Tears streamed down Alex's face as she leaned against the wall for support, still holding her stomach before getting sick several more times. By that point, the surrounding students were quick to catch onto what was happening and frantically move to get out of the sick girl's path, several screaming and others just being disgusted at the sight.

The professors rushed over as Alex got sick again, Hermione helping to hold her hair out of her face. Her skin was a sickly green and her eyes closed tightly as her head was pounding because of the anxiety in her chest tightening and the sound from the students surrounding them.

"Miss Selwyn!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed as she walked over, putting her arm around the young girl.

"All of you to the Great Hall!" Professor Dumbledore ordered.

None of the other Gryffindors hesitated and quickly made their way back to where they had just come from. The only people that were still there was the trio, as well as the twins.   Alex leaned heavily against Professor McGonagall for support, the smallest sounds causing her head to pound even harder.

"We'll need someone to escort her to the Great Hall," Professor Snape spoke up, watching his goddaughter carefully while Professor Lupin cleaned up the mess she made with a wave of his wand. "And we should have her checked by Madam Pomfrey as soon as possible."

"We can help her get there," Fred spoke up, moving to take Professor McGonagall's place. "We're not scared of a little vomit."

Alex closed her eyes, the embarrassment too much for her as more tears poured down her face. Fred and George took to her sides as Professor McGonagall passed them a bucket just in case she got sick again on the way to the Great Hall. Not waiting for another second, the six students made their way quickly back to where they had just come from.

Luckily, Alex didn't get sick again on the way to the Great Hall. However, as soon as they made it into the loud and bustling room, the noise caused her head to pound again, in turn, causing her to grab the bucket from George's hand and throw up again.

The twins managed to guide her to sit down as she got sick several more times, crying even more out of embarrassment because of the students around them looking at her in disgust. She just wished that a hole would open up below her and swallow her whole instead of having to deal with the humiliation any longer.

Madam Pomfrey rushed into the Great Hall and immediately spotted her with the bucket. "Oh dear heavens, Miss Selwyn, are you alright?" She gushed, moving the twins out of the way as she began to do a check-up on Alex.

"The anxiety," she was able to croak out, her eyes bloodshot with tears before getting sick again.

"Oh dear child," she told her, gently brushing her hair back.

About ten minutes later, they were joined by Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff, who all looked just as confused as the next house. Everyone listened to the announcement being made about the teachers conducting a search of the castle and how everyone needed to spend the night there.  Leaving the Head Boy and Girl in charge, Dumbledore and the professors left the Great Hall after leaving the students with sleeping bags.

The Great Hall began buzzing with excitement and Alex held her head, hoping the noise would quiet down soon or she would get sick again. Madam Pomfrey had left her with some water to drink so she wasn't dehydrated and two little vials: a sleeping draught to help her get through the night without any nightmares (hopefully), as well as a draught to ease her nausea that smelled like peppermint, but she had yet to take either.

"Alex?" A familiar voice called.

She looked up to see Cedric walking over, concern on his face when he saw just how sick she looked. A few hours prior, she appeared to be just fine, aside from the partial encounter with the dementor. Now, she looked like she was ready to blow chunks.

"Please don't look at me," she begged.  "I'm hideous."

"What happened?" He asked, ignoring what she said and taking the seat next to her.  The gesture annoyed Fred, who was sitting on the other side of her.

"I just got sick after learning Sirius Black was in the castle," she told him truthfully.

His eyes widened at the mention of the notorious murderer being in the school. "What business does he have being on the school grounds?"

Alex felt her stomach upheave at his words and before she could help it, she got sick one last time, which would've turned anyone else away. However, both Fred and Cedric only helped by either holding the bucket or holding her hair back. Neither seemed to care about the fact that they both were basically competing for who could take better care of the sick girl without saying that's what they were doing.

"Please just send me to the dementors before I die of embarrassment," she groaned, causing both boys to smile slightly. "Fred, would you hand me the nausea potion please?"

Fred gave her the vial and she quickly downed it, the taste almost making her throw up again before the sensation took immediate effect. She straightened up and quickly discarded the bucket. A side effect of it also helped rid the taste of vomit from her breath, as well as the smell, being left with a peppermint taste.

