5 - THE BREAK-IN AT GRYFF TOWER, Post your BREAK-IN stories here! Options

[agrippa]

Too Full of Memories
The Break-in at Gryffindor Tower

The moon was nearly full, but not quite.

That's unfortunate, thought the black dog. Moony's bound to be up and about. But he'll be at the feast, I hope. If he recognizes me…

The hinges of the great oak door creaked open and the squashed face of a ginger cat peered out. She nodded at the dog.

Thanks, friend, thought the dog. I'm lucky to have run into you.

Dog and cat made their way into the entryway. Sirius' ears pricked up as the sounds of the Halloween feast flooded his mind with memories of Hogwarts' feasts past. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot – all in the school once more.

Prongs, my friend, tonight – tonight I'll make it right again.

Each successive floor brought new memories as the pair made their way up to Gryffindor tower. There's where Prongs set off that dungbomb. Closed the corridor for hours. Oh, Filtch was mad!

And there's the window where we first saw them smuggling Remus out to the Willow. Poor man. I wonder how he's managing.

They reached to top of the final staircase. Sirius' heart was pounding. Soon. Soon. Peter – he's close. Just the Fat Lady left. She'll open for the cat.

"Hello, Crookshanks," murmered the Fat Lady absentmindedly. "Come in, m' dear."

The portrait swung open, and Crookshanks went through. Sirius made for the opening, but the portait slammed shut.

"Oh, no," said the Fat Lady in a babyish voice. "Sorry, ickle doggy, but I don't recognize you. If you're someone's pet, you should go back to your owner. Unless" – she giggled – "you can tell me the password."

In a flash, the dog was gone and full-grown man stood in its place. Sirius' eyes glinted as he pulled a knife from his pocket. With a flash of steel, he sliced the portrait down the middle. The Fat Lady tried to run, but the knife sliced her across the shoulder.

"Let me in," he growled.

"Never!" she gasped.

He changed back into the dog, and attacked with his sharp claw, tearing her dress.

"Help! Help! It's him! It's Sirius Black!"

Bloody hell, thought Sirius. Dumbledore and the rest will be here in no time. And if Remus is with them…

He darted back down the staircase, making his way to the back stairs. His ears stood on end, listening for footsteps. When he reached the first floor, he heard it – the rumble of footsteps as the banquet ended. He froze.

Those footsteps – some of them are Harry's.

Slowly, he crept around the corner. None of the Gryffindors noticed the black dog in the heavy shadows of the corridor. And suddenly, there he was.

Harry walked along with the tall red-headed boy Sirius knew to be Peter's current owner. They probably share a dormitory. Peter lives in Harry's dormitory. A wave of panic swept over him.

They crowd passed, and Sirius sneaked back down the staircase. Darting across the entryway, he ventured a glance at the Great Hall. For a moment, he thought he saw James and Remus and the rest of their class, sitting at the long table, raising their goblets in a toast. He blinked and looked again. Just empty tables.

This place is too full of memories.

He pushed his shoulder into the heavy door, opening it just enough for him to slide through. The nearly-full moon lit the path through the gates to Hogsmeade.