Draco once again found himself outside the Gryffindor common room. Sirius had said he wasn't going to do anything stupid but the distant look in his eyes had told Draco a different story. If he couldn't stop Sirius, then he'd just have to get the rat first.
'Good afternoon,' he said to the Fat Lady. His last attempt had been a failure but maybe she would respond better to politeness.
The Fat Lady looked unimpressed. 'Why are you back? I'll have you reported!'
Draco clenched his jaw to keep himself from insulting the stupid portrait. 'I'm sorry to bother you Ma'am,' he said. 'I was just wondering if you would let me in? My friend Harry is in Gryffindor and I need to talk to him about some homework.' He was glad no one was around to hear him refer to Potter as a friend.
The fat lady was about to respond when wall behind the portrait clicked and the door started opening. Draco thought for a moment that his ridiculous lie had worked before he heard the Fat Lady's muffled protests.
'No! Stop!' she screamed. 'Close the entrance! Slytherin!'
The door froze and Draco, seeing his chance, quickly grabbed the edge and pulled it open. The startled first year who had tried to open the door scurried out of the way as Draco ran inside. He was immediately assaulted by the ungodly sight of tacky red walls and furniture. Worse, there were about twenty Gryffindors staring at him, most of them had recovered from their shock and were starting to pull their wands. This wasn't the most well thought out plan.
'Malfoy!' The Head Boy Weasel said, 'you better have a good reason for this!'
Draco looked around the room. 'Err … I was looking for Potter,' he said. If he told Potter the truth about Pettigrew, Potter could help. Sirius would be pissed but at least he'd be safe.
'He already left for the feast,' Weasley said. 'Did a professor send you here?'
'Err …'
Weasley's eyes narrowed. 'I see,' he said. 'Get out! And don't think I won't report this to Dumbledore!'
'But you don't understand …' Draco pleaded. He didn't get to finish because suddenly Thomas and Finnegan had hold of him and were pushing him out the door. 'Get your hands off me!' he cried.
A firm hand shoved him forward out of the common room. He landed on his hands and knees ad the door slammed loudly behind him. So much for that.
The Great Hall had been decorated with hundreds of candle-filled pumpkins and flaming orange streamers for the Halloween Feast. The food was delicious and Harry, Ron, and Hermione all helped themselves to second helpings of everything. Harry kept glancing at the staff table. Was it just his imagination or were Snape's eyes flickering towards Professor Lupin more than what was natural? Professor Lupin himself still seamed healthy enough but Harry noticed a sadness in his eyes when he thought no one was watching him. Harry saw Professor McGonagall lay a comforting hand on his shoulder.
About half way through the Feast the doors opened and Draco Malfoy hurried over to his table. Harry immediately noticed the stress on his face and hoped whatever was bothering him had nothing to do with Sirius.
Across the other side of the table Seamus snorted. 'Prat. Hey Harry! Did you hear about what Malfoy did?'
'No? What?' Harry had a bad feeling.
'He broke into our common room.'
'What!' Harry, Ron, and Hermione said together.
'Yeah, I know right!' Seamus said. 'He said he was looking for you, Harry.'
'Why would he do that?' Hermione wondered.
Harry looked towards the Slytherin table where Malfoy was sitting with his head down glaring at his plate. 'I don't know,' he said honestly.
After the feast, Harry was so exhausted he fell asleep without even closing the curtains around his bed or taking off his glasses. It seemed like had only just closed his eyes when he was woken by a loud scream. He bolted upright and his stomach dropped as he saw Sirius standing over Ron's bed. Sirius had frozen and Ron looked too scared to move. Harry's eyes darted between Sirius and Ron in confusion. Was this really happening? It was hard to tell who looked more frightened.
'What's going on?' Seamus asked from behind his bed hangings.
'Nothing!' Harry called quickly. 'Ron just had a nightmare.'
Ron's head snapped towards Harry, his mouth has hanging open. 'Ha … Harry, Bl … Black, Sirius Black!'
'You're dreaming Ron,' Harry repeated.
Dean pulled in curtains opened and screamed.
Sirius finally pulled the invisibility cloak back on and disappeared. Harry saw the door open and slam shut.
'What's wrong?' Neville was up now too.
'Sirius Black! With a knife!'
'What!'
'Here! Just now! Slashed the curtains! Woke me up!'
'Are you sure you weren't dreaming, Ron?' Seamus asked.
'Look at my curtains!'
'I saw him too!' Dean said.
Harry watched helplessly as they all scrambled out of bed and headed towards the stair case. Seamus was in the lead. Harry swore and thinking quickly, threw himself at Seamus. They tumbled down the stairs together.
'Ow! Harry!'
'Sorry! I tripped on my blankets,' Harry lied.
The common room was still lit by the glow of the dying fire. Harry looked around, there was no sign of Sirius, hopefully he had gotten out.
'What's going on?'
'Who shouted?'
The screaming seemed to have woken up the whole Gryffindor house.
'Everyone back to bed!' Percy Weasley had appeared.
'Perce- Sirius Black! In our dormitory! With a knife! Woke me up!'
The common room went very still.
'Nonsense!' said Percy, looking startled. 'You had too much to eat, Ron – had a nightmare-'
'I'm telling you, -'
'I saw him too!' Dean said.
'His curtains were slashed!' Seamus added.
Percy looked very pale. 'A … accio Floo Powder.' A jar flew down the stairs and into Percy's shaking hands.
Percy threw a pinch of powder into the dying fire and suddenly disappeared.
'Hey! Where'd he go?' someone yelled.
'He left us!'
People were starting to panic.
'Hey!' Oliver Wood yelled. 'Everyone calm down! Percy's gone to get help!'
The talking immediate died down. It seemed to take a long time before the fire roared to life and Percy reappeared with Professor McGonagall in tow.
'The teachers are searching the school as we speak,' McGonagall said. Harry's stomach dropped. 'We need to search the common room too. Percy make sure you have everyone and then escort the Gryffindor's to the Great Hall. The other houses will be joining you soon.'
Percy quickly gathered the prefects and sent them to check each dormitory.
'Third year boys,' McGonagall called. 'The Headmaster would like a word.'
Harry looked at the other boys. Now the adrenalin had worn off they looked pale and shaky. Harry knew he must look the same, only he was scared for a completely different reason. What had Sirius been thinking? Hopefully he'd had time to get outside the castle and transform. He'd be safe as a dog.
McGonagall held the flow powder out to them.
'Professor Dumbledore's office!'
One by one Harry's dorm mates disappeared into the fire. Harry took a deep breath. 'Professor Dumbledore's office.'
