[Library] The Alive Paintings

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie looked at the dragon. It was angry she knew that. But what was it angry about. "Was some thing taken from you." Sarie's whole body was shaking. She really didn't know what else to do. "Did something not come back?" She knew she was crazy for trying this but it was better than nothing. She wondered if this was going to work but she couldn't really know unless she tried.

She looked around. She sighed. She must really look stupid yelling at a dragon. She noticed some thing out of the corner of her eye. It was a small hallway off to the side. She headed over to her headmaster. "There's a small hallway we could run if we need to..." She turned she had an odd feeling some thing was about to happen. "We need to leave please...."

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

For that short space in time Dan was focused on killing the dragon, his spell had been fired but it sadly did not reach the target as a squabble had broken out beside him. Losing all concentration Dan’s arm fell limp by his side and it took everything in his power not to turn and yell at Ellie and Kristiana but thankfully Nancy seemed to be thinking along the same lines and stood in between the Slytherin and Hufflepuff ordering both of them to shut up.

“You go girl!” Dan could not help himself, he gave a slight bob of the head and clicked his fingers while he put on his campest voice he could muster. Even in dire situations such as this when his and his student’s lives were in danger he could not help but be the irresponsible one. It took the youngest member of the party to try and get everyone to work together and much to Dan ‘s surprise everyone slowly seemed to get back to their senses and concentrate on the matter at hand…the ever approaching dragon.

Breathing in deeply the smell of the burning parchment filled his lungs and with a slight nod the head as the man talked to himself Dan looked around at the small party of students he had around him all ready, wands out and ready to put up that fight but then he noticed Sarie walk forwards as she started to talk to the dragon. “S-Sarie!” Dan stuttered her name as he slowly reached forwards and placed a hand gently on the Gryffindors shoulder ready to pull her away if it was needed.

He could not work out why she was asking if something had been taken from it; it was a painting what could have been taken? He racked his mind as the Gryffindor continued to mutter about possible exits if they needed to escape and it was only when she started begging that he snapped back to reality. “No Miss Thimble.” His voice was stern and he was now showing his authority. “I can not let this creature roam the castle. I…we have to stop it.” He gave a small smile to the Gryffindor in comfort before raising his wand expecting everyone to follow suit.

“FIRE!”

The darkness of the corridor vanished as a jet of fire went straight for the dragon, it would not be enough we just his flame, he would need the others to help if they were going to do any real damage.

(urrrgh months later Liz responds and it is crap. Sorry!)

[Kristiana Thorn]

Kristiana was still peeved that she was stuck in the hall with these people. Had she just sucked it up and stuck to the common room none of this would be happening. Her life was in danger over some stupid painting because the school she was attending had gone to pot. Part of her figured this had something to do with their headmaster, so many rumors about him and his wanderings into the forest late at night. What if whatever it was he had been seeking in the forest piggy backed a ride from him into the castle.

Things like this just didn't happen for no good reason. Schools didn't suddenly start to flip out on their own, something was making all of this happen and part of her felt that the man standing near her had a lot to do with that. These were pondering for a later time though right now she was fighting to make it out of this hallway in on piece even if it meant fighting along side undesirables.

So when professor Hubbles pointed his wand at the dragon Kristi figured it best to do the same. Her wand arm held straight out in front of her, she did her best not to shake or show fear. Hubbles shouted a spell that launched a jet of fire at the dragon. Kristi watched it shoot toward its intended target, but his flame wasn't going to be enough to get that big boy down. So Kristi followed suit using the same spell and it worked first time sending another jet of fire.

Looking around at the others she hoped they wouldn't take long to do the same, the quicker they used their wands to blast him the quicker they would be rid of him hopefully.

[Ellie Rook]

Ellie was tired. As tired as she has ever been. The teenager was sure that this was a story to tell her children. She was also sure that after the fight with the suit of armor, when her parents found out about this, they were going to slip out. Professor Hubbles was sure to get at least one howler from her mother, and perhaps worse from her father. Ellie was sure she would have to calm them down and perhaps protect Hubbles from the wrath of the parental units.

