Just after her surge of pain Hooch was transferred to St Mungo's. By then the news had spread to all the teachers about the attack. That night at dinner the mood was still.
Normally meals were lively times among the teachers. They would often get in loud debates over Quidditch, students, potions or anything that was the topic of debate that night. They lamest always ended with food flying, someone saying spells but it all ended quickly when McGonagall stepped in. McGonagall was the mother of the group. She always made sure everyone was eating enough as sometimes Trelawny wouldn't eat as much as she should. She are sure they all minded their manners and acted like civilized adults when it was needed. Everyone respected her and listened to what she told them to do. That particular evening they were adding a new addition to the teacher's table.
She arrives shortly before supper. She was a small woman who wore bright pink garments and had her short hair up in a neat pile on top her head. She had a pump figure but by no means was jolly. Her feet were held in shiny black buttoned shoes. Stepping into the great hall she took note of what was around her.
The room that was normally stocked with long tables in straight rows headed by another long table that was the teacher's table. The room now was a simple small room with a single table surrounded by chairs. In them was the staff of Hogwarts. All but two of the chairs were filled. McGonagall upon spotting the women drew up another chair for her and invited her to sit down.
The women politely accepted taking a seat by the Transfiguration professor and the Astronomy professor. Kindly she introduced herself to everyone.
"Good evening everyone. I am Cynthia Carmichael. The ministry has appointment me as the new High Inquisitor. I understand that your last experience with a high Inquisitor did not go well. I also understand I look similar to my predecessor. I just happen to like pink" she said earning a chuckle from the staff members. " I want to make it clear that I have no intention of enforcing my predecessor's policies but I do intend to have policies of my own. I do not intended to overpower the headmaster but the ministry believe that the burden of making choices for entire school and keeping order at the same time is too much for one person to bear and they believe that having the that power split among two people will help run things smoother. I would like reiterate that I do not wish to over power the headmaster. I am simply here to help keep Hogwarts' walls standing. I do look forward to working with all of you."
"Thank you Ms. Carmichael." McGonagall said. "I would like to remind my fellow teachers that we are going to keep an open mind about our new addition to our team "
All the teachers knew to listen to McGonagall or the consequences would not be good.
"On another note I'm sure you have all heard about Rolanda's attack." She said. The others gave a quiet nod. "Whoever attacked is still at large and we do not know if they are done attacking. For the time being we all must on high alert and during the night no one goes out without someone with them."
"But we're adults not students. You have no authority over us." Flich grumped.
"Yes Argus we are all adults and I have no authority over you but it is not safe to be out after dark and to prevent anyone attacks we must stay together. The chances of being attacked are much slimmer in pairs so.." She said towering over him. "I suggest you listen to me or you'll be sharing a room with Rolanda."
Flich turns beat red and goes back to his food.
The rest of supper went by quickly and the staff began pairing up.
"Argus you and Rubeus go together towards your huts." McGonagall instructed.
The groundskeeper and the castle keeper headed out the door Flich grumbling the whole way out.
"Filius, you and Pomona head toward your chambers. Irma, Poppy you two go together. Sybil you and Severus go toward your tower and his chambers together." McGonagall instructed.
Finally McGonagall had paired up all her coworkers and it was just her and Carmichael left. The two women head toward Carmichael's office.
"Can I ask you something?" Carmichael asks.
"Of course." Said McGonagall.
"Why is Argus so hostile?"
"Normally he isn't like this but you see he had quite the crush on our last high Inquisitor. It was quite obvious among the teachers." McGonagall says.
Meanwhile Snape and Trelawney were walking down a corridor and a the sound of footsteps get their attention. Instinctively Snape pulls his wand and pushes Trelawny behind him. He looks down the dark hallway that was lit by lanterns. Something was off. Something was following them. A cold gust of wind blew down the hallway causing the lanterns to cease to glow. Snape pulled Trelawney close to him with every intention of protecting her. A black figure raced past them.
"Run!" Snape yelled.
Both professors took off in a sprint down the dark hallway. The pitch black surrounded them as they ran. Trelawny trips over an obstacle Causing her to smash into the stone floor scratching up her knees as she fell. Snape acting quickly pulls her up and continues to run until he saw light at the end of the long hallway. Running as fast as he could he pushes himself through his bursting lungs and dove into the light.
The footsteps behind him shopped and faded away.
"We made it." He said as gasped for air. "We did it."
Instead of a response he got silence. He realized that Trelawny was it with him.
"Sybil?" He asked to the dark hallway.
Nothing
"Sybil?!" He said louder with a slight hint of panic.
No answer.
He raises his wand. "Lumos."
In a clash of bright white light a figure jumps from the shadows and took Snape down in one swift motion. Stunned by the blow he dropped his wand.
A flash of red hot pain hits him.
"Ahhh!" He shrieked as the spell hit him.
His heart pounding he scrambles for his wand but he could not find it in the darkness. Crawling he feels along the floor for his wand. Another spells hit him like a brick wall.
That did it Snape drops floor barely hanging onto consciousness. Before the world fades out completely he hears one last spell echo in the hall.
"Sectumsempra!"
The caster of the spell raced down the corridor and knelt by Snape quickly healing the bloody wound that had formed bearing only one word.
Authority.