''Will she be alright, Professor?''

''Yes, but there is nothing to worry about, I assure you''

''But she got- she got hit with the-''

''I'm afraid that the mind plays many tricks on us''

''But we saw it! We did! I swear-''

''Minerva, I must ask you to escort the children to their bed. I will take care of the situation from now on''

''But-''

''Have a good night''

It had been far too obvious to the three of them. They were absolutely certain that it hadn't been a misunderstanding. How could they not believe them when they saw it so clearly? Right in front of them? Why would they ever make up such thing? But they knew the truth. It had happened. One moment they had all been running through the dungeons, spells being fired at them. Unforgivables. The next she had thrown them to a wall and did everything to stop, but it had been five over one and she could only take too much, they knew it. Harry had felt it was somehow a déjà vu. Lighting had stricken and they had all seen how the green light crashed against her, full on her chest and she fell backwards, collapsing lifeless on the ground. The five that had done such thing had seemed to come out of some trance. The one who had fired realized what he had done as he started to lower his wand. Imperiused, they said they all were. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had started screaming for help immediately. Ron had run out of anger and started hitting with his fists one of the guys that stood there petrified. But his tiny hands were nothing compared to seventh year's students' size.

Harry's heart had felt ripped out. He felt it had been his fault. If he hadn't asked them to go check what had been making such noise outside the Portrait's Hole, they wouldn't have been in the situation they were. Hermione crying and screamed desperately, tugging on her robes, not wanting it to be true.

It had been far too real for it to just have been a trick their minds had played on them.

... ... ... ...

''This is so good!'' Hermione squealed, smiling widely at Emmeline who sat next to her on Halloween, an hour or two before the Feast.

''I told you, didn't I? He's one of the best I've ever read. And that's just Hamlet, wait until you read all of the others'' Emmeline smiled, staring blankly to the ceiling.

''I might just finish this one in a while. Probably will re-read it since I just have about two hours reading it''

''They don't bite, George, they eat books only'' Fred came from downstairs and plopped down next to Emmeline.

''I'm starving, Freddie. Not thinking about jokes now'' sighed George, plopping down next to Hermione.

''Right, I forgot you were now friends with Warmsley'' Fred rolled his eyes.

''Jealous?'' Emmeline said in a mocking tone and winked at him. George and Hermione just laughed at them.

''Where's my dwarf of a brother?'' asked Fred. Hermione froze and her lips started trembling.

''Oh, Hermione-'' Emmeline started but Hermione took the book and ran out of the Common Room, sobbing. ''Great. Just perfect. Thank you very much, Weasley''

''What did I do now?''

''I finally got her out of the Girl's bathroom with a book and you come and mention your lovely brother. You deserve trophy for 'Tactless Moron of the year' ''

''What did he do?'' asked George.

''Ron said no one could stand her and some other thing that I couldn't quite figure out through her sobbing. She seemed pretty affected by it. Didn't question her any further, just gave her the book and she's been all right up until your beloved brother mentioned him again''

''Blimey'' said Fred, rubbing his neck.

''Time for the feast'' Percy came walking down the Boy's Dorms and walked right out the Portrait hole. Fred stood up and rubbed his belly.

''Why is it that at the mention of food you're hungry all of the sudden?'' asked Emmeline, looking up at him.

''I'm a Weasley, we eat all the time. What'd you expect?'' chuckled Fred. He and George walked towards the Hole but both turned. ''Aren't you coming?''

Emmeline opened her lips but pressed them together into a thin line quickly and shook her head. She looked down at her lap and waited for them to leave. Fred and George exchange and curious look but then shrugged it off and walked out. Emmeline sighed and pressed her back against the couch, her right hand wrapped around her left wrist. A crystal tear rolled down her pale cheeks she reached up to her neck and took out her necklace. With more tears rolling down her cheeks, she held onto the pendant if it was the only hope she had left... she mourned in silence.

... ... ... ...

''He had a dragon! Do you know how many rules he was-''

''He was not breaking any rules, Hermione, trust me''

''And you think it is okay to just wander around with a dragon in your home?'' she asked her with widened eyes.

