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by M V Stevens This story contains Charactors and places which were created by J.K.Rowling and is Fan Fiction. Chapter 6, Needle in the Haystack. Toby returned the next day and had the pleasure of hearing the story of the capture of the Dowwer told to him a dozen or more times. And each time it was grander and more embellished than the last. Toby was far to polite and far to glad to be back to ever say anything that might lead the story tellers to think he didn't believe their particular version of the story, but he did enjoy some the more creative tellings of the Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle entrapment. He laughed and laughed with each telling thoroughly enjoying the stories. Sam told Toby about what the Dowwer had reveled about a girl student being the one who let the Dowwer into the School in the first place, "so we have to be on our guard and keep an eye on the older girls in the School. One of them did it, and then killed the Dowwer to keep anyone from finding out who she is. We must be watchful for any suspicious behavior. That goes for you and your kittens Sheba." Sheba looked up from giving Max a bath and meowed assent, then went back to giving the indigent kitten the rest of his bath. "So all we can do is go on as usual, and hope that the teachers catch whoever it is before they can do more harm." Sam sighed. The next morning was DADA class so they got out their texts and began to study for the class. Sam began to read to them. "The one thing that must be remembered is that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Use of the Dark Arts are no exception. As a witch or wizard begins down the path to the Dark Arts he or she will begin to undergo certain inevitable changes. The first visible indication of the reaction to the Dark energy is evidenced by the skin becoming pale and then almost transparent." Sam continued. "During this palloring of the skin the subject also becomes phobic to light. It is a gradual change and the subject is often unaware of the progressive changes. Another evidence of the use of the Dark Arts has been in the area of abnormal behavior." Orion interrupted, "Sam what does all that mean, in regular words that is?" Sam thought about it for a moment then explained. "I guess it means their skin becomes very pale, and then their eyes become very light sensitive. They prefer dark to light. The last part means they start to become mean and meaner." "Ok, I got it now. They get pale skin and can't stand the light very well, and they get meaner and meaner." Orion said mostly to himself. Sam continued. "Not to be confused with the Vampires who also are pale skinned and light Phobic, those who follow the path to the Dark Arts begin to manifest a certain type of paranoia. They will surround them selves with followers and yet they trust no one. At times they will be extremely cruel to their own servants, the excuse being that they are testing their loyalty. Quite often the test will involve the death of one or more of their followers as an object lesson to the others. During this time the Subject will become intensely concerned about his or her own mortality and will begin to pursue studies into the Necromantic Arts. Eventually this will result in the Subject becoming less and less human and more and more like the living dead that they have been experimenting on. At some point they reach the point where human mortal flesh can no longer sustain them and they pass over the dividing line between mortal and immortal. Unfortunately in every single known case, the Subject becomes insane during this process, and eventually must be destroyed. Failure to destroy these living dead creatures will inevitably results in huge numbers of dead as the insane creature usually know as a Lech, or if powerful enough and long lived enough an Ancient Lech attempts to surround itself with more living dead. Zombies and living or at lest animated Skeletons are the two most common types of living dead." At this point they all agreed that they had learned quite enough for that evening. All of them certain that bad dreams would follow if they continued to read any more about the Dark Arts. They divided up and played a few games of exploding snap and then they all went to bed. Fortunately they were all so tired that they didn't remember their dreams, whether good or bad, so in the morning they were all happy and ready to go. Breakfast was a happy time for Toby now that he was back with his friends and they all chatted and laughed totally carefree. They were completely unaware of the two pair of eyes that watched them intently from a distance. Two individuals with different motives studied the group and especially Toby. In DADA class Professor Longbotton welcomed Toby back warmly and handed him his homework assignments back. They were all graded with high marks and good comments to show that Toby had in fact been keeping up with the class despite his being at