Besides that, Ellie was sure that this was going to open a thousand questions for the ministry. This was serious. To many students were in danger. Ellie knew that she would fight to keep Professor Hubbles in charge of the school. Lord knows that Headmasters have been blamed for less.

Ellie was just getting over Kristiana's stupidity when her attention was taken away from the stupid Slytherin. Ellie watched as the youngest of the group stepped forward toward the horrible dragon. Ellie quickly reached out, but missed the girl. What did she think she was doing? The dragon had more on his mind then just his treasure. Ellie was sure that the young girl was not making any sense. The dragon rose to full height seeing the small girl come forward. Ellie was sure it was about to attack, but it didn't. Instead it let out a huge roar that Ellie was sure woke the whole castle. The Prefect couldn't let anything bad happen to the girl.

Ellie also stepped forward and brought the girl back out of the dragon's reach, back to where Professor Hubbles stood. Ellie squatted down to the girl height. She was rather short for a second year. Anyway, Ellie layed a hand on Sarie's arm. "Sarie, nothing was taken. Its just evil. Its the whole castle." Ellie choose her word s carefully. Hopefully the young girl wouldn't ask more into it. However, Ellie was sure that the young girl felt something was wrong.

Ellie stood back up and looked at the Headmaster. She orse her wand and nooded at him. The dragon was looking right at them, knowing that something was going to happen. The signal was given and Ellie shouted her spell, her shout echoed off the stone walls. A jet of fire exploded from her wand. The sixth year had to hold on with two hands to keep it going. Her hair was blown from her face with the power of the spell.

Her spell hit the monster directly in the right knee. It bents in pain. Ellie could see the color turn green and start to bubble. She wasn't sure what was going to happen. Ellie had to quit her spell and take a breather for a couple seconds. Then with another powerful blow, Ellie continued her attack on the left knee. She was so concentrated on what she was doing, Ellie had no idea what was going on around her.

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie felt Ellie was wrong. The castle wasn't evil it was it would have attacked long before now if it was. She didn't think this was the work of the supernatural well it was but it wasn't acting own. She didn't want to attack it. She wanted to know why it was attacking. She stood there caught in a strange battle in herself.

She stepped back. "Don't kill it!" Her compassion and curiosity had gotten the better of her. "Can't we just capture it and but it back its frame." She couldn't move. She didn't know what else to do.....

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Everyone was working well as a team, the students seemed to take aim on his command and multiple beams of fire shot towards its intended target. The dragon let out a deafening roar as it struggled against the bombardment of magic. With a small evil grin Dan’s wild blue eyes were set of the yellow orbs of the paintings as they had their own mini staring contest as the flames continued to burn the dragon. However it did not take long for one of the students to break rank and step in to try and defend the enemy dragon.

“Sarie!” Dan snapped as his he broke his staring contest with the decaying painting of the dragon to the young Gryffindor. He had not meant to sound mean or angry but in a high pressured situation such as this Dan always found it hard to control his emotions. Breathing in deeply the Headmaster tried to composes himself. “That thing is trying to kill us, there will be no reasoning with it. I can not let a monster like this pawl the corridors of the castle, for the safety of the students and my co-workers we need to destroy it.” Taking the few steps towards Sarie Dan crouched down and placed a hand gently on the Gryffindors shoulder and looked at her directly in the eyes. “I promise you, the next painting we met and if it does not try to kill us first then we shall try and save it and get it back to its frame.”

He offered the Gryffindor a small smile before standing up straight and turning his attention back to the battle that was raging in front of him. The dragon was getting weaker and weaker and it was clear that the persistent flames where taking a toll of the painting as the paints began to run together create a brown gloop on the floor of the corridor. The heat that was being produced was intense and Dan could feel the heat on his bare skin, his cheeks slowly turning red almost like he had got sunburn, now this one would be hard to explain to Dia in the morning. “Come on guys almost there!” He shouted in encouragement as he watched the left wing sub come to the heat and fall to the ground like a fallen tree. They were winning!

