Forgotten

Book 2 Ch 7

I pushed on Fred's shoulder until he stirred from his sleep. Poncho flew from my shoulder to peck at Fred's hair. He grumpily waved Poncho away and glared up at me. I grabbed his blanket before he had the chance to pull it over him once more.

"It's late." He grumbled, fighting me for the blanket.

"Have you ever cared how late it's been? Come on."

I go to wake up George in the next bed over, but Fred grabbed hold of my hand. He sat up in the bed and drowsily ruffled his hair. I sank down on the edge of Fred's bed and gently pulled my hand away from his. There hadn't been a moment to think about everything I had witnessed today, but it all begun to sink in once I settled down next to Fred.

"What happened?" Fred asked, looking me over. "You don't look like you want to make a late night run to Honeydukes."

I shake my head, "Not exactly."

Fred slipped from his bed to throw on his shoes and a cloak. He tossed the Marauder's Map back to me before he finished tying his shoes. I looked over his pin-striped robes, but don't say anything as I follow him from the room.

"Lead the way then."

"We should really get the others."

"You don't trust me?"

"I wouldn't have woken you up if I didn't trust you. It's the thing creeping around the castle that I don't trust."

"Is this about Filch's cat? It was probably just some student trying to get revenge on him."

"You didn't see it."

"And you did? I heard that it was as stiff as -"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"So you want to search for the thing that caused it instead? If that's the case, we should start in the dungeons. I heard that's where the Slytherins are."

"I'm being serious, Fred. Ali and I heard something coming to dinner tonight."

"Probably all the voices in your head."

I land my elbow hard against his side. He clutched onto the wall as he swung down into the Common Room. I wait for him to catch his breath before starting towards the Portrait Hole. The Marauder's Map unfolds in front of us and reveals its secrets. There is nothing out of the usual, even though I am certain of what I had heard.

"Things like this just don't happen at Hogwarts. I'm telling you that I know something is off."

"D'you really want us to run around the entire castle?" Fred yawned.

"Until we find what did it."

"This is insane."

"Compared to some of the things that you and George have pulled off, this is nothing."

"You're right this is nothing. We are chasing nothing."

"Shut up."

"You dragged me from bed to tell me to shut up?"

"Of course I wouldn't drag you from bed for something that stupid."

"Could have fooled me?"

"Why are you acting like that?" I hissed, pulling to a stop.

Fred's face softened slightly, "I'm just tired."

I stared at him from over the Marauder's Map. There was still sleep heavy in his eyes. He tried to draw a smile to his face, but I have known him for too long to know that the smile is fake. I pushed on his arm with my elbow and cocked an eyebrow.