Eyes on the Stars Feet on the Ground

Reputations Proceed Us

"Attention all students," Professor Sprout's urgent voice rang through the common, "please get into pajamas and head to the Great Hall immediately. Seventh and sixth years, please accompany the first and second years. Hogwarts' security has been breached."

"They must have found Sirius," Bianca sighed, "he'll be back to the dementors."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Orion told his daughter, "Sirius, for all his flaws, is incredibly intelligent. He wouldn't get caught so easily. He must have done something to get their attention, so now they need to search for him. If he was caught, they would be celebrating."

"You're right Father," Bianca flushed at her mistakes being pointed out, "I'll think things through next time."

"Good," Orion finished the conversation stiffly, "a daughter of mine should always remain at the top. That requires thinking."

"I'll wait for you," Cedric reassured Cielo, "hurry and get into pajamas."

As Cielo ran to get changed, he couldn't help but feel his stomach drop. This was not good. Not good at all.

When Cedric and Cielo arrived in the great hall, the normal tables were gone. In their place, were hundreds of purple sleeping bags. It seemed they'd be spending the night here.

Cielo immediately scanned the room for Luna, immediately relaxing when he saw her safe and secure. Luna was sitting on a sleeping bag, a small journal in her hand. Cielo itched to go to her, but he knew better. The Ravenclaws barely could stand his godsister as it is, her eccentricities and ideas of fake creatures offending them. Cielo knew that, as Sirius Black's nephew, approaching her now would only make things worse. 

Cielo decided there was no use, and sat down on a sleeping bag near Cedric's. This would just be another one of their sleepovers, albeit with the rest of their entire school attending as well. 

"Attention," Professor McGonagll's voice rang through the halls, "please settle down for sleep. You are all being kept here under the careful watch of the prefects, Head Boy, and Head Girl. We are in a precarious situation, and any insubordination will be punished swiftly. Good night to you all."

"They must be searching for him," Lily said worriedly, "I do hope he'll be alright."

"It's Sirius we're talking about," Remus grins reassuringly at his friend, "they couldn't catch him before, so I highly doubt they'll catch him now. Have patience Lils. Maybe Sirius will be shown again."

"You're right," Lily sighs, "there's not much worth in worrying when I can just wait and see. Thanks Remus."

"Anytime," the gentle werewolf replied.

Cielo ignored all the chaos around him and tired to go to sleep. He knew that the entire hall would be gossiping about his uncle. He was bound to be mentioned, and Cielo had no patience to fight with Hogwarts' rumor mill. That thing was powerful, and he alone couldn't change it.

  The next morning was rough. Once they were all cleared to head to their dorms, Cielo hurried to change. He had no patience to hear what the other students had to say about him. As he sat down at the Hufflepuff table, he heard the beginning of trouble.

"That's him," Justin Finch-Fletchly whispered, "Black's nephew. He's probably the one who let Black into the castle."

"Did you hear what Black did to the Gryfffindor common room's entrance portrait?" another whispered, "he slashed the thing when it wouldn't let him in. I wonder how he even got into the castle."

"He has a nephew in the second year," the former's friend rolled her eyes, "the Crouch kid that Cedric keeps an eye on. The kid must be helping him get in."