Through All the Pain // N. Longbottom

Third Year // Chapter 8

"Dean! Seamus! Neville!" I called as I rank up to them. They all turned around and smiled widely. Neville handed the bag of candy he had to Seamus and he ran over and hugged me. 

"Don't ever avoid me like that again, Lori! I've missed my best friend." 

"I've missed you too," I said as we released each other. "I was stupid. I kept overthinking my Boggart. I let it control me and I regret that." I grabbed his hand. "However, I won't let that happen again. I'd be dead without my best friend."

"Same here." He said as we walked over to Dean and Seamus. 

"How was Hogsmeade?" I asked as we began the climb up to the Gryffindor Common Room. 

"Fantastic! Honeydukes is a MUST each time we visit!" Seamus said as he pulled out a handful of candy from his pocket. "Where else can I stock my supply of chocolates??" He unwrapped a small chunk and tossed it in his mouth. 

"You can obviously tell, Seamus's favorite shop," Dean said rolling his eyes. "Mine HAD to be Zonko's Joke Shop! There were so many pranks, that I still won't be able to use them all until a year after Hogwarts AT LEAST!" I laughed as Dean went on explaining Zonko's. He was just finishing up when we got closer to the portrait hole. However, for some reason, no one was going in.

"What in the bloody hell is going on!" I said as we stopped behind Parvati and Lavender. Up ahead of them, was Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I could see them talking but couldn't hear them until Ron spoke up loudly. 

"Neville's probably forgotten the password again." I cleared my throat as Neville spoke up.

"Hey!" Ron turned around to see us five standing there glaring at him. He gave a half-hearted smile.

"Oh, you're there. Sorry, Neville." He said before turning back around. I moved around hoping to see what was wrong but sadly, I couldn't see over all the older kids. Percy came shoving by and ordered everyone to stay back. I was utterly confused until I saw Ginny rushing down.

"Gin! Gin! What is going on?" I asked. 

"The Fat Lady! She's gone!" She spoke before running past us. 

"W-what does she mean by gone?" Neville asked looking around. "Like gone as in just left her post, or gone as in she died ... is it possible for a portrait to die?!" He rubbed his temples like he always does when he gets panicky. I quickly rubbed his shoulder as Filch and Dumbledore came running past. 

"I'll go up closer and look," I said as I snuck through the crowded stairs behind Dumbledore. When I got up there I stood beside Fred and George. The portrait guarding the door was ripped to shreds, by what looked like a claw. I must have whimpered or something cause Fred protectively wrapped his arm around me. 

"Mr. Filch. Round up the ghosts. Tell them to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady." Dumbledore told Filch. From above we heard a sharp scream. I jumped and Fred tightened his hug on me. George placed a hand on my shoulder as Filch pointed his finger up towards another painting.

"There'll be no need to ghost, Professor ... she's right there." We looked up and saw cowering behind a painting of a Hippo was The Fat Lady. All of us started pushing our way up the stairs to get closer to her. When we got there Dumbledore walked close and spoke softly.

"Dear lady. Who did this to you?" She poked her head over the hippo. Her headpiece was messed up, she was shaking like crazy and when she spoke, fear dripped off of her every word.

"Eyes like the device he's got. And a soul as dark as his name. It was him, Headmaster. The one they all talk about, and he's here somewhere in the castle. Sirius Black!" She cried some more while hiding behind the hippo again.