Chapter 3: The Stone

I sat alone in the Gryffindor Common room. Everyone was at dinner and a special feast for Halloween. I was not hungry, but depressed. I missed my mum so badly, even though I did not know her.

The pain was overwhelming and I began to cry, tears falling down on my chest, and my crystal necklace. "I've never seen a Black cry before," a voice said from behind me and I jumped. Fred Weasley the Second was staring at me, not in his usual mocking tone, but with sincere and caring eyes. I was livid.

"Yes, is that so? And I've never seen a Weasley without…freckles!" I snapped back at him, glaring him down with my intense black eyes. Fred suppressed a small smile and walked closer to me. "I'll hex you if you do anything funny, Weasley."

Fred sighed and sat down next to me. "You definitely are the most aggressive Gryffindor I have ever known. You know, we are usually supposed to be more haughty and all. You're just mean."

I snarled at Fred. "I don't see you being Godric Gryffindor himself, now do I? You don't seem haughty enough to be in Gryffindor either." I shot back at Fred who ran his fingers through his red hair and touched his tan skin with his middle finger.

"It wasn't my house of choice," Fred admitted as he looked into my eyes, trying to find my reaction. "I originally wanted Slytherin."

I stared at Fred, not sure if he was playing another one of his stupid pranks. "A Weasley? In Slytherin?" I asked in surprise. Fred smiled and I was quite unprepared for what he said next.

"You're a mix of three families. LeStrange, Black, and Malfoy. You're perhaps the second one to be sorted into Gryffindor? The first being your second cousin, Sirius?" he asked me. I bit my lip.

Fred really got to me. "I suppose you've figured me out. Gryffindor was originally the house of my choice. If you haven't noticed, I have a bit of a taste for rebellion running through me." I confessed sheepishly.

Fred grinned. "Really, now? I had no idea." Fred mocked me kindly. I smiled.

"And what of you? Why did you want to be in Slytherin?" I asked him.

Fred frowned. "Same reason as you, I suppose. But now, I'm becoming quite fond of the red and yellow, the lion, all of that sort. It's all very intriguing. It took me five years to conclude that much. I'm a bit excited to be a fourth year."

I chuckled. "Try being a sixth year," I told him rather harshly. "And the daughter of Voldemort's most loyal servants. How did you find out about it?" I asked him, feeling quite awkward.

Fred looked at me. We were both sitting on the sofa, our bodies only a few inches apart and a strange feeling hit me. Fred had beautiful eyes. The color of a sapphire stone. "You look like her, especially the hair and the eyes. And with all my respect, you have somewhat of the same attitude." Fred smiled.

I glared at him. "Well, at least I am not as pale as a piece of parchment paper." I snapped at him. Fred smiled, seeming utterly amused. "You don't take any insults, do you?" I asked him.

Just as Fred was about to answer back to me, probably something smart and haughty most likely, Molly came into the common room. "I noticed you two weren't at the feast tonight," Molly panted, her voice a bit rasped. "There was an attack."

I jumped up, as did Fred. "What do you mean an 'attack'?" I asked her in worry. "Was anyone hurt? Wait, who attacked us?"

Molly grabbed my arm. "Nobody knows." Molly then turned slightly hysteric. "But, Crucia, Scorpius and Rose are trapped in the classroom. McGonagall had us all gather in the Great Hall, she locked it up but I managed to get through the doors. The attackers are still-"

Fred grabbed Molly and I and dashed down the stairs of the common room. A blue light zipped by my head. I screamed. "Go, Molly! Go!" Fred pushed her as three masked figures chased after us.

Instantly, I pulled out my wand and shot a spell from behind me. "Stupefy!"

Molly looked at me in slight surprise, as if to say, "Why are you using a spell like that?" But it was the only one that came to mind.

"Which classroom are Rose and Scorpius in?" Fred roared to Molly.

"Ehger…" Molly searched her brain. "The Potions classroom, the Potions classroom!" Molly said eagerly as she dashed in front of us, leading the way. I chased after her and skidded on the floor. Fred and Molly didn't notice I had fallen.

The three figures approached me and I leaned against the wall, wanting desperately to cover and cower. I pointed my wand in front of me and trembled a bit. "I do not wish to spill pureblood…" a raspy voice said. I tried my best to glare at him. "But I will not mind taunting with it."

"Crucia Black…crucio!" another hooded figure shouted at me. I screamed and fell on the floor. Hot blades, hot blades…that's all I felt. It felt so long that I was under the curse, I could no longer hear myself scream. I writhed on the floor and felt some gashes appear on my arm.

Then there was a glorious light. A brilliant light. "Expecto patronum!"