[Ellie Rook]

Ellie was trying hard to concentrate on the spell, but over the commotion she heard Sarie's pleas to save the creature. Ellie's spell stopped immediately as she turned to face the young witch. Ellie couldn't believe that the girl still wanted to help the horrible creature after it had obviously shown serious aggression toward the group.

Ellie watched as Professor Hubbles handled it. First he sounded mad, but Ellie knew he didn't mean it. It was just the heat of the moment. he explained to Sarie that this monster was a threat, and Ellie nodded in agreement. Sh wasn't sure how to react to the young girl. Ellie wasn't sure if she was that naive and stupid, or that kind and forgiving. Either of the two extremes would hurt the girl eventually, as it was hurting her now.

Ellie turned back to the monster and joined in again on its attack. Ellie watched as the wing disintegrated into a pile of ash. A few more second and the leg she was aiming at began to drift a part too. The monster was confused and agitated. It tried to step forward, but with the pressure on its leg, the dragon came down sideways, it leg a pile of ash below it. Ellie smiled, but it soon faded as she watched the monster awkwardly try to stand. It roared in its stress. Ellie couldn't help but have tears well up into her eyes as she watched the monster struggle with its own weight. Ellie couldn't help but think that is exactly how she felt right now.

Ellie looked up at the Professor, a single tear falling from her aqua eyes. She swallowed. "What now?" She asked meekly, suddenly understanding Sarie's sorrow, but not having the strength to say anything more.

[Kristiana Thorn]

They were all doing their best to battle the beast, trying to get rid of it before it got rid of them. Things were slowly calming down it looked like it would be long before they were able to stop the beast. Kristi was more than glad because the faster they could get that thing finished off the faster she could get back to her normal life with the normal kids from her own house. As it was she was spending too much time here with these nothings. Including a useless headmaster who had probably caused all this trouble to begin with.

Just as they were half way through the battle Sarie or whatever the little Gryffindors name was had actually wanted them to spare the monster. Had she not been trying to keep the thing back Kristi would have looked at the girl, and then ask her if she were ill. But Hubbles actually found his voice, and some backbone and told Sarie that wasn't going to happen. Good! That thing needed to go down and they were going to put it down. Painting be damned as far as she cared right now.

Keeping her wand aloft she said the spell again pointing it at the monster who was slowly deteriorating. Soon it would be done, and the nightmare would be over. The rest of the school would be safe thanks to them though most people would never even know it. Well, most people would Kristi would make sure of that. A small grin appeared but she slowly wiped it away. No need to get into another row at least not now.

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie had a deep pain growing inside. It felt like something had just been ripped from her body. She felt the tears well in the corner of her eyes, she didn't know why she was crying but she had feeling there was something missing from this story. She looked down the small hallway again. She saw the little girl again. The girl looked more horrifying than the last time she saw her. She gave Sarie a evil smile. "What do you want from me!" Yelled the small girl.

Sarie fell to the ground. She felt so helpless. What was happening? The castle wasn't evil she knew that. Some thing was making this happen. She didn't know what but she was going to find out somehow. With or with out the others help. She took a deep breath then mutter. "What is happening when did start happening? What made start?" She ran her finger over the stone floor. Hogwarts was built on good intentions. There had only been two murders in the school whole history. She wondered what could make a whole castle act this way?

She stood up. She met the eyes of the little girl who was still standing there. She made jester for her to follow her and Sarie did. She took off at a run she wanted to know what was going on. If the girl was leading her into a trap Sarie didn't care. Getting to the truth was all she wanted. If she was captured she would find out what happened.

She rounded the corner after the little girl but she was gone. "Shoot, where did you go?" She half sobbed, she didn't know or really care if the others followed or not. She slid down the wall and waited for a sign.

