Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the intellectual property associated with Harry Potter.
Hi all,
Here's the next chapter. The castle has gone into lockdown and the professors scramble to find out what is going on.
Chapter 36
An uneasy silence followed the resounding echoes that reverberated throughout the castle. Harry observed the adults, who appeared momentarily shocked by the unfolding situation. Master Footshredder was the first to move, making sure his former student was okay. Headmaster Flitwick appeared as though he had just finished a gruelling marathon, given how heavily he was breathing.
Harry knew there was something amiss as soon as he set foot onto the Hogwarts grounds. Maybe he should have trusted his instincts more. After all, they had never failed him before. But what could he have done even if he had listened? He could not refuse to enter the castle based on a feeling of uneasiness.
Charlus, having finally recovered from his shock, approached the door and attempted to open it. The door swung open effortlessly offering no resistance. "Well, it doesn't seem to prevent us from moving around the castle. Why would it initiate a lockdown on its own violation?"
"The castle possesses a small degree of sentience," Minerva spoke after regaining her composure. "Usually, this doesn't hold much significance since the headmaster has control of the wards. If the castle senses an impending danger, it can initiate a lockdown without the headmaster's approval. Such an event hasn't happened for centuries."
"Why didn't it react when the Basilisk roamed the castle?" Harry questioned.
"I'm not sure. Perhaps the threat needs to be more significant than the potential loss of students' lives," Minerva responded with a distasteful expression. "If Dumbledore had not stolen the portraits of the previous headmasters, maybe they could have provided some insight into the situation."
"What about the ghosts?" Harry suggested.
"That is an even better idea," Minerva approved. "We can speak to one of the House ghosts to see if they know anything.
"We need to identify the nature of the threat," Charlus said. He appeared calm, despite his momentary surprise, as if accustomed to such situations. "Is the castle under attack?"
"No," Flitwick said, sitting up in his seat. He had finally gotten his breathing under control. "If there had been a force capable of posing a significant threat to the castle, I would have sensed their approach."
"Are you sure about that?" Footshredder asked. Like Charlus, he appeared unfazed by the situation. "You've been encountering considerable challenges with the castle wards."
"I am certain," Headmaster Flitwick nodded.
An unsettling thought suddenly occurred to Harry. "What if the castle is not reacting to an outside threat? Maybe it's coming from inside the castle, and it's trying to prevent it from escaping?"
The adults glanced at each other with grim faces. They had not considered the idea, based on their reactions.
"Perhaps the lockdown has something to do with the Enchanted Wall," Minerva suggested. "It may have lulled us into a false sense of complacency."
"Bloody nuisance," Charlus grumbled. "Master Karlsson needs to examine the third-floor corridor again. I feel like we should remove the entire section of the castle entirely."
"Where are the Aurors that are stationed at the castle?" Minerva glanced at the door. "They should be making their way up here as the lockdown started."
"They were delayed because of some issue in the Ministry, so we can't rely on them," Flitwick said. "Let me see if I can regain control of the wards first,"
He retrieved his wand and waved it over his desk. A crystal ball, resting on a small plinth, emerged from the centre of his desk. As soon as he touched it, the dark sphere immediately lit up with hundreds of glowing runes, swirling in various intricate patterns across its surface. Harry attempted to read a few of them, but their rapid movement made them too difficult to make out.
"It's no good," Flitwick said a moment later, his expression heavy. "The castle is not responding to my command."
Charlus paced back and forth in the office and began issuing orders. He seized the initiative instead of waiting for Flitwick to take control of the situation. "We must check on the students because we are uncertain about the threat we are facing. Headmaster, I recommend we gather all the professors and inform them of the current situation. First, our priority is to gather all the students who are still outside of their common rooms and escort them there. Next, we should position professors in each common room to guard the students while we investigate further."
"That's an excellent suggestion," Flitwick concurred. "Above all else, we must prioritise the well-being of our students."
"I shall send a patronus message to summon the professors," Minerva offered.
"Please send the message to Master Karlsson as well," Flitwick said.
Minerva nodded and raised her wand, and a glowing white cat materialised. She gave it a message to deliver before it swiftly disappeared into the floor.
"You need to show me how to do that," Harry said to his grandmother. "It looks bloody useful."
"Language, Harry," Minerva said absentmindedly, her attention elsewhere."My patronus did not return immediately; therefore, the message was delivered. I was worried that it wouldn't be able to get through because of the lockdown measures in place."
"That's another issue we need to address," Charlus stated. "Can we communicate with others outside of the castle? Is the floo network still connected?"
