CHAPTER FIVE:

Third Person P.O.V.:

Malfoy didn't reappear in classes until late on Thursday morning, when the Slytherins and Gryffindors were halfway through Potions. He swaggered into the dungeon, his right arm covered in bandages and bound up in a sling, acting, in Charlie's opinion, as though he was the heroic survivor of some dreadful battle.

"How is it, Draco?" whimpered Pansy Parkinson as he approached her. "Does it hurt much?"

"Yeah," said Malfoy, putting on a brave sort of grimace, but Charlie saw him wink at Crabbe, Zabini and Goyle when Pansy had looked away.

What a prat.

"Settle down, settle down," said Professor Snape idly.

Charlie, Harry, and Ron all scowled at one another at the sound of Snape's voice. If they walked in late, it would be detention for all of them regardless of the explanation, but Draco and the rest of the Slytherin's were heavily favoured by, ironically, their Head of House.

The brown eyed boy had always dreaded Potions because of Snape, but imagine his disinterest now that Malfoy was blatantly milking his injury and making Snape assign him, Harry, or Ron to do his work for him.

Charlie was currently at the Slytherin station, skinning a Shrivelfig as fast as he could so he could move far away from the person he disliked the most. However, the blonde haired Slytherin had a smirk plastered on his face that was broader than ever.

"Seen your pal Hagrid lately?" he asked him quietly.

"None of your business," snapped Charlie, without looking up.

"I'm afraid he won't be a teacher much longer," said Malfoy, in a tone of mock sorrow. "Father's not very happy about my injury -"

For the first time Charlie looked up and clenched his jaw, "Keep talking, Malfoy, and I'll give you a real injury."

"- he's complained to the school governors. And even to the Ministry. My father's got a lot of influence, as you know. And a lasting injury like this -" he gave a huge, fake sigh, " - who knows if my arm'll ever be the same again?"

"So that's why you're putting it on," said Charlie, accidentally beheading a dead caterpillar because his hand was shaking in anger. "To try and get Hagrid sacked."

Draco smirked victoriously, "Well, I suppose the added benefit of watching you try so desperately hard to contain your anger is another reason. Remember, Hawthorne, your father isn't too keen on your anger outbursts. Better not give him another reason to be disappoin-"

Before Draco could finish, Charlie slammed his fists down on the table, causing everyone in the class to stop what they were doing and look over to the two of them. Charlie didn't dare meet anyone's gaze. He kept his head down as his shaking hand let go of the knife he was holding.

Soon enough, Professor Snape came rushing over with a scowl plastered on his face, "What is going on over here?"

"Nothing." growled Charlie.

"He's lost his mind, Professor," Draco said in a fake scared tone. "I asked him if he would mind slicing my caterpillars for me, and he lost it."

Charlie whipped his head in Malfoy's direction with a sharp glare.

"Is that so?" Snape said slowly. "Very well then. Detention, Mr. Hawthorne and ten points from Gryffindor for your lack of sympathy for the wounded."

"Are you kidd-"

Ron had quickly come over and put a hand over Charlie's mouth, "I think it'd be best if Charlie rejoined the Gryffindor station, Professor."

Snape raised a furrowed brow, before simply nodding. He sent the Gryffindor boys one last glare before turning to walk back to his teacher's station.

The ginger haired boy quickly pulled Charlie away from the Slytherin table before more chaos could occur. As he arrived, Charlie took back his spot beside Hermione as Ron stood opposite them with Harry.

"What happened?" whispered Harry, being mindful of Snape's whereabouts.

"That stupid, blonde haired prat," muttered Charlie in a tone that was seeping with anger.

"You can't let him get to you, Charlie," Hermione said softly, "He's doing it to get a rise out of you."

"Yeah," muttered Ron, disapprovingly, "and it's clearly working."

Charlie sent a glare in his friend's direction and opened his mouth to retaliate, but Seamus Finnigan had caught his interest as he and Dean Thomas came sauntering over.