''Well, if you put it like that, it sounds horrible. But you know Hagrid, he loves animals, creatures, all sorts of moving living things that aren't humans! I do too. You know, now that you mention this to me, I'll send an owl to Charlie and ask for Dragon shopping advice''

Hermione stuttered and then groaned, burying her face back into Lear. Harry and Ron laughed at this. ''Wood is still as happy as ever. It's been a while. Do you think it's healthy?'' asked Angelina, sitting down on a chair next to them. The match against Slytherin had been a rough one. Thanks to George's long and detailed explanation of Quidditch, Emmeline was able to understand everything that was going on. She had a proud smile glue on her face for two days after the game. Harry had played just like she had imagined and even better so.

''It's been a while since Gryffindor ever won. He has a reason to be happy'' Emmeline smiled.

''Where's Ali? She's supposed to help me with my Potions' essay'' said Angelina.

''Library'' answered Katie. ''Going there right now, she said she'd help me with mine too''

The two of them stared at each other for a moment and then started a race out the Hole, leaving Harry, Ron and Emmeline into fits of laugher.

''Poor Hagrid, though. Must be heartbroken with Norbert gone'' sighed Emmeline.

''He was, is, and probably will for a while'' muttered Ron. Emmeline glared at him and he blushed.

''Filch got you four in detention, then?''

''If Grandma hears, she'll kill me'' mumbled Neville, who sat right next to Emmeline.

''She won't'' she assured him.

''Is it true what Angelina said yesterday?'' Harry turned to look at Emmeline.

''What did she say?''

''About you helping Professor Snape with that cut he got on his leg''

''Oh, that... Yeah, I helped''

Ron looked at her startled, ''And you think that's fine? He tried to steal whatever is in you-know-what!''

''Don't start-''

''Shh!'' Hermione said, looking at them alarmed. ''What was that?'' she whispered. The three of them looked at her funny.

''What was what?'' asked Harry.

''That noise... didn't you- There, again!''

''I think spending so much time with books is finally getting to you'' Emmeline joked. Hermione punched her arm and pointed to the Portrait Hole. They waited in silence, the four of them staring at it intently. Just as Ron opened his mouth to say that it was just her imagination—tap. It started to grow more vicious and louder—tap tap. Harry stood up and took his wand. ''Harry... what are you doing?''

''Let's go check it out'' he said in a low voice.

''Harry, come on, this is rubbish. It's probably Fred and George trying to scare us'' Emmeline rolled her eyes.

''They're in detention. They're not off until about an hour or two'' Ron said, watching Harry and taking his wand too.

Tap tap tap tap tap.

Curiosity got the best out of the four of them. They all took their wands out and walked outside of the Portrait Hole, Emmeline and Harry upfront. The corridor was absolutely deserted; there was not one ghost around, not one portrait awake, not one person walking around. The four of them lit their wands and looked around, not so far from the portrait. Neville let out a startling scream when the portrait swung close. The three of them aimed at him but sighed when they saw it was him.

''Sorry about-''

He had no time to finish. ''Petrificus Totalus!'' A red light was stricken from the end of the corridor right at Neville. He fell petrified to the ground and Hermione went to pick him up, but a purple light that almost got to her made her jump and start running with the rest. ''I don't know how to duel!'' Harry shouted at Emmeline as they ran through a corridor.

''You won't have to! Just try not to get hit!'' She yelled back at him. Five figures ran behind them, throwing hex after jinx after curse in their directions. The portraits behind them fell to hit their persecutors and went back to their places after the five figures had passed through them. The point was to hit and run. Emmeline turned her head through her shoulder almost automatically, throwing curses non-verbally at either figure behind her. Ron was panting next to her while Harry ran as fast as he could in front of her. When they got to the stairs they jumped two by two. To their awful luck, the stairs had stopped moving and it was far easier to be followed.

Hermione was falling behind, but Ron pulled her arm and moaned, ''Move faster!'' making her run right beside Harry. The walls, ceiling, and floor seemed to be pushing down against them. Pants, curses, footsteps, and yells filled their ears. Hermione looked over her shoulder and screamed, ''Impedimenta!'' but missed just by an inch or so. It only caused one of the five that followed them to cast the Cruciatus Curse but fail, since Emmeline dodged it. They headed to the dungeons, Ron falling behind. Emmeline took him by his robes and they turned on a corner, she slammed the three of them to the wall and turned. She raised her wand to cast a curse but the one in the middle was faster and raised his. A green jet of light was shot from his wand and hit her full on her chest. Harry yelled as hard as he could and Hermione screamed in horror. Emmeline collapsed lifeless on the ground, her wands slipping from her fingers, and her eyes widened staring blankly just where Ron stood frozen.

Dun dun duuuuunnn! Their minds playing tricks or what? :o