All of the Gryffindors gathered around in the Great Hall waiting on the rest of the school to join them. Sarai had desperately tried to get Remus's attention through the chaos of the crowd, but her attempts were futile. He was briskly sent away along with the other teachers to patrol the school in search of Black. Sarai, Dean, and Seamus were currently huddled up in a far-side corner when the other students from the school arrived. Amidst the crowd she spotted Michael walk in with Terry Boot, a housemate in his year. Sarai and Michael made eye-contact, and she gave him a little wave.
"Who are you waving at?" Dean asked, drawing her attention away.
Sarai turned back to her friends who had stopped their conversation about Black to realize their friend wasn't paying attention. "Michael, he's over there," She went to point her finger but her hand accidentally rammed into a face.
"OW!" Michael cried out clutching his eye, earning snickers from Dean and Seamus.
"Oh merlin, Michael," Sarai fretted, "I'm so sorry!"
"Gee, Sarai." Seamus said, laughter still in his tone, "If you're worried about Black, just go for his eye."
"Shove of, Seamus," Sarai said fighting the heat forming on her cheeks, "Er- -Are you alright?"
Michael waved her off, removing his hand from his eye. "It's fine, just watch where you're flailing those weapons." He joked, before running a hand through his hair. "Anyways, I came over here to see if you guys know what's going on."
"Sirius Black attacked the Fat Lady. He was trying to get into the Gryffindor common room." Dean informed him.
Michael frowned, recalling the conversation with Sarai in the hospital wing. He threw his arm around Sarai's shoulder and gave her a reassuring squeeze. The heat returned to her cheeks as she could see Dean and Seamus studying Michael closely. There was a hint of mischief in her friends eyes.
"Lucky he didn't know what day it was, " Michael said, "I guess he didn't know we were all at the feast,"
Before he could continue, they students were all interrupted by Dumbledore.
"The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle," Professor Dumbledore told them as Professors McGonagall and Flitwick closed all doors into the hall. "I'm afraid that, for your own safety, you will have to spend the night here. I want the prefects to stand guard over the entrances to the hall and I am leaving the Head Boy and Girl in charge. Any disturbance should be reported to me immediately," he added to Percy, who was looking immensely proud and important. "Send word with one of the ghosts."
Professor Dumbledore paused, about to leave the hall, and said, "Oh, yes, you'll be needing..." One casual wave of his wand and the long tables flew to the edges of the hall and stood themselves against the walls; another wave, and the floor was covered with hundreds of squashy purple sleeping bags.
"Sleep well," said Professor Dumbledore, closing the door behind him.
The entire hall broke out into excited chatter. Sarai scowled at the light hearted nature of the student body around her, "I don't understand how everyone could be so excited when there's a literal serial killer in the school." She said irritably.
Dean and Seamus exchanged looks, and Michael shifted uncomfortably, "I think we all just want answers," He reasoned, "I mean think about it, how do you think he got into the castle in the first place?"
That question remained in her mind the rest of the evening.
--
The next few days, all anyone wanted to talk about was Sirius Black, much to Sarai's annoyance. All she wanted was to forget about Black entering the castle. She felt paranoid, as if Black was going to jump out at any given time. It made her paranoia worse when other classmates came up with ideas as to how Black came in. One in particular, was Hannah Abbot. A Hufflepuff, who was very insistent that Black could turn into a flowering shrub in her Herbology class.
"She's insane," Dean muttered from beside Sarai, "There's no way it would be that easy."
Sarai hummed in agreement. "I don't think Black is the flowers and rainbows type."
The portrait guarding the Gryffindor Tower was replaced by a Sir Cadogan. A lunatic knight who was constantly challenging anyone near him to duels. It was starting to get on Seamus's nerves, especially when Sir Cadogan caused him to land a detention for being late to class.
"He's a total nutter!" Seamus exclaimed at dinner that evening. He was shoveling bits of chicken in his mouth in between statements. "Why couldn't we get anyone else."
Sarai scrunched up her nose as she watched him, "Don't talk with your mouth full." She scolded him. "And besides, no one else wanted the job."
Dean nodded his head in agreement, "Can't blame them though, not after what happened to the Fat Lady." Dean said. His face then broke out into a smirk that Sarai instantly did not like.
"So," Started Dean, looking at Sarai with the same mischief in his eye he had the night of the attack, "You and Michael have gotten pretty close here lately."
Sarai choked on the bread roll she had just taken a bite out of, surprise covering her features. Seamus sniggered, "You remember her face when she poked him in the eye? I didn't think I've ever seen her face change colors that quickly."
Sarai scowled at them. "He's a friend, and I felt bad for hitting him." She said pointedly to Dean. "We both have the same electives. We naturally spend a lot of time together."
Dean and Seamus had giant grins on their faces as they watched their friend become more and more flustered at the conversation. "I'm just saying Sar, you spend a lot of your free time with him after class too." Seamus pointed out.
"We're studying!" Sarai exclaimed before changing the subject, "Honestly, if you're done playing cupid's little angels, did either of you hear about the quidditch match on Saturday?" She asked. "Apparently they changed the match so Hufflepuff is up against us."
