McGonagall was a fierce and powerful creature when the school was threatened. And it made it worse that it was still recovering from the last threat, the one that had lasted over two decades. As the students stood in the Great Hall in rows, separated by house and then by year, she marched briskly down the aisles they formed, looking at each one closely. Rose, the Doctor, Ron and Harry stood off to the side, watching. Hermione had taken her place next to Ginny and the other 7th year Gryffndors.
"Prefects of the four houses," McGonagall announced. "Please report to me."
The only table that remained in the room was her desk, placed where the teachers' table usually was. She had laid out several pieces of parchment and began scribbling on them as the prefects left their columns and walked up to her. Most of the students stood patiently as the twenty four prefects talked with the Headmistress, but there were some who shifted uneasily.
"You don't suppose..." Ron began.
"Yes?" the Doctor prompted.
"There are a lot of people who don't look comfortable with the situation," Ron murmured. "You think those are some of the shape shifting aliens?"
"I don't think so," Rose said before the Doctor could get a word out. "Most of the shifters are either first years or Hermione. The first years never went through all those bad things that happened at school when Voldemort was in power. I mean, yeah, it was a bad year for everyone, but they didn't learn as much patience as you guys did. So I don't think they're aliens."
"And we know Hermione wants to be doing something," Harry said. "She's not an alien...Is she?"
"No, I've already scanned you four," the Doctor said. "You're safe."
"Hang on, four?" Rose said. "You scanned me?"
"The aliens could pretend to be anyone. I just wanted to make sure you weren't in mortal danger elsewhere."
"Thanks, I'm flattered," Rose said slightly sarcastically. "If you can do a scan and tell if someone's an alien or not, then why aren't you doing this to the entire school while they're here?"
"Because once they figure out I'm on to them, they could vanish without a trace, and possibly kill the real students."
"I don't think they're quite on the level of preforming a disapparation spell," Harry said.
"Nevertheless, I'll only do a scan with McGonagall's permission...or if it's absolutely necessary."
"As in when we know for sure that that Hufflepuff prefect is an alien?" Ron asked, staring intently as the prefects went back to their rows.
"Come on, a Hufflepuff? That's a bit far fetched," Rose said. "Then again, Cedric did turn into a sparkling vampire."
"What?" Harry asked, startled.
"No, not really," Rose said. "Sorry, bad joke."
"Why is he talking to a Slytherin second year, though," Ron said. "Quite urgently, too. Hermione's noticed, too."
Hermione caught Ron's eye and gestured towards the two. Ron nodded understandingly.
"If all the Head Boys and Girls could now come up," McGonagall announced, smiling falsely.
"Something's wrong," Rose said.
"And the Hufflepuff and Slytherin sense it. Look!" Ron pointed as the two children suddenly looked very frightened.
"Doctor, please tell me your screwdriver can actually hold them in place," Rose whispered.
"Not until I scan them and get a setting," the Doctor said.
"Doctor, they're scared and they're trapped, that's a bad combination. We need to act fast."
"Agreed," Harry said. "I also think they have weapons."
The Slytherin girl reached subtlety beneath her robe. Underneath the cloth, Rose could see a vague outline.
"Doctor, she's got a gun."
Slowly, the Doctor drew the sonic from his coat pocket. In a flash, he moved forward, so suddenly that even Rose was startled, and pointed it at the two children. The lights in the hall went out, and amidst the screams the Doctor could hear the swish of wings and the breaking of glass. A dark silhouette waved a hand, and the candles flickered back. McGonagall stood, hand raised, in the middle of the room, and there was instant quiet. The students looked at her reassuring figure as she stared at the broken window. Abruptly she scanned the audience and called out names.
"Jace Grey, Percy Walter, Anna Wise, Harriet Gold, Piper Starr, Leopold King, and Franklin Mars. Show yourselves." There was no answer. "I guess that settles it then. We know the seven who were taken. Prefects! Take the first, second, and third years back to the common rooms. Head Boys and Girls, keep the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh years with you. Hufflpuffs take first floor, Slytherin second, Gryffndor third, and Ravenclaw fourth. Search for any sign of the children. Ghosts, search the dungeons. Teachers, divide and search the fifth, sixth, and seventh floors. Cover the ground floor on your way!"
"Where will you go?" Harry asked her as she marched down a corridor.
"I'm talking with the paintings, then heading to my office. There might be something there that can help."
"But why would the aliens keep the kids in the school?" the Doctor asked. "I mean, it's huge, I know there are tons of hiding places. But there are hundreds of kids here that could stumble upon the secret at any minute."
"The logical choice is the Forbidden Forest," Rose said. "Or possibly the Chamber of Secrets."
"I won't risk any lives in the forest until I know for sure," McGonagall said. "We'll get the ghosts out over it once the dungeons are checked."
"What about the Chamber of Secrets?" a new voice asked.
They turned and saw a lean figure standing in a doorway behind them. Rose's mouth dropped open.
"You're J.K. Rowling!"
"I prefer the name Jo," the woman said.