[Ellie Rook]

Ellie was looking up into the face of the dragon as it went down. She turned to Professor Hubbles, looking exhausted, her question went unanswered, but it didn't matter, for Ellie turned just in time to see Sarie hit the cold floor of the corridor. Ellie looked up to see the strange paper cut out of what seemed to be a dead girl. Ellie gazed at it and it scared her. It was almost as if it was looking right through her.

Ellie glanced at Sarie, hoping she was ok, and then glanced at the Professor, wondering what she should do about it. Just as she looked back, she saw Sarie get up and run toward the doll. "Sarie, No!!" Ellie yelled after her, reaching out to try and grab the girl but missing Sarie ran toward the girl but it disappeared. Sarie slid down the wall, and Ellie ran to her, making sure she wasn't going to run off again.

Ellie knelt down in front of the girl. "Sarie..." she said, trying to get her attention. "Why don't you come with me back over to the group, I think its safer, and Professor Hubbles will know what to do." Ellie said, holding out her hand to help the girl up. Ellie tried a grin, but her ash covered face couldn't manage much in the way of happiness.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Every muscle in his body ached, every breath that he took made his lungs scream for my oxygen but his ribcage simply could not deal with the movement. His eyes stung, but not with tears. Dan feared that if he even blinked his eyes would not open again he would just fall to the cold flagstone flooring of the corridor and fall to sleep there and then. Even the flicker of the flame, the sound of the students heavy breathing…it was hypnotic and as the Headmaster watched the dragon sub come to the flames he zoned out, ignoring everything that was being said too or around him. Or at least that was until the sound of Ellie’s voice echoed around the eerily silent corridor.

Everything snapped back into focus, the ash and paint staining the corridor floor of where the zombie dragon once stood, the tired students standing around him and the bitter smell that lingered in the air. Spinning around Dan turned to see what was going on, Sarie on the floor of the corridor and Ellie running to her side. “Oh God.” Dan muttered through his dry lips as tried to swallow the bile that threatened to rise. Had he let something happen to Sarie? Willing his heavy legs forward Dan, although at first rather clumsily, made his way over towards the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff hoping that the other students would have some common sense to follow. Dan only got to hear the end of their conversation and although Ellie’s words were meant to be comforting he made his heart sink like a pebble in water.

He had no idea what to do!

Running his tongue nervously over his dry lips Dan could taste the sweat and ash that was covering his skin. He would bet his savings in Gringotts that he looked a mess, the sweat making his hair fall flat and stick to his face, the burnt left sleeve of his jacket from where he had protect himself from the flames and not forgetting the bags under his eyes. “Yeah, we’ll er…we can think of something.” For once in his life Dan was not sounding confident, the weariness of it all was clear and all Dan could think of doing was to hold out both his hands, one for both Sarie and Ellie to take hold of.

“I think for tonight however I should get you all back to the safety of your Commonrooms. I will get some of the professors to help search the castle for anymore…er…problems.”

[Ellie Rook]

Ellie got Sarie up, and she saw Professor Hubble approach. Ellie looked him over. It was a sad sight to see her hero looking as shabby as he did. However, realized that she herself was looking a mess. Her hair, which had been braided to the side down her shoulder had started to come undone, ash braided in along with hair. Her face was damp with sweat and she could feel the heavy ash on her face which felt as though she had put on too much makeup. She wiped her brow, filling a sting of a burn on her forehead. Ellie tried not to cringe as the stinging subsided. Her robes were covered in ash and a small burn hole in her shoe was letting in the cold air of the night. She sighed.

Ellie saw in Professor Hubbles' eyes that he really had no idea what he was going to do, but she didn't want Sarie to realize that. She was young, too young to have no hope. It was one of the important things Ellie knew she had to help Sarie hold on too. Hope. "Yes, we will." Ellie said, smiling at the Professor, hoping that he wasn't losing his hope as well.

Ellie took his hand, where she could feel their sweat and ash come together. She tried to keep smiling. She looked at the Professor her eyebrows raised in questioning. "Professor, I really don't think I need to go back. I can help you. We'll take Sarie back, but please, I want to know whats going on. I think I'm involved now." Ellie said, trying to sound as grown up as a seventeen year old could to a man of about forty. "Please."