"Hey, guys." said Seamus in a whisper, "Have you heard? Daily Prophet this morning - they reckon Sirius Black's been sighted."

"Where?" said Harry, Charlie and Ron simultaneously as Hermione's eyes had widened.

They had yet to realize that Draco had made his way over to the table to come and bother Charlie some more. However, Malfoy took a moment to listen closely.

"Not too far from here," said Seamus, who looked excited. "It was a Muggle who saw him. 'Course, she didn't really understand. The Muggles think he's just an ordinary criminal, don't they? So she 'phoned the sighting hotline. By the time the Ministry of Magic got there, he was gone."

"Not too far from here..." Ron repeated, looking warily at Harry. He turned around and saw Malfoy watching closely. "What, Malfoy? Is there something else you can't do for yourself?"

But Malfoy's eyes were shining malevolently, and they were fixed on Harry.

He leant across the table, "Thinking of trying to catch Black single-handed, Potter?"

"Yeah, that's right," said Harry offhandedly.

Malfoy's thin mouth was curving in a mean smile.

"Of course, if it was me," he said quietly, "I'd have done something before now. I wouldn't be staying in school like a good boy, I'd be out there looking for him."

"What are you talking about, Malfoy?" said Ron roughly.

Malfoy looked at the Gryffindors curiously, until his eyes land on Charlie; he was the only one who wasn't curious as to what he was insinuating. The brown eyed boy knew of course, but no one else did. Harry had yet to find out that Sirius Black was the reason for his parents death; Charlie never knew how to tell him that bit of the story.

"Don't you know, Potter?" breathed Malfoy, his pale eyes narrowed.

"Know what?"

"Maybe you'd rather not risk your neck,' Draco continued. "Want to leave it to the Dementors, do you? But if it was me, I'd want revenge. I'd hunt him down myself."

"Revenge for what?" questioned Harry with curious eyes.

"Nothing. He's being a prat, as per usual." Charlie growled.

Malfoy let out a low, sneering laugh as his eyes fell on Charlie.

Thankfully, before anyone could question anything, the bell had rung to signify the end of class. Draco returned to his station to cleanup as Charlie, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had done the same before going to wash their hands and ladles in the stone basin in the corner.

"What did Malfoy mean?" Harry muttered to Charlie, as he stuck his hands under the icy jet that poured from a gargoyle's mouth. "Why would I want revenge on Black. He hasn't done anything to me - yet."

"Like I said, he's a prat. Even he doesn't know what he's on about." said Charlie, savagely. "He's just trying to make you do something stupid..."

Charlie and Harry rejoined Hermione and Ron as they made their way through the castle towards Professor Lupin's classroom for Defence Against the Dark Arts.

The brown eyed boy took notice of Hermione struggling with several books in her hands. So, he walked closer to her, took majority of the books from her hands gently, and gave her a small smile.

She reciprocated his smile instantly, "Thanks."

It was the first non-awkward moment the two had shared in the last week.

Yet, Ron rolled his eyes at the interaction, "I don't know why you're carrying all those books anyway. Defence Against the Dark Arts is our last class of the day."

"Again," Hermione said with an unamused look, "It isn't any of your business, Ronald."

Charlie sighed as his friends began to bicker. The brown eyed boy quickly walked a little further to walk alongside Harry instead; he couldn't bare the constant arguing between Ron and Hermione, and it somehow has gotten worse over the years.

However, as Charlie turned back around to see if they had stopped before entering the classroom, Hermione wasn't there standing next to Ron.

"Where'd she go?" he asked with a furrowed brow.

The ginger shrugged, "She got cross and stormed off. Mental, she is lately. I reckon she'll meet us in the class eventually."

They entered the D.A.D.A classroom with a couple minutes to spare, and took the same seats as they had last year when Lockhart was teaching. Charlie sat at the front next to an empty seat that he saved for Hermione, while Ron and Harry sat behind him. Upon arrival, the three boys noticed a strange cupboard-like structure with a black cloth covering it completely, stationed in front of them.

