Chapter 8

                                    

                                          
The excitement in the air was palpable as students gathered by the front gates of Hogwarts, eagerly waiting for the carriages that would take them to Hogsmeade. Bella could barely hear her friends over the buzzing chatter, but she caught snippets of conversation drifting from every corner.
"Did you hear? Sirius Black was seen near the village last week," one Ravenclaw girl whispered to her friend as they walked past, their eyes wide in fear.
"No, it's just a rumor," her friend replied with a nervous laugh. "I heard it from my cousin who's a fourth year. She said she saw him outside the Three Broomsticks."
The mention of Sirius Black sent a chill through Bella, though she tried to mask it with a casual shrug. Ever since the train ride, the specter of the fugitive had been hanging over the school. The thought that he might actually be wandering around the village—so close to them—made her stomach turn.
Bella walked alongside Cedric Diggory, Fred, and George as they moved toward the carriages. They were all talking excitedly about what they'd do in the village, but the tension among the students was palpable. Bella kept her eyes on the ground, her thoughts swirling. She heard more whispered rumors as they walked, students exchanging nervous glances, speculating whether Sirius Black was really lurking in the village or if it was just another scare.
Fred, as usual, was in high spirits, joking about the latest prank he and George had been planning. "If he's really here, I think we should hide a few of our best tricks around Hogsmeade," he said with a mischievous grin. "Give the bloke a proper scare."
George shot him a half-amused, half-worried look. "As long as it's not near the Three Broomsticks, yeah?"
Cedric, walking beside Bella, seemed slightly more serious. "Sirius Black or not, it's just... unsettling, isn't it? The idea that he's so close to Hogwarts." His voice was low, almost cautious. "Even if it's just rumors, it's hard not to worry."
Bella nodded, trying to keep her face neutral. The truth was, she didn't need to hear any more about Sirius Black. She already knew too much. Her father's name echoed in her mind, even though she refused to voice the thoughts aloud. She kept telling herself that Sirius was a dangerous man, a killer, and the last person she should feel any sympathy for. But the dog... the black dog she'd seen before, around the castle, in the shadows... she couldn't shake the feeling that it was connected to him.
The carriage ride to Hogsmeade was a quiet one, the tension from the rumors hanging in the air. Fred and George had fallen silent, exchanging a few sidelong glances, their faces more serious than usual. Bella was grateful for the distraction of the village itself when they finally arrived.
Hogsmeade looked just as she remembered it — a charming, bustling village, its crooked little houses all lined up in a row, smoke curling from chimneys and the smell of butterbeer wafting in the air. The sight of it should have put Bella at ease, but instead, the familiar place felt colder, more foreboding than ever. There were hushed conversations everywhere she went, students nervously glancing over their shoulders as if expecting to see Sirius Black lurking in the shadows.
Fred, George, and Cedric were discussing where they should go first, but Bella felt too distracted to focus. She kept her head down as they walked through the village, half-listening to their banter and half-watching the corners of her vision, where the dark shadows seemed to shift unnaturally.
As they passed The Three Broomsticks, Bella noticed some first years huddled in a corner, whispering urgently. She caught a few words — "Sirius Black"  — and her heart skipped in her chest.
The three of them made their way toward the entrance of the pub, and just as they were about to step inside, Bella caught sight of something in the distance: a large, black shape moving just outside the window of The Three Broomsticks. A black dog. Its fur was glossy and dark as midnight, and it stood motionless, watching them from the shadows. Bella's breath hitched, her eyes widening.
"Bella? You alright?" Cedric's voice broke through her shock.
She turned to him, her face pale. "I... I thought I saw something."
"Not the black dog, again?" George asked, frowning. His voice was lighter than usual, but there was an edge to it. He was worried.
"Maybe," Bella murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not sure."
But she was sure. It was the same dog she had seen before — the one in the corridors at Hogwarts, the one that had watched her from the shadows. It had been there, just outside the pub, watching her again.
"Come on, let's go inside," Cedric said gently, guiding her toward the warmth of The Three Broomsticks.
The pub was bustling with students and witches and wizards enjoying their butterbeer. Madam Rosmerta greeted them with a bright smile, but Bella could barely take in the atmosphere. Her heart was still racing. It wasn't just the dog. It was the way everyone was talking about Sirius Black, the way the rumors seemed to be growing, like an invisible thread tightening around them.
Fred and George quickly took over the table with their usual chaotic energy, discussing their latest prank and planning how to sneak into Zonko's later. Cedric sat next to Bella, his brow furrowed in concern.
"You really should talk to Professor Lupin about this," Cedric said quietly, after catching her staring blankly into her drink. "If it's the same dog you saw before, it might be more than just your imagination."
Bella opened her mouth to respond but hesitated. She liked Remus, trusted him. But this was... different. She couldn't help but feel that it wasn't just about the dog anymore. The black dog was somehow tied to her father, to the deep, unfinished business that loomed over her life. She didn't know how to explain it, but she knew that the more she thought about it, the more it seemed like a warning.
"I'll think about it," she said finally, forcing a small smile. "I'm sure it's just... a coincidence."
But deep down, she wasn't so sure.
As they left the pub, Bella walked with Cedric toward the main street, feeling the cold air bite at her cheeks. She glanced around as they walked, her senses on high alert. Fred and George had wandered off to check out Zonko's, no doubt planning their next big prank, but Bella couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching her.
Just as they passed the shadowed side of The Whomping Willow, Bella spotted the black dog again. It was just standing there, on the edge of the trees, staring at her. Its dark eyes locked onto hers, its large, shaggy form indistinguishable from the shadows.
Her breath caught in her throat. "It's... it's right there," she whispered, her voice shaky.
"What is?" Cedric asked, following her gaze.
But when he looked, the dog was gone. The shadows where it had stood were just... shadows.
Bella's heart pounded.
"You saw it, didn't you?" she asked, her voice barely audible.
Cedric looked at her, concern filling his eyes. "I didn't see anything, Bella. But... I believe you. Maybe we should go back to the castle. It's getting late."
She nodded, feeling her pulse racing as they turned back toward Hogwarts. The black dog was watching her, and deep down, she felt like it was waiting — waiting for something.