So, here's the next chapter. Enjoy and don't forget to review!
;-)
Star and Lightning
28th Chapter – Announcements
When Ron awoke the next morning, he felt great. Today, it would be his turn to duel in Defence Against the Dark Arts and the training with Harry last year had prepared him well. And Professor McGonnagal would surely return their tests today, the test in which he had done extremely good. Today would become a real success.
He turned on his back and smiled at the ceiling of his four-poster bed. Then he sat up with a sudden movement and jerked the curtains open. Harry had already gotten up and his other room-mates were still sleeping. Yawning and stretching, Ron got up and quickly got himself dressed, his tooth brushed and his short, red hair combed.
Happily, he jumped down the stairs leading from his dormitory to the Common Room where he found Harry and Hermione already awake and deep in conversation. Their heads jerked up when he called effusively: "Morning, guys! Today is a great day!"
Hermione and Harry looked at each other, then Hermione said warily: "I wouldn't be too sure of that. Harry's scar hurt like hell this night. Voldemort is up to something."
But Ron let nothing spoil his high spirits. "Who cares what You-know-who's doing? We're in Hogwarts, we're safe. Today I'm gonna have my duel with this Slytherin whore and I will kick her arse. Don't waste your thoughts on what might be. Let's get down to the Great Hall, I'm starving!"
As Ron was already hurrying through the passageway leading to the Fat Lady, he missed the worried glances his two friends exchanged.
In the Great Hall, he carelessly shoved food on his plate and ate greedily. He talked animatedly to Semeas and Dean, who had arrived shortly after him, for Harry and Hermione seemed to be in their worry-about-everything mood.
When almost every student was present in the Great Hall, the Headmaster stood up and addressed them gravely: "Two things happened last night, two things you need to be informed of." Ron began feeling uneasy. Was this something that could spoil his mood? When the headmaster continued, he realized it was.
"First, there have been Death Eater raids all over Great Britain. When the Aurors arrived, it was all over and done with. This is the first major action undertaken by Voldemort since his last downfall 15 years ago. I fear, the Second War has begun.
"The second thing that happened last night, especially concerns Hogwarts. For reasons still unknown, the wards around Hogwarts failed. Hogwarts was said to be the safest place on earth, now it is not any more. Now, don't panic. The wards were not the only protection guarding Hogwarts, this is still a place safer than most. A soon-to-be attack is unlikely. If it had been planned, it would have taken place this night. For all teachers are needed to investigate the remainders of the wards and to ensure your safety, all lessons are cancelled for an indefinite period.. All students please return to their Common Rooms and don't leave them until further notice. House elves will provide you with food. Prefects, keep everybody calm and make sure everybody is in their Common Room."
Ron sat dumbstruck, trying to comprehend what Albus Dumbledore had just said. Students around him were rashing about whispering hastily with each other. There goes my great day, he thought. Why? Why was all this happening? Was his family all right? Would the teachers be able to keep them safe without the wards?
He whirled around, when someone tapped his shoulders, finding his sister looking at him with fearful, wide eyes. He slowly got up and, while putting a protective arm around her shoulders, followed the stream of students.
Minerva McGonnagal and Severus Snape were walking the grounds of Hogwarts, desperately trying to find a hint of what had happened to the wards. They had been made of so old and ancient magic that not even Albus could replace them.
"And you have no idea what caused the ward's failure?" Minerva asked.
"No." Severus shook his head. "He doesn't trust me anymore. But I doubt that any of the Death Eaters knows what he has done to the wards. If it has been him at all…"
"Who else?" Minerva stopped pacing and faced the castle. "The wards don't just turn off for no reason. They've lasted so long… they can't just vanish."
"Despite what Albus said during breakfeast: Hogwarts is easy prey now. Death Eaters could easily apparate inside and we are much too few teachers to defend the students." Severus said quietly. "I also fear an attack from the inside. Some of my Slytherin students… they want to step in their fathers' foot prints."
"Do you think a students could have destroyed the wards?" She looked at him worriedly.
Severus shook his head slightly. "It's too difficult."
"Don't underestimate the students." Minerva said softly and looked back at the castle. "We don't know how it was done, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's very difficult." She shuffled her robes and continued walking. "Come, we should check the border of the Forbidden Forrest."
Suddenly, the sky flickered and the air was filled with magic for a second. When it was gone, Severus took his wand and tried to apparate… and failed. They looked at each other and, without having exchanged a word, headed back for Hogwarts.
In the Great Hall, they met Albus Dumbledore and half of the other professors. They were all gathered around and chattered seriously.
"Did you do it?" Minerva asked excitedly.
When Albus turned to look at her, she knew the answer. He hadn't. But then how had the wards come back to work? When the whole staff was gathered, it turned out that no one had done anything to the wards and no one had any idea how they had been turned off in the first place. Albus sighed and tried to keep the desperate expression from his face, but succeeded badly. Maybe it was only a temporary failure and the wards would stay in place now. But somehow, he doubted it. The picture of the always safe Hogwarts had been shattered and couldn't be repaired.