"I'm okay," she reassured the two boys. "You can go back to your friends, Cedric. I'm in good company."

Cedric looked at Fred and George, as well as the trio, who were not too far from them as well, watching the entire interaction. "We've got her, Diggory," Fred spoke, his tone slightly hostile.

"Okay, I'll just be over here if you need help," he told her before walking back to where his friends were sitting, several of them smirking as he approached.

"Everyone into their sleeping bags!" Percy shouted, which caused Alex to jump. "Come on, now, no more talking! Lights out in ten minutes!"

George went and retrieved himself, his twin, and Alex's sleeping bags, while Fred helped her walk to where the trio was awaiting with their own sleeping bags, as well as drink the water Madam Pomfrey, had given her. George returned and gave Alex a sleeping bag, which she immediately climbed into, hoping the noise would be muted.

Everyone was questioning if Sirius Black was still in the castle but everyone was also wondering how he managed to get in, in the first place.  Alex did her best to ignore it all, the thought making her almost get sick again, despite taking the potion.  She lay there, drowning out the noise as best as she could but she felt like it was making her head spin even more.  When Percy called for lights out, she was extremely grateful, which she didn't think was possible when it came to Percy.

The talking toned down to whispering and soon, students began falling asleep.  Alex lay wide awake, staring at the ceiling, having yet to take the sleeping draught.  To her surprise, a larger arm draped across her and she looked to see Fred sleeping right next to her, his body heat keeping her warm.  She smiled at the gesture for a few seconds before she saw Professor Dumbledore walk in.

"Any sign of him, Professor?" Percy asked in a whisper as they looked over all the sleeping students.

"No.  All well here?" He asked as he scanned over all the students once again, looking especially in Harry and Alex's direction. 

Alex closed her eyes for a second to make it seem as though she were asleep.  Exhaustion was definitely upon her but her heart was racing too fast to let her sleep, though the sleeping draught would help with that. However, she was still scared because, in her mind, she felt if she kept her eyes closed for long enough, Sirius Black would show up and finish her off.

"And has Miss Selwyn gotten sick anymore?" Dumbledore asked.

"A couple of times but not for a few hours," Percy told him.  "She took the anti-nausea draught that Madam Pomfrey gave her."

The door to the hall creaked open and she heard footsteps.  "Headmaster?" The voice of her Godfather whispered.  "The whole of the third floor has been searched.  He's not there.  And Filch has done the dungeons; nothing there either."

Dumbledore asked about a few more places but every place he named had been searched.  Alex felt relieved that her father was no longer in the castle and she couldn't help but wonder if she had seen him at any point without realizing that she had.  Surely, if he had seen her, he would've attacked her without a second thought, right?

"You remember the conversation we had, Headmaster, just before the start of term?" Snape tried to quietly tell Dumbledore while trying to make sure Percy wasn't listening, who stood right next to them.

"I do, Severus," Dumbledore replied.

"It seems - almost impossible - that Black could have entered the school without inside help.  I did express my concerns when you appointed -" Severus began but Dumbledore was quick to cut him off before Alex could hear who he was talking about.

"I do not believe a single person inside this castle would have helped Black enter it," Dumbledore stated, making it clear that the subject was done being discussed.

Alex felt her heart pounding before seeing Harry, Ron, and Hermione glancing at each other, as well as her.  "What was all that about?" Ron mouthed to the group.

Without wanting to wait any longer, Alex grabbed the sleeping draught vial Madam Pomfrey had given her and downed it in one go.  Instantly, the drowsiness kicked in as she closed her eyes, unintentionally snuggling closer into Fred's side to keep warm in the drafty Great Hall.

The movement woke Fred up slightly.  He looked down to watch as she snuggled into him before her breathing slowed down and he knew she was asleep.  He didn't know why she was so scared, but he promised he'd do his best to keep her safe if he had to.

☽

The next morning, students woke up slowly, stretching before being told to head back to their respective common rooms.  Fred stirred awake slowly and before he went to stretch, he realized his arm was still wrapped around Alex, whose head was laying on his chest, still gripping the front of his shirt as if her life depended on it.

