It was a peaceful night at Hogwarts, and all the men, women and children slept peacefully inside their paintings. The only sounds heard were gentle snores. Then all of a sudden...
"AHHHH!"
Everyone woke up at the horrible scream disturbing the peace. Men and women grumbled, babies cried, and one poor fellow fell off his horse. One particular young man was so frightened his painting shook and almost dropped to the floor below.
"What on earth was that?" cried one scholarly gentleman.
"I don't know," replied a young lady, clutching her chest. "But whatever it is, it sounded dreadful. That scream..."
"AHHHH!"
"Oh, this is ridiculous," grumbled a farmer, kicking the grass beneath his feet. "I can't sleep with that noise."
"AHHHH!"
"It's getting worse," cried a young girl, clutching her ears.
A mother rocked her crying baby. "Oh, here it comes now! Please, don't hurt my baby!"
Everyone watched fearfully as Mr Filch came towards them, holding a painting. He grinned down at Mrs Norris, showing her the canvas. Unfortunately, his back was to the other portraits so no one could see the new arrival.
"What do you think, my sweet? A new painting. Scary, isn't it? It's based on a muggle painting." He sniggered, gesturing towards the other paintings. "This'll give 'em a fright."
He summoned a stepping stool and climbed up to hang the painting on the wall before descending and leaving, Aunt Norris following him.
"AHHHH!"
Finally, everyone got a good look at the new arrival. And its horrible…
"…The Scream," said the scholarly old gentleman, donning his spectacles and getting a good look at the scribbled name on the bottom. "By someone with the name of Edvard Munch." He chuckled. "Well, that explains the screaming." He waved at the swirling figure. "Hello there. Do you do anything other than scream?"
"AHHHH!"
Everyone covered their ears at the horrible noise.
"Oh, it's ghastly!"
"How do we live?"
"What do we do?"
"I'm leaving!"
"We'll all go deaf!"
Everyone fled out of sight. Had they stayed a little longer, they would've seen the look of fright turn into a smile and the hands drop. The Scream cackled. "He he he! That's right. I rule the corridor of paintings! Nothing will ever outshine me..."
Mr Filch returned with yet another painting and hung it up next to The Scream. He chuckled. "Here's a companion for ya." He walked away, and The Scream glanced at its new neighbour. "What are you smiling at?"
She didn't answer.
"AHHHH!"
But she didn't react, and The Scream grew frustrated.
"Seriously, what are you smiling at?"
Finally, she reacted. "You and your failed attempts to scare me. I rule this corridor now."
The Scream grinned maliciously, leaning forward and reading the name on her painting.
"We'll see about that, Mona Lisa."