"Where's Alexandra?" Alanna asked, looking around the common room.
"I don't know," Fred said. "We lost her in the crowd."
"Still, we've been up here for ten minutes," Alanna pointed out. "She couldn't have gotten that far behind."
"You guys," James said, running over to the two, Louis at his heels. "You'll never guess what I just heard. We passed Neville talking to Flitwick on our way up, and they were saying something about Claridina and some sort of an attack!"
"Is that why we're all up here?" Fred frowned.
"It's got to be," Louis said.
"Are people still coming in?" Alanna asked nervously, looking over at the portrait door, which hadn't swung open in several minutes.
"I think everybody's in here by now, aren't they?" James said.
"Alexandra's not," Fred said. "She was with us when we were coming up, but then we got separated."
"We've got to go look for her," Alanna said. "If Claridina's going to attack…"
Fred nodded, but before they could move, Neville came into the common room. "Alright. Now, I know it's cramped in here, but until further notice, nobody is to leave this common room. Some food has been sent up from the kitchens and is by the fireplace. Everyone is to remain calm, but I must stress the importance of having your wand on you at all times."
Whispers began to fill the room. Alanna and Fred exchanged worried glances.
"Prefects!" Neville said loudly, causing the whispers to cease. "You will be in charge. I trust that none of the students will give you trouble."
With that, Neville turned to head back out the portrait door.
"Professor!" Alanna said, parting her way through the crowd with Fred. "Professor, wait!"
Neville stopped.
"Professor, it's Alexandra," Fred said. "She's not back yet."
Neville frowned. "She's not?"
"No," Alanna said.
"Professors are patrolling the corridors as we speak," Neville assured them. "I'm sure one of them has found her. We all had orders to escort any remaining students to the nearest common room, even it was not their house. I'm sure she's in one of the other three common rooms right now."
Alanna and Fred looked at each other.
"Don't worry about her," Neville said. "I promise, if I get the chance I'll go to the other three common rooms myself and see if she's there and bring her up."
"Neville," James said, making his way over. "Is it true? Is Claridina really going to attack Hogwarts?"
"James, we don't know anything for sure," Neville said. "But you aren't to repeat that. The last thing we need here is a panic among the students."
"Well," James said as Neville left the common room. "That just about says it, doesn't it?"
"James," Rose said, running over to her cousin. "Your dad and my parents…look out the window! They just apperated outside with a bunch of other Aurors!"
James, Louis, Alanna and Fred followed Rose to the window, but before they could even look out, the entire sky seemed to fill with orange flames.
…
"Where are the Aurors that were already positioned here?" Harry asked McGonagall as he crossed the grounds with his Aurors.
"We cannot find them," McGonagall answered gravely.
"Harry," Hermione said softly, stopping in her tracks. "They're over…over there."
Harry looked to where Hermione had pointed and saw the five Aurors that were positioned here earlier in the day laying dead, blood seeping out of their chests.
McGonagall covered her mouth. "When-? How did-?"
"Are all the students in their common rooms?" Harry asked, drawing out his wand.
"Yes, yes of course," McGonagall nodded weakly. "Teachers are still patrolling the halls now."
"And still no luck with the protective charms?" Ron asked.
"Everything falters the second we put it up," McGonagall said. "Somehow…she must've done something."
Harry was just about to respond when there was an explosion, and walls of fire surrounded the school.
"Go!" Harry said to his Aurors. "You know her followers aren't far behind now! Professor, look out!" Harry shoved McGonagall aside just as a large Thestral came from the fire.
"Stupefy!" Harry cried, sending a stunning curse at the creature, but it was completely ineffective, and Harry remembered Draco's warning that only a killing curse could stop these creatures. Harry was just about to raise his wand again, when suddenly, another Thestral appeared, but this one didn't lunge for McGonagall; it went after Claridina's Thestral. Harry saw that this Thestral was one of the ones from the forest. He looked around and saw more of Claridina's Thestrals flying in, but more of the Hogwarts ones arriving as well.
"Are there more?" Hermione asked shakily.
"Yes," Harry nodded. "But the Hogwarts Thestrals are fighting back."
