Hey, guys! Thanks so much for the reviews! I'm sorry that I haven't been able to update a lot, but school is back in session. groan Anyway, here's a small update. I'll try and make the updates longer! I promise!

"What was that?" Ginny asked, pale.

"I don't know," Hermione admitted, "But, we got to find out."

Following Hermione out the door, Harry tripped on his shoelace and staggered out of the portrait hole. The Fat Lady was screaming for help, and there was gasps among the Gryffindors that came to investigate.

"Call the headmaster! Call the Hospital Wing! Call the Minister of Magic! Call ANYBODY!"

The Fat Lady was obviously having a breakdown, as she left her portrait and went running through the other pictures, screaming.

The crowd murmured as Hermione pushed through, Ron, Harry, and Ginny right behind her.

"What happened?" Harry asked, standing on his tiptoes to look over Ron.

Apparantly Hermione was too shocked to tell, because she made a very funny squeaking sound.

"What happened?" Harry repeated.

There was silence, and the Gryffindors parted in the middle, as Professor Dumbledore came to check the body that was on the floor.

Dumbledore knelt down, still silent. He finally said, "Everyone go back to their dormitories and be in the Great Hall in ten minutes."

Everyone started to talk at once, and they turned around to climb back into the portrait (the Fat Lady was settling back into her frame, drinking some water to cool her down).

Harry looked back to see who was at Dumbledore's feet. Who he saw made his eyes widen.

"C'mon, Harry!" Hermione whispered, tugging on his shirt.

Harry took one last look, and followed Ron, Hermione, and Ginny back into the Common Room.

"What do you think happened?" Hermione asked, looking absolutely horrified.

"I don't know," Harry replied, "I mean, he's not even in the play!"

Ginny pointed at her watch. "Dumbledore said to be in the Great Hall in ten minutes. We should go."

A bunch of Gryffindors made their way towards the portrait door, but Hermione stopped the other three from going through with the others.

"What?" Ron asked.

Hermione took out her wand. She waved it, and blue sparkles surrounded the four of them. Harry felt a very weird tightening feeling, and looks at Hermione in confusion.

"I just put a shield charm around us," she said. "Better safe than sorry, you know"

The Great Hall was buzzing with conversations (even the other three houses were called to the hall). Everyone was talking about the attack.

"Why would anyone go for him though? I mean, he isn't even in the play, and he's basically harmless," Lavender was telling Parvati.

Finally, Dumbledore stood up, and the whole room grew quiet.

"I'm quite sure that you've all heard of the recent attack," said Dumbledore, adjusting his glasses, "And I'm sure that you're all scared. Let me reassure you that Hogwarts will be safer from the attacks from now on. The teachers will be guarding the halls, and no one should be out of bed by ten o'clock."

Harry and Ron exchanged looks.

"Ten o'clock?" Ron whispered over the groans, "What's the point of leaving home if I don't even get an extended bed time?"

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "I know that you all are angry with these new rules, but it's for your own safety."

The students didn't say anything.

"You may leave now."

But, before they could, Padma Patil raised her hand.

"Yes, Miss Patil?"

"Sir, what will become of Neville?"

"Mr. Longbottom will be sent to the Hospital Wing with Mr. Malfoy," said Dumbledore. He stared down at his old, wrinkled hands. "Unfortunately, Madame Pomfrey hasn't figured out an antidote yet. If we don't cure them by the end of the week, they might have to be taken to St. Mungo's."

Hermione nudged Harry. "St. Mungo's? Those attacks must be really serious."

Harry nodded, as he followed Ginny out of the room.

All of a sudden, the redhead stopped, and Harry nearly ran right into her, recieving a mouthful of fiery hair.

"What the--?"

Professor Snape and Professor LaLlama went walking by with a board, covered by a sheet.

But, Harry knew that under that sheet was Neville Longbottom.