The Forgotten House

The Lady in the Frame

The next morning I wake up bright and early. The sun is blazing through the window next to my bed and I eagerly start getting dressed before heading down to breakfast.  I get downstairs and and sit down next to Liam and Willow.
"Morning Ash!" Willow says excitedly.
"So you found an extra table?" Liam asks me curiously.
"Yeah but it's nothing."
"Really? Coz I can investigate more about it if you want."
"Liam it's not that serious. Don't worry about it. Thanks though." He chuckles and makes his way to class.
"We should get to charms Ash we might be late and plus we have no idea how to get there." So Willow and I start to make out way to charms. 

"Ashley Hartford. Fancy seeing you again!" Jason Zabini calls out to me from behind.
"Jason. Lovely to see you again."
"You better be careful being friends with the Malfoys. You never know when they might turn your back on you."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Willow snaps at Jason revealing I side of her I've never seen.
"Just you wait."
We walk the rest of the way to charms class and we seem to find the room alright. The start of the class is a bit boring. Reading books. Writing notes. Then it starts to get more interesting. We start to learn stances and wand actions. We walk around and talk to new people from different houses. It's all very exciting and I don't want it to end. The lesson of course does come to an end and we head out to find our next class which is potions.
"We just gotta go to the dungeons again don't we?"
"Yeah it won't be that hard to find."
"Hey um Ashley!"
I spin around quickly to see Jason. Once again running up behind us. My eyes roll automatically round my head, "Jason what is it now? We get that we're not as great as you but really? Can't you just leave us alone?"
"I could but I'm not going to." I sigh and raise an eyebrow but let him carry on. "There's a quicker way we can get to potions. Follow me."
Willow steps beside me and whispers, "Are we honestly going to trust him? We know how to find it we were basically there last night."
"I know Will but it could be quicker."
"Or he could be sending us on a wild goose chase!"
"Don't worry. I have pretty good sense of direction," Jason tries to convince us with a wink and we end up following him on this "short cut".

About 5 minutes goes by and we aren't at potions yet. "Are you sure we're going the right way?"
"Positive. Trust me."
"Trust you?"
Jason keeps walking eagerly until he comes to a halt, "Umm... We're not in the dungeons."
"Really? Wow I couldn't tell," Willow says sharply as she looks out the window to see we're about 10 foot up in the castle. "Where the hell are we?!"
"The astronomy tower," Jason says quietly in disappointment.
"How did we end up here? You said you knew your way around!" I screech angrily.
"I did! I do! I just... don't," Jason stutters.
"Brilliant. So now we're lost, late, and in the complete wrong place. Great going!" Willow speaks back.
"Guys don't worry. If we just keep going down we'll get there in the end... hopefully." Jason tries to persuade us to trust him again and we head down the towers steep stone steps.
We seem to keep going and going and there doesn't seem to be an end. Then we see a doorway and I suggest we go through. We walk through the tight doorway and along a dark dingy corridor. There are rusty knights, empty photo frames, abandoned classrooms and cobwebbed doorways to nothing.
"Ash... I don't think we should be here," Willow quivers nervously.
"It's fine. I recon if we just keep walking..." I hesitate as I realise this is completely deserted.
"Hey look! This portrait has someone in it!" Jason points out as he rushes over to it.
The frame is a dusty gold and has the most beautifully carved foxes and leaves around the edges. Within the dark painting, is a tall slender lady with long wavy auburn hair. "Umm excuse me... we're lost do you think you could help us?"
"Ahh people!! Amazing I haven't seen anyone for centuries!! My don't I wish this frame wasn't enchanted," the lady's voice was smooth and calming and there was so much excitement in it.
"You mean you haven't seen anyone?" Willow asks curiously.
"No but since you asked so nicely and I've forgotten the password myself you may enter!" She perks as the frame swings aside revealing a dark common room like area.
I start to go in and Jason pulls me aside. "Ashley what the hell are you doing? We have to get to class and who knows what's inside there! It could be dangerous. Let's just ask her for directions."
"What no!" I shake him off. "I want to see what's in here. It might have something to do with the extra table."
"Extra table?"
"I lost my diary yesterday and we had to get it from the kitchens and Ash saw a 5th table. We think it means something. But really Ashley, Jason's right. We need to get to class."
"You can go ahead I wanna see what's here."
"I'm not going to leave you here," Willow walked right into the room with me.
"For goodness sake you two really!"
"What are you scared?" Willow teases.
"NO!! I'm not scared... urgh fineeee!!! I'll come."

We step into the damp room and see it is laid out just like our common room except the tapestries are ripped and frayed, the fireplace full of crispy ashes and thick layers of dust laying like a blanket on everything in its way. The sofa in the centre was a dark purple with silver streaks within it snd the armchair was the same with chewed edges. "What is this?" I question out loud.
"It looks like an old common room or something. But it's not in the colours of any of the houses," Willow replies.
"Maybe it's a spare?" Jason suggests.
"If it was then the lady in the painting wouldn't have asked for a password," I hesitate. "What if she knows something else?"
"I'll ask her." So Willow taps the back of the painting and it swings aside. "Excuse me. Um do you think you could tell us more about what this room is?"
The elegant lady replies, "Why yes it's your common room isn't it? That is why you're here... isn't it?"
Willow pauses, "Yes yes that's why we're here."
"Well I've been waiting for someone to come for years ever since I was trapped here. Although I didn't know you wore green too," Once again the autumn lady hesitates as she notices Jason's uniform. "You're not from this house at all are you!"
We all exchange worried looks and don't know what to say.
"No. We aren't from this house," Jason says confidently as Willow and I give him deadldy stares. "But we were told to clear this place out as no one was being sorted into it anymore. If you tell anyone that we were here, well I guess you'll have to say goodbye to this sweet little part of the castle you get to yourself. But if you let us come and go as we please, we'll make this place nice and you can stay right here with frequent visits. Your choice."
Willow, the portrait lady and I all exchange confused, yet thankful looks.
"I guess... I'd rather have visitors than no home so fine. It's a deal but don't get caught. My name is Adelaide Foxtail. Daughter of Sir Felix Foxtail. I hope to see you soon."
"Thank you Adelaide. While we are here, do you think you could help us find our potions class?" Jason answers with a smile.
"Of course. Three doors down and there's a passageway. Follow it to the end and turn right and then right again and you'll be there."
We thank Adelaide and make our way along the corridor.

"Why did you do that Jason?"
"Well I knew that neither of you were about to give up on the fact that there could be a 5th house and if I'm being completely honest I'd like to find out too."
"Thanks but you didn't have to stay either."
"Did you expect me to find my way to potions class on my own. Are you insane!" He chuckles and we carry on our way.

The passageway is a lot longer than we expected and I start to worry that we won't make it in time to potions. As we walk, the few fire torches light up our path but we still can't see an end. That's when we hear the dreaded purr of Mrs Norris. I look at Jason. To Willow. To Mrs Norris and jump at the sound of Filch's voice.
"What are you three doing down here? Skipping classes. Too bad... you are in trouble."