Professor Lupin arrived as the bell rang, dressed in his infamous run down robes. He welcomed everyone to the room before moving to unveil the mysteriously covered figure.

The tall wardrobe began to shake violently upon its unveil and the entire class looked at it warily. Lupin quickly motioned the students to get out of their seats for a closer look, but still, the kids were hesitant.

Professor Lupin was amused by his students' reactions, "Intriguing, yes? Would anyone like to venture a guess at to what's inside?"

In a hushed voice, Charlie spoke, "That's a boggart, that is."

Lupin smiled at the boy, "Very good, Mr. Hawthorne! Can anyone tell me what a boggart is supposed to look like?"

A familiar voice rang throughout the classroom.

"No one knows."

Charlie jumped slightly as when he looked to the left, he saw Hermione Granger standing next to him. However, just like in Divination, she hadn't been there merely five seconds prior. How the -

Apparently Ron was just confused as Charlie was because he turned to him and said, "When'd she get here?"

Charlie shrugged as Hermione ignored them and continued to talk to Professor Lupin.

"Boggarts are shapeshifters," she explained. "They take the form of whatever a particular person fears the most. That's what makes them so -"

"Terrifying, yes," Lupin finished with a smile. "Luckily a very simple charm exists to repel a boggart. Let's practice, shall we?

The class nodded vigorously as the wardrobe shook once again.

"Say it with me," Lupin said proudly, "Riddikulus."

The crowd chanted, "Riddikulus!"

However, Draco, who stood in the corner of the room with his Slytherin friends, could be heard muttering, "This class is ridiculous."

Lupin apparently didn't hear him as he addressed the room, "Good! That's the easy part. You see, the incantation alone is not enough. What really finishes a boggart off is... laughter! You need to force it to assume a shape you truly find amusing. Mr. Longbottom! Come up here, will you? Show your classmates how it's done!"

Neville eyed the rattling wardrobe and gulped before stepping forward.

Charlie, who noticed the boy's nervous state, cheered him on, "Let's go Nev! You got this mate!"

The rest of the Gryffindors in the room began to join in as Lupin talked to Neville to prepare him for what was coming. However, the entire room couldn't help but chuckle slightly as Longbottom revealed his biggest fear to be Professor Snape.

After the crowd quieted down, Lupin walked over to the wardrobe and opened the cabinet slowly. Instantly, Professor Snape walked out with his famous scowl plastered on his face. Neville backed away in fear slightly.

"Oi! Think mate, think!" Charlie muttered, loud enough for Neville to hear.

Neville stuttered, "R-r-riddikulus!"

Suddenly, Snape began to stumble backwards and in the next moment, there was a flash of light. As it faded away, Snape reappeared, but this time, dressed in a lace-trimmed dress, a big ugly hat, and Neville's grandmother's infamous red handbag.

The crowd roared in applause and laughter almost instantly. Neville blinked in amazement before he gave himself a small grin and returned to the crowd. Charlie gave him a pat on the back as more students went up to try their luck at the incantation.

They all went very similar. From fearful boggart to a ridiculous perception of humour.

Ron went next; and his greatest fear was, of course, a spider. Charlie laughed slightly remembering his friend's reaction to Aragog last year as he heard Ron yell.

"Riddikulus!"

Every single leg that the arachnid had was now accented with roller skates, causing it shuffle crazily in place.

Parvati Patil was next. Her fear? A giant king cobra.

"Riddikulus!"

With a loud crack and a whooshing sound, the snake suddenly took the form of a huge jack-in-the-box.

Student after student had tackled the boggart, but still, Lupin looked into the crowd before choosing another volunteer, "Charlie! Wanna give it a go?"

If he was being honest, Charlie was dreading what his boggart would turn into. Would it be a funny, little fear like Ron's and Parvati's? Or it would be something much deeper that would provoke a future conversation with his friends that the boy didn't wish to have?

