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AT THE HALLOWEEN FEAST THAT EVENING, Robyn wasted no time in telling her friends about her detention with Lupin and everything she'd learned about her mother. Fred and George sat down the table with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, filling Harry in on the Hogsmeade trip and no doubt all the new Zonko's products they'd bought. But Flynn, Lisa, and Rose all sat around her and paid very close attention, listening intently as Robyn told them about what Lupin said about her mother.

     "What did I tell you?" Flynn said victoriously, leaning back on the bench she was seated upon, raising her arms to her sides as if to say I told you so. All evidence of angry-Flynn from the other night seemed to have vanished, and while Robyn was curious as to why she had been so upset, she knew better than to ask.

     "I told you at the start of term that Lupin looked like you!" Flynn continued. "You said it was nothing, but this proves it!"

     Lisa, who was sitting next to Flynn across the table from Robyn, looked over at Flynn quizzically. "I don't get it. What does it prove?"

     Flynn shook her head. "Isn't it obvious? Lupin is Robyn's dad."

     Rose scoffed. "Flynn, you're mad," she said, picking up a pumpkin pasty from one of the serving plates on the table. She sat next to Robyn, having brought over the butterbeer she'd gotten for Robyn from Hogsmeade.

     "No, I'm not! Think about it. What did Lupin say about your mother, Robyn?" Flynn asked before taking a bite of apple pie.

     "He said that she was kind and wonderful and intelligent and cynical and loved to laugh," Robyn said, mentally listing off the descriptors Lupin had used in their conversation. "I'm with Lisa, I'm not quite seeing the connection," she added.

     Flynn sighed in annoyance, folding her arms on the table in front of her, shaking her messy, dark brown hair out of her face. "He very clearly at least admires your mother. I'd bet anything he was in love with her, and you just so happen to be the result."

     Robyn rolled her eyes, entirely unconvinced with her friend's insane hypothesis. "Okay, whatever, Flynn," she said sharply. "But if Lupin is my father, that still leaves one gapingly large question: why would he have given me up for adoption?"

     It seemed, however, that Flynn had an answer for that, too, as she pointed up towards the staff table. "Just look at him, Robyn," she said, as if that alone was sufficient enough.

     Robyn followed her gaze up to the staff table where Professor Lupin sat, talking comfortably with the Charms professor, Professor Flitwick. As Robyn wondered what Flynn was trying to prove, Lupin caught her eye with his own and smiled warmly, giving her a small wave. Robyn returned the smile before turning back to Flynn.

     "He just looks poor. I bet he barely has enough money to support himself, let alone a child," Flynn continued matter-of-factly. 

     Robyn opened her mouth to make a retort, but found that she couldn't think of anything to say. Flynn was right. Lupin looked even more disheveled and sickly than usual, and his robes were in a shoddy condition. If Lupin had an ounce of wealth, he would definitely at least buy himself some better robes. 

     Even so, the idea of Lupin being her father just seemed very, very wrong. 

     Robyn huffed in defeat, leaning over to prop her elbow up on the table, resting her chin on her hand. "No. I'm not going to believe it, not unless you can prove it," she said definitively. She shook her head in a way that said she was done talking about the subject, which Lisa seemed to pick up on almost immediately.

     "Fred! George!" She called down the table, grabbing the twins' attention from where they were sitting talking with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Beckoned by a wave of Lisa's hand, the two fiery redheads hopped up from their seats and made their way down the table to where Robyn, Lisa, Flynn, and Rose were, finding new seats beside Robyn and Rose. 

     "Well, hello there, Robbie," Fred said as he sat down next to her.

     "My, it's been a while," said George from his spot next to Rose.

     "We weren't sure if we were ever going to see you again."

     "Of course, we're glad you're still alive."

     "After all these years."

     "Oh, my God, will you two shut up?" Flynn snapped, cutting off George as he opened his mouth to continue with their banter.

     Lisa put a hand on Flynn's shoulder comfortingly. "Now, Flynn, that's no way to talk to your friends," she said. Flynn sighed heavily, muttering a quiet, huffy apology, to which the twins waved her off casually. "We just wanted to hear about what you two got from Zonko's today," she continued, this time now directed at the twins, whose faces split into identical grins.

     "Glad you mentioned it, Lise," said George.

     "We believe we've got some great ideas this time around," said Fred.

     "Just in time for the holiday season."

     The twins delved into an avid account of all the new products they'd acquired and how they could use each one, describing every idea with whimsical and fantastical detail, to the rest of the group's amusement.

     Soon the feast was over, and the students began filing out of the Great Hall and towards their own House common rooms. Robyn bid good-bye to Rose as she returned to her fellow Hufflepuffs, and she and her Gryffindor friends quickly found themselves in the front of the pack of students.

     Suddenly, out of the massive crowd came a loud shout. "The dementors send their love, Potter!" Robyn, Lisa, and Flynn spun around to see the tiny, blond-haired Draco Malfoy laughing horrendously at Harry. Before anyone could do anything, however, Rheinallt McLaughlin came up behind Malfoy and smacked him upside the back of the head, abruptly ceasing his laughter.

