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

George's POV

GEORGE'S POV

After Aria leaves, Wood ditches us in Hogsmeade to spend time with his other friends. Fred, Lee, Angelina, Alicia and I head on. We go to Honeydukes, Zonkos, and the Three Broomsticks, but I think we all wish Ari was here. Angelina is furious, punching her clenched fist into her palm every few minutes. Lee looks very scared.

When it is time to get back, we all are first in line. Visiting Hogsmeade has become tiresome when you are our age, unless you need Zonkos products. Everyone goes around Halloween, though, to see all the spectacular decorations. Ari would have loved them.

Back at the castle, we head down to the common room to see Ari. When we arrive, however, she is nowhere to be seen. Instead there is a crowd huddling around the portrait doorway.

Percy moves through the crowd, push his way through and calling out his importance as Head Boy. Dumbledore arrives at the same time we do, and everyone parts a path for him to go through without question.

Through the pathway, I manage to catch sight of the Fat Lady's portrait. It has giant slash marks running through it. The torn bits of paper have fallen to the floor, but you can see the back of the portrait through the cuts. The Fat Lady is nowhere to be seen.

Behind Dumbledore, comes Professor McGonagall, Professor Lupin, and Snape. They all look very concerned, but Professor Lupin bears a distinct look of foreboding.

Dumbledore turns to the staff. "Professor McGonagall, please go to Mr. Filch at once and tell him to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady."

A maniacal cackle sounds from above. Peeves floats over the crowd, smirking. "You'll be lucky!" He cries, flashing a toothless grin like a little child caught stealing cookies.

"What do you mean, Peeves?" Dumbledore asks, folding his hands.

"Ashamed, Your Headship, sir. Doesn't want to be seen. She's a horrible mess. Saw her running through the landscape up on the fourth floor, sir, dodging between the trees. Crying something dreadful." He says, looking proud of himself. "Poor thing." Peeves adds, pretending to be sad.

Dumbledore's head cocks to the side in mild surprise and interest. "Did she say who did it?"

Peeves giggles with delight. "Oh yes, Professorhead." He says. "He got very angry when she wouldn't let him in, you see." Peeves does a little flip in the air and lies on his stomach in front of Dumbeldore. "Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black."

People around the room gasp. I can feel my face pale. Where is Aria? Alicia clutches the bannister of the stairs like a lifeline. Beside me, Fred is not breathing.

"We need to find her." Lee whispers. "Soon."

Dumbledore sends us back to the Great Hall with Percy, and the ghosts alert the other houses. They join us within a few minutes. The Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, and Slytherins have no idea what is going on. The Gryffindors spread the word, and soon everyone is talking about Sirius Black.... and Aria. Her absence has not gone unnoticed.

Wood approaches Fred, Lee, Angelina, Alicia, and I. "Where's Aria? Have you seen her?"

"Not anywhere." Fred tells him.

Wood scratches his chin. "Where could she be? I saw Lupin, so she's not with him. Maybe.... Hagrid?"

The suggestion doesn't sound promising, but it's all we have. So we wait. Dumbledore finally comes in to talk to everyone. "The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle." Dumbledore says. The doors to the hall close with a bang, thanks to McGonagall and Flitwick. "I'm afraid that, for your own safety, you will have to spend the night here. I want the prefects to stand guard over the entrances to the hall and I am leaving the Head Boy and Girl in charge. Any disturbance should be reported to me immediately." He tells Percy, whose chest is puffed out as if he is important. "Send word with one of the ghosts."