As he took a reluctant forward with his wand in hand, the jack-in-the-box suddenly began to spin. It went faster and faster, and then in a dizzying blur, it reappeared as the one person Charlie prayed that it wouldn't be - his father.

Draco, who hadn't been paying much attention until now, had his eyes fixated on Charlie and the boggart. With an amused smile on his face, he said, "Would you look at that? The all-mighty Hawthorne is afraid of his father! How pathetic."

The Slytherins began to laugh, but the Gryffindors kept a serious glance on Charlie and the boggart. Hermione, especially, didn't care to hide the look of concern that had immediately been plastered on her face. Even Lupin was, at the very least, worried.

The brown eyed boy couldn't move as Fenwick approached him slowly with a glare. Then, Charlie's eyes widened in fear as the boggart of his father had lunged forward and grabbed onto the collar of his white dress shirt aggressively.

"Charlie..." Hermione gasped softly from behind him as he heard the rest of the class mutter in disbelief, even some of the Slyhtherins.

Realizing that it was in fact just a figment of his imagination, he quickly yelled, "Riddikulus!"

The boggart released the boy's collar before the flash of light reappeared, and with a loud swoosh; the boggart had went from a stern-looking Fenwick, to him dressed up as a clown.

The class roared with laughter as Charlie stepped back into the crowd. However, his friends and Professor Lupin didn't seem to forget what had happened so quickly. In fact, the four of them stared curiously at the boy, almost awaiting his response to what had just happened.

They were surprised, however, when the brown eyed boy chose not to address anything, and instead, urged Harry forward, "You're next."

Without further questioning, Harry took a step forward to take the clearly unwanted attention off of his friend. As he did so, Lupin watched him with the utmost curiosity, as opposed to the look of concern he gave Charlie.

With Harry stood in front of it, the boggart began to transform, and in a few short moments, the boy was faced with a dementor. Harry began to raise his wand, but then, he froze; transfixed. The dementor loomed closer and closer to the boy who failed to move.

When the boggart was about to lunge at Harry like it did to Charlie, Lupin stepped in front of it. The dementor quickly vanished, and in roiling mist, the boggart reappeared as clouds accented with a white, silvery, and round figure that kind of looked like the...

"Riddikulus!"

With a loud popping sound, the orb quickly deflated like a punctured balloon that whizzed crazily about the room before returning into the wardrobe.

Lupin quickly turned to address the class, "Well done, everyone! I think that's enough for today. Class dismissed."

As the students began to exit the room, Harry still had yet to move from his position; he was the utmost curious as to why Lupin hadn't let him tackle the boggart on his own.

Trying to leave with Hermione and Ron, Charlie took notice that Harry wasn't with them. So, the brown eyed boy walked back into the room, and pulled Harry from his thoughts by nudging him a little.

"You alright?" he asked Harry.

Harry didn't take his eyes off of Lupin, who was vigorously cleaning up from today's lesson. "Yeah."

Charlie nodded as Harry had finally picked up his bag and headed for the door. The brown eyed boy was quick to follow his friend, but came to a halt at the sound of Lupin calling his name.

"Charlie," the Professor said as he turned to face the doorway, "Can I have word?"

The brown eyed gulped as he knew what this conversation was going to be about. Harry watched his friend curiously as Charlie simply gave him a nod to signify the approval of Harry leaving without him.

When his friend was gone, Charlie walked towards Lupin, "Everything alright, Professor?"

"Funny," Lupin smiled softly, "I was about to ask you that same question."

Charlie's face fell slightly, "If this is about my boggart -"

"I went to school with him, you know," Lupin cut him off, "your father."

The brown eyed boy raised a brow at the newfound information. He hadn't even put together the timeline for himself, but Charlie could now see how that made sense.

"Fenwick was known for his lack of self-control and his very short fuse," Lupin continued, "I can only imagine what he'd be like as a father. I still remember the shock I had when your mother first told me who your father was. Julia and Fenwick-" he paused to laugh slightly "- who would have thought."

