Meanwhile at the castle the staff was searching everywhere. Hermione and Lavender refused to go to bed so Minerva allowed them to join the search as long as they stayed with and adult. They both went with Minerva. When they reached the hall of classrooms they each took a room to search.
Minerva and Hermione heard Lavender yell from the transfiguration classroom and ran to her side. When they saw what she saw Hermione gasped and Minerva paled. There was blood. It was splattered on the wall and floor. Then Hermione searched the rest of the room. Minerva saw her bend down to pick something up. She faced them and said, "It's Haley's," as she showed them a wand.
Minerva sent a patronis to Dumbledore, Snape, Lily, James, Sirius, and Remus. It wasn't long until they all came rushing in.
"What is it Minerva? Did you find her?" Lily asked hopefully.
Minerva just stood aside so everyone could see the bloody mess. Lily broke down in tears. James was in a state of denial.
"It might not even be hers," he stated but it was more like wishful thinking. Everyone else in the school had been accounted for and none of them requested seeing Madam Pomfrey.
"I found this," Hermione said gently as she handed James Haley's wand. "It's hers. I'm positive."
That did it. James joined his wife in crying. They held each other close as they wept. They had just gotten her back; they couldn't lose her again.