm him. He knew Narcissa had gone to get them and for that he was thankful. His screams turned to hiccoughs and eventually his eyes began to droop, but he made sure to grab two hands tightly before he fell asleep.

James looked up once he was sure Sirius was sleeping. Dumbledore was talking to Andromeda and Bellatrix, telling them that Sirius only needed space and as it was holidays soon, they could see him then. Surprisingly, the teachers had allowed Sirius to have his tantrum. But looking around, James realised it was because it was a way to get the other students to leave. He saw Jackson and Isabella sitting on the steps near by, waiting to be escorted to the Hospital Wing. Narcissa was kneeling by Sirius' head, gently running her fingers through his hair and humming softly under her breath. She smiled softly at James and turned back to Sirius. Of all three sisters, she was the most confusing. Yet she was also the easiest to like. Perhaps it was because she was so quiet and didn't seek Sirius out all the time. But whatever it was that made dear Narcissa so likeable, James was not going to complain. Professor McGonagall came over and carefully scooped Sirius into her arms, motioning for James, Remus, Peter and Narcissa to follow her, she set off for the Hospital Wing. Jackson helped his sister to her feet and they followed behind.

Morganna sat on her favourite chair in the Slytherin Common Room and watched. She was feeling rather proud that the fates had proved right. She had enjoyed watching all the chaos as it unfolded right in front of her. It could have been worse and that was the thought that was nagging her. If only Melody had not shouted a warning. But you couldn't have everything. For now, her twelve year old mind was settled. She could wait for future years when she was more powerful. For now she would listen to everything her grandmother told her. She would read every book she could on ancient magic and learn all she could. For Morganna was not a cruel child, no all she wanted was power and to be noticed for something other than her beauty.

last chapter coming up next...does anyone like my story or am i just writing it for myself?? if so please review to let me no!!!!!