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chapter seven | inter-house sleepover

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"I'm convinced that we would get more educational value out of potions if it was taught by a dragon," said Maddie, taking her usual seat in Snape's class and assuming nothing but a normal lesson of being ignored ahead of her.

"At least the dragon would attack us indiscriminately,"

Maddie turned her head and blinked at the red head sitting beside her in shock, letting out a surprised laugh. He stared down into his book, avoiding eye contact.

"Was that a joke Ron Weasley?" She said, raising an eyebrow. "An actual joke, instead of ignoring me? Are you feeling okay?"

She pressed her hand to his forehead jokingly, and he swatted it away.

"Only because it's probably just easier for us to get on," he said slowly, struggling to find the words. "We are in Potions, don't want to make it any worse, you know?"

"Right," Maddie grinned, unconvinced. "Or you've just given up pretending to hate me?"

"I- No, it's not that," Ron said. "I never hated you... hate's a strong word... I just... I dunno..."

"You think I'll get you into trouble,"

"Well... kind of..."

"I mean, I'm not gonna make any promises, because I probably will, Ronnie, I'm not gonna lie,"

"Yeah," Ron nodded, clearly not surprised. "But, you told Snape he couldn't teach, so..."

Maddie laughed.

"Well, I guess you could just say I made your heart explode," she taunted, causing Ron to scoff.

"Don't push it, Jordan, or I might just take back everything I just said,"

"Ah, well, it only took about a month,"

"A very long month,"

Luckily for them, Draco was in the mood for irritating somebody else today, and so sat himself next to a very fractious Diana, so that he could force her to chop his ingredients instead - leaving Maddie and Ron on their lonesome, yet again.

"Today you will be working in pairs," Snape announced, through his usual sneer and gloomy tone. Ron groaned, in contrast to Maddie, who whooped.

"You will be making a 'Confusing Concoction' which has a difficulty level of simple to moderate, meaning I expect the majority of this class with a brain inside their thick skulls to succeed in completing outstandingly. However, those who do not," his sparkling eyes landed on Neville, who's face reddened - before Snape turned to Maddie. She beamed and sat up straight. "Shall face the consequences, considering you are in your third year now, you should be able to produce a perfectly well mixed brew that has been correctly taken care of,"

There was a short silence.

"Why are you all still sitting? Get started,"

And so the class did as they were told - a cacophonous rumble of stools scratching against the stone floor as everyone began to stand, flipping open their books to the page written on Snape's board, whilst also starting to gather the ingredients.

"Don't worry, Ron," said Maddie. "I am a Potions Master,"

He laughed. "I think Lockhart's stories are more believable than that,"

The brunette grinned. She liked this new Ron - the one who spoke to her. The one who actually had a sense of humour. He was cool.

"Thing is, I don't even need to make this bloody 'Confusing Concoction'." Maddie said, reading the instructions. "Because I'm already confused,"

"Yeah, yeah, okay, you're a comedic genius," said Ron. "But right now I need you to get some Lovage,"

"Aye aye, captain,"

"Or is that too confusing for you?"

"I think I can manage that, thank you, Ronald,"

And so, the two got to work - finally working as a pair rather than two people being forced to sit together. Even Harry and Jess were surprised to see the two (or rather, Ron) getting on without having to roll their eyes and sulk. A huge change, to usual, no doubt.

But, even if they were actually getting along, unfortunately they were still unsuccessful in brewing their potion. They couldn't quite get the thickness of the mixture that the book had stated was essential, and so Snape had classed it as a failure. Surprise, surprise.

Maddie didn't care, though. She'd made a friend - that, in her opinion, outweighed any failure that occurred during Potions.

The following weekend had been the very first trip to Hogsmeade - and it was everything Maddie had wanted it to be, and more. The welcoming atmosphere of the snowy village pulled her in immediately, as the soft bustle of wizards and witches wrapped in their thick layered clothes scattered around the streets. The shops were snug and homely, places like Honeydukes giving out free samples of their new fudge, and the Three Broomsticks filled to the brim with excited students picking up glasses or bottles of Butterbeer to refuel before beginning again on their shopping spree.

