*12*
"Wake up!" Harry woke up to someone pounding on his door. It was bad enough his own head was pounding.
"Get up!" Harry could hear Ron roll over before he pulled his drapes across, the curtain screeched louder than usual. Dean was the one who had jumped up to open the door quickest.
"Wake everyone up and go to the Common Room, McGonagall's orders." The fifth-year boy said before turning to move farther up the tower stairs.
"But what happened?" Dean called. The boy didn't answer, but the five boys could hear him hammering away at the next door. Harry quickly threw his sweatshirt on, and shoes as did the others before moving quickly to the Common Room. Surprisingly it was not Professor McGonagall, but Professor Trelawney.
"Come closer my dears." She called as the last few students entered the room. Most were in robes or had thrown sweatshirts on like Harry. A few had sneakers, as if ready to run. Harry looked around and wondered how often they had been called like this during the war.
"We will all need to go to the Great Hall for there may be an intruder in our school." Everyone started to talk to each other and the younger students looked frightened.
"Please, please." Professor Trelawney said raising her hands to try to quiet everyone. "Professor McGonagall asks that any student over seventeen who are willing to stand guard with her meet with her in front of the Great Hall. Everyone else wands ready, just in case, and follow me." Trelawney turned on a sickle with all of Gryffindor following her. Neville noticed a few first years looking like they would start to cry. He walked over to them. Harry could hear him explaining that all this was a precaution.
Harry walked with many of the other seventeen-year olds to Professor McGonagall who was directing some Ravenclaws. She turned to face the small group.
"Excellent, I knew I could count on you lot." She said looking grimly. One of our wards have gone down. I'm not sure how long, but we were alerted of a possible Death Eater attack two weeks ago. I do not know if anyone has already entered Hogwarts or not. The Ravenclaws have joined the other teachers surrounding the Great Hall where everyone is. I would like you lot to separate and walk the castle, make sure everyone is out of their dorms." McGonagall handed Hermione, Neville and Dean a piece of parchment.
"Common Room passwords." She said before thanking them and turning to the Hufflepuffs and a few Slytherins, including Draco Malfoy, that had gathered.
The Gryffindors broke into groups before separating to different dormitories. Neville and Harry had volunteered to go back to Gryffindor Tower and sweep the top floor of the school. As they entered the common room Harry noticed how eerie it was. The fire and candles had all gone out. A window had been left open, blowing the drapes around the room. Neville lit the candles with a flick of his wand as Harry went to close the window. He performed a quick spell around the window to let him know that no one had entered through it. Just for good measure he magically locked it so no one, but himself would be able to open it. Neville turned to Harry with a plan.
"Why don't you go up the boys and I'll do the girls. If we need help, we'll do the praemium spell." Harry nodded as he walked carefully up the spiral stairs. He decided not to light the stair candles in case he alerted an intruder. Harry was beginning to relax as he rounded the corner to the fourth years dorm when something moved behind a bed. He lifted his wand as he moved closer to the possible intruder. He could feel his heart beating in his chest as he walked closer.
Suddenly he heard a hissing. He looked down as he lit his wand. He jumped backwards. It was a cat. He had stepped on the cat's tail. Harry let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. The cat hissed at him again before running away. Harry quickly searched the room before continuing this in the other dorms. After a few minutes he met up with Neville again.
"Anything?" He asked. Neville shrugged.
"Some of the sixth years had almost a year's worth of alcohol hidden, but that was it. You?"
"Nothing but a cranky cat."
For the next few hours Neville and Harry patrolled the top two hallways. Nothing seemed suspicious so the two talked. Neville talked about how he, Ginny and Luna started Dumbledore's Army again and Harry told him a bit about what he, Ron and Hermione had been doing. Soon Neville pointed out green sparks shooting in the air.
"Must be McGonagall." He said. The two walked down the nearest staircase. As they walked over to McGonagall, others joined. Soon a small crowd of students from every house stood to report. McGonagall called out sections of the school.
"Third corridor?"
"Nothing, but a suit of armor pushed to the ground." A Ravenclaw girl reported.
"Hufflepuff dormitory?"
"Nothing suspicious Professor." Dean stated.
"Library?"
"Nothing out of normal. Even checked the restricted section." Malfoy said.
After everyone checked in, McGonagall thanked them for their help. Each person earned thirty points to their house. The group dissolved into smaller groups to return to their dorms. As they walked, they could hear the other students coming out of the Great Hall. They could hear a few professors call out about no morning classes. Harry looked at his watch, 6:15. He had slept less than two hours.
Author's Note: Please! Review!