home. After going over the chapter assigned for that day She changed the routine the class had normally followed. "How many of you know what the spells that protect this school are called?" She asked them. Several students raised their hands and she called on a Ravenclaw girl to answer. "They're called Wards mam'am." "That's right. Do you know how to cast the Ward spell?" "Ah...No mam'am I don't." "Anyone? Certainly one of you must know how to cast a Ward spell." She looked at Toby then expectantly. Not wanting to be a show off was one thing but with the Professor looking right at him he nodded. "Yes Professor I can cast several kinds of Warding spells." "Knowing your Mother, as I do, I'm not in the lest surprised. Come up here Toby and lets put on a demonstration for the class. Sam why don't you and Orion come up here too." She instructed them. Sam came up all excited about learning something new. Orion came up on the other hand a little scared, not knowing what to expect. "All right Toby first stand up here at the front of the class and between you and Sam and Orion place a Ward about five feet ( a meter and a half ) high, and five feet wide." She told him, as the whole class watch closely. Starting at a point to the left he made three quick runes then he traced out the shape of a box in the air the size the teacher had asked for. There was a dim glow in the air around the lines he had traced then nothing. All right Sam You and Orion walk towards Toby. They did, but cautiously. Sure enough they bumped into the invisible wall Toby had created between them. "What do you feel Orion?" The Professor asked. "There's nothing there but the air is hard as stone, and it won't move either." He added pushing against the invisible barrier. "Now Toby make a wall on the other three sides of this one to form a box around them." Toby did so and in two minutes Sam and Orion were inside an invisible cage. Standing on their tiptoes they could reach the top but it was slippery and they couldn't seem to grab hold of it. Toby had added that little twist on his own. If he had left it plane it would have cut their hands when they touched it along the top, but Toby didn't want to hurt anyone. "Excellent Toby I should have remembered to tell you to do that myself. Now class, as you can see Wards can be used in many different ways. They can keep someone in. They can keep someone out. They can be used to contain someone or something. I'm sure you remember the Dowwer that Mrs. Figg caught. That is a good example of how to use Wards correctly to protect someone or something. Never create a Ward in a busy thoroughfare or hall or room and fail to mark it clearly. People can get hurt. One other thing before we move on to lessons on how to create a ward." She move over to the Ward box Toby had created and cast a spell of her own. The Ward box glowed briefly then an arrow of light shot out and encircled Toby making him glow. "As you can see it is possible to identify the person who cast the Ward. So no fooling around with this spell is that clear to everyone?" They all nodded and said, "Yes Professor." "All right we will go over the spell you need to cast and then when you have all learned them we will begin practicing casting them." She told them. "Oh yes Toby maybe we'd better let Sam and Orion out of their cage." Toby quickly cast the "Dispel Magic" spell and the Ward walls dissolved away to nothing. One of the students raise his hand and asked "Professor what's to stop someone else doing what Toby just did and making our Ward spell just disappear?" "Toby's Wards were the simplest kind possible. Once you get on to the casting of Wards, you will be taught how to lock your spells so that only you can undo them. There is an other way to undo a locked Ward, but I will not be teaching you that. Only a very powerful wizard or witch can undo a properly cast Ward. And if the lock is done correctly even they would have a vary hard time undoing it. You will also learn how to set alarms to alert you to anyone's tampering with your spells so don't worry, your spells will be safe enough." The class practiced the spells for the remaining time. "I do not want you using these spells yet. You have a lot more to learn and a great deal more practicing to do. When you have learned the spells to my satisfaction you will be using them to protect your dorms each night. With the 'Revel Hidden' spell, the 'Dispel Magic' spell, and the 'Wards' spells, I believe you will be much safer here at school and anywhere else for that matter. While there is no way to counter one of the 'Forbidden Curses' once they are cast, if you can cast a proper Ward spell between you and your assailant you will not die. A proper defense is the best offense. Always be prepared." The next day in Hagrids class he had two very dangerous creatures for them to see. Both looked like mountain goats on steroids. One was bright red and the size of a Brahma Bull. It had the curled horns like a mountain goat but it had fangs