[Kristiana Thorn]

Kristiana just wanted this to be over. She was hot, her face was sweaty, her hair was plastered to her head, her face was totally flushed, and she could barely breathe. There was no reason why she should be there working so hard. The damn castle was just plain evil things were going on here that were not normal. It was probably Hubbles' fault. Kris always thought he was a lousy headmaster, and there were so many others like her own head of house who would have made a much better choice.

This was just ridiculous, she was fighting for her life against a painting and she had no idea why she was battling with this. Trying hard not to crack under the pressure. Then that little Sarie girl fell down to the floor. Kristiana wondered what happened to her, but was too busy to do anything at that very moment.

Then suddenly this cutout of a girl popped up, Kristiana tried not to scream as she stared at the thing, it was haunting to say the least. It took off down the hall and for some unknown reason the young Gryffindor went ahead after it. Even Kris worried about her Rook took off after her, while Kris and the professor stood there. Hubbles made his way over to them, Kris lagging along behind.

He said it was time to get them safely back to their common rooms, and Kris thought it was a damn good idea. Of course Rook had to suck up, or maybe it was more swoon over the headmaster. She offered to stay and help. Kris wondered if she was trying to get house points or something more. A glint in her eye Kris wanted to stay and watch this. "I'm willing to stay and help as well headmaster. I would like to know what's going on here as well." Her acting skills were unparalleled she sounded so genuine she dared anyone to say different.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

There were the odd times where Dan really just wants to smash his head against a brick wall and just be done with it and it would be very safe to say that today was most defiantly one of those days! He and this small group of students had just come close to a very fiery end and yet it seemed that none of them could cotton onto how he was only trying to act to provide them with safety. But then Hogwarts always seemed to have a way of producing wannabe heroes (although they normally came from Gryffindor) and Dan guessed this was just something he was going to have to put up with. The look for determination in the eyes of both Ellie and Kristiana proved to him that even if he tried his best acts of persuasion they would not listen to him.

Scratching the side of his face he could feel the bristles from his stubbly beard brush against his fingers and even there and then he knew that he was just prolonging the inevitable and he would just have to agree to let the Hufflepuff and Slytherin come along with him…not that he knew what he was going to do!

“Okay, we shall take Sarie back to the Gryffindor Commonroom and then…” He look down at his watch only to notice that the hands had stopped turning. “…then we shall have a small look around the castle as we head back down to the lower floors and then both of you are going back to your common rooms.”

That was something Dan was not going to be swayed on, they should not have been out of bed in the first place and he was not going to let them talk their way out of it, well that is what he liked to think anyway. But that would be thinking to far in the future and right now he just needed to get the small Gryffindor back to her tower and just pray they did not bump into anything else. “Come on then.” His voice was less then inspiring. “Lets get going and just, please, be on the ready.”

[Sarie Thimble]

She stared at her headmaster. "I'm sorry Professor," She said standing up slowly. "I'm not going back into my common room and pretending nothing is wrong. I don't think they want to hurt people I think they're just lost." She didn't really know what else to say. She wasn't trying to be tough or brave she was just saying what needed to be said. "I can't ingore the look it had. It was scared..." She trailed off. She felt like she should know what was missing or stolen.

She stood there all 4 feet 10 inches of her being stubborn. This was not the way to be speaking to the headmaster but she didn't like being treated like a child. She had been though worst with her cousins and Hubbles wasn't going to make her hide like a child. She wasn't scared okay she was a little but she was still going to stand and fight. "I know I'm being rude and I am very sorry Professor but I started this and I'm going to at least help finish it.

She knew she was impressive. Most would say she was just being a stubborn Gryffindore but if that was what she had to be she would do it. This wasn't about house points or school any more this was about other peoples well being and she wasn't going to pretend that she didn't know what was going on when she did.