The Bloody Baron gives her a nod as he passes by her and Helena's heart squeezes, but she nods back.

The Hogwarts House ghosts have a monthly meeting, but this month Helena doesn't feel up to it. Nothing has changed, except for that awful old Umbridge woman punishing more students than usual.

Helena drifts over to Nearly-Headless Nick, who has his head on tonight. He's alone, gazing out one of the windows pensively.

"Something on your mind?" she asks and Nick startles, glancing fleetingly at her before returning his gaze to the window.

"I can sense darkness," he mutters. "I can sense it here in this castle, but where is it coming from? Not from that foul toad woman," he adds when Helena opens her mouth, "but some other source. Things haven't been the same since Dumbledore left…"

He trails off. Helena feels the Fat Friar's presence before he's at Nick's left. "Darkness?" he queries, and for once he doesn't sound jovial. "Yes, I can feel it too. Something's rising and I don't like it one bit."

Helena finally speaks. "It definitely coming from the students," she ventures. "Particularly from one house, I can feel the anger stirring."

The three of them exchange looks, silently and unanimously agreeing that it was coming from the house of the ghost not present.

Helena's heart squeezes again. Even though she might not be in love with him anymore, she still cares about him. And if it's his house stirring…

"Let's do what we can to protect the students," she says suddenly. "Let's promise to protect them no matter what limitations we have. They are ours to shield. We must not let them fall prey to this darkness we all feel."

"Agreed." The other two agree at once.

Helena nods, satisfied, and looks back at the window.

"I promise."


305 words

Capture the Flag - Ghost