Chapter 13

Grace's POV

It felt like I just left Mum's house, but really, over a month had past. The whole year was passing so quickly, I barely felt I had time to breathe. Teachers were beginning to pile on the homework now that we'd mastered the basics. Sometimes, I almost wished I hadn't come to Hogwarts. But then we'd do something fun or I'd learn a new spell and things would be fun again. I just really missed my Mum.

It was Saturday morning, and the day of Gryffindor's second Quidditch match. I actually wasn't that interested in the sport, but the whole school turned out and I did want to support my house. Maybe if I had grown up in the wizarding world I would feel differently. But then again, that didn't really matter. Harry grew up as a muggle too and he was a seeker now. Maybe it's because I'm a girl. Or I really just don't like sports.

Did my Dad like sports? Did he play Quidditch? Maybe he was on the house team. If only I knew his name! I could find out anything I wanted, if only Mum would tell me his name! As I lay in bed, I began tallying up everything I knew about him. It wasn't much, but I did have a few facts.

'Grace,' Kaitlyn yelled, shaking my bedpost. 'The game starts soon and we still need breakfast!'

'Stop shaking the bed, Kaitlyn!' I pulled the covers over my head and buried myself deep in the pillows. Why couldn't I just sleep in? 'All right, all right! I'm up.'

Pulling aside, the hanging curtains, I swung my legs over the bed and stepped onto the cold floor. 'Let me shower real quick and then we can go.'

'But I don't want to wait,' she whined, sitting down on my bed.

'Then meet me at breakfast. I won't be more than fifteen minutes.' Kaitlyn stuck her tongue out at me and disappeared through the door. I searched through my trunk for muggle clothes and my trainers. Pulling out jeans, an old tee and my comfy sweatshirt, I headed for the bathroom.

Most of my dorm was already gone, leaving the bathroom nearly empty. It was definitely a change from a normal morning, when ten girls were trying to fit into three mirrors.

I showered and changed in record time. Mum would be impressed. She always fussed because it took me forever in the shower.

After brushing my teeth and hair, I left my bathroom bag on the bed with my nightclothes and grabbed my warm cloak. I headed down the winding stairs, several flights including one of the ones with the vanishing stair. You had to jump at just the right time or you would trip and fall down the steps. Embarrassingly enough, it's happened to me before.

The Great Hall was filled with people, chatting loudly about anything and everything. Our table was mostly concerned with the game. I manoeuvred through people and managed to sit down at the Gryffindor table next to Kaitlyn. 'Took you long enough,' Kaitlyn said, taking a bite of her toast.

'It only took me twenty minutes. And that included the walk down here and through the all. Now pass the bacon, would you?'

I quickly ate as much as Kaitlyn would allow before dragging me out the door. We followed the crowd toward the Quidditch Pitch and took our seats in the middle, behind Hermione and Ron. 'I do hope this match doesn't take too long. I still have over 500 pages to read and two essays to write,' Hermione said, glancing down at her watch.

'Hermione, can't you take even a few minutes just to relax?'

I glanced at Kaitlyn and then down at the two in front of me. 'Five hundred pages,' I whispered. 'Do we have to read that much in 3rd year?'

'I think she took a lot of classes, more than everyone else. I heard a couple of the kids talking about it.'

Five hundred pages…two essays…I really hope she took more classes because if that's what 3rd year involved, I didn't want to deal with it.

'Oh look, there they are,' Kaitlyn exclaimed, clapping loudly with the rest of our house. I joined in, mostly because everyone else was. I did feel some house pride, though not as much as Kaitlyn, obviously.

I had my arms wrapped around my shoulders tightly, trying to keep myself warm. It was a clear day, but slightly breezy. Thankfully, my cloak kept me nice and cosy.

Madam Hooch started the match and soon, everyone was flying around the field. I scanned the sky for Harry and the Weasley twins. Harry was way above the field, probably looking for the snitch. The Ravenclaw seeker was on the other side, keeping an eye on both Harry and the field. I didn't know who it was and really, didn't care.

