Golden | h.p

06| Friends

Diana had been in Honeydukes first, she hadn't intended on getting anything but she loves sweets so she couldn't resist. 'No. No' Diana thought as she put her candy away. "Are you gonna buy any of that, or just stare at it" Ron joked as he entered Honeydukes with Hermione.

"Neither" Diana sighed as she began walking away. Hermione elbowed him and Ron said, "sorry about the permission form thing".

"It's fine, Weasley. I get that Potter is your best friend, besides Hermione, so I get why you would want him to come here with you" Diana said. "Ron and I were planning on getting Butterbear afterwards, care to join us?" Hermione asked.

"I'd love to, but no thank you" Diana said. "You are already here. Might as well" Ron shrugged. "Diana, we want to be friends with you but the whole friendship thing isn't one sided. You have to at least try, we are trying but-" Hermione began.

"Alright, fine" Diana said not really having the patience for one of Hermione's speeches.

Smiles appeared on both Ron and Hermione's faces. "Great! But first, sugar" Ron said and the disappeared throughout the shop to get candy.

"Sometimes I wonder how you put up with him" Diana laughed. "Well, it's because we are friends and-" Hermione paused, "because you fancy him" Diana finished the sentence for her.

"There is no such thing" Hermione told Diana as her face turned a slight shade of pink. "Tell that to your blush" Diana joked. "I won't say anything. And it's not like he'll figure it out any time soon. Boys are oblivious" Diana said.

"I agree with the last three words" Hermione said. The girls then went outside, seeing as Ron was in his personal heaven at the moment. 

"Diana, can I ask you something?" Hermione asked. "You just did" Diana joked, "fine, something else" Hermione said. 

"Yeah, go for it" Diana answered. 

"Why do you try and push us away?" Hermione asked. "You didn't want me helping you the night you got hurt, you try and avoid Harry in the corridors, and any time we ask you to sit with us you refuse. You never seem to like us, but then there are moments where you do. I just don't understand why".

Diana sighed and looked down at her hands. "I guess I've just learned that it's best to keep your guard up. Don't let people in all that easily or you'll get hurt, or worse lose someone" she told Hermione.

"Learned? From who?" Hermione asked.

"My mom and her friends. My mom is known for being the most selfless witch, she always put everyone's needs before her own... and was constantly losing. She lost her grams, her dad, her mom left twice... my dad was killed right in front of her by someone who was a close friend" Diana explained.

"Diana, that's terrible. I'm so sorry" Hermione said. "The worst part of all is that wasn't even all that happened to her. My aunt Caroline for example... she lost her mom, her dad abused her for answers and then he died after she forgave him, she lost her husband the day of their wedding day, her kids were taken from her and almost sacrificed, and all the men she fell in love with died..." Diana continued.

Hermione remained silent. "A lot has happened to each and every one of my mom's friends and her, whether they are dead or alive... I guess that after hearing all those stories, I've just figured that it's best to not have many people you care about in your life. Because from what it seems, the more people you let into your life... the more that can simply walk right out" Dian finally finished.

It was only then that Hermione pulled her into an unexpected hug. "We would never leave you, Diana. You just have to give us a chance. I'm so sorry about all that has happened in your family but that doesn't mean it'll happen to you. Everyone needs a mix of friends and family. And I'm happy to be able to say that you have me. I'm your friend now, whether you like it or not".

"Bloody hell, what's going on here?" Ron asked as he walked out with multiple sweets. 

"I've made a new friend" Diana said and smiled at Hermione. "Ronald, I would like to introduce you to my new friend, Diana Bennett" Hermione said. "Pleasure to meet you" Ron played along. 

"Well, I don't know if your new friend has told you this but we are a packaged deal. So by being friends with Hermione you are automatically my friend as well" Ron said. "Oh, well the, Hermione we can't be friends anymore" Diana joked. 

"It'd be a pleasure to be your friend, Weasley... or should I say, Ron" Diana said.

Ron's mouth dropped wide open. "That's the first time you've called me by my first name" he said.

"We are friends now, aren't we?" Diana laughed. "Alright then, Diana, let's go get some Butterbeers. As a group of friends" Ron said.

~~~ 

The three friends were explaining to Harry what they had done while at Hogsmeade. Harry seemed like he was more focused on the fact that Diana had become friends with Hermione and Ron and not him. But thee other part of him was focused on his conversation with Professor Lupin earlier that day. 

"Let me through, please. Excuse me! I'm Head By!" Percy Weasley said as he went to see what had been going on, since the portrait wasn't opening. Something about Percy drove Diana insane, she didn't know him but she got the feeling he of all people would be the one to disappoint his family by doing something idiotic. 

"No one is to enter this dormitory until it's been searched" Percy told all the Gryffindor students that were waiting to enter. Diana, Harry, Hermione, and Ron were trying to get a look at what had happened when Ginny ran up to them. "The fat lady, she's gone" Ginny said.

"Serves her right. She was a terrible singer" Ron said, earning a glare from Hermione. "It's not funny, Ron" Hermione said.

Dumbledore made his way up the stairs pushing students past as he wanted to see what the commotion was. "The headmaster's here, move!" Percy shouted at the students.

Dumbledore saw the fat lady's portrait and was silent for a moment. "Mr Filch, Round up the ghosts. Tell them to search every painting in the castle to find the Fat Lady" Dumbledore told Filch. 

"There's no need for ghosts, professor" Filch said. "The Fat Lady's there" Filch continued as he pointed at one of the portrait above them. All the students, Dumbledore, and Filch ran up to the Fat Lady while the students ignored Percy's cry to stop.

"Dear Lady, who did this to you?" Dumbledore asked as the fat lady, who was in a different portrait. 

"Eyes like the devil, he's got. And a soul as dark as his name. It's him, headmaster. The one they all talk about... he's here, somewhere in the castle!" the fat last said while shaking.

She paused for a few seconds before saying her next two words that then scared the living daylights out of most students.

"Sirius Black".