Charlie's eyes grew wide, "You knew my mother?"

"Of course." Lupin said with a wide smile, "In fact, she was one of my best friends. She hung out with the lot of us; her and Lily were quite close."

"Lily?"

"Potter. Or back then, Lily Evans." Remus explained.

Charlie smiled widely. His mother was friends with Harry's. In a weird way, the young boy felt a sense of pride in knowing that the two of them would watch down on him and Harry, knowing that they became best friends just like they did.

"She was the kindest woman I'd have ever met, your mother." Lupin continued, "Which is why it came as such a shock, not only to me, but for all of us, to find out about her and Fenwick."

"I'm sorry Professor, I don't quite know what you're insinuating." The young boy said in a curious tone.

"I just -" Lupin paused for a moment to gather his thoughts, "I know how your father can be. I've seen it first hand; the anger, the aggression, and the hatred. Again, I can only imagine how harsh he'd be as a father. Your boggart today -"

Charlie cut him off quickly, "It was nothing. Ridiculous, honestly. What child isn't a little afraid of their parents?"

"But not quite in the way you are. Isn't that right, Charlie?" Lupin said softly causing the boy to cower from his gaze.

Remus walked out from behind his desk and put a comforting hand on Charlie's shoulder, "I want you to know if there's anything I can do, please do not hesitate -"

"I understand," Charlie said quickly, meeting Lupin's gaze once again. "Thank you. Is that all?"

"Char-"

"With all due respect, Professor, I think you've got it all wrong." The boy dismissed, "My fear of my father is nothing more than a simple figment of my exaggerated imagination."

Lupin stared at the boy with kind, yet slightly concerned eyes, "Our imagination simply sheds light on what needs to be discovered. Everything that is real was once imagined."

Charlie's face fell once again, but this time, he didn't even try to respond; he had no idea what to say.

"Listen," Remus said softly, "I know what it's like to be fearful of the things you can't control. I know you didn't get to choose this life for yourself. However, you'd be surprised of how the simple admittance of what scares you, can sometimes be the bravest thing you can do."

"I can't," Charlie whispered, feeling slightly defeated.

"And I get that, I truly do." Lupin said with a soft smile, "But when you're ready, I'll be here if you need to talk about it."

Charlie looked up Lupin with a curious expression, "Why are you so adamant on helping me?"

"Because it's what your mother would have wanted," Remus said softly. "I would be doing not only her, but you, an injustice if I turned my back on you when you needed my help the most."

The brown eyed boy smiled softly before turning on his heel and walking towards the door. Right before he reached the doorway, Charlie turned back around slightly to look at Lupin one more time.

"Professor," he said causing Lupin to look up with curious eyes, "Any chance that you won't mention anything about this to my grandfather? I just - I don't want to worry him."

Remus hesitated for a moment before giving an answer. When he was ready, he gave Charlie a small and reluctant nod.

"Thank you."

With that, Charlie left the room and headed back to the Gryffindor tower.

---------------

It wasn't long until Defence Against the Dark Arts quickly became everyone's favourite class, including Charlie. Ever since his talk with Professor Lupin, he had a newfound appreciation and respect for the teacher.

Potions was an absolute nightmare lately because for some reason, Snape was particularly moody. Maybe it was because word had spread about Neville making the boggart of him wear woman's clothing, who knows. Yet, imagine Charlie's disinterest during his unnecessary detention where he had to sort through potion ingredients with Snape standing over his shoulder the entire time. Dare he say it, that detention might've been worse than signing Lockhart's fan mail.

As for Divination, Charlie dreaded that class as well. Especially since both him and Harry couldn't even step foot in that class without Trelawney looking at them with enormous, tear-filled eyes.

When it came to Care for Magical Creatures, everyone seemed to lose interest since Malfoy's attack, which made Hagrid lose his confidence. They were now spending lesson after lesson learning how to look after Flobberworms, which had to be some of the most boring creatures in existence. Charlie felt extremely bad for the half-giant, but had absolutely no idea how to bring his charisma back to the lessons.