like a saber tooth tiger. This one was called a Wargoroth. The second was a bright green in color and was as big or bigger than the Wargoroth. It was called the Ugoroth, and not only did it have horns and fangs like the Wargoroth it was deadly poisonous as well. "You'll find both of these creatures in the forbidden forest. Both are extremely aggressive and meaner than just about anything I know of. They are just one , Er, two reasons why ya should stay out of the forest. These creatures are found in other parts of the world but mostly in thick forests where other magical creatures can be found. So remember, if your ever chased by one of um go up a good sized tree. They can't clime and as long as the tree is big enough they can't knock it down they'll go away in a day or two and you can clime down and run for home. That is if something else hasn't got you first seen as your stuck up a tree and can't get away." They were all staying back from the Cages Hagrid had the creatures in. Both of them had tried repeatedly to brake out of their cages and there were steaming, smoking puddles were the Ugoroth's poison was dripping down onto the ground. "Next class I'll be showen ya why it's not safe up in the trees either. I'll be bring a couple of Waverens for ya ta look at. An remember this isn't no petting zoo. Keep ur hands away from the Creatures." Hagrid finished up as his class time was over. That night Toby had the strangest dream. He was floating silently above the forbidden forest and below him two figures dressed in black were talking. "Have you done as I ordered?" A very raspy voice spoke from one of the hooded figures. "Yes master." A second harsh but almost feminine voice answered. "But they say they will not attack Hagrid. They are afraid of him." "I will teach them to be more afraid of me, then they will obey me. If they don't obey I will use fire on them. Go back and tell them that they attack Hagrid and his class of first years on Friday afternoon, or Lord Voltemort will attack them with fire. I will destroy them if they do not obey me. Tell them they may have all the students to do with as they please but they must kill Hagrid. That fool of a half giant has been meddling in my affairs with the Giants, and I want him dead is that clear enough for you?" "Yes master. It is clear. I will go as you have ordered. They will not like it, but they are afraid of fire. I have had to use it on them several times myself to keep them from killing me. I go to do your bidding master." The second figure turned and walked away deeper into the forest . The first figure stood there watching the other disappear then he looked around, and disapparated away. Toby continued to sleep, but in his own mind he decided that no matter how stupid it would sound he was going to tell Hagrid or the Headmaster Dumbledore no matter what in the morning. It was a very cold and windy morning outside with the promise of more snow coming, when Toby and the others climbed out of their warm beds, and hurriedly dressed in extra socks and sweaters. Pulling on their robs as well they hurried through their morning routines to meet Sam in the common room and race through the cold halls to the Great Hall for breakfast. Some how the Great Hall was always warm and inviting in the morning. Despite the ceiling that looked exactly like the out doors it was a very cheery room. Toby love having his meals with all the other students. There was a very strong feeling of belonging and being part of a very special group that he always had when he was here with the others. Breakfast was almost over when Sam elbowed him and asked. "What's wrong Toby you haven't said three words this morning?" The others agreed. "Ya what's wrong Toby. Give is something going to happen like the last time?" Guy asked looking around suspiciously. Toby nodded and then told them, "Ya I had a strange dream last night, but I think we're being watched again so I don't want to say any more. I have to talk to Dumbledore or Hagrid." The others tried to look cool and nonchalant but only managed to look silly. Sam was watching the Teachers table and whispered, "now's your chance they're starting to get up better go now while you can catch them." Toby got up and hurried to the front. Dumbledore saw him coming and stopped to wait for him. "Well Tobius what can I do for you today?" He asked as Toby caught up with him. "Sir I need to talk to you, but not right here. I think someone is watching me and it's important." Toby told him earnestly. "Very well. Come with me." Dumbledore told him and turned into the teachers lounge. As soon as he entered he cast the 'Revel Hidden' Spell and then closed the door. "I think were safe enough here Tobius." Toby nodded then told him about his dream and about it being Lord Voltemort who wanted Hagrid dead. "Sir he said Hagrid was meddling in his affairs with the Giants. I didn't really get that part but he did say the spiders were the ones he wanted to have kill Hagrid." Dumbledore looked