Based off of the events that had transpired in the Care of Magical Creatures class with the Hippogriffs, the Slytherin coach had requested extra time for their Seeker to recover fully from his arm injury. She had accidentally found herself in a conversation with Angelina, Katie, and Alicia who ranted all about it in the girls dormitory that morning. Sarai unexpectedly was just wanting to borrow a hair-tie from one of them.
Dean and Seamus immediately launched into a conversation about the match and the endless possibilities as to what would result from Saturday's match.
Meanwhile, Sarai's eyes flitted towards the Professor's table. There was empty seat next to Professor Filch which caused a pang in her chest. How could she so easily forget that the full moon was upon them. Worry filled her mind as she stared up at the night sky in the Great Hall. The moon shone brightly above her. She wondered how Remus was doing, holed up in the shrieking shack.
"Get your head out of the clouds." Seamus said elbowing her. "We're leaving."
The rest of the student body were slowly filing out of the Great Hall and towards their respective common-rooms. There was an air of sleepiness amidst her school mates, but Sarai felt wide awake. She followed her friends out the Great Hall and headed towards the Gryffindor common-room.
--
The next day was ruthless for Sarai. Hardly getting any sleep she was up early that morning making her way to Remus's office. She knew it was a long shot for him to be there but she had to try and see him. She was rounding a corridor when she crashed into a tall figure, causing her to fall back.
"Watch where you're going!" A male voice snapped.
Sarai winced from the pain of falling on the cold hard cobblestone floor, before going to apologize, "I'm so sorr--Oh."
For the person she had crashed into was a tall dark skinned Slytherin in her year. She made a face, as she watched his friend, a pretty brunette girl help him up. The boy whom she'd crashed into, must have noticed her change in tonality, because he sneered.
"Oh, Sure, Apologize to any other Hogwarts student for running into them, but as soon as it's a Slytherin, there's no remorse is there?"
Sarai felt the heat rise to her cheeks, partial anger, partial embarrassment. Who was he to judge her? She didn't even know him. She got up swiftly and straightened up her robes,
"I don't know what you're talking about." She said coolly, "And I'm busy, so whatever rubbish you're going to make up, or hex you're going to try and use against me, make it quick. I've got things to do."
The boy threw his hands up in the air, and the girl standing next to him grabbed his arm before murmuring, "Leave it, Blaise." She said softly, "She's professor Lupin's niece," She said as a warning.
Sarai frowned and went to open her mouth to respond before 'Blaise' beat her to it.
"Why Astoria? She's a Gryffindor. All she's going to think is that All of us are the worst most evil witches and wizards known to man." Blaise growled angrily, "That's why you assumed we were going to hex you right?"
Sarai stood their astonished and felt the anger continue to bubble in her chest as she was at a loss for words. "That's not what I---"
"You what?" Blaise scoffed interrupting her, "You didn't mean to say that a Slytherin obviously wanted to hex you? Cause that's all we're good for?"
At this 'Astoria' cut in angrily, "Blaise, that is enough." She said firmly in her silky smooth voice. Her piercing blue eyes were filled with frustration as she turned back and forth between the two of them. "It's bad enough that most of the school thinks bad of Slytherin, do you want those rumors to spread?" She demanded before turning to Sarai, "And You," She said before taking a deep breath to calm herself. She amended her tone before speaking, "Miss --?"
"Mckinnon, Sarai Mckinnon," Sarai mumbled still hot from embarrassment.
"McKinnon," Astoria repeated, "It was wrong of you to assume we do such horrid things to you from no prior experience with us." Astoria scolded. "Now before this becomes heated even further, I suggest all of us walk away."
Blaise, at the sound of Astoria's voice seemed to calm down as he stayed quiet. His eyes never left Sarai, watching her as if she was going to attack him, like she was a rabid dog. Sarai, on the other hand was pleasantly perplexed, as she seemed to have a new found liking to Astoria. She had never met a Slytherin as outspoken before in such a positive manner.
"Sorry." She said quickly to Blaise, giving him a quick glance. Her gaze never left Astoria's though, "Why are you up and about so early, anyways?" She asked the two of them as the anger faded away.
Blaise answered this time, "Believe it or not, McLupin," He emphasized her faux-name. At this Sarai crinkled her nose and muttered,
"It's Mckinnon."
"We were just coming back from Professor Lupin's office. We had a few questions about the Grindylow's he taught about last lesson."
Sarai's eyes widened, "So you've seen him then?" She asked eagerly, "How is he?"
Blaise moved past her and began walking down the corridor, "No luck, McLupin." He emphasized her name once more, " Snapes in his office preparing for the next class. Says your uncle's sick." He called behind him before him and Astoria disappeared.
Sarai rolled her eyes. A little disappointed Remus wasn't going to be in his office, but even more so irritated at Blaise and his inability to learn her last name. She was however, grateful she didn't have an early run-in with Professor Snape.
A yawn escaped her before she realized it. The lack of sleep was catching up to her. Before she tried to risk taking a 'short-nap' she headed towards the Great Hall for breakfast, and hopefully some freshly brewed coffee.
---
A/N: If anyone actually reads this...I'm sorry for the late update lol.