Aria Black and the Prisoner of Azkaban *Re-Write*

Excited with a Fork

I practically sleep for rest of the day on Wednesday, after I convince Madam Pomfrey to give me a sleeping potion. None of my friends come to visit. Thursday passes in the same way. That night, though, while Madam Pomfrey is asleep in her room off the Hospital Wing, I hear the doors open.

Ghostly feet tiptoe across the Hosptal Wing, towards my curtained area. In the dark, I fumble for my wand. The lovely Madam Pomfrey hid my wand! I settle for my fork and knife from tonight's untouched meal.

The curtain pulls back and I throw the fork at whoever (or whatever, I did meet a vampire a few days ago) comes through. It doesn't meet its mark, though. The fork falls feet away from my assailant, but doesn't hit the ground, due to a levitation charm. I raise the knife to throw it too, but a voice stops me.

"Bloody hell, Ari!" One of the twins whisper-yells. He comes in closer and I realize that it's Fred.

Two more people fill in behind him. Lee and George.

"We're only your best friends coming to comfort you, no need to get excited." George says, smoothing out his hair.

Lee chuckles. "Definitely no need to get excited with a FORK Ari."

I smile lightly. "What are you guys doing here? Where's Ange?"

"We wanted to tell you we were sorry for being unsupportive of you, and we knew you'd want to get out of this prison." Fred says.

George laughs. "And Ange has been worrying sick about you day and night. Tonight was the first night Alicia could get her to sleep. We decided to leave her there."

"So we're taking you on an adventure." Lee says.

George offers me his hand in a gentleman-like fashion. "Wanna come? Do you feel up to it?"

I nod earnestly and take his hand. George uses it to lift me up and into his arms, bridal style. He is careful to avoid all my major bruises, and gentle with his touch.

Lee casts a Disillusionment Charm on each of us with a tap of his wand, and then on himself with a twirled pattern. I see my body slowly camouflaging itself with my surroundings from under me. George's is doing the same. Lee and Fred have disappeared as well.

We set off into the halls, and I remember the last time I was in them. But my guys are with me, I am in no danger now. Together we can fight off anything. The twins and Lee head up around seven flights of stairs, to the Astronomy Tower. George manages to still keep up with the other two, even though he's carrying me.

At the entry to the tower, we pass Professor Sinistra, the Astronomy professor. She reverses our Disillusionment Charms and pats the boys on the back. We enter the room, and my eyes are drawn to a little picnic on the ground.

"And this, our darling Ari, is the spot on campus with the best view at night." Fred says with a grand gesture to the window. George sets me down, and I approach the window.

Looking down, I see the green courtyard, the glistening giant lake of Hogwarts, Hagrid's hut, and even the Forbidden Forrest, where Eleazar and the centaurs probably are quarreling again. It's mystifying. No matter how much darkness and evil creeps into the world, Hogwarts will always be the light, the beacon of hope shining in the dark.

I whirl around to face my friends, a gesture that makes me nauseous. I ignore it, and hug each one of them. Fred rubs my back comfortingly. Lee squeezes me protectively. George pulls me close and kisses me on the head. "Thank you guys so much." I tell them. "You're the best friends ever."