     Fred and George led the Gryffindors through the hallways and up the stairs to Gryffindor Tower. Robyn, Lisa, Flynn, Fred, and George rounded the corner to the corridor that ended with the portrait of the Fat Lady, but stopped dead in their tracks before they could get there.

     "Merlin's beard," Fred and George muttered simultaneously. Flynn let out a heavy breath and Lisa gasped in shock. Robyn couldn't move or make any noise. She just stood there, frozen in place, staring wide-eyed, hand over her mouth. The sight in front of her was enough to send chills down her spine as the corridor fell into an eerie silence.

     Flynn was the first to step forward, carefully and slowly, as if she was afraid a wrong step would land her the same fate. She kneeled down and lifted a hand to the shredded canvas where the Fat Lady lived, examining the slashes and tears that marred the portrait that once guarded Gryffindor Tower. She looked back at the others worriedly; a unfamiliar gleam of fear and confusion danced in her dark eyes as she dropped her hand back down to her side.

     The corridor slowly filled with the sound of their fellow Gryffindors as they too began to notice. Frantic whispers in anxious tones swept through the crowds, but Robyn could only stand there, gaping silently at the portrait hole.

     "Let me through, please," the distant voice of Percy Weasley, one of Fred and George's older brothers, cut through the sea of Gryffindors behind her. "What's the holdup here? You can't all have forgotten the password - excuse me, I'm Head Boy -"

     Percy shoved his way between Robyn and Lisa before stopping in front of them, falling silent. His silence echoed over the crowd, and like a howling wind, a sudden chill swept through the corridor, drawing everything and everyone into silence.

     After several seconds, Percy said in a sharp voice, "Somebody get Professor Dumbledore. Quick."

     No one moved, but a moment later, there was Professor Dumbledore, sweeping through the corridor towards the portrait. The moment he looked at the remains of the painting, his usually glittering eyes turned somber and cold, and Robyn looked over at the headmaster only to share with him an equally concerned glance that did nothing to alleviate her worry. Not long after, Professors McGonagall, Lupin, and Snape were there as well, and all looked just as horrified at the sight before them.

     "We need to find her," said Dumbledore calmly. "Professor McGonagall, please go to Mr. Filch at once and tell him to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady."

     There was a sudden cackle from above them; they all looked up to see none other than Peeves the Poltergeist bobbing around, a large grin spread across his face, as it frequently did at the sight of distress. "You'll be lucky!" He laughed.

     "What do you mean, Peeves?" said Dumbledore, and Peeves's smile dimmed at the sight of the headmaster. Robyn knew as well as anyone that the only person Peeves never taunted was Dumbledore.

     "Ashamed, Your Headship, sir," Peeves replied, adopting a sort of oily voice that really sounded no better than his laugh. "Doesn't want to be seen. She's a horrible mess. Saw her running through the landscape up on the fourth floor, sir, dodging between the trees. Crying something dreadful." He paused. "Poor thing," he added, though he didn't sound remotely convincing.

     A look of darkened realization fell over Dumbledore's face like a curtain. "Did she say who did it?" He asked quietly.

     "Oh, yes, Dumbledore," said Peeves, tutting and shaking his head in a rather sardonic matter. "He got very angry when she wouldn't let him in, you see. Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black."

     Flynn stood up abruptly, her face quickly darkening into a hardened look of fury as her fists clenched at her sides. Lisa squeaked in horror, burying her head into George's chest. Robyn looked back at the portrait where the Fat Lady once lived, at all the tears and shreds and the pieces of fabric that littered the floor in front of the painting. She sucked in a shaky breath, thankful that they were at the feast and not in the tower when Sirius Black was there and terrified that Black may yet be somewhere in the castle.

     "Gryffindors to the Great Hall," Dumbledore announced. "Professor Snape, go and get the Slytherins. Professor Lupin, alert Professor Flitwick and tell him to bring the Ravenclaws and Professor McGonagall, alert Professor Sprout." 

     The sea of red and gold made their way back through the corridors and Robyn followed, her eyes plastered to the floor in front of her, watching her feet make every step forward, willing them to keep moving when all she wanted to do was fall into a heap on the floor and start screaming.

     How did Sirius Black get into Hogwarts?

     How did he manage to get past the dementors?

     Hogwarts was supposed to be safe.

     Her train of thought was broken by a cold hand suddenly grabbing her arm. She looked up to see Fred's freckled face staring down at her, his brown eyes filled with concern.

     "You alright?" He asked with a soft tone in his voice that Robyn had never heard before.

     "I...I don't know," she answered honestly. The worried look on Fred's face deepened, but Robyn just shook her head. "I'm better than Flynn," she added, her voice a bit quieter. They looked over at their friend. Flynn's face was absent of all color, her hardened gaze stuck firmly ahead as she walked almost robotically, arms straight down at her sides, fists still clenched. 

