Order of the Sphinx... Why should HP get to have all the fun?

Chapter 30: Ultimatum

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or his world. Ms Rowling does as do her affiliates.

I'm just a University student who has two assignments to do and a hell of a lot of reading.

If I made money from this, I'd pay off my HECS fees.

Chapter 30: Ultimatum

On the 15th of November, the Daily Prophet arrived bringing with it a horror story. After two years of grim waiting, Bellatrix Lestrange had finally been charged for the attempted murder and grievous bodily harm of Frank and Alice Longbottom. The charges were added to her existing sentences and meant that she was now in Azkaban for life plus 20 years. While it was a step forward, it wasn’t full justice for the Longbottoms.

The story affected me more than I cared to admit.

Why the article had such a great effect on me I didn’t know; there was no really logical reason why it should. I mulled it over while I ate my breakfast - sausages on toast. Seriously, you should really try it it’s yummy!- and tried to ignore the panicked monologue coming from Tom.

It seemed Tom was just as effected as I was.

Kevin was trying to calm him down. Hamish was AWOL and it didn’t appear he was coming down to breakfast anytime soon. I looked up briefly and cast my gaze over towards my friends. Alice was smiling and flirting heavily with Zack; they apparently hadn’t seen the article or hadn’t been affected by it. Colin was reading a novel; no luck there either.

Jen was asleep at the Ravenclaw table, her black curls precariously close to her bowl filled with the remainder of milk from her cereal. Will and Ivy were having some sort of intense debate at the Slytherin table, and something told me it wasn’t about the Daily Prophet.

The sickening feeling in my gut stayed with me the whole day, and no matter how hard I tried to distract myself from it or ignore it, I couldn’t shake it. The paper had found it’s way into my book bag and whenever I went to pull out my pencil case and book from my bag my eyes caught on the silent, screaming and thrashing picture of Bellatrix Lestrange.

I was sitting in the common room later that afternoon and stared broodingly into the fire when everyone came back from their respective tutoring sessions. From the corner of my eye I saw everyone pause when they noticed me at the same time, looking from me, back to each other nervously. My frown deepened and I rested my chin on my palm, one finger pressed solemnly against my lips.

I saw Jen shoo Colin and Will away, giving them filthy looks when they went to protest and when they had grudgingly walked up towards the stairs, she turned and gestured to Alice and Ivy, nodding in my direction. The couch and the arm chair next to mine were abruptly filled, and even though I had been sneakily watching them, I started when I was brought out of my thoughts.

Alice was sitting in the arm chair next to me and took my hand. “What’s wrong Anna?” She asked, a concerned pucker to her lips. I opened my mouth to say nothing and that I was fine, but the equally concerned looks I was getting from Ivy and Jen made me back track. I sighed and brought out my wand, flicking a summoning charm at my bag which sat on the coffee table.

When I had my bag, I bought out the Daily Prophet and slapped it frustrated on the arm of the chair. “Did you see today’s Daily Prophet?” I asked, my voice surprising me with how quiet and full of emotion it was. They all shook their heads and then craned to look at the paper as I unfolded in on my lap, the now familiar picture screaming at us.