very concerned. "You may not understand Tobius, but I do. As far as the Spiders are concerned Hagrid trusts them. He thinks their leader is his friend. As for the rest I understand that as well. But we wouldn't be going into that right now. I will have a talk with Hagrid and prepare a special greeting for the spiders, should they actually be so rash as to attack Hagrid and the students. You run along to class Tobius, and I will take care of the rest of this." Latter in the day word came that Dumbledore had taken ill. That in fact he was in the Hospital wing unconscious. Toby felt a chill run up and down his spine. Some one had poisoned Dumbledore, and now the question was had he talked to Hagrid or not? That night Toby went to sleep but he dreamed of spiders chasing him through most of the night. "They're afraid of fire." Kept going through this head. There was a spell that threw fireballs. He remembered it because he had nearly set his home on fire a few years back and his mother had really chewed him out for not asking first. So all right it was up to him, and yes Sam should be able to do it too. In the middle of the night he woke up felling very uneasy. He had taken his wand to bed with him and he stuck his head out of the curtains surrounding his bed and cast the 'Reveal Hidden' something was slipping out the door just as his spell caught them and he got a clear view of someone wearing an invisibility cloak. So they were still at it. Who ever 'they' were. Sheba was watching intently as the person disappeared, and looked up at Toby questioningly. "No better not follow them. We don't know who or what they are and there is no sense taking chances. Tomorrow the spiders are going to attack us when were with Hagrid so you and the kittens will have to be very careful. Those spiders are very poisonous so you stay out of their reach. They're afraid of fire so if you do that blue fire thing of yours you should be able to drive the spiders away from you and the kittens. Although maybe you should stay here in the school tomorrow with the kittens. It would be safer for all of you." Sheba snorted at the idea of her staying away, and lay back down to go back to sleep. Toby did the same since there was nothing to do tell the afternoon anyway. In the morning Toby told the other boys about his plans. "If you three want I'll teach you the 'Fireball' spell. And a word of advice don't eat anything today for breakfast or lunch. Somebody poisoned Dumbledore and if they can get to him they can get to us. So lets be really careful today. They all grumbled at the idea of going without breakfast and lunch, but none of them wanted to get poisoned either. Sam agreed with Toby when he told her, so they all headed off to the Great Hall. While they were all sitting at the table watching everyone else eat, Sam unthinkingly reached out and took a piece of toast. Sheba reacted instantly and hissed and batted the toast out of Sam's hand. Hissing another warning she stood up on the table and sniffed at the food laid out there for them. She nodded at the eggs but hissed at the orange juice. The milk and the cereal were OK but not the sausages. The bacon was all right but not the pancakes. On down the line she went OKing some food and not others. They all fell too then eating hungrily what Sheba OKed but pushed away anything she hissed at. That way at lest they didn't leave the table hungry and scared. Just scared. At lunch it was worse yet. Sheba hissed at nearly everything, but some soup and crackers. Just as they started to eat the soup Sheba suddenly leaped up and across the table and attacked something invisible. She bit then clawed away at something, then a blue vile dropped onto the table and bright red blood splattered down. There was a terrible scream and a curse, then whoever it was ran away crying and leaving a trail of blood for several steps towards the door. Professor Snape rushed up and carefully picked up the blue vile and looked in it, then holding it carefully he smelled the opening. "Ah a mixture of Belladonna and Nightshade. At lest we know what the poison is. I'll just take this and make up the antidote for Dumbledore. It is well you have such a intelligent cat Toby, this mixture is very uncommon and I might have had to work for a week or more to come up with the antidote. Oh and Toby." He fixed Toby with a stair, "Mums the word, understand?" Toby was beginning to think there was a bit more going on here than what met the eye so he nodded. "Yes sir my lips are sealed." After lunch Hagred met them at the door to take them to class. He looked sick and walked slowly as he lead them out side. His shoulder slumped and his arms hanging limp at his sides. Sam looked at Toby and nodded whispering, "He must have got some of that poison to. What are we going to do?" Toby wasn't sure what they should do, but he told her in a whisper, "Let's just wait and see. I have a feeling that everything is under control." Hagrid took them to the front of his house and told