One of the boys I met on the train, Lee Jordan, was commentating again. This time, he was like a walking advertisement for the Firebolt. Kaitlyn and I giggled every time Professor McGonagall fussed at him. It was great not to be on the receiving end of her annoyance.

Katie Bell, one of our Chasers, scored the first goal and I cheer along with my fellow Gryffindors. It was hard to keep up with the match, everything moved so fast. 'I think he's spotted it!' Someone in the crowd yelled, pointing at Harry.

It sure looked like it! Harry zoomed toward something, until at the last minute, he had to turn away from a bludger. 'Aww,' we all yelled, sad to see the snitch lost again.

We were up; eighty to zero and Lee gave more commentary on the Firebolt. In just a few minutes, Ravenclaw started to catch up and once again, the outcome of the match was up in the air.

'Isn't this fun?' Kaitlyn asked, nudging my arm.

'I suppose. I'm just not much for sports, I guess.' I shrugged and turned my attention back toward the field.

'I know what you mean,' Hermione said, turning around. 'I'm only here to support Harry. I have so much else I could be doing.'

'Oh, shut it, Hermione, and pay attention.' Ron glanced at us before looking back at the game.

Rolling my eyes, I smiled and took a moment to look around the field. I saw two heads of bright red hair and smiled. Fred and George had been nice to me on the train and nice to be so far this year. It was good to have at least a few acquaintances at school, especially since I only have one real friend, Kaitlyn.

'Look! He's got it,' someone near me yelled and I looked around, startled. I had missed the end of the match.

'Come on,' Kaitlyn said, grabbing a hold of my hand.

We followed the crowd down to the field and raced toward the team. 'Congratulations!' Kaitlyn yelled, giving Katie a hug. She knew Katie before we arrived, through her brother. Must be nice to know someone, I thought bitterly.

'Good game, George,' I said, managing to make my way through the crowd.

'Grace, I didn't think you'd be here. Thought you hated Quidditch,' he said as he gave me a quick hug. He smelled like dirt and sweat, so gross. Just like a boy. Ew.

I smiled in agreement. 'I do, but Kaitlyn dragged me. And besides, what else would I do. Homework?'

'True. We're having a party in the common room in about an hour. Make sure you're there.'

'Wouldn't miss it,' I said, waving goodbye and heading back toward Kaitlyn.

I slid my hand into hers and slowly dragged her away from the crowd. I hate large crowds, especially when I don't know many of the people. 'Come on, Kait. They're having a party in the common room and I want to change.'

A party I could get into, maybe. It might be fun to socialize with my fellow Gryffindors. 'Oh, a party? Let's go!'

Together, we made our way through the castle and to the common room. I left her down there while I went to the room to change shirts and put on a little make-up. Hopefully the party wouldn't last too long. I had to write Mum a letter tonight. I was overdue by a couple days.

When I made my way back down to the common room, it was already filled with people. I manoeuvred through the crowd and found my way back to Kaitlyn. Perching on the arm of her chair, I struggled to pay attention to her conversation. What was with me today? I couldn't stay focused on anything.

Fred and George disappeared for a few hours and then came back, arms filled with sweets and bottles. I didn't ask how they got the treats, and they didn't tell. Though I'm certain it wasn't within the rules.

The party went on into the night, until Professor McGonagall sent us all to bed around 1am. I, surprisingly, enjoyed the night. I chatted with more people than I had since arriving at school, and even danced with Fred and Tommy, a fellow first year.

Hermione disappeared upstairs after only two hours, and Romilda vanished through the portrait hole with Jackson, another first year. Was it mean of me that I wanted her to get in trouble?

After Professor McGonagall sent us to bed, I lay awake on my bed, staring at the dark curtains above me. For the first time, I actually felt comfortable at Hogwarts. Sure, I liked school, but it was always weird. I felt awkward, not having grown up in a wizarding house, and not knowing anyone. That night, I connected with other people here and had fun.