A smile made its way onto his lips before he looked around to see others getting up as well. He glanced over where the Hufflepuffs were but didn't see Cedric, though he secretly hoped that the older student had seen him and Alex asleep together.  But as much as he didn't want to disturb her and he enjoyed the position that they were in, he knew they had to eventually get up and start their day.

"Alex," he spoke softly, shaking her as she made a  small noise of acknowledgment. "Do you want me to take you back to the common room to get some more sleep?"

Not opening her eyes, she nodded sleepily. He smiled before shifting to where he was able to stand up before leaning back down and scooping Alex up in his arms out of the sleeping bag. She wrapped her arms around his neck, snuggling her head onto his shoulder as he walked out of the Great Hall and up towards Gryffindor Tower.

Fred couldn't help but hold his breath as he felt Alex's lips unintentionally brush against the skin of his neck as she adjusted to snuggle closer.  He walked into the Gryffindor Common Room to find several students already awake and sitting around, still talking about the events of the previous night.

"Alex, we're back," he told her softly.

She looked around before noticing that she was still in his arms and felt a blush creep on her face over just how close her face was to his.  Just a few more inches and she very well could have kissed him if she wanted to.

And part of her wanted to.

"I'm gonna go up to my dorm and sleep," she told him, fighting to not let her inner thoughts win.

Fred set her down gently and she walked up the stairs slowly after thanking him.  He couldn't help but watch as she went, a soft smile still on his face.  He then walked up to his dorm to get ready for the day and to look for George.

Upon entering, George was sitting on his bed, scribbling something down on a piece of paper.  When the door opened, he looked up and as soon as he saw his twin, he smirked.

"Have a good night's sleep?" He teased.  "I saw the two of you quite cozy this morning."

Fred shook his head with a smile on his face before gathering his bathroom stuff to have a shower.  His mind couldn't help but go back to everything going on with Alex lately.  How she got sick when she found out Sirius Black tried to get into the common room, how she seemed to be on edge every time he was brought up, and how she actively avoided any talk of the escaped convict. It seemed that while everyone was keen on talking about the situation, Alex made any excuse to not talk about it.

"So do you like her?" George questioned, breaking Fred out of his thoughts.

Truthfully, he wanted to say yes, but if he said it aloud, it would feel real.  He wasn't sure if he was ready for it to feel real because then he'd have to admit how jealous he was of how Cedric and Alex were getting closer.  He didn't know if he'd be able to do that. Not yet, at least.

"I'm not sure yet."

After getting ready for the day, the twins ventured out of the common room, trying to find some mischief to cause in the castle.  As they got closer to the Great Hall for breakfast, Cedric appeared down the corridor and saw the twins.

"Hey, do you guys know where Alex is?" He asked.  "We're usually supposed to study on Sunday mornings but I can't find her."

"She's still asleep," Fred informed him with a smirk.  "She was still tired when we woke up this morning, so I took her back to the common room so she could sleep."

Cedric's face flushed for a second as he remembered seeing just how cuddly Fred and Alex looked that morning.  The older student had to admit he was slightly jealous because he was also interested in Alex.

"I see," Cedric spoke, keeping eye contact with him.  "Well, if you see her before me, will you tell her I'll be in the library?"

"We can do that," George reassured him because he knew his twin wouldn't.

After thanking them, Cedric walked back down the corridor, heading for the library.  Fred watched him go, his jaw unintentionally clenching as he watched him walk away.

George looked at Fred with an annoyed look.  "Would finally pull your head out of your arse and admit that you have feelings for already?" He snapped.  "Otherwise, Diggory's going to swoop in and steal her."

"Shove off, George."

☽

In the days that followed after his attempt to get into Gryffindor Tower, Alex listened to what people's theories were on how Sirius Black had managed to get in but they all seemed far more bizarre than the next. The Fat Lady's painting had been replaced by Sir Cadogan's and his fat gray pony but nobody, including Alex, enjoyed the change. However, he was the only other painting willing to take the job.

