A Potter Secret

Sirius in the Castle

As Harry, Ron, and Hermione climb the stairs, they find a crowd gathering on the Seventh Floor landing. "What's the hold-up? Only Neville ever forgets the password," Ron reminds.

"Let me through, please. Excuse me, thank you, I'm Head Boy," Percy demands, stopping dead. 'Back! All of you! No one is to enter this dormitory until it has been fully searched!"

Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchange dark glances, when Ginny emerges from the crowd, her face ashen. "The Fat Lady she's gone," Ginny says.

"Probably stuffing her face with the apples in that still life on the second floor again," Ron says.

"No. You don't understand," Ginny replies.

Hermione gasps and grabs Harry's arm. He looks. The Fat Lady's portrait has been slashed viciously, great strips of canvas hanging from the frame. Just then, Dumbledore appears. "Mr. Filch. Round up the ghosts. Tell them to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady," Dumbledore says.

Just then, there is a scream. The students dash to the landing, where all the paintings whisper fearfully. Filch's rheumy eyes peer up, searching the upper shadows, then narrow. "There'll be no need for ghosts, Professor," Filch calls. Filch extends a crooked finger. High up, near the ceiling, the Fat Lady cowers in a portrait not her own, trembling.

"Dear lady. Who did this to you?" Dumbledore asks.

"Eyes like the devil he's got. And a soul as dark as his name. It was him, Headmaster. The one they talk about. He's here. Somewhere in the castle. Sirius Black," the fat lady says. As the students react, Dumbledore's voice cuts through.

"Secure the castle, Mr. Filch. The rest of you to the Great Hall," Dumbledore instructs.

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Clock tower door, great groaning tumblers fall. Spindles rotate. Cylinders, one after another, fire into place. Windows, iron spikes, sharp as razors, rise instantly. One by one, deep in the distance, the lights of the great hall go out. Dementors appear, covering frame, then separate like a curtain. Over an ocean of sleeping bags, finds Harry lying awake, staring at the net of stars glimmering beyond the highest window. A gentle creak is heard and Harry's eyes shift, see Snape pass through the great doors, converge with Dumbledore. "I've done the dungeons, Headmaster. No sign of Black. Nor anywhere else in the castle," Snape says.

"I didn't really expect him to linger," Dumbledore notes.

"Remarkable feat, don't you think? To enter Hogwarts castle on one's own, completely undetected," Snape insinuates. Dumbledore gazes at the students, refusing to take the bait. "You may recall, prior to the start of term, I did express my concerns when you appointed Professor-"

"I do not believe a single professor inside this castle would have helped Sirius Black enter it, Severus," Dumbledore says. As Snape's eyes glitter darkly, Dumbledore gazes out over the slumbering students. "No I feel quite confident the castle is safe. And I'm more than willing to let the students return to their Houses. But tomorrow. For now, let them sleep." As Dumbledore's gaze finds Harry, he shuts his eyes, feigns sleep. "It's astonishing what the body can endure when the mind allows itself to rest."

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The Whomping Willow idly casts off a few withering leaves. "What villains are these that trespass upon my private lands!" Sir Cadogan cries.

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The Fat Lady has been replaced by a painting of a tiny knight, Sir Cadogan. Stalking a bare stretch of grass as his pony grazes nearby, he brandishes his sword wildly as a group of Gryffindors regard him warily. "Who dares challenge Sir Cadogan! Back, you scurvy braggarts! You rogues!" Sir Cadogan calls.