Maddie adored every little thing about Hogsmeade, and had spent the day wandering with wide, bright eyes that flashed towards any minor detail she found pretty, or interesting. Like the perfectly organised display of Chocolate Frogs in the window of Honeydukes, or the vibrant green plants presenting the shop named Dogweed and Deathcap.

She was in extremely high spirits as she headed back to Hogwarts with her two best friends - already eager for the next trip.

It was Halloween - the Great Hall was decorated with hundreds of candle-filled pumpkins, a cloud of fluttering live bats (which Maddie was not a fan of), as well as many flaming orange streamers, swimming idly across the starry ceiling hanging over the four house tables topped with delicious food.

"Maddie easy on the marshmallows," Jake had said, as he watched the girl carelessly stuff her face.

"I can handle it," she replied confidently, through a mouthful.

She couldn't handle it.

Maddie felt incredibly nauseous, and did not hesitate to announce this to her friends and anyone else she spoke to as they walked back to their common room after the feast. Of course, the amount of food she'd eaten on top of the sweets she'd bought at Hogsmeade was never bound to agree with each other in the depths of her stomach. She was reminded of something that should be common sense to her, by now - always listen to Jake.

And, to make matters worse, when they reached the corridor ending with the portrait of the Fat Lady, it appeared completely jammed with students - the entrance to Gryffindors Common Room completely shut.

"Why isn't anyone going in?" she heard Ron Weasley in front of her say curiously.

"I'm gonna throw up," said Maddie, to which Jess' eyes widened.

"No, you're not!" she said. "You chose to eat all that shit, so you have to keep it all down,"

"I might not have a choice, Jess-"

"Let me through, please," a voice said, and Percy Weasley (otherwise known as the Head Boy) appeared, pushing throwing the crowd of Gryffindors. "What's the hold-up, here? You can't all have forgotten the password - excuse me, I'm Head Boy-"

"I'm telling you, I'm gonna be sick-"

But everyone was too distracted, for a silence fell over the corridor, and after Percy had reached the front, he said in a sharp voice,

"Somebody get Professor Dumbledore. Quick,"

"What's going on?" Maddie whined, unable to see or understand what the fuss was all about and still hung up on the dizzy feeling circling about her head and in the pits of her stomach.

"You forgot to take your Iron Potion as well, this morning, so that's probably making it all worse," said Jake, looking down at the girl with a miffed expression. She didn't reply, knowing fully well he was correct.

Next moment, Dumbledore had appeared, and the trio finally got a glimpse of what had caused all the commotion.

The Fat Lady has vanished from her portrait, which had been so viciously slashed that strips of the canvas littered to the floor, huge chunks of it torn away completely.

Dumbledore took one quick look and at the tarnished painting and turned with somber eyes to see McGonagall, Lupin and Snape hurrying towards him.

"We need to find her," he said. "Professor McGonagall, please go to Mr Filch at once and tell him to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady,"

"Every painting?" Jake pulled a face. "Is he having a laugh? That's gonna take years! Is there not a quicker way?"

"You'll be lucky!" A voice cackled. Peeves the Poltergeist was bobbing over the crowd.

"What do you mean, Peeves?" asked Dumbledore, calmly.

Peeves usual mischievous attitude seemed to fade, once being spoken to, by Dumbledore himself. Even he didn't dare to mock the wizard, and said,

"Ashamed, Your Headship, sir. Doesn't want to be seen. She's a horrible mess - saw her running through the landscape up on the fourth floor, sir, dodging between the trees. Crying something dreadful. Poor thing," he added, unconvincingly.

Maddie and Jess exchanged glances.

"Did she say who did it?" Dumbledore asked.

"Oh, yes, Professorhead," said Peeves. "He got very angry when she wouldn't let him in, see," he flipped over, and grinned at the Headmaster from between his own legs. "Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black,"

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"One year," said Maddie. "We can't just have one normal fucking year, can we?"

Dumbledore had sent all the Gryffindors back to the Great Hall, where they were joined ten minutes later by the students from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin - all of which were looking very confused.

