Why So Paranoid?

Author's Note:: So after looking at how short the last chapter was, I felt a little guilty and wrote this one! Hopefully you can see the subplot coming through!

Hogwarts Hallways 1976

Eirian walked down the stairs with Lily, on their way to Charms. "The only thing wrong with OWLS is that now we have to work hard in our classes." Eirian commented. Lily smiled.

"As if you didn't work hard before. I swear, Eir, you spend as much time studying as a Ravenclaw."

"Wanting to get good grades isn't a crime, and if I want to be an Auror or Professor, I'm going to have to know my stuff."

"True," Lily conceded. "And I guess that you wouldn't be in the Slug Club with me either, if you weren't so brilliant."

"See, it's all to your benefit." Eirian said as the two entered the classroom. The seats were already mostly filled, however the pair was signaled over by Sonia Minnet who was pointing at two seats saved beside her and Mary MacDonald. Eirian smiled in acknowledgement of the gesture and made her way over to the dormmates.

"How'd you get here so fast?" Eirian asked, taking a seat next to Sonia.

"We weren't very hungry, finished breakfast early." Sonia said dismissively.

"Did you read the Daily Prophet though?" Mary asked Eirian and Lily.

"I skimmed it." Lily responded leaning forward on her desk so she had a better look at the participants in the conversation.

"So you saw there's been more disappearances?" Mary asked.

"It's terrible." Lily shook her head. "I have a feeling that they aren't sharing the whole truth though. I mean, people don't just wander off in the middle of the night because they're tired of their lives. I mean, I guess some do, but this will bring the number up to 40. There's even been a full family that's just gone." Eirian had heard her parents whispering in the kitchen about the missing people a few days before she left for Hogwarts. "The disappearances aren't just in the Wizarding World, they're spreading around the muggle world too. People don't know what to think."

"My mom's talking about taking me out of Hogwarts if this continues to happen." Sonia put in, casually.

"What?" The other three all turned to look at her.

"She doesn't want the family to split up in case things start to get worse or our neighborhood is targeted or something. I don't know; I never understand her." Sonia shrugged.

"Sonia, that's a terrible idea. Hogwarts has to be the safest place for you. I mean people would be crazy to attack the school with all the professors here. Especially Dumbledore, he's the most brilliant wizard I know. That anyone knows." Eirian amended.

"You don't have to convince me, I'm just saying that if I don't come back after Christmas, well…" Sonia trailed off. Just like her. Eirian wasn't sure whether or not to believe the story. Sonia had a tendency to make up stories so that people paid attention to her more.

"You're mother's just paranoid. I'm sure things will get better." Mary asserted, rather unconvincingly.

Professor Flitwick walked onto his tower of books. "Let's begin!" he shouted as loudly as he could in his squeaky voice, and the class started.