A loud scream woke me from a sound sleep and I sat up quickly in bed. My heart pounded as I looked around, realizing after a full minute that my curtains were pulled tightly closed and I couldn't see anything.

I pushed aside the hangings to find my other suitemates already out of their beds. 'Did you hear that?' Evelyn asked, looking nervous.

'Why else do you think I'm awake?' I replied, grabbing my dressing gown from the edge of the bed. I hated to be woken from a sound sleep, but then again, who didn't? 'It wasn't anyone in here, right?'

The girls all looked at each other, shaking their heads. 'Well, let's go find out.' I opened the suite door and looked out finding people already in the stairwell. Everyone was bustling around, jostling each other and whispering. 'Come on.'

Kaitlyn and the other girls followed me down the stairs and into the common room. There were already people milling around, talking to each other. 'I'm telling you, I saw him!' Ron was insisting, his face paler than usual.

'Excellent! Are we carrying on then?' Fred emerged from the boy's staircase and leaned on the railing. He obviously hadn't seen his brother.

'Everyone, back upstairs!' Percy, our Head Boy called, pushing past people.

Ron ran up to him as I sat in a nearby chair. Might as well get comfy. Kaitlyn sat on the arm of my chair and Evelyn sat on the other. I didn't look to see where Romilda disappeared to with the other girls. 'Perce! Sirius Black! In our dormitory! With a knife! He was there!'

My jaw dropped and I gasped. Sirius Black? He wasn't supposed to be able to get in. How did he get in here? He'd have to have the password. Could Ron be telling the truth? 'It was just a nightmare.'

Professor McGonagall emerged from the portrait hole and stepped into the common room. How did she know? 'I'm delighted that Gryffindor won the match, but this is getting ridiculous. Percy, I expected better of you.'

Percy looked up, astonished. It was as if he had never been scolded before. 'I didn't authorize this, Professor. My brother, Ron, had a nightmare…'

'It wasn't a nightmare! Professor, I woke up and Sirius Black was standing over me with a knife!'

'Don't be ridiculous, Weasley. How could he have gotten in through the portrait hole?'

'Ask him,' Ron said, pointing toward the hole. 'Ask him if he saw…'

She glanced back at Ron, pushed the portrait back open, and stepped outside. Along with everyone else, I waited for her to come back. Maybe Ron really was having a nightmare. I crossed my fingers and held my breath. Sirius Black scared me and even the thought of him in the castle, just a few doors away from my room, terrified me.

'Sir, Cadogan, did you just let a man enter Gryffindor Tower?' I bit my lip.

'Certainly, good lady.'

Everyone around me stared in silence.

'You…you did? But, the password!'

'He had 'em! Had the whole week's, my lady. Read 'em off a little piece of paper.'

I looked up at Kaitlyn, feeling like I wanted to cry. How could he get in the castle? How did he get the passwords?

'Which person,' Professor McGonagall said, pulling herself back into the common room. 'Which abysmally foolish person wrote down this week's passwords and left them lying around?'

Along with everyone else, I looked around the room. No one spoke, no one moved. Finally, a hand rose from near the back of the crowd. I wanted to stand and see who it was, but there was no need. Neville stepped forward, his face while as chalk.

We didn't go back to sleep that night. Everyone was too scared, too nervous. What if Sirius Black was still lurking around the castle? There was almost no time between Ron screaming and the tower waking up. What if he was still around?

Professor McGonagall came back just before 6am to tell us that he had escaped once again. I traipsed bleary-eyed up the stairs behind Kaitlyn and did the usual fight with the girls for the shower. What a long day this was going to be.

AN: Sorry guys, I couldn't get this stupid chapter to upload correctly on here. Thanks to: AllenPitt, LadyStrider17, amrawo, Hi, , the_werewolf_gal, ktmt1120, and OlgaandElias for reviewing the previous chapter/chapters.

There's Grace's POV for ya Hi :D Though, it was planned originally :)