For the remainder of the holiday, Snape avoided the corridors nearest
Gryffindor Tower with a vengeance. He knew he was damn lucky Lily hadn't
reported him, but then, she and James had other things on their minds. When
the school came together again, they quickly became the premium couple,
seconded only by the explosive relationship between Slytherin's Narcissa
Triant and Lucius Malfoy.
After the first few weeks back, things settled down a little, and Dumbledore re-instated the Hogsmeade weekends. Most of Slytherin house went, disappearing for the whole afternoon, and returning with pale faces. Peter had been selected to spy on them, but he came up empty.
'Nothing,' he told the disappointed Marauders, 'not a bloody thing. Didn't even find out where they went.'
He tried again the next week, but whatever he found, he kept quiet about it. He refused to go back into Hogsmeade again after that.
The professors had already started the cramming sessions for the N.E.W.Ts, creating an enormous workload for the seventh-year. Their only consolation was that the fifth would be going through the same thing, only with more subjects. Defence Against the Dark Arts had intensified, with Seare taking them through the processes of the forbidden curses. Flitwick increased the number of charms that had to be learnt in a lesson, and James was forced to pretend he'd never changed into anything before, as McGonagall taught the Transfiguration class their first (for most of them) human transformation.
Then, one evening during dinner, an almighty crash shook the castle. The professors jumped to their feet, Dumbledore calming the students. They were all returned to their house towers, where they huddled in groups. One girl had hysterics and was taken to the Hospital Wing, screaming,
'It's Him! He'll kill us all!'
Everyone was certain that this was Voldemort's attack on the school. The friends sat together in the Gryffindor common room, exchanging worried glances as the building shook. Peter, in particular, was terrified. Whatever he'd seen in Hogsmeade was coming back to haunt him. No one got much sleep that night. Around three, the shaking stopped, but no one had the heart to sleep. Bleary eyed and frightened, the students gathered in the Great Hall. The professors were all there, looking as tired as Lily felt. Dumbledore called the room to order, waiting until he had their complete attention.
'Judging by last night's performance, we have decided to house you all in here for the foreseeable future. It will be easier to protect you if you're all in the same place. While here, the Head Students speak for the professors and myself. Classes are cancelled until further notice.'
He beckoned to the Head Boys and Girls, who assembled by the great doors. It was a measure of how seriously they were taking the situation that Lucius and James stood together without any interaction at all. Dumbledore surveyed their tense faces, knowing this would be hard for them.
'I need you to keep the students in order, and if possible, calm. Voldemort has penetrated the grounds, and his Death-Eaters are advancing on the castle. We have called for Aurors, but they will have to Apparate to Hogsmeade and make their way in. It may take them some time.'
He held their gaze.
'We believe he is trying to abduct the top students, to seduce them into giving him their loyalties. If he reaches you, do not try to oppose him. Voldemort is capable of killing without a second thought. '
He glanced at Lily and James, who were staring at each other in horror, lost in the memory of their premonition. Almost unconsciously, Lucius pulled Narcissa to him, wrapping his arm around her shaking shoulders. Dumbledore smiled sadly at them.
'I am sorry to place this responsibility on you, but it is necessary. The professors and I will be patrolling the castle, and we will attempt to head them off. I must warn you, however, that it is likely not to work. Professor Seare will remain with you.'
He waved them back to their respective corners, calling the professors to him. The other students crowded around them, full of questions, but, strangely enough, it was Natasha and Joseph, the Hufflepuff Heads, who called everyone to order, sending them back to their sleeping bags. They shuffled off, and waited patiently for their own to tell them what was happening. Once Lily and James had filtered what information they thought the others could handle, they were left alone, everyone splitting into their groups and settling down for the night.
*
At around midnight, another crash woke the silent Hall. It sounded very close, inside the walls of the school. Seare called her Defence Against the Dark Arts class to her.
'You may have a chance to defend the school,' she told them. 'Whatever you do, don't use the Unforgivables. The Aurors will take you away to Azkaban if you do.'
They exchanged fearful looks. Suddenly the echoing halls fell silent, and somehow, it was worse than the noise. Dozens of frightened eyes looked to the Head Pupils and Professor Seare, but they were all gazing intently at the great doors. Those who were sleeping beside the doors instinctively wriggled away to the relative safety of the walls. A rhythmic knocking pounded on the doors. Everyone backed away, their faces pale in the darkness. Lily reached for James' hand, and he pulled her closer to him, squeezing her shoulder gently. Professor Seare turned away to gaze at the doors as they swung gently inwards.
The candles sprang into life, blinding those who had been standing in darkness. As their eyes adjusted, they became aware of footsteps clicking on the stone floor. Voldemort had arrived.
*
Dumbledore felt the tremor through his boots. Looking to the castle, he could see the flashes of green light through the windows. He exchanged a look with McGonagall, and they both took off, running as fast as they could to the school.
Figures surrounded them, raising wands. The two professors slowed and stopped, gazing about them. The Death-Eaters began to laugh, circling their captives. Dumbledore exchanged a glance with his companion and saw she was ready. As one, they launched into a ferocious attack on their attackers, hexes and curses flying through the air. When the light died away, they stood, gasping for breath, in darkness, alone. They had won this round.
