𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌 | 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘗𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳

40 || Forgiveness is a Two-Way Street

No one could sleep. We sat in the common room, hoping that my dad would be caught. Hermione never let go of my hand, if only to let me know she was still there.

Professor McGonagall returned a few hours later to inform us that Black had yet again evaded capture.

Throughout the day, the faculty was re-doubling the security around the castle. Professor Flitwick was teaching the front doors to recognize a picture of Black, Filch was boarding up everything from mouseholes to cracks in the walls, and Harry and I were being tailed more frequently than ever, by teachers and prefects (Minus Percy--he didn't dare follow me after the verbal beating I gave him last time). Sir Cadogan was fired and the Fat Lady was restored to her position. She was still extremely nervous and demanded extra protection, so Dumbledore hired a bunch of security trolls to guard her.

Roon had become an instant celebrity, and I certainly couldn't say he didn't enjoy the attention. He was happy to provide the chilling tale to anyone who asked.

"...I was asleep, and I heard this ripping noise, and I thought it was in my dream, you know? But then there was this draft...I woke up and one side of the hangings on my bed had been pulled down...I rolled over... and I saw him standing over me...like a skeleton, with loads of filthy hair...holding this great long knife, must've been twelve inches...and he looked at me, and I looked at him, and then I yelled, and he scampered."

"Why, though?" he always asked afterwards. "Why did he run?"

I was continuously asking myself the same question. Why hadn't he silenced Ron and then proceeded to Harry? And why hadn't he gone after me?

When I asked Hermione this, she gave me the logical explanation that boys couldn't go up the girls staircase. This made sense, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was missing some important information. There was a tiny part of me that hoped, against all odds, that my father was innocent.

And even still, there was the question of how he got the Gryffindor passwords, when people would have noticed him in the castle. I was pondering this when Harry gave a yelp. Hedwig was delivering the morning post. Dusk was with her (they liked to fly together) and I patted him on the head and gave him some toast.

"Oh, thanks Hedwig," said Harry as Hedwig dropped a letter on the table. Blood dripped down his pointer finger and into his cereal.

"Wow, you aren't upset?" Pansy Parkinson passed by me with an evil smirk plastered on her ugly face.

"What do you mean?" I asked, turning around and crossing my arms.

"You don't know?" she cackled.

"Ash!" Lavender ran up to me while Pansy sauntered off. She was panting. "--courtyard."

"Huh?"

She beckoned for me to follow her, so I did, walking quickly. As we crossed through corridor after corridor, whispers broke out.

"What are they whispering about?"

Lavender opened her mouth to say something, but tearfully shook her head and kept going. Once we entered the courtyard, I noticed an unusually large crowd milling about, whispering to one another. When they caught sight of me, the murmurs doubled. I peered towards the center of the courtyard, where Dante was standing--

Locked in a tight embrace with the Ravenclaw brunette.

I watched as they kissed passionately, my stomach dropping like a stone. Everything felt like it was moving in slow motion.

"Dante?" I said finally. He looked over at me, his eyes widened, and he broke away.