Halloween Attack

"Do you think Snape is trying to poison Professor Lupin?" Harry said as soon as he and Chris were out of Lupin's office. 

"What? Why'd he do that?" said Chris shocked. 

"I don't like the way he looked at us. Then you saw the goblet — it was — so —" 

"Harry, how much do you know about potions?" Chris asked and Harry didn't answer. "Maybe it was just what Professor Lupin said. Your imaginations are really crazy." 

They stopped in front of the moving hallway. It was the most confusing hallway, it moved all the time so no one knew where it will lead you. 

"We're lost," Harry said. 

"No. We're not. Let's go and see where it takes us." Chris said pulling Harry. 

They walked through the corridor and ended up in a different hallway, which Chris soon realized, was the way to the lake. 

"See, when we want something dearly it comes to us on its own," Chris said smiling and went towards the lake. 

They sat on the grass beside the lake. 

"So, your Dad was a Quidditch player too?" Chris said. 

"Yes. I got to know it in my first year." Harry replied. 

"Harry, what's wrong? You're not looking like yourself." 

"— Argh — I know it's stupid but — I really wanted to see Hogsmeade." 

"Hey, it's ok, you'll see it next year. Don't get upset over this." Chris paused then said, "Is it about Sirius Black?" 

Harry looked at Chris, a little surprised. 

"Look, I heard you three a few days ago and I know something is going on with Sirius Black and you. I don't want to invade in your life, but if you feel like telling me, you can, whenever you want," Chris explained.

Harry nodded. Then they sat in comfortable silence. 

At dusk, Chris was talking with Colin, Ginny and, Luna, who was still in their common room, when the seniors came back from Hogsmeade. Fred and George brought some sweets for Ginny. Ginny shared them with Chris, Luna and Colin. Then they decided to go to the Great Hall for the Hallowe'en feast. 

The Great Hall was decorated with hundreds and hundreds of candle-filled pumpkins, a cloud of fluttering live bats and many flaming orange streamers, which were swimming lazily across the stormy ceiling like brilliant watersnakes. The food was delicious. Everyone was tasting everything they found. 

Chris noticed Harry was sitting with Ron and Hermione in a little far on the table. 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, the Gryffindor ghost, had great success with a re-enactment of his own botched beheading. Chris had a great time. 

At last, they bid bye to Luna who followed the other Ravenclaws and Chris, Ginny and Colin came back to Gryffindor Tower, but when they reached the corridor which ended with the portrait of the Fat Lady, they found it jammed with students. They heard Percy saying, in a sharp voice, "Somebody get Professor Dumbledore. Quick." 

People's heads turned; those at the back were standing on tiptoe. 

"What's going on?" Ginny asked Ron, who was standing in front of her, along with Harry and Hermione. 

Next moment, Professor Dumbledore was there, sweeping towards the portrait; the Gryffindors squeezed together to let him through, and Chris, Ginny and Colin moved closer to see what the trouble was. 

"Oh, God!" Ginny exclaimed. 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 sombre, 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 crackling 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," he added, unconvincingly. 

"Did she say who did it?" said Dumbledore quietly. 

"Oh, yes, Professorhead," 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 Dumbledore from between his own legs. "Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black." 

There was a sharp intake of breaths around, different kind of moaning sounds. Almost everyone was terrified. 

'Sirius Black was here? He tried to enter the Gryffindor tower? Is he really wants to do something to Harry? No. Harry was at the Great Hall with everyone else. Black obviously saw the decorations all around, he knew it's Hallowe'en then why he attacked now when nobody will be in the Gryffindor tower?' 

Ginny broke the trail of Chris's thoughts as Dumbledore asked them to go to the Great Hall. Dumbledore sent all the Gryffindors back to the Great Hall, where they were joined ten minutes later by the students from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin, who all looked extremely confused. 

"The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle," Dumbledore told them as Professors McGonagall and Flitwick closed all doors into the Hall. "I'm afraid that, for your own safety, you will have to spend the night here. I want the Prefects to stand guard over the entrances to the Hall and I am leaving the Head Boy and Girl in charge. Any disturbance should be reported to me immediately," he added to Percy, who was looking immensely proud and important. "Send word with one of the ghosts." Professor Dumbledore paused, about to the leave the Hall, and said, "Oh, yes, you'll be needing. . ."

One casual wave of his wand and the long tables flew to the edges of the Hall and stood themselves against the walls; another wave, and the floor was covered with hundreds of squashy purple sleeping bags. 

"Miss Norton!" Professor Dumbledore called before leaving. Chris looked up at him. "A moment please."

Dumbledore went out and Chris followed. 

"Yes, Professor?" Chris asked curiously. 

"Did anything is happening with you? Something unusual?" Dumbledore asked seriously.

Chris thought about the Dementors then the Hippogriffs and Crookshanks. 

'I already told this to Professor Lupin. No need to give more things to Dumbledore in this mess.' 

"Er. . . No. Professor." She answered. 

"Good. Now, I have a very important work for you. If you found anything unusual with Harry or just something different or wrong in the castle, you'll inform me; even it's just a feeling. Understood?" Professor Dumbledore said calmly. 

"Yes, Professor." 

"And do not tell anyone about this talk." Chris nodded and entered the Great Hall. 

"Sleep well," said Professor Dumbledore, closing the door behind her.