A/N:Two cliffhangers in a row.
Chapter Three
"Scatter!" I shrieked, quickly shooting up, Fred and George falling down and away. I would lead the Dementors away from them and then somehow manage to escape.
If I lived, that is.
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I'll say this much.
Waking up to Umbridge's face in the Gryffindor common room was not what I expected.
What was also unexpected was realizing I was..I dunno...IN A PAINTING!
"Clever." I smirked, though inwardly, I was cursing her in every known language with every known swear word that came to mind.
"I certainly thought so." she said smugly. "I had this painting created just for you."
"For me? You shouldn't have!" I gushed with fake excitement.
"Unfortunately for you, your being is here, while I have your body."
"Oh great. So I'm dead now?" I growled.
"Oh no dear. You wouldn't believe how difficult that would make my job. It's actually extremely difficult to transfer a part of your soul into a full length painting but still be alive, but I figured that if I was to make a point, all the more extravegant." Umbridge smiled, looking toadlike.
"So...I'm in here...why?" I sighed, leaning against the wall of the painting.
There was that gagworthy smile again. "As a symbol to the rebels of course. I want this to be an example of what happens to those who oppose me."
"I don't blame them for opposing you, with that nasty smile you always give 'em." I sneered. "By the way, where is everyone?"
"At dinner of course. But what a treat they will have when they arrive back!" that's about the time I realized that my painting was placed so it was the first thing the students of Gryffindor would see as they entered the Common Room.
"What painting does that way lead?" I asked, pointing to the door at the other side of the painting.
"To the other paintings in this room. I have a spell that prevents you from leaving this room, so don't bother trying to leave."
I snorted. "Where exactly would I go, may I ask?" I said sarcastically.
"Who knows? Well, I should be going. I have a Hufflepuff in detention tonight." with that, she spun on her heel, and left.
"Really? I'm stuck in a painting with nothing to do for Merlin knows how long. Wait." I fumbled around, reaching into my boot, pleased that my wand was still there.
Okay then, I'm stuck in a painting with a wand for entertainment. This should be fun...
Stepping over to the door, I entered and found myself across the room with the kind looking barn owl. I checked out my own painting from here.
It was as tall as I was, so a full length one, with a dark gold ornate trim and a dark red background patterned with ornate gold diamonds. It was, extravegant, as Umbridge called it.
I spent the next hour or so exploring the Common Room paintings, befriending three older wizards who were near the ceiling to the left of the fireplace, a lion, and the wolf pack over by the entrance of the Common Room.
When I heard the sound of footsteps, I hid in the owl painting, watching from in between two branches as the students came in, chattering happily. Then they saw the painting frame.
"Blimey. Who died?" I immediately heard Seamus Finnigan say curiously.
I mentally rolled my eyes, but watched as the entire Gryffindor population gathered in front of my empty painting.
Then I caught sight of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. A pang of jealousy shot through me before I realized it wasn't Harry's fault. He probably didn't even know about the fact I wasn't seeing my dad.
"I dunno mate, but it looks like someone important." Ron commented. A murmur of agreement rippled through the room.
"You think it might be some pureblood bloke from the Ministry?" some third year spoke up.
"I wouldn't put it past Umbridge." Harry said, sounding...old. Tired. Defeated.
I slipped out of the owl painting, opening the door to mine and stepping in.
"Hey guys, did ya miss me?" I folded my arms and leaned against the wall.
"TARA!"
I smiled sadly.
"Yep. The one and only."
Harry shoved his way through the mob, standing in front of me, shock clear on his face.
"Are you-?" I shook my head.
"Hell no. You think I'd give up that easily?" I snorted. "You really underestimate me Harry."
Ron stepped forward. "Are Fred and George okay?"
I nodded.
"The last I saw of them was their brooms as I lead the Dementors away."
"Dementors?" the crowd gasped. I eyed them. "Really. Just..really. This is Umbridge. She doesn't play fair, in case you haven't noticed."
"Oh dear! Ashie is stuckie in a painting!" Peeves cackled, floating up through the floor.
"Hey Peeves! How's the destruction going?" I asked, grinning.
He merely cackled again, only this time, over half of the students laughed with him.
"How did flooding the sixth floor go?" someone shouted.
"I do believe Peeves turned on all of the sinks and flooded the bathrooms and hallways as soon as you left." Finnigan yelled.
I clapped. "Bravo Peeves, you've done it again. By the way, anyone want to tell High and Mighty McGonagall I'm back so she can say hello?"
Mumbled responces were my reply, but there was a small group that quickly left. "Peeves? I've got a mission for you.."
Peeves' face split into a leering smile. "Ashie Ashie, gonna mash me, torture toadface gladly!" he cackled.
I grinned back. "Tell me, how many ghosts are there in the castle?"
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LupinPOV
Lupin paced in front of his fireplace, looking towards the flames longingly. Though he knew that the Floo Network to Hogwarts was safe, he wasn't sure if he should go. Tara would be upset...but he had to tell Harry that she and the Twins were on the move.
"I'll be gone for a minute." he told himself before grabbing a small handful of Floo Powder.
Stepping into the cool flames, he tossed the powder down and called out, "Gryffindor Common Room, Hogwarts!"
The sense of swirling surrounded him, and he stepped out into the Common Room he, James, Sirius, and Peter had often been in as students.
The sound of footsteps sounded behind him, and in a panic, Lupin dashed back into the fire, dropping another handful and sayinghe name of Grimmauld Place clearly.
Breathing a sigh of relief, he sat at the kitchen table, wondering when he would see Harry.
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TaraPOV
The days passed uneventfully.
Even though I was in a painting, I was hungry, but there was no food to satisfy my hunger. I'm guessing this was Umbridge's master plan. But since only a piece of my soul was in the painting, I guess it meant that I could still be hungry, and get thin. Hermione tried to get into the restricted section at night at the library, but Umbridge herself set up a security system that would shriek if someone went in. (Or so I was told).
There was almost nothing to do except practice my spell casting and play hide and seek with the students who had nothing to do during the day.
And get weaker and weaker.
It had to have been at least two months before help came in the form of Professor Flitwick.
"Ms. Ashe!" he whispered in my face, waking me out of a dead sleep.
"Professor?" I whispered back in confusion.
"I found the counter spell to free you from the painting." he giggled quietly under his breath, rather girlish in the moment.
"Say it! I have to get out of here!"
Flitwick muttered a rather long and complicated spell that I can't even pronounce, and then a wrenching pain shot through me. I opened my mouth to scream, but nothing came out. The Common Room was fading, and then I was suddenly in Umbridge's empty office. I coughed, catching my breath.
Only to hear the sound of footsteps racing down the hall outside the door.