Avalon (Year 2)

Close encounters

The school was under heavy surveillance. They had to be escorted to and from class again for the next few weeks. It began to feel like last year. It was now the end of May. The school felt stressed. Every corner was considered dangerous. What if he was hiding there?

Ginny had told them that the Gryffindor common room was now guarded by Sir Cardigan. He was a very bad Knight with an overweight pony. But he had been the only one brave enough to take the job. According to Ginny, he was infuriating and changed the password every day. Sometimes it was almost impossible to get into the common room.

One night, about a week later, Ron Weasley said he was about to be attacked by Sirius Black, which put the school on greater alert. The girls, including Ginny, were in the Ravenclaw common room. "How do you think he keeps getting in, assuming both times it was Black?" Lucy asked. "I don't know, but I don't think my brother would lie," Ginny said, "not about Black, I mean he's Harry's best friend. He said he was after Harry, so maybe he thinks killing his friends is the way to go?" she added.

"Maybe. Something doesn't seem right though," Avalon said. "What do you mean Ava?" said Ginny. "Well, think about it. He is a killer, right? He's supposed to be crazy. And how he gets in is not important right now. He is inside. He is wandering around the castle. With a bunch of unarmed, undertrained wizards. And no one is dead?" Avalon replied.

"He's after Harry." Ginny said. "Yeah ok maybe he is. But then he is in his bedroom hovering over his best friend's bed with a knife, doing nothing but waiting for the young wizard to wake up?" Avalon added. "Yes it is strange but like you said he is crazy, maybe he likes to torture?" Ginny said. "Maybe I don't know, it just all sounds strange."

"I agree," Sharon chimed in, "but weird or not. He could be dangerous, I mean he was holding a knife according to Ron." She added, "I'm just glad he's all right." Ginny said. "So am I," Avalon added. "Oh dear, she has a crush on all the Weasleys." Oona started, "It seems so. Hmm, I have more brothers, you know." Ginny said grinning. "Oh shut up." Avalon said throwing a pillow at Ginny.

"We should go to sleep, its late." Ginny said as she stood up. "I'm going to the Great Hall." She added with a sigh. After a few hours sleep, Avalon was awakened by the sensation of her matras changing. When she looked up, she saw a grimy skeleton-like face. She recognised it from the papers. She started to scream. She sat up and he was gone. "What's wrong?" asked Luna. "He was here!" Avalon said. "Who was Ava*" Oona asked, "Sirius Black." Avalon replied. Luna quickly ran out of the dormitory.

It seemed as if no time had passed when Luna came back in, followed by Snape. "Avalon." He said out of breath. "Are you all right? Did that bastard hurt you? " Snape asked sounding slightly panicked. "I don't think so." Avalon said. He checked every inch of her before stroking her hair. "Thank goodness you're all right." Snape said, "I'm going to find that creep and kill him." Snape said angrily and left the dormitory.

"He's madder than I've ever seen him." Sharon said as she climbed up to Avalon's bed. They were soon joined by Luna, Oona, Emma and Lucy. "What exactly happened?" Lucy asked. "I felt something on my bed and when I looked I saw him." Avalon said. "What was he doing?" Emma asked. "Nothing, he just stared, but even that was creepy. I mean he could do anything at any time." She replied.

They talked for several hours. At one point Snape came back in. "He must have left the castle." He said. "But I don't want you in here anymore, Avalon. Perhaps you and your friends should move to the Room of Requirement until Black is caught." Snape added, "No, I think it'll be all right, he hasn't done anything. "THAT DOESN'T MEAN HE WOULDN'T." Snape shouted.

"I'm sorry, Avalon." He said as he saw the shocked faces of the girls. "Your safety is most important to me." He added. "Maybe we should. I mean, he is a follower of you know who," Oona said. "And he is obviously unhinged." She added. "I mean, he should only be after Harry." Emma said. "Shouldn't Harry be more protected?" asked Avalon.