The Painting

Hermione continued to watch Ron as he stared at the painting. She'd felt hurt when Ron didn't believe what had happened to her, but now it was if he was reaching out to her.

She didn't even notice Lupin walk up besides Ron until Ron turned in surprise and Hermione's eyes followed his.

Ron turned his attention back to the painting. "I just... I think I saw something in this painting. I can't explain it. I mean, there's nothing there except the dog but..."

Lupin looked at the painting. The dog was staring back at them transfixed.

"Well something does seem to have startled him," said Lupin. He put his hand on Ron's shoulder. "Why don't you go and see your family? You should be with your brother now. I'll see what I can find out about the painting."

Looking relieved, Ron headed towards the door. "Thanks. I have this feeling that I have to do something but I haven't a clue what to do." Ron smiled at Lupin, paused for a moment as if changing his mind, then left the room.

Lupin looked at the painting again, then reached for his wand.

Oh, thank goodness, thought Hermione. Lupin's going to do something about this.

Lupin pointed his wand towards the dog in the painting. It whimpered quietly, as Lupin said some words which Hermione didn't understand.

The dog stopped moving. Hermione walked over to it. It was completely still. "He's dead," she muttered in disbelief. She knelt beside it and watched Lupin move his wand in circular motions over the painting. For a moment she felt like Lupin was staring right at her.

"Close," he said.

A shutter came down the painting and Hermione could just see Lupin leave the classroom as it faded completely.

"What has he done?" she yelled. "Lupin," she screamed helplessly, feeling completely alone and confused. Lupin was supposed to help her. Maybe it wasn't really Lupin, she thought as a million other thoughts raced through her mind alongside it.

She ran over to the painting's door and frantically pulled the handle. In her urgency to open it she convinced herself it was locked. "Help," she cried out. "Please help me,"

The door wouldn't budge and she could feel tears rolling down her face. She walked back over to the dog again, just to check she hadn't been imagining things. It was still lifeless, and it didn't appear to be under any spell. It was just...gone.

Hermione took a deep breath and tried to get herself together. "Come on, Hermione," she told herself. "If anyone can figure this out it's you."

She walked back over to the door, took another deep breath and reached again for the handle.

Before she had a chance to do anything the door flung open and Hermione flew backwards landing awkwardly on her side and hitting her head in the process. "Ow," she said softly, stars dancing before her eyes. She closed her eyes and attempted to open them again. She was seeing things and this time it wasn't stars. There was someone standing in the doorway. She blinked rapidly, convinced she was dreaming.

"Ron," she said eventually. "Is that really you?"