Luna Mia || Theodore Nott

Chapter: 13

It was near Christmas break, Nott have long since fully healed, we all were getting closer, everything was good, but still me and Nott didn't find anything more about what my father is hiding. It was the weekend, our favourite time of the week, and we were all heading to Hogsmeade.
Katie went with Zabini who wanted to show her this library somewhere. Malfoy and Elle were bickering like usual. I'm sure this is there way of flirting by now, but oh, they're just friends.
"Every girl in hogwarts loves my hair Tracy"
"Sure not me"
"Oh yeah?" He smirked at her and she shoved his shoulder so hard
"Ouch" I winced
"I guess we should probably leave them alone" Nott suggested
"Great idea"

We roamed around, entering a few shops and buying stuff we need. We were passing by a jewelry when something caught my eye,a dianty necklace. I looked at the pretty piece one last time before continuing our walk.
"Do you wanna get icecream?" I asked
"Uhm don't laugh but I never ate ice cream"
"WHAT?!"
"I mean it's sort of a muggle thing so my father was really insistent on not having anything to do with it"
"Oh no you have to try it, come on"
I was about to continue walking when he grabbed my hand.
"Wait"
I looked confused at him.
"I wanna tell you something before you go"
"Ooookayyyyy?"
"I-" his eyes focused on something behind me.
"Nott?"
"Are these..?"

And yes it was. There, hermione and ron walking towards an alleyway. The weird thing was the third pair of legs folowing them in the snow, even though they were only two. Me and Nott gave each other a knowing look and followed them. We hid behind the wall so they couldn't see us and peaked over the corner. Sobs are heard, and Ron takes Hermione's arm discouraging her from going further, but she does kneeling very gently drawing an invisible cloak from Harry. The pair of footsteps belonged to him. We looked at each other surprised to see his tear filled eyes and listened to what was happening.

"He was their friend. And he betrayed them. He was their friend. They trusted him to be my godfather and he still betrayed him"
Harry's eyes hardened
"I hope he finds me. But when he does, I'm going to be ready. When he does, I'm going to kill him"
He was talking about Sirius Black. Sirius Black was Harry's godfather. I was out of words, it's like I had all the pieces to this puzzle, but something was just missing. But I knew one thing for certian, and that is I will find out the truth.

The holidays pass quickly, I stayed at hogwarts because my dad was there, he was busy teaching Harry the Patronus charm to protect him from dementors, so I spent my time studying mostly. It was one afternoon after the holidays that I overheard the trio saying that they wanted to sneak out this evening. I couldn't shake that feeling inside of me that told me I should follow them. So I did. I went looking for Nott and after asking around I found out that they had practice today.

I headed towards the pitch and sat in one of the empty seats. Watching him play was so interesting, although he brags alot he was infact fast and skillful. I studied the way his grip tightens around the broom whenever he wants to speed up, the way he slightly bites his lips when he's trying to concentrate, the way his back curves when he's throwing the Bludger.

After practice was over I headed down and waited near the locker room. All the team finished and was heading back to the castle, including Malfoy who Merlin does he take long to finish, but still there was no sign of Nott. I was sure he didn't head to the castle or I would've seen him. I stood infront if the door debating if I should knock or not and just as I raised my hand, the door opened and oh my. Nott, standing there, shirtless. I quickly diverted my gaze from staring at his sculpted abs, clearing my thoat in an attempt to stop my self from panicking. He didn't expect me to be there either as he put on his shirt seemingly surprised by my presence.

"Lupin? What're you doing here?"
"I- uhm.. you know- I- I ugh merlin" I scratched the top of my head as Nott smirked the most smug smirk ever. He opened his mouth but I just held a finger.
"Don't. Don't you dare. I wanted to tell you that you should prepare yourself. The golden trio are sneaking out this evening and I'm curious so I wanna follow them. Meet me at 7 in the clocktower coutyard. No excuses." I just spit it all out and left him. I couldn't embarrass myself more by staying there and attempting to have a conversation.