While they waited for the professors to arrive, they tried to establish communication, but all their attempts failed. Charlus tried sending a patronus message to Amelia Bones, but it returned unsent. The floo network was also not functioning on their end, preventing them from sending a message in that manner or using it to exit the castle.
"Can you try summoning Fawkes, Harry?" Charlus asked.
"I can't communicate with him that far," Harry answered. "If Fawkes can successfully bypass the castle's wards, it is probable that he will make an appearance later this evening."
Harry struggled to find words to describe the unique bond he shared with Fawkes. Through it, they could communicate telepathically with him, albeit with certain limitations. He hadn't been able to communicate with him from hundreds of kilometres away. There was also the method of communication they used, which involved using images to express their thoughts. Harry seldom used this approach as he typically communicated verbally with Fawkes.
He suspected that by further advancing his Occlumency, he might pinpoint the origin of the bond within his mind. Did he need to understand the nature of it? Trying to quantify it might diminish some of its magic.
"Well, I hope he can make it through, but I'm not feeling optimistic," Charlus stated.
"Why not try a house-elf?" Harry suggested.
"I can't believe I didn't think of that sooner," Flitwick groaned. "Teeny!"
Teeny didn't appear. The house-elves were always prompt in responding to a headmaster's call. It appeared as if they had lost their ability to apparate in the castle.
"Now, that's quite concerning," Flitwick said. "I didn't realise there was a method to impede a house elf's magic. I need to communicate with the house-elves and notify them of the ongoing situation."
What were the odds that Fawkes could override the magical protections if the house-elves couldn't? Harry had his doubts that luck would be on their side.
"Harry, I shall escort you back to your common room," Minerva said. "There is no need for your presence at the meeting."
"Absolutely," Harry replied with a heavy dose of sarcasm. "The two of us can head down into an unknown situation and just hope everything will be okay. Need I remind you that Peter Pettigrew is still scurrying around somewhere with the Marauder's Map in his possession?"
Minerva squinted at her grandson, displeased with his tone.
"He can stay," Charlus said. "If he agrees to maintain strict confidentiality regarding any information, he might overhear."
"Are you going to keep the students in the dark?" Harry asked. "It's going to be hard when the owls don't arrive tomorrow with their morning deliveries."
Flitwick took a moment to consider the matter. "We will let them know at breakfast tomorrow if the situation hasn't been resolved by that time. There's no need to cause a panic unnecessarily."
The professors arrived one by one, each immediately clamouring for answers. Headmaster Flitwick motioned with his hand, indicating that everyone should wait until all the professors were present. Trelawney, the last professor to arrive, stumbled inside with the smell of sherry on her breath.
"What is going on?" Trelawney blinked owlishly.
"Are you not already aware of the situation?" Snape drawled. "I would expect that the tea leaves would have conveyed this information to you."
"The Inner Eye is a fickle mistress," Trelawney declared with a hiccup. "She is not one to divulge her secrets easily."
"Perhaps if you were to imbibe some more sherry, it would come to you?" Snape derided.
"That's enough," Flitwick stated as he conjured some seats for the professors. "We do not have the luxury of bickering among ourselves like school children. I am sure that you all heard the racket that reverberated throughout the castle. Here is the situation."
After receiving the information from the headmaster, the professors were visibly disturbed. They started asking questions, speaking louder in an attempt to be heard over one another. Charlus raised his wand and produced a loud bang, instantly silencing them all.
"Settle down," Charlus said. "We are still determining the reason for the lockdown. Right now, there are some more important matters we have to deal with first."
"Thank you, Charlus," Flitwick said, before addressing the professors again. "Before I assign your tasks, did anyone notice anything unusual today? It could be something minor or seemingly inconsequential. Anything that deviated from the usual routine."
The professors considered the matter, but none of them had anything to contribute.
Finally, Snape spoke up after a brief hesitation. "Someone broke into my quarters earlier this morning while I was in the Great Hall. A valuable possession of mine was stolen."
"What was it?" Flitwick asked.
Snape cast a glance in Harry's direction. "Daphne Greengrass, my apprentice, gifted me a valuable ingredient, which is unicorn blood. I do not know how the thief knew its existence."
Snape glanced at Harry once more, which infuriated him. Was Snape implying that he was the culprit behind the theft? "Hey, I just arrived at Hogwarts tonight, so don't look at me. I gave the blood to Daphne as a gift, and it was hers to do with as she pleased. Besides, I can always get more, eventually."
"I said nothing," Snape said, glaring at Harry.
"It was obvious what you were thinking," Harry retorted. "Are you forgetting that something was targeting the unicorns in the Forbidden Forest? They probably stole it."