After the first few weeks back, things settled down a little, and Dumbledore re-instated the Hogsmeade weekends. Most of Slytherin house went, disappearing for the whole afternoon, and returning with pale faces. Peter had been selected to spy on them, but he came up empty.
'Nothing,' he told the disappointed Marauders, 'not a bloody thing. Didn't even find out where they went.'
He tried again the next week, but whatever he found, he kept quiet about it. He refused to go back into Hogsmeade again after that.
The professors had already started the cramming sessions for the N.E.W.Ts, creating an enormous workload for the seventh-year. Their only consolation was that the fifth would be going through the same thing, only with more subjects. Defence Against the Dark Arts had intensified, with Seare taking them through the processes of the forbidden curses. Flitwick increased the number of charms that had to be learnt in a lesson, and James was forced to pretend he'd never changed into anything before, as McGonagall taught the Transfiguration class their first (for most of them) human transformation.
Then, one evening during dinner, an almighty crash shook the castle. The professors jumped to their feet, Dumbledore calming the students. They were all returned to their house towers, where they huddled in groups. One girl had hysterics and was taken to the Hospital Wing, screaming,
'It's Him! He'll kill us all!'
Everyone was certain that this was Voldemort's attack on the school. The friends sat together in the Gryffindor common room, exchanging worried glances as the building shook. Peter, in particular, was terrified. Whatever he'd seen in Hogsmeade was coming back to haunt him. No one got much sleep that night. Around three, the shaking stopped, but no one had the heart to sleep. Bleary eyed and frightened, the students gathered in the Great Hall. The professors were all there, looking as tired as Lily felt. Dumbledore called the room to order, waiting until he had their complete attention.
'Judging by last night's performance, we have decided to house you all in here for the foreseeable future. It will be easier to protect you if you're all in the same place. While here, the Head Students speak for the professors and myself. Classes are cancelled until further notice.'
He beckoned to the Head Boys and Girls, who assembled by the great doors. It was a measure of how seriously they were taking the situation that Lucius and James stood together without any interaction at all. Dumbledore surveyed their tense faces, knowing this would be hard for them.
'I need you to keep the students in order, and if possible, calm. Voldemort has penetrated the grounds, and his Death-Eaters are advancing on the castle. We have called for Aurors, but they will have to Apparate to Hogsmeade and make their way in. It may take them some time.'
He held their gaze.
'We believe he is trying to abduct the top students, to seduce them into giving him their loyalties. If he reaches you, do not try to oppose him. Voldemort is capable of killing without a second thought. '
He glanced at Lily and James, who were staring at each other in horror, lost in the memory of their premonition. Almost unconsciously, Lucius pulled Narcissa to him, wrapping his arm around her shaking shoulders. Dumbledore smiled sadly at them.
'I am sorry to place this responsibility on you, but it is necessary. The professors and I will be patrolling the castle, and we will attempt to head them off. I must warn you, however, that it is likely not to work. Professor Seare will remain with you.'
He waved them back to their respective corners, calling the professors to him. The other students crowded around them, full of questions, but, strangely enough, it was Natasha and Joseph, the Hufflepuff Heads, who called everyone to order, sending them back to their sleeping bags. They shuffled off, and waited patiently for their own to tell them what was happening. Once Lily and James had filtered what information they thought the others could handle, they were left alone, everyone splitting into their groups and settling down for the night.
*
At around midnight, another crash woke the silent Hall. It sounded very close, inside the walls of the school. Seare called her Defence Against the Dark Arts class to her.
'You may have a chance to defend the school,' she told them. 'Whatever you do, don't use the Unforgivables. The Aurors will take you away to Azkaban if you do.'
They exchanged fearful looks. Suddenly the echoing halls fell silent, and somehow, it was worse than the noise. Dozens of frightened eyes looked to the Head Pupils and Professor Seare, but they were all gazing intently at the great doors. Those who were sleeping beside the doors instinctively wriggled away to the relative safety of the walls. A rhythmic knocking pounded on the doors. Everyone backed away, their faces pale in the darkness. Lily reached for James' hand, and he pulled her closer to him, squeezing her shoulder gently. Professor Seare turned away to gaze at the doors as they swung gently inwards.
The candles sprang into life, blinding those who had been standing in darkness. As their eyes adjusted, they became aware of footsteps clicking on the stone floor. Voldemort had arrived.
*
Dumbledore felt the tremor through his boots. Looking to the castle, he could see the flashes of green light through the windows. He exchanged a look with McGonagall, and they both took off, running as fast as they could to the school.
Figures surrounded them, raising wands. The two professors slowed and stopped, gazing about them. The Death-Eaters began to laugh, circling their captives. Dumbledore exchanged a glance with his companion and saw she was ready. As one, they launched into a ferocious attack on their attackers, hexes and curses flying through the air. When the light died away, they stood, gasping for breath, in darkness, alone. They had won this round.