Rosabella Black|Daughter of Sirius Black|(Book 2)

The Writing On The Wall

Rosabella's Point of View:
  
"What's going on here? What's going on?" The unwelcomingly familiar voice of Filch said.

Attracted no doubt by Malfoy's shout, Filch came shouldering his way through the crowd. Then he saw Mrs. Norris and fell back, clutching his face in horror. 
  
"My cat! My cat! What's happened to Mrs. Norris?" Filch shrieked.

His popping eyes fell on Harry and I.
  
"You! You! You've murdered my cat! You've killed her! I'll kill you! I'll -" Filch screeched.

I saw Lucas take out his wand and was about to point in Filch's direction.
   
"Argus!" Said welcomely familiar voice.

Dumbledore had arrived on the scene, followed by a number of other teachers. Lucas lowered his wand but kept his eyes retrained on Filch as if he was about to do a sneak attack.

In seconds, Dumbledore had swept past Harry, Ron, Hermione and I. He detached Mrs. Norris from the torch bracket.
  
"Come with me, Argus. You, too, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, Miss Black." Dumbledore said.

Lockhart stepped forward eagerly.
 
"My office is nearest, Headmaster - just upstairs - please feel free -" Lockhart said.
  
"Thank you, Gilderoy." Dumbledore said.

The silent crowd parted to let them pass. Lockhart, looking excited and important, hurried after Dumbledore. So did Professors McGonagall and Snape. I looked at Lucas as we went. My other brothers had pushed forward through the crowd and looked at me worriedly as the trio and I followed after the teachers.

As we entered Lockhart's darkened office there was a flurry of movement across the walls. I saw several of the Lockharts in the pictures dodging out of sight, their hair in rollers. I rolled my eyes. I've never met someone so vain. The real Lockhart lit the candles on his desk and stood back. Dumbledore lay Mrs. Norris on the polished surface and began to examine her. Hermione, Ron, Harry and I exchanged tense looks and sank into chairs outside the pool of candlelight, watching.

The tip of Dumbledore's long, crooked nose was barely an inch from Mrs. Norris's fur. He was looking at her closely through his half - moon spectacles, his long fingers gently prodding and poking. Professor McGonagall was bent almost as close, her eyes narrowed.

Snape loomed behind them, half in shadow, wearing a most peculiar expression. It was as though he was trying hard not to smile. And Lockhart was hovering around all of them, making suggestions.
  
"It was definitely a curse that killed her - probably the Transmogrifian Torture - I've seen it used many times, so unlucky I wasn't there, I know the very countercurse that would have saved her. . ." Lockhart said and I just wanted to yell at him to shut up.

Lockhart's comments were punctuated by Filch's dry, racking sobs. He was slumped in a chair by the desk, unable to look at Mrs. Norris, his face in his hands. Much as I detested Filch, I couldn't help feeling a bit sorry for him.

Though not nearly as sorry as I felt for the trio and I if Dumbledore believed Filch, we would be expelled for sure.
Dumbledore was now muttering strange words under his breath and tapping Mrs. Norris with his wand but nothing happened. She continued to look as though she had been recently stuffed.
  
". . . I remember something very similar happening in Ouagadogou, a series of attacks, the full story's in my autobiography. I was able to provide the townsfolk with various amulets, which cleared the matter up at once. . ." Lockharts said.

The photographs of Lockhart on the walls were all nodding in agreement as he talked. One of them had forgotten to remove his hair net.

At last Dumbledore straightened up.
  
"She's not dead, Argus." Dumbledore said softly.