Harry looked around the office trying to avoid Dumbledore's eyes. Dumbledore always looked like he could read Harry's mind and that was the last thing Harry needed now. His mind was whirling with a jumble of confused thoughts. What had Sirius been thinking? What did he want with Ron? Malfoy had seemed worried about Sirius earlier but he'd also said he'd deal with it.
'Who can tell me what happened tonight?' Dumbledore asked.
The boys all started talking at once. Harry was the only one who stayed silent.
Dumbledore held up a hand, silencing the other boys. 'One at a time please. Mr Weasley, could you please tell us what happened.'
'… Well, I was asleep, and I heard this ripping noise, and I thought it was in my dream, you know? But then there was this draught …'
Dumbledore nodded patiently.
'I rolled over … and I saw him standing over me … like a skeleton, with loads of filthy hair … holding this great long knife, must've been twelve inches…'
'He did not have a knife.' Harry couldn't help himself, he spoke before he could stop himself.
Everyone's eyes snapped towards Harry. He looked down at the floor.
'He did! He had a knife!' Ron said.
'Ron's right, he did!' Dean said.
Harry grit his teeth to keep himself from arguing.
'What happened next, Mr Weasley?' Dumbledore asked calmly.
'Well he looked at me, and I looked him. Then Harry woke up and … he told me I was having a nightmare.'
Everyone looked at Harry again. Harry's mind froze and he suddenly felt sick. 'I didn't see him at first,' he lied. 'I didn't have my glasses on.'
'Yes you did!' Ron cried.
Harry risked a glance at Dumbledore. Dumbledore was staring back at him with that all-knowing look of his.
Harry jumped as the door opened and professors McGonagall and Snape walked in.
'The school's all clear,' Snape said. 'There's no sign of Black anywhere.
Harry's body slumped with relief. He had to try very hard to keep himself from smiling.
'We've moved all the students into the Great Hall for the night,' McGonagall said.
Dumbledore nodded. 'Good. As you were saying Mr Weasley?'
'Right, so then he disappeared. I think he had an invisibility cloak. We all jumped out of bed and ran downstairs but he was gone.'
Silence followed Ron's words.
'An invisibility cloak.'
Harry fidgeted and avoided Dumbledore's gaze.
'Mr Finnigan, what happened to your head?' McGonagall asked.
'We fell down the stairs,' Seamus said.
'Harry pushed him down the stairs!' Dean said.
'I did not, I fell!' Harry snapped. 'I tripped on my blankets.'
Behind him Snape scoffed, earing himself a hard look from Dumbledore.
'Did you speak to the portrait Minerva? Does she know how Black managed to get in.'
'She said she opened to let a Gryffindor inside not long before the disturbance.' McGonagall sighed with exasperation, 'Oliver Wood was apparently outside flying. If Black had an invisibility cloak he could have followed Wood in. She also said,' McGonagall glanced at Snape. 'Draco Malfoy has been attempting to enter the Gryffindor common rooms.'
'It's true!' Dean said. 'Seamus and I kicked him out today!'
Harry gripped the sides of his seat. Snape looked like he had swallowed a lemon. 'You can't seriously be suggesting that one of my students…'
'Thank you, Minerva and Severus,' Dumbledore said. 'I think it's time for you boys to join your school mates. Professor McGonagall will escort you to the Great Hall.'
Harry leapt to his feet, eager to escape Dumbledore's office.
Percy was trying, not very successfully, to stop the other students from speculating about Sirius Black when McGonagall ushered them into the Great Hall. Harry noticed the sleeping bag she guided him to was right at the back of the Hall, far away from the entrance. Despite knowing he was in no real danger it made Harry feel warm inside to realise that McGonagall was worried about him. While they were walking, Harry saw Draco sit up and look at him with panic in his eyes. A part of Harry, the part that was furious at Malfoy and Sirius for keeping him in the dark and for causing this mess, wanted to ignore the question he saw in Malfoy's look. He couldn't bring himself to though and he offered Malfoy a small nod indicating that Sirius had escaped. Malfoy sighed with relief and collapsed down into his sleeping bag.
Harry and Ron settled into their own sleeping bags. Hermione quickly shuffled over towards them. All around them people were asking each other the same question, how did he get in? Harry tried to ignore the chatter and feign sleep. Unfortunately, Ron and Hermione were having none of it.
'What the hell Harry?' Ron whispered harshly.
'Are you OK Harry? What happened?' Hermione whispered at the same time.
Harry ignored Ron. 'Sirius Black was in our dormitory. I'm fine Hermione, he ran away when we woke up.'
Ron didn't give up. 'I know you saw him Harry, you had your glasses on! Why didn't you do anything? Why'd you tell me I was dreaming?'
Hermione looked between them with confusion. 'What?'
Harry turned away, he didn't know what to say. Luckily, he was saved be Percy. 'The lights are going out now! I want everyone in their sleeping bags and no more talking!'
The last thing Harry saw before the lights went out was Malfoy watching him from across the hall.
The next morning Harry wanted nothing more than to run down to the Whomping Willow and confront Sirius but Ron and Hermione were watching him too carefully. Ron must have filled Hermione in on what had happened. Harry hurried from the Hall trying to avoid their questions. He didn't know what to say. What could he say? It was clear that Ron knew Harry had lied. This was all Sirius's fault, his and Malfoy's. It just made no sense, why would Sirius do this? Harry might have understood if Sirius had broken into the school to go after Pettigrew but instead he'd broken into the Gryffindor common room. There was only one thing Harry knew for sure and that was that he was done being kept in the dark.
Harry finally reached the dormitories. The sight of Ron's torn curtains did nothing to improve his mood. He collapsed into his bed and buried his head in his pillow. Harry heard the door open and close again. He rolled his head to the side to see Ron and Hermione walk in. They sat down together on Ron's bed and watched Harry patiently. They'd obviously talked before they came in and decided not to push him. Harry grit his teeth.
'Harry…' Hermione said.
'Please,' Harry begged, 'I want to tell you but I can't, not yet.'
'We let it go before Harry but this is serious. If there's something going on that involves Sirius Black…' Hermione trailed off.
Harry turned his head back into the pillow. He heard Ron's blankets rusting.
'Ron?' Hermione asked.
Harry turned his head to see what was going on. Ron was pulling his sheets up frantically searching for something. When he didn't find what he was looking for he started pulling his things out from his trunk. Hermione looked at Harry nervously.
'Ron? What's wrong?' she asked.
Ron looked up furiously. 'Scabber's is gone!' he yelled. 'Your cat chased him away!'
Harry slipped out while Ron and Hermione were busy arguing. He checked over his shoulder before hurrying over to the Whomping Willow. He could hear arguing coming from inside the tunnel. He recognised the voices as belong to Sirius and Malfoy. Their voices were quitter and more subdued than Ron and Hermione's shouts had been but they didn't sound happy. Harry stormed down the stairs.
Sirius and Malfoy stopped talking at once and turned towards him.
Harry took a deep breath. 'Tell me what's going on right now or I'm going to Dumbledore.'
