Chapter 6
The Return of the Dark Mark
"Crap." Said Harry.
The students, now a mob, began to make way for the doors. Recognizing the potential for trampled first years and problems finding frightened students Dumbledore and the teachers used their wands to slam the doors shut and bolt them.
"SIT BACK DOWN." yelled Dumbledore, casting a spell to dissipate the Dark Mark.
Seeing the Dark Mark disappear the students began to sit down once again, however they did so reluctantly and kept throwing glances at the ceiling. Once everyone had resumed their seats, including Harry, Dumbledore walked to the center of the Hall and cleared his throat.
"I regret having to do so, but I must explain the letter from that wounded owl to all of you. You must remember that the safest place you could possible be right now is in this school. I do remind you it is more than a school. It's a fortress. The letter was from Hogsmeade. There was a surprise attack and the town has been captured." The students broke into conversation but were silenced once again.
"As I'm sure some of you have guessed it is the work of Voldemort. And as a new rule in this school, this whole institution will work a lot better if you call him by his name. Saying 'you know who' and 'he who must not be named' only gives his name more power and you will refer to him as Voldemort from now on. I will be frank, the letter states that Voldemort has raised an army of his followers, including the trolls that attacked the train, and has lead them here to lay siege to the fortress. Now it's late, and I assure you they could not possible breach the gates because of powerful magic, they intent to starve us of supplies and kill our spirits until we give up. You will all go to sleep after the sorting ceremony, lets begin."
The students were shocked into silence as they watched Professor McGongal place the sorting hat on a stool in the center of the room. The first years were lined up, and sorted into their prospective houses. Then they were dismissed and made their way back to the common rooms. Harry and Ron made their way to one of the dormitories and found their stuff by their beds as usual. The two collapsed on their beds.
"You kno.Voldemort is back huh, why does school always get messed up like this." Said Ron, struggling to say Voldemort.
"Lets worry about it tomorrow." Said Harry.
They two stirred for a while before finally falling asleep. Meanwhile another teachers' meeting was taking place.
"Dark times." Said Dumbledore.
"I can't believe you told them!" said McGongal.
"It's better they know." He replied.
The teachers fell into an uncomfortable silence. They all knew that they alone could not possibly fight an army, and the fact that they were isolated and had no contact to summon help was not making things easier. Somehow Voldemort had successfully stopped the owl post from getting either in or out. In exasperation Snape spoke up.
"I know most of you will probably not agree with me, but it seems that we have more support than we have considered." Dumledore bid his to continue.
"We, the teachers I mean, are not the only wizards and witches here. We have a whole school of them, many bright intelligent, ingenious, and crafty kids."
"Surely you don't mean use them to fight back?" asked an incredulous McGongal.
"That's exactly what I mean." Said Snape coolly.
"But they're KIDS." She said.
"Enough, lets sleep on it, they can't get past the defenses lets get some rest and try to continue as usual." Said Dumbledore breaking things up.
In frustration with his colleagues' reaction, Snape went out onto the battlements. Looking out over the shimmering lake he noticed what appeared to be many campfires on the other side. Cursing in disgust, Snape turned his back on the Voldemort's army and stalked back down to his dungeon.
The Return of the Dark Mark
"Crap." Said Harry.
The students, now a mob, began to make way for the doors. Recognizing the potential for trampled first years and problems finding frightened students Dumbledore and the teachers used their wands to slam the doors shut and bolt them.
"SIT BACK DOWN." yelled Dumbledore, casting a spell to dissipate the Dark Mark.
Seeing the Dark Mark disappear the students began to sit down once again, however they did so reluctantly and kept throwing glances at the ceiling. Once everyone had resumed their seats, including Harry, Dumbledore walked to the center of the Hall and cleared his throat.
"I regret having to do so, but I must explain the letter from that wounded owl to all of you. You must remember that the safest place you could possible be right now is in this school. I do remind you it is more than a school. It's a fortress. The letter was from Hogsmeade. There was a surprise attack and the town has been captured." The students broke into conversation but were silenced once again.
"As I'm sure some of you have guessed it is the work of Voldemort. And as a new rule in this school, this whole institution will work a lot better if you call him by his name. Saying 'you know who' and 'he who must not be named' only gives his name more power and you will refer to him as Voldemort from now on. I will be frank, the letter states that Voldemort has raised an army of his followers, including the trolls that attacked the train, and has lead them here to lay siege to the fortress. Now it's late, and I assure you they could not possible breach the gates because of powerful magic, they intent to starve us of supplies and kill our spirits until we give up. You will all go to sleep after the sorting ceremony, lets begin."
The students were shocked into silence as they watched Professor McGongal place the sorting hat on a stool in the center of the room. The first years were lined up, and sorted into their prospective houses. Then they were dismissed and made their way back to the common rooms. Harry and Ron made their way to one of the dormitories and found their stuff by their beds as usual. The two collapsed on their beds.
"You kno.Voldemort is back huh, why does school always get messed up like this." Said Ron, struggling to say Voldemort.
"Lets worry about it tomorrow." Said Harry.
They two stirred for a while before finally falling asleep. Meanwhile another teachers' meeting was taking place.
"Dark times." Said Dumbledore.
"I can't believe you told them!" said McGongal.
"It's better they know." He replied.
The teachers fell into an uncomfortable silence. They all knew that they alone could not possibly fight an army, and the fact that they were isolated and had no contact to summon help was not making things easier. Somehow Voldemort had successfully stopped the owl post from getting either in or out. In exasperation Snape spoke up.
"I know most of you will probably not agree with me, but it seems that we have more support than we have considered." Dumledore bid his to continue.
"We, the teachers I mean, are not the only wizards and witches here. We have a whole school of them, many bright intelligent, ingenious, and crafty kids."
"Surely you don't mean use them to fight back?" asked an incredulous McGongal.
"That's exactly what I mean." Said Snape coolly.
"But they're KIDS." She said.
"Enough, lets sleep on it, they can't get past the defenses lets get some rest and try to continue as usual." Said Dumbledore breaking things up.
In frustration with his colleagues' reaction, Snape went out onto the battlements. Looking out over the shimmering lake he noticed what appeared to be many campfires on the other side. Cursing in disgust, Snape turned his back on the Voldemort's army and stalked back down to his dungeon.