"Don't reckon they like their brothers running around killing off wizards," Hagrid said, running over, leading Buckbeak behind him. "You don't worry about the Thestrals. Me and the forest can handle them."
"They're aiming for specific people," Harry said. "They'll be dead hard to fight."
"We'll manage," Hagrid said.
"Alright, back towards the school!" Harry told the Aurors. "Now!"
…
Dudley looked around for anything that could help him, but there was nothing within his grasp. He was gagging from the smell, and he could barely breathe due to all the pressure on his chest.
Dudley kicked one of his legs into the air, hoping to hit whatever it was that was holding him down. He felt his foot come into contact with something hard, and he felt the pressure being lifted ever so slightly. Dudley gave another kick, and then, with all the strength he could muster, he managed to get out from underneath the invisible attacker.
Running as fast as he could, Dudley banged open his door and quickly locked it behind him. He knew he wasn't safe, and sure enough, a second later, the front window crashed and the rancid smell filled his nostrils again.
Dudley started towards his bedroom. He felt the creature hit his back with its hooves, sending him to the ground, but Dudley crawled on his hands and knees. The creature was biting away at his legs, and Dudley had to use all of his strength to ignore the searing pain and keep going.
He reached his bedroom and lunged under his bed, searching desperately for his lock box. He found it just as he let out a scream; the creature had bit into his side, and now blood was spilling out even more profusely. Quickly unlocking the box, Dudley took out the gun her had gotten years ago after someone had broken into the house in the middle of the night. He fired it in the direction he believed the attacker to be in. To his utter amazement, though, the bullet seemed to bounce off the invisible body, and narrowly avoided colliding with his head. Dudley felt his blood run cold. He was completely defenseless.
…
Harry, Ron and Hermione pounded up the main staircase. The other Aurors had already broken up into groups and were spread out among the castle.
"How long until the flames reach the castle?" Ron asked.
"Not long," Hermione replied. "If the teachers can't get the flames under control, we'll have to evacuate the students."
"To where?" Harry exclaimed. "Hogsmeade's just as big a disaster as here! She's completely boxed us in!"
At his words, a wall of fire burst in through one of the windows, narrowly missing Hermione, who had been pulled away in a knick of time by Ron.
"We've got to get the students out, Harry!" Ron cried.
"The Shrieking Shack hasn't been touched yet," Hermione said. "I heard one of the villagers say that as they ran past the school gates. We can take them through the Womping Willow!"
"Harry! Ron! Hermione!" The three turned to see Neville running over to them.
"Neville, can you help us get the students out of the common rooms?" Harry asked. "We're evacuating them to the Shrieking Shack through the Womping Willow."
"Got it," Neville said.
"I'll help you," Ron said. "I'll go to Gryffindor and Ravenclaw; what are the passwords?"
"Water Beatle and Hog Snout," Neville said.
"Hermione, stay with Harry!" Ron said as he turned to run down the corridor. "If I'm not waiting for you by the tree, go anyway!"
"Ron, be careful!" Hermione called after him.
"Hermione, behind you!" Harry yelled as a flash of green light passed by her.
"Stupefy!" Hermione cried, reducing her attacker to an unconscious heap. Many more of Claridina's followers began to appear through the flames. Hermione and Harry sent curses over their shoulders as they ran back down the opposite corridor. The flames were beginning to completely engulf the school. Hermione used spells to make the flames smaller as they ran, attacking more followers on the way, but she said there was no way to make the flames completely die.
"At least it will make it easier for Ron and Neville to get the students out," Harry said, disarming and stunning two of Claridina's followers that ran around the corner.
"Harry, Claridina's got to be here somewhere," Hermione said, taking out another follower. "Most of her followers have got to be here! That must mean-"
"That she's right around the corner," said a cold voice.
Harry turned and saw Claridina step through a wall of fire.
….
AN- I'm very sorry, but there is a very good chance that I will not be able to update for about two weeks. I'll try, but I have AP exams these next two weeks at school, and I really need to study. In the meantime, though, I suggest you check out Hailstorm234's companion stories; they're really good. The links are: w w w . f a n f i c t i o n .net/s/8088236/1/Claridinas_Revenge
And
http:/w w w . f a n f I c t i o /s/8086348/1/Claridinas_Wrath