Luckily enough, after the boggart lesson in D.A.D.A., Charlie's friends had yet to question him about what had happened. Although, the brown eyed boy could feel the eagerness of Hermione whenever she was around him. She wanted to ask him, but she was scared of his reaction. Her last wish would be to insult him, especially since things had been so awkward for them lately.

Not to mention, her and Ron had been rather cold to one another. Especially since Crookshanks had attempted to go after Scabbers again during a study session in the common room. Long story short, it resorted in this very heated row between the two of them as ever since they came back to school, Crookshanks had been trying to get at Scabbers with any chance he could. To be completely honest, it wasn't just Crookshanks either. Even Ludo, Charlie's dog, was on edge every time Scabbers was around, and the brown eyed boy had no idea why.

As for Harry, nobody questioned his boggart either, well except for the times where Draco and his friends would blatantly poke fun at him, but every time Ron and Charlie were quick to intervene. The boy with glasses didn't want to talk about his boggart for the same reason Charlie didn't; he was afraid of what admitting it would mean. However, Harry had every intention of questioning Lupin about stepping in front of him, but never got the opportunity.

At the start of October, however, both Harry and Charlie had something else to occupy them, something so enjoyable it made up for their unsatisfactory classes. The Quidditch season was approaching, and Oliver Wood called a meeting every Thursday evening to discuss tactics for the new season.

Full of determination, the team started training sessions; sometimes even three evenings a week. The weather was getting colder and wetter, the nights darker, but no amount of mud, wind or rain could tarnish Harry or Charlie's wonderful vision of finally winning the huge silver Quidditch Cup.

On Halloween, it was time for the first visit to Hogsmeade. Everyone had prepared the night before in the common room, well everyone except for Harry, who still wouldn't be able to go because of his unsigned permission slip.

Charlie had gotten his signed by Dumbledore, of course. The brown eyed boy actually hadn't seen his grandfather in ages since he was always busy looking over the Dementors and making sure they weren't hurting or disturbing anyone.

The first trip to Hogsmeade had been very awkward for Charlie, mainly because both Ron and Hermione hadn't been speaking to one another. It was a sticky situation to say the least. If Charlie chose one over the other, Ron was sure to make a comment, whether it be in his favour or not. As for Hermione, well to be honest, the brown eyed boy didn't really know how to act around her anymore, and it honestly confused him more than ever.

It was all extremely strange for Charlie. He normally had no problem talking to girls, whether they be friends or girls he was keen on. But with Hermione, he felt this uneasiness, yet comfort in his stomach that stemmed from the fact that she would be able to see through any facade that he put on. Which was inevitably going to be bad, considering the fact that he was trying so hard to cover up these budding feelings that had been developing ever since that day in the Leaky Cauldron. He couldn't stop the feelings he was getting, but never acted on them out of fear of ruining the great friendship they had.

When it came to the visit at Hogsmeade, Charlie spent majority of his time exploring with Neville to avoid picking sides between Ron and Hermione. Which was ultimately okay and not at all suspicious, as the trip wasn't very long anyway. It was the first time the third year Gryffindors had been out of the castle, so McGonagall spent most of the showing the students around and telling them the rules.

By the time it was dusk, Charlie, Ron and Hermione had turned up in the common room, pink-faced from the cold wind, and met up with Harry.

"There you go," said Ron to the boy with glasses. "We got as much as we could carry."

A shower of brightly coloured sweets fell into Harry's lap.

"Thanks," said Harry, picking up a packet of tiny black Pepper Imps. "What's Hogsmeade like? Where did you go?"

By the sound of it - everywhere. Dervish and Banges, the wiz-arding equipment shop, Zonko's Joke Shop, into the Three Broomsticks for foaming mugs of hot Butterbeer and many places besides.

"The post office, Harry! About two hundred owls, all sitting on shelves, all colour-coded depending on how fast you want your letter to get there!"