"Yes, I nearly forgot," McGonagall said. "You need to stay in my office until it's safe to come out again. But I will take your advice and search the Chamber as soon as I have what I need. Don't touch anything."
"I would like to help," Jo said calmly. "Women can fight just as well as men."
"Yes, I know," McGonagall said. "But nobody here really knows what we're dealing with. My dear, you are an excellent writer, but you are a squib. This is too dangerous for you, you need to survive and write those books."
"I'm really looking forward to book seven," Rose said.
"Book seven? I made it that far?"
"Believe me, your books are very popular, but there are lives at stake here," the Doctor said. "Rose, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, with me."
"Where are you going?" McGonagall asked.
"Well, you didn't assign us a place to look, so I've taken it upon myself."
"Don't go to the Forbidden Forest," she warned.
"No offense, professor," Harry said. "But we don't actually go to school here, except for Hermione."
"And you can't expel me now, it's nearly graduation time," Hermione said. "Brightest witch of my age, saved the school multiple times, I'm sure you'll find it in you to forgive me."
"If not, I'll make you," Ron said.
"Guys, we really need to go!" the Doctor said.
"Lead the way," Rose said.
The Doctor grabbed her hand. "Run!"
He turned and ran. McGonagall pursed her lips and sighed.
"Will you let the girl stay?" Jo asked.
"Of course I will, I can't very well expel her now!" McGonagall said. "To my office, come on!"
"That...that is one scary forest," Rose said.
"Well, there is a reason why it's forbidden," Harry said.
"It's just a lot scarier than I imagined it in the books, and WAY more so than it was in the movies."
"What's a movie?" Ron asked.
"Not now, Ronald. It's future stuff, we're not supposed to know."
"Will you two shut up?" Harry said. "We're supposed to find seven missing people."
"And you were going to do it without me?"
"Ginny, no," Harry said, without turning around.
Ginny ran up and joined them, holding her wand up defensively. "Well I'm certainly not going to comb the third floor. I'm coming with you, whether or not you like it. Besides, now our numbers are more equal. Six of us, seven of them."
"I say we let her come," Rose said. "She was really good...in the books, at least, which is more accurate."
"Ginny..." Harry began.
"She's coming, we can't waste any more time arguing," the Doctor said firmly, marching into the forest. "Besides, you need a partner, Harry. Someone to watch your back."
"Loving the confidence for the Chosen One," said Harry sarcastically.
Ginny elbowed him hard. "You're welcome," she whispered. "Loving how excited you were to see me after so many weeks."
"When we're alone," Harry promised.
"They are so my OTP!" Rose whispered to the Doctor.
"Try to contain yourself, we'll attract monsters," the Doctor said, barely hiding a grin himself.
"But they're so cute together!"
"Wouldn't you rather let them live to see their wedding day?" the Doctor asked.
Rose clamped her mouth shut.
It didn't take long before nearly all the light had disappeared. Even though Rose knew it was mid afternoon, it seemed like the sun had just gone down. A wolf howled in the distance.
"Werewolves," Harry warned. "Quite a few turned up after the war, but we're not sure where they came from. If you meet one..."
"Been there, done that," Rose said. "Does anyone actually have any silver?"
"Does anyone have any useful weapons other than your wands?" the Doctor asked when nobody answered.
"Our wands are useful," Hermione said.
"For attacking dementors, yes. For fending off werewolves, not really," Rose said. "Are you telling me we came to a forest of dangerous mythical creatures and nobody brought anything but a wand?"
Silence.
"I've...I've got my sonic," the Doctor said.
"Brilliant," Rose said. "We can build a cabinet to hide in. I meanwhile, can supervise because I don't have anything."
"Take my sword," Ginny offered.
"I wouldn't know how to use it," Rose said. "Give me a gun any day. No offense, Doctor."
"I don't want to kill anything."
"Not even a fire breathing dragon killing us all?" Harry asked.
"I would try to save you without killing it."
"What about giant spiders?" Ron asked, jumping slightly as a branch broke nearby.
"Killing them only makes the gene pool sneaker and deadlier."
"And unable to eat us," Ron pointed out.
They continued on in silence, watching the dark shapes that moved in the shadows. Rose lost track of time and direction, and only hoped the others hadn't.
"These monsters we're up against," Ginny began uneasily after awhile. "What do they look like?"
"We know they have wings, sharp claws, can breathe fire and breathe underwater, and can change shape," Rose said. "Actually sounds a bit like a dragon. A cross between a water dragon and a fire dragon."
"But they're alien," the Doctor said. "I didn't glean much from my scan, but I know that much."
"But nobody's actually seen one before?" Ginny asked, lowering her voice to a whisper.
"Not unless we've dealt with them before and haven't realized it," the Doctor said.
"So no one can actually confirm if the creature stalking is the monster we're looking for?"
"What?!" the Doctor turned suddenly.
In the treetops behind them, a pair of glowing red eyes glared menacingly. With a loud screech, it dove towards them, breathing fire.
"Aguamemti!" Harry shouted.
A shell of water surrounded them, blocking the fire and stunning the creature.