them to wait while he went around back to get something. Just as he started around his house Sheba hissed a warning and out of the forest came poring hordes of huge black and green spiders. There had to be a hundred or more of the horse size spiders. They carried no weapons but they had huge sharp fangs and a bunch of hairy small arms to grab their victims and suck the blood out of them. Toby and Sam raised their wands and cast the 'Fireball' spell. Two basket ball sized globs of fire shot straight out and hit two spider setting them ablaze. Again they fired off balls of fire and again spiders burst into flame. Just as they were firing their third round of fire at the spiders, Hagrid came back from behind his house. Only he wasn't alone. Dozens of Centaurs came charging out into the open each one with a bow, already shooting arrows. Sam and Toby could have never held off the spiders by themselves, but with the Centaurs shooting arrows so fast they blurred the vision, the out come of the battle was never in doubt. Toby added a touch of his own to the Centaurs arrows. He knew a spell that turned regular arrows into fire arrows. As they were shot at a spider each arrow burst into flame and set the spider it hit on fire. The smell of burning spiders soon filled the air. It took the spiders a while to realize that they were defeated but soon they were running back into the forest. The Centaurs followed the spiders into the forest continuing to shoot at them harrying them on their way back to were the belonged. Hagrid had crushed several of the spiders with a huge wicked looking club that he usually kept in his house but he had brought it out and stashed it near the front door behind a rain barrel. He looked around but the Centaurs were gone and only the students were left in front of his house. "Well it looks like no one was injured sept a few dozen spiders and they only go what they deserved for listening to that no good Voltemort. Everyone OK?" "No!" Sam said sharply as she returned carrying the limp body of one of the kittens. "Someone did get hurt, it's Shoofly, Hagrid is she dead?" "Oh no!" Hagrid said as he took the small cat into his huge hands. Tears started rolling down his cheeks as he gently prodded the kitten to see if there were any life in it. "She dead Sam. I'm so sorry Sheba, Toby. One of the spider must have bit her during the fight and we didn't see in time to give her the antidote. There's poison all over her so don't nobody touch her and Sam you go in my house and wash your hands real good. That poison can get you just being on your hands. We'll have to bury her so no varmints get her and so nothing gets the poison on them." Hagrid laid the kitten down beside Sheba and the other kittens gathered around to look at their lost sister. One of the kittens reached out to prod the dead kitten perhaps to see if she would wake up, but Sheba hissed a warning and all the kittens backed away from her anger. Hagrid returned with Sam and a small wooden box. He took a pillow case and carefully wrapped the kitten in it then put it into the box. He wrapped the box tightly shut with two leather straps then got a shove that was leaning against his house and took them all back behind the house near his garden. Toby, Tie, Orion and Guy took turns digging a deep grave then Hagrid placed the small box into the hole and helped them cover it over. Hagrid then took some flowers from his garden and placed them on the grave. "She was a brave kitten. She gave her life helping to fight the spider. Bless her amen." Hagrid said a simple little ullage then turned to the students. "Were all going back inside. All of you go back to your common rooms. Sam and I must go up to the Hospital wing and see about getting the antidote." Just as he finished Sam fell forward in a dead faint. Hagrid caught her and picked her up and rushed them all back to the Castle. As they got inside Hagrid told them. "All of you all go. Toby make sure all the Hofflepuffs get to your common room. Jarvis you make sure the Ravenclaws all get to your common room." Then Hagrid rushed off to the Hospital wing, and they turned to their common rooms. The rest of the afternoon they sat around and waited to hear if Sam was all right. But no word came. By dinner time Toby and the others were very worried about Sam and how she was doing. They hurried to the Great Hall, but as they entered Professor McGonagall met them at the door and told Toby and the others, "Samantha is going to be all right. Hagrid got her, and himself by the way, to the Infirmary in time for the antidote to work for them both. Sam will have to stay overnight however, so don't look for her to be with you this evening. I've been to see her, and I might add that she was far more upset about the kitten's death than any effect the poison might have had on her. Hagrid is just too big and strong to be kept down by a little spider poison, at lest that's what he said, so he's gone back out to his cabin to rest and sleep off the