     Lisa gently reached for one of Flynn's hands and Flynn snapped back, yanking her arm away. Her fist released, revealing a steady stream of blood from where her nails had dug into her palm.

     Fred put a hand on Robyn's face, turning her head to look away from Flynn and back at him. "Well Flynn has Lisa, and Lisa has George. They'll be fine. My question was if you were alright." Fred held such an intense gaze that Robyn couldn't hold it for very long, and she looked away instead of answering him, taking another shaky breath as she followed the rest of the Gryffindors into the Great Hall.

     "That tells me that you're not," said Fred, "which just means I'll look out for you tonight." His voice had taken on a more optimistic tone, and Robyn couldn't help but smile a little.

     Ten minutes later, they were joined in the Great Hall by the Slytherins, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs, all of which looked very confused.

     Rose fought her way through the crowds until she found them all. She was cradling her cat, Anastasia, in her arms, and looked very confused as to why everyone was gathered in the hall.

     "What's going on?" She asked Robyn, but Robyn couldn't bring herself to speak. It felt like there was a wad of toffee jammed in her throat that refused to budge.

     Instead, Fred answered for her, "Sirius Black tried to break into Gryffindor Tower. Destroyed the Fat Lady's painting." Rose gasped in horror and looked at Robyn for confirmation. All she could do was nod. Rose's face contorted into one of hatred in response.

     "The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle," Professor Dumbledore said. Professors McGonagall and Flitwick were circling the perimeter of the Great Hall, closing all the 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." 

     Percy puffed his chest out, looking very proud of himself to have been given so much responsibility.

     Professor Dumbledore turned to leave the hall, paused, turned back around, and said, "Oh, yes, I almost forgot..."

     He waved his wand and the long tables that stretched the length of the Great Hall flew to the edges of the room and stood themselves against the walls. He waved his wand again and suddenly, hundreds of purple sleeping bags littered the floor.

     "Sleep well," said Dumbledore, and he left, closing the door behind himself.

     Immediately the entire hall erupted into chatter, the Gryffindors telling the rest of the school what had happened. Out of all Gryffindor House, only Robyn, Flynn, and Lisa were silent. Rose went to work gathering six sleeping bags, and Anastasia comfortably curled up on top of them, quite content with being in the way.

     "Everyone into their sleeping bags!" Percy yelled. "Come on now, no more talking! Lights out in ten minutes!" 

     Robyn slunk into one of the sleeping bags Rose had dragged off to the side, and one by one, the other five sleeping bags filled up as well.

     Lisa and George were side by side in their sleeping bags, deep in a conversation of hushed whispers. George held Lisa's hand in his own, rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb reassuringly. Flynn was stoic and silent and had dragged her sleeping bag far away from the rest of them. She faced away from the others and hadn't spoken a word to anyone.

     Rose moved her own sleeping bag over closer to Flynn's, just to keep an eye on her. She snuggled up with Anastasia, who was already fast asleep in her owner's arms, perfectly comfortable despite the unfamiliar location.

     Robyn was already settled into her sleeping bag when a purple mass was suddenly thrown down in front of her, followed by a lanky, redheaded body. Fred slipped into the sleeping bag and turned so he was laying on his side, facing Robyn.

     "You alright?" He asked again.

     Robyn opened her mouth to speak when Percy's pompous voice shouted out throughout the hall once more. "The lights are going out now! I want everyone in their sleeping bags and no more talking!" The candles all went out at once, leaving the room in darkness, the only light in the room coming from the enchanted ceiling above them. Like the sky outside, the ceiling was scattered with glittering stars.

     Robyn tried to speak again, but instead of words, she felt a soft cry emit from the base of her throat. Every emotion was suddenly hitting all at once; she felt her face heat up, tears pricking the corners of her eyes.

     "I'm so scared," she whispered hoarsely. Fred smiled softly, and reached a hand out to grasp hers tightly.

     "That's why I'm here," he joked, his voice barely audible, the humorous glint in his eyes reflecting the starry ceiling.

     Robyn smiled back, closing her eyes but finding herself unable to fall asleep. Her mind kept wandering to the slashed portrait, to the warm hand gripping her own, to the crazed face of Sirius Black on the wanted posters, to the cold emptiness she felt in her sleeping bag.

     Then, a thought came to mind.

     She peeked open one eye to see two glittering brown ones staring back at her in the darkness. Fred was still awake.

     "Hey, Fred," she whispered, and he sent back a smile in response. "I know this sounds a bit odd, but I was wondering if-"

     Fred cut her off. "Of course. Come here," he said, unzipping his sleeping bag. Robyn wriggled out of her own and, as quietly and subtly as possible, shuffled over to Fred's sleeping bag, snuggling into his chest.

     He looped an arm over her waist protectively. No longer feeling cold and empty space but instead warmth and comfort around her, the soft hum of whispers throughout the hall lulled Robyn into a deep sleep.