"Krillitane!" Rose and the Doctor shouted.
"What sort of spell is that?" Ron asked.
"It's not a spell, it's the what they're called," the Doctor said, fiddling with his screwdriver.
"Can you do something?" Rose asked him.
"No, the water's interfering. We'll have to let it down in order to get a good scan."
"Not a chance!" Harry said.
"Well we can't very well stay here!" Hermione said.
The krillitane backed off from the water shield and shrieked loudly, turning back to Hogwarts.
"It's calling the others," Rose said. "I don't think they're in the Forbidden Forest."
"Does anyone have a plan?" Ginny asked.
"Run!" the Doctor said. "We have to get back to the castle."
Harry focused the water's energy into a concentrated spout that blasted the krillitane out of the sky. It lay on the ground, stunned and sputtering. Harry led the charge, and the group raced through the tangled brush. They ran, leaping over logs and small startled animals. The krillitane was after them now, slowly gaining on them and torching the forest. The four wizards kept on blasting water spells, but the flame grew too big.
"Nice one," Ron said. "We've set the forest on fire. The centaurs are definitely gonna kill us now."
"Save your breath," the Doctor advised, pulling ahead of him.
Rose had forgotten how far they had walked into the forest. But the long walk in now seemed like a short stroll compared to their current situation.
"Impedimenta!" Hermione screamed, waving her wand at the creature. She missed and kept running.
"Are we going the right way?" she asked.
"Look!" said Hermione, pointing.
Through a rare gap in the trees, they could see the forms of other krillitane a flying towards them. So they were going in the right general direction. That was reassuring.
Suddenly there was a sharp sound of surprise. Rose turned and saw Hermione had tripped over a root. Ron stopped to help her up.
"I think I twisted it," Hermione gasped, grabbing her ankle and grimacing in pain.
"We have to keep going," Ron said urgently, glancing back towards the flames.
"Where's the krillitane?" Ginny whispered.
"Maybe we lost it," Harry said quietly.
Ron shrugged and started to help Hermione to her feet. Slowly, the Doctor turned and scanned the area, looking for the missing alien. But Rose saw it first, flying down through the tree branches ferociously with claws outstretched. It was headed right for Ron and Hermione. Without even realizing what she was doing, Rose pulled out Ginny's sword, much to Ginny's surprise, and jumped in front of them right as the krillitane burst through the foliage. Her sword swung in an ungrateful arch, hitting the creature between its bony wings. It shrieked once, then disintegrated.
"Ohmigod!" Hermione said.
She was leaning on Ron, and both looked just as surprised as Rose felt. Rose kept the heavy sword pointed into the ground, trying to keep her distance from it.
"Um, what do I do now?" she asked.
"I'll take it," Ginny said.
"Thanks, I'll probably just cut myself with it. Did I kill it for good?"
"Oh yeah," the Doctor said, grinning. "One less krillitane to deal with."
"Ron, take Hermione to the infirmary," Harry instructed. "Ginny and I are going to try to put out this fire. Doctor, do whatever you have to do."
"Where are the others?" Ginny asked. "We saw he other krillitanes coming after us, so why aren't they here?"
"Well, they've just lost a brother. Or sister, you never can tell. It probably surprised them, so they've gone back to their lair to plan a new strategy," the Doctor said. "Course I'm just theorizing. We're safe at the moment."
"You look very smug," Rose noted as Harry and Ginny began to fight the fire. "It was me who killed the krillitane."
"I don't mean to look smug. On the contrary, I'm very proud of your little sword swinging act," he said as he nudged her playfully.
Rose laughed gently. "Thanks. Come on, let's catch up with Ron and Hermione."
"Honestly, Ron, I'm fine," Hermione was saying as they caught up. "It's just with you and Harry gone I haven't done anything but study all year. No running, no big adventures. I'm just not used to it anymore."
"A plain, dull school year. Bet you loved that."
"I did do better in some classes, and I did enjoy that. But it was incredibly boring half the time," she admitted. "I missed you."
"That's a relief," Ron said. "Oh, hello, Doctor. Harry and Ginny alright?"
"Just fighting a fire. They're fine," he promised.
"Ron, aren't you going to say hello to our savior?"
"That's...that's a bit of an exaggeration," Rose stammered.
"Rubbish," Hermione said. "That thing was about to claw our faces off and burn us! Thank you, I mean it."
"You're welcome, I guess."
"Just makes me think about those poor kids. Most of them are in Gryffndor, I know them. Oh it would be horrible if they were being tortured!"
"Don't worry, I'll find them," the Doctor said firmly.
"But this whole hour has been wasted. For nothing!"
"No, it hasn't! The tables are completely turned. For one, we know what we're dealing with. Two, we know how many there are. And three is my favorite. See, when the krillitanes escaped the Great Hall, they returned to their lair. Nobody saw where that was because everyone was in the Hall. But! They just left to come eat us, failed and returned to their little hideout. And right now, everyone is on the lookout, searching the entire castle for the missing children."
"Which means somebody might have seen something!" Rose finished excitedly.
"Exactly."