2. WILLY

Professor Dumbledore rapped his spoon against the glass a bit too

hard. It shattered. He stared down at it,forlorn. But everyone in

the hall had gone quiet by then. Beside him,Minerva's mouth

twitched.

If she laughs,I'll turn her into a frog,he thought.

She contained herself quite well,though.

He stood up.

"As you all know," he said. "Care Of Magical Creatures has been

cancelled until Hagrid comes back from our exchange program-"

"We were going to study duppies," Harry said.

"What's a duppy?" Ron asked,his mouth full of chicken.

"Shh," Hermione whispered.

"-and I would just like to ask all of you...is anyone aware as to

the whereabouts of Willy?"

No one said a word.

Just then,Professor Flitwick ran into the Great Hall. Watching

Flitwick run was rather surreal. "There's a deranged man outside

and he's assaulting the Whomping Willow."

At the left end of the table,Professor Sprout gasped.

"Prefects,take the students back to their rooms,please..."