Lovely - Neville Longbottom

8) The Fat Lady

It was the next morning and everyone was eating breakfast.
" Well what do you think Florence? " Nora asked.
They were talking about a paper Nora had to write for her potions class.

Since Florence had taken her class 2 years ago Nora thought she could help.
" I like it. Looks great." Florence said, shoving her breakfast in her mouth.

Neville and Nicolle showed up to the table.
" Hello Florence." Neville said.
" Hello Neville. Nicolle." Florence smiled.
" Florence." Nicolle smiled back.
Shortly after Seamus and Dean arrived at the table.
The conversation then turned into explosives and boyish banter when the arrived.

" I talked to Ella yesterday." Florence said.
" And? " Nora replied.
" She's actually really nice. Did you know she actually wasn't raised by her mother? " She said.
" Can't say I did." Nora said.
" She was raised by her mother's sister's family who homeschooled her." Florence explained.
" That's interesting. She sounds nice." Nora said.
" I'll introduce you sometime." Florence smiled.
They finished their food and went on back to the dorms.
Ron was talking about all the stores in hogsmeade while Nora walked behind him with Florence and Neville by her side.
Everyone then looked up and saw people crowded around the Gryffindor entrance.
" What's going on? " Harry said.
" Probably Neville's forgotten the password again." Ron said.
" Hey! " Neville said obviously feeling targeted.
Nora patted his shoulder comfortingly as Ron smiled at his own joke.
Everyone was trying to see what was going on while Percy kept trying to tell everyone to move and that he was 'head boy' repeatedly.
" No one is to enter this dormitory until it has been fully searched." Percy said.
Florence pushed through people to get passed them to go to her own dorm.
Ginny Weasley came down.
" The fat lady, she's gone!" The girl said panicky. They then caught a glimpse of what everyone was staring at.

There were huge gashes on the painting the fat lady usually inhabits.
" What a terrible scene." Ron joked
" It's not funny Ron." Hermione told him.
Chaos ensued all throughout the paintings.
Dumbledore then approached the scene.
He grazed his hand upon the painting then instructed Filch to help find her.
" I don't think that's necessary professor." Florence yelled.
Everyone turned to see the fat lady cowering in another painting.
Everyone raced up the stairs to see the sight Nora being one of the first people up there.

" Dear lady, who did this to you? " Dumbledore asked her.
The fat lady whimpered and cried.
" 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 lady cried.
" Who ma'am? " Nora asked her.
" Sirius Black! " She shrieked and cowered.
" Secure the castle Mr Filch." Dumbledore whispered to Filch.
Nora looked at Florence.
The look on her face was unreadable.
It was a mix of sadness, anger, and possibly fear.
" The rest of you in the great hall! " Dumbledore announced.
Everyone quickly rushed down the stairs with the unhelpful demands of Percy.
Florence stood next to Nora and Harry.
" Come on Flo. You too Harry we need to get to the great hall." Nora said.
The three made their way to the great hall.
Florence looked conflicted and quite angry.
Nora started to worry but decided it was best not to annoy Florence at the moment.

Later on that night everyone was on the floor of the great hall in sleeping bags.
Nora was inbetween Neville and Nicolle.
Florence was on the other side of the room.
" Flo." Nora whispered.
No answer.
" Flo." She whispered a bit louder.
Still no answer.
" Flo! " She whisper-yelled.
Nora thought she must have been asleep.
" Nora." A voice whispered.
Nora turned to see Neville.
" Yes Neville? " Nora answered.
" Is everything okay? I heard you yelling." He said.
" Oh yes I'm okay Neville." Nora smiled honestly quite flattered that Neville wanted to check up on her.
" O-okay..just wanted to make sure. Goodnight." Neville said as he began to turn around.
" Wait Neville.." Nora said.
Neville turned.
" Yes? " He said.
" Thank you." She said.
" It's no problem really." Neville said.
" Goodnight Neville." Nora smiled.
" Goodnight." Neville said.
They both turned around to sleep.
After a few moments of silence, Nora finally went to sleep.