effects of the poison." With that good news they all got their appetites back and fell to with gusto. No one was worried about the food being poison, although Sheba checked the food anyway and gave her approval, So they dug in and made pigs of themselves. Dumbledore was back at his accustom place at the head table. After the meal Professor McGonagall tapped her glass making a clear bell like sound for everyone's attention. "Most of you have already heard, the grape vine here in this school being what it is, but I shall elaborate and in case of the inevitable exaggeration, set the story straight. This afternoon a horde of spiders for reasons unknown attacked Hagrid and his class. Fortunately for us all a group of Centaurs happened to be nearby and they helped Hagrid to beat back the attack of the spiders. We owe a great deal to the Centaurs for coming to Hagrid's aid, it is most unusual for them to involve themselves in affairs outside of their own. There was unfortunately one casualty. One of Sheba's kittens was bitten by a spider and died from the poison. Which kitten was it Tobius?" "It was Shoofly sir." Toby told him as loud as he could so everyone could hear. There were a lot of, "Oh mys," and "The poor dear." as everyone expressed their sympathy for the death of the kitten. "We express our condolences to you and Sheba. Samantha and Hagrid also came in contact with the spiders poison but are both doing just fine. Sam will be back with her fellow students tomorrow morning, so contrary to any roomers both will be just fine. Since we don't know a whole lot about the reason for the attack I must reiterate the caution about going outside the school. Be on your guard and report to one of the teachers any unusual happening. You are now dismissed to return to your common rooms." When they got back to the common room Tie made the comment, "I bet Sam would be mad at us if we didn't study our lessons tonight for our classes tomorrow. We can take turns reading I guess." Orion nodded grudgingly and added his own comment. "We can take turns, but it won't be the same without Sam." It wasn't the same, but they did manage to get through their homework and read the chapters for the next day. The next day at breakfast Sam showed up just as they were starting to eat and everyone had to ask her how she felt and if she was all right. Sam said she was but she looked pale and tired. Obviously she hadn't slept well the night before, but it was good to be back with her friends she told them and she even managed to eat a little. The weekend saw them all settle down and get back into their usual habits. On the weekends they were allowed to go outside but it wasn't half the fun. There was always a teacher with them and a snow ball fight just wasn't the same with Professor Snape standing there watching you or Professor McGonagall. Still they did manage to have fun in the snow, building forts and attacking each other in mock battle. Several weeks latter they were in Professor Snape's Potions class beginning to concoct a cure all for colds. They were using Sam's cauldron and Toby had just diced their snake livers and was adding them into the cauldron when Sam noticed a brown syrupy substance oozing out of the inside walls of her cauldron. "Should it be doing that Toby?" She asked curiously. Toby sniffed at the inside of the cauldron and drew back quickly. It smelled of Ammonia and sulfur. "Professor Snape." He called out alarmed. "Sam's cauldron is doing something it shouldn't and I think it's something bad. Maybe really bad." Snape had been working with Orion, who was slow at potions at best, and clearly not in a good mood came over and looked. His eyebrows shot up and he grabbed one of Toby's dragon hide gloves and snatched the cauldrons handle and picked it up and carried it as quick as he could to his store room. Quickly he set it on the floor and backed out of the room closing the door as fast as he could. He cast several complex Ward spell then shouted at everyone, "all of you get down on the floor and under your tables. Quickly now under the tables." Booooom Boooom Booooooooom! They were all thrown to the floor by the force of tremendous series of explosions. Most of the cauldrons were overturned and dust and debris rained down on them as they scrambled to find cover. Professor Snape was blown backwards right into Sam and Toby's work place and fell limply to the floor. Sam and Toby quickly pulled him under the table with them but he was totally unconscious. He had a large gash running across his temple and down one cheek, and he was bleeding heavily. Sam quickly cast the closing rune to stop the bleeding, but Snape was still unconscious. As soon as the dust quit falling and the room stopped shaking Toby and Sam crawled out from under their table and called out. Is anyone else hurt. Does anyone need help. Jarvis stood up shakily and told them, "over here. Maggie is hurt. She's got a big red swelling on the side of her head and she unconscious." Sam ran over