Amelia Merlin

Part Seventy One: Sirius Black is in the castle

A/n comment here if you think Amelia is the person the prophecy is about, or if Fred is right and it doesn't exist, or if Oliver's right and it's just some trick!

When somebody screams in Hogwarts, it isn't like anything you've ever heard before. Suddenly a place you call home, a place you feel undoubtedly safe, has a terrible chill blow through the halls. Like the breath of an icy god, it shakes everyone to their core and leaves them shivering and numb. The sound ricochets throughout the stone walls and there's not a soul who doesn't hear it.

So when someone found the Fat Lady's portrait torn to pieces, everyone knew right away something was wrong.

Amelia and her friends had just finished the Halloween feast, and it was glorious. The girls walked up the stone steps together, giggling and flirting with the boys. They were almost at the entrance to the common room when they heard it.

That terrible scream bouncing across walls.

"What was that?" Neville gasped in a hushed voice.

"I don't know." Amelia replied. "Let's go check it out."

Unfortunately it wasn't that easy. The stairs were jammed full of people trying to get a look at what was happening. And since they were all Gryffindors, there was no way a scream, no matter how horrible, was going to make them any less curious. Actually it probably made them more curious.

"Amy!" A voice hissed and she immediately recognized it as Fred, no one else ever called her Amy.

"What?" She turned to see him behind her.

"Come with me!" Without question Amelia followed the red haired boy down the steps and through a small corridor.

"Where are we going?" She laughed as he pulled her along by the hand.

"Isn't it obvious?" Fred turned and Amelia recognized that smile, it meant mischief. "We're going to go find Sirius Black!"

"Is that such a good idea?"

"Of course it is! How cool would it be if we found him?" His grin widened.

Amelia raised her eyebrows. "Not so cool if he kills us."

"Either way, it's exciting. Come on Amy! I know you love a good thrill!" He nudged her encouragingly.

"Fine!" She laughed and they ran down the corridor in search of a mass murderer. They were nearly at the end if the hall when Amelia stumbled to a stop. A painting had caught her eye and she had a sudden feeling she had to look at it.

"Amy!" Fred whined. She shushed him and put her hand on the canvas.

The painting was breathtaking, and from the few art classes Amelia had been taking she knew this was most likely from the Italian Renaissance. It was a stone courtyard with plants entwining the pillars around the edge. There were lords and ladies dressed in fine clothing and in the distance she could see the ocean. Amelia recognized this place, it was the courtyard that appeared in her dreams. The one where the lizard people attacked her.

"Amy?" Fred put a hand on her shoulder. "What's going on?"

She came out of her trance like state and looked at him. "Nothing," she said shaking her head. "It's nothing, only, I've seen this place before, in my dreams."

"Does this have something to do with that story? Because you know what I think of that." It almost felt like he was scolding her.

"So? Why does it matter what you think? What about what I think?" She folded her arms.

"Oh come on, love! I don't want to fight about this!" He said exasperated. "And the only reason I don't want you dwelling on it is because I don't think you should get your hopes up! You have no proof Amelia!"

"I know it's real Fred." She insisted. "I can feel it."

"Amy," he started. "Did you ever consider, maybe you just want it to be so real that you've convinced yourself it is?"

"You're being a prat Fred. Why can't you just support me in this and help?" She threw her hands up in indignation.

"Maybe because it's a stupid idea! And I don't want you getting disappointed and hurt over a fairy tale!" He raised his voice.

"Maybe it's not your decision, and as my best friend you should just be nice about it!" Amelia glared furiously at him.

"Amy, I am doing this as your best frind. I don't think it's nice to let you lead yourself on to something that isn't real!"

"You drive me crazy, Fred. Literally crazy."

He smiled slightly, almost sadly. "Yeah well that's what happens when you love someone. They make you crazy."

Amelia laughed, "I love George, he doesn't make me mad." It was too difficult to stay mad at Fred, it just felt wrong.

"That's because ol' Georgey's a big softie." He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a hug. Amelia felt the familiar comfort surround her.

"Yeah he really is."

"You and me, we're made of tougher stuff." She could feel the vibrations of his voice through his chest against her cheek.

"We really are."

"What are you two doing down here?" Professor Lupin came around the corner and Amelia pulled away from Fred. "Students are supposed to be in the Great Hall, you're all sleeping there tonight."

They walked down to the great hall where purple sleeping bags were laid out for them. Amelia felt nervous about sleeping around this many people. What if she had a nightmare and started screaming? How embarrassing would that be? A sense of anxiety started to build in her chest but relaxed slightly as she saw Lavender and Parvati waving her over.

"Amelia! We saved you a spot!" Lavender beamed at her.

"Thanks guys." She curled into the squishy purple bag.

"I was thinking, sleep really close to us, so if you get a nightmare you'll start kicking and one of us will wake up then we can wake you up. And you don't have to go through that in front of everyone." Parvati whispered in Amelia's ear. It was in this moment Amelia truly recognized how valuable and incredible friendship is.

She embraced her two friends and tried to blink back tears. "You guys are the best."

"Love you Amelia." Lavender whispered.

The three girls went to sleep, and although she had more on her plate than she cared to admit, Amelia slept more soundly than she had in a very long time, knowing she was protected by friends.