Alex also noticed how she never seemed to be alone when walking in the corridors. Teachers found excuses to walk alongside her wherever her destination was, the same was also happening to Harry and it was quite annoying for the both of them. Alex knew they all meant well but it was quite annoying and all she wanted to know was why had Sirius Black tried to break into the common room when something must've tipped him off to know that the entire student body would be in the Great Hall for the Halloween feast.

The only person who could give her those answers was the Fat Lady.

So when the opportunity presented itself and Alex found that she was alone with no teachers after lessons had ended, she made her way to the second floor, heading towards the portrait of the Map of Argyllshire.

Slowly approaching, she could see the Fat Lady within it, still quite shaken up as several other figures from other portraits had come to console her. Alex watched as they all tried to offer soothing words to her but she still looked shaken.  Alex understood how she was feeling.

"Pardon me," she called, catching the figures in the painting's attention.  "I was wondering if I might be able to speak with her alone." She gestured to the Fat Lady.

The other figures looked to the Fat Lady to make sure she was okay but she assured them that she was and they made their way back to their paintings. The Fat Lady came forward, wiping under her eyes the smudged make-up before looking at Alex.

"What can I do for you?" She asked, sounding stuffy.

"I was wondering if you'd be willing to tell me about the incident with Sirius Black," Alex softly requested, so as to not frighten her.

The Fat Lady's eyes widened and she instantly began shaking her head. "Oh, I don't- I don't think that's a-a-a good idea, I'm still quite shaken up over it," she replied, wiping away at the tears forming in her eyes and going to walk away.

"Please," Alex pleaded tearfully.  "You are the only one who can hopefully give me answers as to why he did what he did.  I swear I'm not here to make you relive the trauma.  I am genuinely begging you."

The Fat Lady looked to Alex to see that the young Gryffindor was quite serious and not just wanting to go blabbing to everyone about whatever she told her.

"Very well," the Fat Lady replied, blowing her nose as she sat down.  "What is it that you want to know?"

Alex took a deep breath. "Can you tell me to encounter from the beginning?" She requested.

The Fat Lady sniffled. "Well, at first, it was clear he was quite on edge over something but I obviously never got the chance to ask. He told me he needed to get into the common room and when I asked for the password, he told me he didn't have one and you were able to tell he was getting angry," the Fat Lady sniffled again.  "When I told him I wouldn't let him in without a password and that the Halloween Feast was happening in the Great Hall, he told me that I'd better let him in or I'd regret it. When I told him once again that I was not letting him in, he took out the knife and began slashing and carving at my painting. I became so frightened, I ran off crying while he yelled at me to come back, kept on shouting about how someone needed to pay and how he would get to him one way or another, how they needed to know the truth or something along the lines. I didn't hear him after I had run off far enough," the Fat Lady finished, tears slowly beginning to stream down her face again.

Alex thought over everything she had said but she was still confused. The Fat Lady had distinctly told him that the Halloween Feast was happening, surely he would've abandoned the cause to get into the common room and try to get Harry and Alex in the Great Hall, why didn't he?

"Did he say anything else?" Alex asked although she feared the answer.

The Fat Lady thought for a moment. "Right before I was completely out of hearing his shouts, he shouted a few names," the Fat Lady responded.  "He called out Peter, Harry, and Alex."

Alex felt her stomach tighten as she covered her mouth in shock. She slowly backed away before running straight back in the direction of the Gryffindor Common Room. However, she didn't make it all the way and collapsed in the hallway before the corridor that led to Sir Cadagon's portrait. Her heart felt as though it could burst at any second and she didn't know how to slow the rate down.

At that moment, Alex was completely terrified to the bone. Her theory was confirmed. Sirius Black really was after her and Harry. But who was Peter and what did he have to do with anything?

☽

Things are getting pretty interesting when it comes to what's happening in the weird love triangle I have between Cedric, Alex, and Fred... but who will be the endgame???

Should I update again this weekend?  I have a few more chapters written.  Comment below your favorite Harry Potter character and why they are if you think I should lol

Don't forget to vote and comment!

Love you guys!

-Squid☽