Lacuna

chpt.26

Harry stood up from the couch taking Cordelias hand. She sat up from the couch looking him in the eye.

"Where are you taking me?" She asked him.

"Shhh..you have to be quiet." He whispered. Cordelia furrowed her eyebrows confused. He clasped her hand leading her back to the boys dormitories taking quiet steps.

"Where are we going?" She asked again. Harry ignored her. They went up the winding steps making her almost dizzy. Candles were lit everywhere.

She looked all around as he led her back to who knows where. They went up stair after stair with their palms clasped. They eventually reached the end of the corridor. An empty cobblestone wall stood in front of them.

She stared ahead at it confused. Harry let go of Cordelias hand and felt around on the cobblestone and eventually one pushed in. Harry stepped back tugged on Cordelias sleeve to pull her back.

Low rumbling came from the wall and soon a door appeared. He looked around quick before Harry turned the door knob opening the door. He quickly entered pulling Cordelia in and shutting the door.

Cordelia looked all around and it seemed to have been some secret hangout place. It was smaller then a dorm, but it still had two beds. A large Gryffindor banner dropped over one of the beds.

Bewitched candles floated around the ceiling like the great hall. Cordelia turned around and faced the door. A chunk of wood was nailed into the door. Dust was collected all over it. She blew on it and dusted it away.

'Property of the Marauders.
Prongs, Moony, Padfoot and Wormtail.'

Cordelia squinted her eyes and could barely read the last name since it was etched out. She turned back to Harry who was also gazing up at it.

"Who are the Marauders?" She asked confused. Harry awkwardly laughed attempting not to get to emotional.

"My dad and his friends."

"Are those some sort of—nicknames? I reckon your fathers name isn't some silly name." She looked up at the slab of wood.

"Yeah...yeah they're nicknames." Harry chuckled.

"My dad was Prongs." Harry said pointing at his name.

"Sirius was Padfoot." Harry pointed at Padfoot.

"Sirius Black?" Cordelia asked him. Harry nodded in response. "The mass murderer?" Harry shook his head no.

"Sirius wasn't a murderer. He was framed. He did nothing." Harry shut down her statement. Cordelia looked back up at the piece of wood.

"Who's Moony?"

"Remus Lupin." Harry cleared his throat. Cordelia immediately smiled and turned her head towards Harry.

"As in Professor Lupin?" She asked. Harry nodded yes in response. "Really? I loved him as a teacher." She softly laughed. Cordelia was going to ask about the last name but didn't want to bring him up since he's obviously not good news if his name is etched out.

"What even is this place?" She asked him walking around scanning the room.

"An old hangout for them I guess. Ron and I found it in third year.." He turned facing her. She looked all around and found an old picture of the bunch on it. She crouched down and picked up the broken picture frame.