"Honeydukes have got a new kind of fudge, they were giving out free samples, there's a bit, look -"

"I think I saw an ogre, honestly, they get all sorts at the Three Broomsticks -"

"Wish I could have brought you some Butterbeer, really warms you up -"

"What did you do?" asked Hermione, looking anxious. "Did you get any work done?"

"No," said Harry. "Lupin made me a cup of tea in his office. And then Snape came in..."

Harry told his friend's all about how Lupin thought his boggart would turn into Voldemort, before telling them how Snape gave Lupin this weird-looking goblet that Harry thought, looked very strange. Ron's mouth fell open, Charlie raised a brow, and Hermione looked puzzled.

"Lupin drank it?" Ron gasped. "Is he mad?"

Hermione shrugged the ginger off as she checked her watch, "We'd better go down, you know, the feast'll be starting in five minutes..."

The four of them hurried through the portrait hole and into the crowd, still discussing Snape.

"But if he - you know -" Charlie dropped his voice, glancing nervously around, "If he was trying to - to poison Lupin - he wouldn't have done it in front of you."

"Yeah, maybe," said Harry, as they reached the Entrance Hall and crossed into the Great Hall for dinner.

--------------

The feast finished with an entertainment provided by the Hogwarts ghosts. They popped out of the walls and tables to do a spot of formation gliding; Nearly Headless Nick, had a great success with a re-enactment of his own botched beheading.

It had been such a good evening that even Harry's good mood couldn't even be spoiled by Malfoy, who shouted through the crowd as they all left the Hall, "The Dementors send their love, Potter!"

Harry, Charlie, Ron and Hermione followed the rest of the Gryffindors along the usual path to Gryffindor Tower, but when they reached the corridor which ended with the portrait of the Fat Lady, they found it jammed with students.

"Why isn't anyone going in?" asked Ron curiously.

Charlie peered over the heads in front of him. The portrait seemed to be closed.

"Let me through, please," came Percy's voice, and he came bustling importantly through the crowd. "What's the hold-up here? You can't all have forgotten the password - excuse me, I'm Head Boy -"

And then a silence fell over the crowd, from the front first, so that a chill seemed to spread down the corridor. They all heard Percy say, in a suddenly sharp voice, "Somebody get Professor Dumbledore. Quick!"

People's heads turned; those at the back were standing up on their tiptoes.

"What's going on?" said Ginny, who had just arrived.

Next moment, Charlie's grandfather was there, sweeping towards the portrait; the Gryffindors squeezed together to let him through, and Charlie, Harry, Ron and Hermione moved closer to see what the trouble was.

"Oh, my -" Hermione exclaimed and grabbed Charlie's arm, to which they didn't bring any attention to, given the seriousness of the situation.

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

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

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

"You'll be lucky!" said a cackling voice.

It was Peeves the poltergeist, bobbing over the crowd and looking delighted, as he always did, at the sight of wreckage or worry.

"What do you mean, Peeves?" said Dumbledore calmly, and Peeves's grin faded a little. He didn't dare taunt Dumbledore. Instead he adopted an oily voice that was no better than his cackle.

"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," he said happily. "Poor thing."

"Did she say who did it?" Charlie asked quietly from the front of the crowd causing Dumbledore to take notice in his grandson's curious eyes.

"Oh, yes, little Char," said Peeves, with the air of one cradling a large bombshell in his arms. "He got very angry when she wouldn't let him in, you see."

Peeves flipped over, and grinned at Charlie and his friends from between his own legs, "Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black."

Charlie shared a nervous glance with his three friends before turning to his grandfather who was looking particularly taken aback.

Well, this can't be good.

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Author's Note:
*this chapter was not proof read*

Wanted to take a moment to say thank you for over one thousand reads! I'm so, so grateful! You have no idea how much it means to me!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! If you did, be sure to vote, comment, and share!

Until next time! Much love to you all!

xo, Selena