to take a look, but there was nothing she could do. "Someone should come to help us soon. I don't think we should move her without an adult here to supervise. Toby maybe you could go see if anyone is coming?" Toby ran over to the door to the hallway pulled it open, took one look, and turned to Sam and the rest of the class. "I don't think anyone will be coming real soon." "What's wrong?" Sam asked hurrying over. "Oh my..." She cried as she saw what Toby was talking about. Outside the room the hall way was filled with stones and debris. By putting up the wards to protect the class Snape had forced the explosion to blow outwards into the hall and bring down much of the ceiling as well. If anyone was going to get to them they would have to remove several tons of stone and debris. They closed the door and told everyone, "Sit down and make yourselves comfortable, because we're going to be here for a while." Toby looked around for Sheba. "Darn, the one time Sheba doesn't come to class with us we have to be trapped in here. She could have opened a portal and got us out of here." They sat around and talked for a while since it helped pass the time. A couple of the students started to get scared as time passed and still no one showed up to rescue them. Just as everyone started thinking that they had really been forgotten a glimmering circle appeared in the front of the room and Sheba jumped through. Right behind her came Hagrid and then Dumbledore. "Would have been here sooner, but no one thought to look out behind my house for Sheba. And it took us a bit to find her." Hagrid explained. "Professor Snape and Maggie are hurt bad Sir, and should go to the Infirmary right away." Sam told them. Dumbledore had knelt down beside Snape and nodded. "Sheba if you would be so kind as to redirect your portal to the Infirmary, we need to get these two there immediately." Sheba nodded and looked at her portal and it blinked then she nodded again. Madam Pomfrey must have been watching because she stuck her head through the Portal and then climbed through. She made a quick examination of both of the unconscious victims and told Hagrid. "They're both seriously hurt, so please be careful when you bring them through I'll go back and get beds ready. At lest it's not some poison this time." Hagrid picked up Professor Snape first and effortlessly carried him through, then he came back and got Maggie. As soon as they were through Dumbledore turned to Toby and asked him in a tired voice, "what happened this time Toby? I take it this wasn't an accident?" "No sir it wasn't. Some one coated the inside of Sam Cauldron with an explosive. Professor Snape just managed to get it into his store room and seal the door with wards when it blew up. He saved all our lives Sir." Hagrid had been looking around and turned to Dumbledore, "We're goen to need the Dwarves again. I suppose I better go get um." "Thank you Hagrid I expect you had. Although I wouldn't be too surprised if they're not waiting at the gate already like the last time. They take their responsibilities very seriously. Sheba if you would redirect the portal again to the entryway in front of the Great Hall. I Think we should all leave here now and Supper is already being served. However I want all of you to go clean up first you are far too dirty and dusty to eat as you are." They all hurried to their common rooms and showered and put on clean clothing. When they got to the Great Hall no one was eating yet. Dumbledore had ask them all to wait tell the victims of the explosion arrive to eat too. "We are a school and a community. It is not right that victims of a terrible explosion should have to eat all by them selves after undergoing such a harrowing experience. It behooves us all to wait for them out of respect." The next morning Dumbledore had a harrowing experience. Several members of the School's Board of Directors arrived as well as a large number of parents of the Students. There were several "Explosive" moments, but when the question came up as to whether it would be better to close the School, Dumbledore asked two questions. "How many of the members of our community have died at the hands of Voltemort and his Deatheaters?" No one knew the exact number, but it was quit a few that had been killed. "Secondly, how many students have died here at Hogwarts?" The board members and the parents looked at each other and shrugged. One finally answered. "I guess the answer is none." "That's right the answer is none. It is my opinion that the safe guards set in place in this School make these children far safer here than anywhere else they could be. Buy closing the School you would be playing right into Voltemorts hands. Until proven other wise I believe the safest place for the children is still right here. We are fairly sure it is a student who is causing the latest trouble and finding her is like looking for a needle in a haystack, but I am sure we will find her."
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