enchanted • draco malfoy

Year 3: Sirius Black

Felicity's POV

Harry, Hermione, and I scrambled to our feet and backed away from the tree a few steps, regarding it warily. Suddenly, thick branches the width of a tiny first year whipped down, separating the three of us as I flung myself backwards, Harry to the left, and Hermione to the right. We all exchanged wide-eyed looks before Hermione shouted, "Duck!" I turned my head quickly, and felt a solid branch sweep across my stomach and fling me back. I tried to regain my breath was about to pull myself to my feet, only to have Harry roll into me, trying to escape being squashed. I felt something sharp poke into my shoulder and yelped. After struggling with a flailing Harry and dozens of tiny branches whipping us while Hermione screamed, I finally pulled Harry's glasses out from underneath me; the glass in one frame had broken on my shoulder.

I dragged myself and Harry up and pulled out my wand, quickly chanting, "Oculus Repairo!" before shoving them in his hands. Harry put his glasses on and we stared, baffled, at Mione, who was hanging onto a branch for dear life as it whipped through the air. "Hurry, go!" Harry said suddenly, shoving me towards the base of the tree. The willow was tilting in a way that left the trunk completely clear of branches and I dove desperately down the hole.

I slid in the dirt for a moment before settling in a narrow, damp tunnel. I coughed and stood up, just as another person came barreling down the hole, knocking me over. "Bloody hell, Harry," I groaned, before pulling myself up and offering him a hand, "A little warning next- oof!" I fell down for the millionth time today as Hermione joined us under the tree, plowing over Harry and me. "Sorry!" Hermione gasped, rolling off of us. "Don't worry," Harry said, sounding like he'd had the breath knocked out of him.

Harry, Hermione, and I stood up before Hermione took in our surroundings. "Where do you suppose this goes?" she asked, gesturing around her at the underground passage. "I have a hunch," Harry said grimly, "I just hope I'm wrong."

"Care to enlighten us?" I asked sarcastically. Harry didn't answer, instead following the ominous-looking path. Hermione answered my question after a few minutes of silent walking led us too small stone steps with only seven stairs. Halfway up, she spoke. "This leads to the Shrieking Stack, doesn't it?" she asked, whispering as Harry pushed a doorway hidden in the floorboards open. I climbed up and surveyed by surroundings: ancient furniture, rickety staircases, wood floorboards, dusty everything.

Except in one place. There was dust everywhere, except where a clearly defined trail of blood cut through the grime. I exchanged a look with Harry and Hermione and we followed the smear up the stairs. We hurried as we heard Ron groaning and rushed into a room that looked no better than the rest of the house. "Ron!" I gasped as soon as I saw him. I ran to his side and immediately began assessing his wounded leg. "The dog," Harry said without greeting, "Where is it?" Ron looked panicked and was clutching that damned rat close to his chest.

"It's a trap, Harry!" Ron answered, frightened, "He's the dog! He's an Animagus!" He pointed fearfully towards the the opposite side of the room. I finally pulled my eyes from his leg and turned around slowly as the door we entered through creaked shut. There, behind the door and in the corner, was Sirius Black. Ragged, gaunt, and filthy, but definitely him.

Hermione stood taller and pushed Harry behind her. I stood up and joined her, my hand drifting towards my wand. "If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us, too!" Hermione stated bravely, wand already drawn. I refrained from pointing out that he probably had no problem with killing us.

"Only one will die tonight," Sirius replied darkly. "Yeah, and it'll be you!" Harry said viciously, pushing in between Hermione and me. He wrapped his hands around Black's throat and dragged him to the ground, crouching next to him with one hand holding Sirius down and the other pointing his wand directly at the murderer's face.