Later that night, I waited for Nott, and he did come not long after.
"Hey pretty, do you happen to have seen a girl waiting for me here?"
"I assure you Nott, all the girls who tell you you're funny are lying to you because they want to hit on you"
"Oh and why are you so annoyed that girls hit on me"
"I'm not"
"You sure sound like it"
"Because I'm annoyed that you won't shut up"
Before he could continue, we heard footsteps approaching. We hid behind one of the walls. It was them, the trio. We waited until the passed us and followed them quitely. After a while of sneaking around, they entered Hagrids hut. Me and Nott waited outside behind a tree. Then they came out after a while, and we continued following them. Hermione turns, there was a frenzied spray of crows staining the bloody sky, their shrieking rising like a curse.Ron stares at his hand. At the blood running down his finger like tear drops.
"He bit me..."
We look around and see a rat streaking away.
"Ron! No!" Hermione screams as Ron pelts after Scabbers, his rat, Harry and Hermione give chase. And we follow from behind the trees. Ron reaches the summit, disappears over the top. Harry and Hermione reach the top of the ridge and stop.
"Harry. You do realize what tree this is..."
It was the Whomping Willow. Me and Nott looked at each other, concerned. Ron grabs the rat, cradles him in his bloody palm.
"Now behave yourself." He is kneeling under the Whomping Willow.
"That's not good." Nott whisper to me and I nod my head.
"Ron! Run!" Harry yells
Ron spins. Looks toward Harry.
"Harry! Run!"
I look back as Harry's eyes shift. Bounding toward him in the gathering gloom is an enormous, pale eyed, jet black dog. Harry shields himself when the dog leaps over him. Nott drags me further behind the tree.
"Aaaahhh!"
The dog's teeth flash and close on Ron's foot, dragging him towards the trunk like a rag doll. Instantly, Harry dashes forward, leaps out, and grabs Ron's hands, but he and Ron just keep skudding along the ground.
" I've got you-"
Hermione pitches herself onto Harry's feet... and the three of them go scudding along.
"Harry!"
Harry raises his chin. The dog vanishes into the gap at the base of the tree, begins to pull Ron through.
"Hold on, Ron!"But it's no use. The dog is too powerful. Harry glances around desperately, then finds himself looking directly in Ron's eyes. He can read his mind.
One by one, Ron releases his fingers from Harry's foreararm.
" Nooooo!!!"
But Ron closes his eyes, releases his hands fully, and disappears, as his voice echoes deep into the earth. Harry and Hermione rise, peer into the hole. The Whomping Willow sweeps first Hermione, then Harry, into the air and drops them on their backside, then the tree grabs them, playing with them as if they were ragged dolls then throwing them into the trunk of the tree through the gap where their screaming silenced.
"We have to follow them" I urged Nott
"What?! Are you insane?!"
"We didn't come this far for nothing, also they could be in danger"
"Well you can't  throw your self into danger too"
"Look Nott, if you dont want to go I totally understand but I will-"
"You're not going there alone. Just... are you sure?"
"Yes"
We approached the tree, which grabbed hold of both of us tossing and turning us around until it threw us hurtling toward the trunk of the tree, through the gap, and into below. Nott hits the ground hard, and I fell on top of him.
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it. Lumos."
As the tip of Nott's wand glows, it reveals a long, snaking tunnel.
"Where do you suppose this goes?" I asked
" I have an idea. I just hope I'm wrong.."

We make our way through the primitive passageway, ducking the roots that dangle overhead. Then, abruptly, the tunnel... ends. Confused, me and Nott glance about, then, as one, peer up. A small opening. Nott reaches up, hoists himself through and pulls me up. Paper peels from the walls. Stains,
suspiciously similar to dried blood, blot the floorboards. Shattered furniture lies strewn everywhere.
" We're in the Shrieking Shack, aren't we?" I asked quietly.
Nott doesn't answer, staring at the dog prints in the dust on the floor. The  ceiling creaks. We dash to the stairs. A wide, shiny stripe cuts through the dusty floor, as if something has been dragged, to the end of the hallway, where a light seeps from a door.