"Honestly," Jess sighed in agreement. "Do you still feel sick?"

"I dunno," the girl replied, with an unsure expression. "Either it's gone because of the shock or it's so much worse I can't even feel it anymore and I might just throw up at any moment,"

"That's reassuring," said Jake uncomfortably, taking a small step away from the girl.

Dumbledore and the teachers had decided to conduct a search for the night, and for their safety, the students were to spend the night in the Great Hall. Although, it didn't seem to look like it would be a good nights sleep, as once all the Professors has disappeared, there was a huge buzz of excitement radiating between the walls, as the Gryffindors filled in the other houses what had just happened.

"Mads!" A blonde Ravenclaw called, rushing over with her red headed friend. "What's happened? Why do we have to sleep here? Someone was on about Sirius Black?"

"Yeah - he tried to break into our common room, apparently," said Maddie. "The Fat Lady ran off - her painting was all slashed,"

"Shit," Sadie said through a hushed voice, exchanging wide eyes with Marianne.

"I know," Maddie nodded, as Dean and Seamus made their way over. "How'd he even get in?"

"Maybe he knows how to Apparate," said Sadie. "Just appear out of thin air, you know?"

"Disguised himself, probably," a fifth year Hufflepuff said, as she passed.

"He could've flown in," Dean suggested.

"Honestly, am I the only person that's ever bothered to read Hogwarts: A History?" Hermione appeared with Harry and Ron.

"Probably," said Ron, bluntly. Maddie snorted. "Why?"

"Because, the castle's protected by more than walls." she said, as though it was blatantly obvious. "There are all sorts of enchantments on it, to stop people entering by stealth. You can't just Apparate in here. And I'd like to see a disguise that could fool those Dementors,"

"Fair point," Jake nodded.

"-And Filch knows all the secret passages, they'd have had them covered,"

"Did any of you see him?" Marianne asked the Gryffindors, a little uneasily. Everyone shook their heads.

"The lights are going out, now!" Percy Weasley's voice interrupted, and the group turned to see him looking extremely pleased with himself having an authoritative role. "I want everyone in their sleeping bags - and no more talking!"

The three Ravenclaws mumbled a 'bye' before disappearing.

"See you," everyone else murmured, before turning to seize some sleeping bags which Dumbledore had summoned to replace the tables of the Hall.

"D'you think he's still here?" asked Jake. Jess shrugged.

"He could be," she said. "Dumbledore thinks he might,"

All the candles went out at once, the only light now visible was glowing from the silvery ghosts, drifting about and talking seriously to the Prefects, which did admittedly make Maddie feel a little unnerved. However, she was deeply attracted to the fact that she was sleeping under the enchanted roof, filled with beautiful sparkling stars.

Although everyone had stopped talking, there was no sign of people drifting off to sleep, quite yet, Maddie catching the eyes of fellow Gryffindors around her, all deep in thought and whispering every now and then to each other. She could spot Ron Weasley on her right side, a few sleeping bags away, eyes wide open and flicking about the room. When they met hers, she gave him a small smile and a wave, which he awkwardly repeated back to her.

The girl also caught sight of her older brother Lee many rows away, of whom she flashed with the middle finger, which he gladly returned. Sibling love.

Jake was the first of the trio to fall asleep - leaving Jess and Maddie to whisper to each other every now and then, both completely baffled and in awe of the current situation.

"You alright?" Jess whispered to her, careful not to attract any attention from Percy, who was cautiously patrolling the hall. "It's a funny ol' night, isn't it?"

"I need a drink," Maddie replied with a sheepish smile. "But I'm scared to get a drink, in case I die - either by Percy or Black, I'm not sure which one,"

Jess let out a soft laugh.

"Go to sleep,"

Once every hour, a teacher would reappear to check on the students, and to make sure everything was quiet. Although, Maddie was only able to witness two rounds of this, before uncontrollably drifting off to a dreamless sleep, any thought that had been lingering in her brain vanishing, for now - ready to reappear when she wakes up, the next morning.

Sirius Black, in the same building as her? What a night.