The Prefects were standing in front of their respective tables, waiting in front of the empty staff table. "Where do you think they are?" Shiro said, as he leaned back against the table, breaking his posture. "Maybe they're finishing up a meeting?" Max suggested, and they fell right into silence once again.
They waited for about 30 minutes, before a low growl was heard. "D-did you hear that?" Earl said, as he fidgeted with the end of his sleeve. The others nodded, and turned toward the entrance of the Great Hall. After a few seconds of silence, a breath of relief flooded through most of the Prefects- it left Shiro and Percy more on edge.
"Maybe it was just the wind?" Cassie suggested, as she visibly relaxed. "No." Percy shook his head, "I live with two monsters - that wasn't just the wind." The others gave a dry chuckle at the reference to the twins. Another growl sounded - noticeably louder than the last, causing Percy and Shiro to draw their wands.
Another growl, accompanied by a loud clank of metal caused the 8 5th years to form a tight half-circle with their wands out. The sound of loud thumps crept closer to the Prefects, causing Earl to practically shake in fear.
Shiro then whispered, "Okay, stupify whatever it is coming - then run to the slytherin dorms." "Why the slytherin-" Amelia tried, but was cut off. "Because the other dorms just have paintings - we have a full wall. It'll be safer." "But we'll be stuck underground!" Opal answered this time, "There's an escape route, whisper Salazar Slytherin, and then run through the fire." The others nodded, and started to slowly advance towards the entrance.
The sound suddenly stopped - before the door blew open. Revealing a giant cat. "What the-" Percy said, as the feline rolled onto its stomach, purring at them. "Aw" Earl said, as he tried to move to it, but a strong hand from Cassie held him back. "Stand down, Earl. We don't know if it's dangerous." She said, and Earl nodded, moving back.
Percy nudged Shiro, and the two walked toward the cat. "Hi, I'm Percy Weasley. We mean no harm." He said, as he put his hands up in the air. The cat meowed, and shook their belly. "Cover me." he whispered to Shiro, and he put down his wand.
"Percy!" Penelope whisper-screamed, and Percy just put up a hand to silence her and moved towards the beast. When Percy put his hands into the cat's fur, he gasped, making everyone go ridge. "You're so soft." He began to move his hands back and forth, and the cat's purring grew louder, as his tail began to thump.
Percy, not stopping her petting, turned his head to his fellow prefects. "What should we name him?" "Are you serious?" Opal said, face palming. "Yeah, she seems friendly enough - how about Susan!" Earl suggested, before Opal smacked the back of his head. " We're not naming a giant cat Steven."
"How about Bastet? Thats a cat goddess." Max suggested, and Percy turned back to the cat. "Does Bastet sound good?" the cat, now Bastet, purred. After a few more seconds of a vigorous tummy rub, Bastet stood up, and licked Percy - head to toe-, and he was covered in slobber. He let out a yelp, and a look of disgust as he looked down upon himself.
Meanwhile the other prefects were somewhere between laughing on the floor and letting out sounds of disgust. That was when the professors walked in. "I see you've gotten acquainted with your help." Professor Mcgongall said, as she sat down. "Help?" They echoed, turning away from Bastet, who let out a small whimper.
"Yes", Dumbledore carried on for her, "Prefects aren't necessarily what you believe them to be," He paused as the prefects looked to one another confused, "Prefects are the defenders of hogwarts - the warriors, Head Boys and Girls are the strategists and rarely go into battle." "B-battle?" Earl questioned, before a withering glare from Snape shut him up.
"Yes, Mr. Hydra. Battle. Prefects are the true defenders of Hogwarts. And over the next two weeks, you will connect with her, each other and learn spells Auror's would be jealous of." Dumbledore said, and protests broke out among the Prefects.
"You can't do that!" "Shouldn't we have been informed if we're gonna be your 'protectors'!?" "You can't be serious!" Dumbledore raised a hand, and they went quiet. Percy stepped forward. "Sorry Headmaster, but if we truly are learning spells that 'Auror's would be jealous of', shouldn't we inform the ministry? Get a team of specialized Auror's to deal with the problem? I don't see why a bunch of 15 year olds need to do it."
A soft chuckle escaped the headmaster. "Yes, we could do that. But, Hogwarts doesn't have enough money to afford that. The school would close and - Percy I know your family can't afford to go anywhere else-" "Hey man! That's a low blow. If we're low on money, call for donations. Heaven knows the Malfoys would donate to look like saints if nothing else!" Shiro shouted, as his fellow prefects nodded in approval.
"Maybe your seniors can convince you otherwise." The door to the great hall swung open, and 2 teams of 6. Two people from each house, marched into the rooms, led by a hufflepuff and ravenclaw - presumably the head boy and girl.