Never Is Our Always

Freedom Rings 3

(Minnie pov)

The school talked of nothing but Sirius Black or about my dad for the next few days. The theories about how they had entered the castle became wilder and wilder.

The Fat Lady's ripped canvas had been taken off the wall and replaced with the portrait of Sir Cadogan and his fat gray pony.

Nobody was very happy about this.

Sir Cadogan spent half his time challenging people to duels, and the rest thinking up ridiculously complicated passwords, which he changed at least twice a day.

"He's a complete lunatic," Seamus said angrily to Percy. "Can't we get anyone else?"

"None of the other pictures wanted the job," Percy sighed. "Frightened of what happened to the Fat Lady. Sir Cadogan was the only one brave enough to volunteer."

"I have a riddle for you all to get into the common room!" Sir Cadogan bellows to us as he drew his sword and pointed it at us.

"We're Gryffindors!" Seamus cries, "not ruddy Ravenclaws."

"Watch your tongue, Seamus," I whispered, "Percy's girlfriend is a Ravenclaw."

"Oh." He mutters.

"Go on, Sir," I sigh, "I love riddles." I rub my hands and he nods.

"A brave one this girl is," he points to me with his sword, "taking a duel like this." Sir Cadogan pauses for a moment, "I make you weak at the worst of all times. I keep you safe, I keep you fine. I make your hands sweat, and your heart grow cold, I visit the weak, but seldom the bold. What am I?"

"Oh!" I snapped my fingers, "fears." I point to him and he nods and then puffs his chest out with pride.

"In you go! My brave knights!" He let us in and we climbed through hurriedly before he could change the password again.

"I can't wait till The Fat Lady comes back," I groaned, "even her terrible bloody singing," a few murmur in agreement as I threw myself into one of the couches and laid down with a heavy groan.

-

"I'm coming for you~"

I rose my head up and looked around anxiously, "it's just in my head." I told myself quietly, laying my head back down on the couch.

"One... two, I'm coming for you~"

"Oh godric no," I got myself off the couch and jogged up to Lee when he climbed through with Fred and George.

"Wh-" I grabbed his wrist, spun Lee around and we ran out of the common room together, not giving Fred and George the chance to ask any questions.

-

"I heard him," I told Lee as we sat near the Black Lake together, "he's still here."

"We need to tell Dumbledore," Lee said.

"What if it's a trick?" I ask.

"Doesn't matter, he'll get into your head and mess with you," Lee pulls me up and I cry in pain.

"Ow!" Lee put both hands under my arms and helped me up, "it's my wrist and my back." I wail.

"Let me see," I roll both my sleeves up and we both gasped in horror. They were black and blue, it looked like... "hand marks."