Sucked In

chapter 3

***

The castle was cold. Really cold. I was only in a thin t-shirt, meaning I was standing there shivering. I wanted so desperately to stay behind and eavesdrop on Snape and Dumbledore's conversation - I knew they were talking about me. But I decided to the prioritise the warmth of my body over the knowledge of their conversation (which sounded aggravated on Snape's behalf.)

I scampered down the marble stairs, my arms wrapped around myself to conserve the any heat that I had left. The castle was now dark, unlike before, where everything was candle lit.

Cold and dark. Great. I felt the hot burning of tears in my eyes, and my throat began to tighten. Oh please don't cry. Not now. The last thing I needed was some ghost turning the corridor to find me sobbing while cradling my legs. These stupid movies. No boy, no matter how hot, was worth shifting to another universe. Fuck you Draco Malfoy. "Fuck you Draco Malfoy." I said in a hushed voice, but with confidence.

"Excuse me?" Said a voice. A male one. My heart stopped.

Crap. No. No. No. No, please. No. Should I turn around? I'm going to turn around.

I turned around only to be met with a blank corridor. Confusion quickly flooded my face.

"Hey, this way."

I turned to where the voice was coming from. A painting. Oh thank god. On closer examination I found that the painting was of a teenage boy, which explained the unnecessary panic I momentarily felt when I correlated his voice to be Draco Malfoy's.

"Cursing Draco Malfoy, huh?" The boy says.

I smile, sheepishly. "Yeah."

"Ah. We've all been there." Hey replies, amused.

"Actually, could you help me?" I ask. "Do you know the way to the Gryffindor common room?"

He stops to think. "Yes. Yes, I do. Down the hall, the second right, keep walking, the second staircase to your left, then the portrait of the Fat Lady is your entrance."

I breathed a sigh of relief. I wouldn't have to sleep in the cold anymore. "Thank you!" I say, bolting down the hall. How badly I needed a warm bed.

Surprisingly, I remembered the boy in the painting's directions, and ran all the way when I came to the top of the staircase. Sure enough, there was a portrait of a Fat Lady. Who was sleeping. Heavily.

I cleared my throat. "Uh ... excuse me?" She continued snoring. "Excuse me?" I repeat, a little louder. Still, nothing. Fed up, I rap my fist against the canvas. Nothing. God, that's embarrassing, why did I even think that would do anything. I hear a snicker from behind me, and turn to see a teenage boy. He was not in a painting this time. He was leaning against the banister, his orange curtains hanging low against his eyes.

"Stuck, are we?" He says, walking over to me. "Nice job knocking on the painting. I'm sure that really did the trick."

I blush, and look to the ground. "I thought it would work. Stupid idea, I know."

He contemplates for a second. "No, no. It has potential." He pulls something out of his pocket. "Pumpkin Pasty?" He says, offering me a squished pastry.

"Uh .. I'm good, thanks."

"More for me, then." He says, shovelling it whole into his mouth. I grimace.

"These are my favorite," He says. "Snuck down to get more, that's why I'm here. What's your excuse?"

"I was in Dumbledore's office." I reply.

His face drops in surprise. "You're that girl that appeared in the Great Hall!"

Great. This is how I'll forever be known, then. The girl that appeared in the Great Hall. "Yep. That's me."

"You're in Gryffindor then! Welcome to the best house!"

"Uh, not exactly. I'm sort of ... in all of them? But none at the same time."

"Oh. Oh, wow. So you picked Gryffindor then! Smart choice, welcome to the best house!"

I laughed. "No, I'm going to be in all of them for a day. Gryffindor just happened to be first."

He looks disappointed, then his face lights up with curiosity. "So ... if you don't mind me asking, who are you? People are saying you're a death eater. Or a spy. Or a goblin. Only some people got a good look at you."

"A goblin? Am I that ugly?" I scoff. "I'm Jaida. Jaida Nibley."

"Fred Weasley." He replies. He then looks me up and down while smirking slightly, which took me aback. "And no. You're not ugly. CARPE DIEM." He yells, and the Fat Lady wakes up, startled. I try desperately to hide my burning face. The painting opens, and so does the entrance to the Gryffindor common room.

"After you." Fred says, smiling. I smile back, and walk into the room.