"Unicorn blood has very specific applications in potions," Snape told the headmaster, ignoring Harry. "They must have had a good reason for stealing it. Taking it from my quarters to make some galleons seems a little too risky."
Harry jumped when Charlus unleashed a torrent of profanity. He stared at his grandfather in astonishment, unfamiliar with most of the offensive words he had spoken.
"Charlus!" Minerva shot him a withering glare.
"Have you thought of something?" Flitwick inquired.
Charlus nodded sharply. "I will tell you later, headmaster. It is sensitive information so I will not share it with others carelessly."
"Very well," Flitwick said, before turning to speak to Master Karlsson. "Thank you for joining me. I hate to ask once more, but I need your help. There is a chance that the Enchanted Wall caused the lockdown."
"Ily probable, "Master Karlsson replied. "But I'm not sure how else I could contribute. This puzzle has me completely mystified, no matter what I try. I thought we had made some headway during the winter holidays."
"I will assist you however I can," Babbling said in support.
Master Karlsson accepted the offer of assistance with a smile.
Flitwick listed out a series of tasks for the professors. Besides assisting the students, other tasks that required their attention. Hagrid would make his way to the entrance to check if the grounds were accessible or if they were confined to the castle. Those not on duty guarding the common rooms would help search the castle and accompany Master Karlsson to the third-floor corridor.
"I am here to provide you with any help you may need," Master Footshredder said. "Since I am caught up in this situation as well, it is only appropriate that I lend a hand."
"Thank you, Master," Flitwick bowed his head.
"I will accompany your grandmother in escorting you to your common room," Charlus said to Harry.
Harry followed his grandparents out of the office. They made their way to the Gryffindor Tower and encountered no problems along the way. As they approached, the portrait of the Fat Lady swung open, welcoming them inside.
"Harry, what's going on?" Daphne rushed over as soon as he appeared in the common room. "What was that noise?"
It seemed like most of the Gryffindor students had gathered in the common room. Either there weren't many of them still wandering around the castle, or they had gone back to their dormitory rooms.
"I ask that you don't bother Harry with questions tonight, Miss Greengrass," Charlus said. "The headmaster will explain the situation in the morning."
Daphne nodded, grabbing Harry's hand and pulling him towards a sofa where Hermione and Tracy were sitting.
"That applies to all of you," Minerva stated, addressing the remaining students. "Please refrain from bothering him with questions; otherwise, you will serve detention with me. Now, Mr. Weasley, please take a headcount so that we can determine who is still outside the tower. No one may leave for the duration of the evening."
"Yes, Professor McGonagall," Percy replied, moving immediately to complete the task.
The students began murmuring among themselves. By this point, they had grown accustomed to the unusual events that happened in the school and appeared to be unaffected by the latest one. They cast Harry curious glances but didn't bother him with his grandparents standing at the entrance.
"Is everything alright?" Hermione asked.
"Let's hope so," Harry said. "Don't worry about it for now. Let's wait and see what the headmaster has to say tomorrow. What were you discussing before I arrived?"
"We are trying to find a different location to serve as our club's new base of operations," Tracy said with a yawn, her proximity to the crackling fire making her feel drowsy.
"We also believe it's necessary to change the name," Daphne said. "The United Quartet is too cheesy. We have come up with a more suitable name."
"What is it?"
"The Phoenix Club," Hermione said with a beaming smile. "We are going to use Fawkes as a mascot."
"Please tell me you are kidding," Harry groaned. "He already has an inflated ego."
"We've already cast our votes, Potter," Daphne proclaimed.
"How is that fair? Do the others know about it?"
"I am sure they will agree with the change."
"Except for Susan, who came up with the first name," Harry said with a laugh.
They spent the next hour brainstorming ideas for the new club location, but Harry was ready to call it a night and go to bed early. After saying goodnight to everyone, he headed up to his dormitory room and began unpacking his trunk.
Neville entered the room and greeted Harry with a nod. He took a cue from Harry and began organising his belongings. Harry cast a curious glance at Neville, wondering about the change in his demeanour. Ever since their return to Hogwarts, Neville had been friendlier.
"Thank you," Neville said out of the blue.
"Why are you thanking me?"
"For letting my great-uncle Saul Croaker know about what's happening at home," Neville replied. He stopped unpacking and took a seat on the bed, his gaze fixed on the floor.
"I thought you would be angry at me for interfering," Harry admitted.
"I thought I would be too," Neville said. "But my grandmother hasn't laid a hand on me since my great-uncle confronted her. No longer getting punished with a cane for even the smallest mistakes has improved my mood."
Harry winced. He knew that Neville's situation at home must have been difficult, but he didn't know the specifics. It filled him with remorse that he had been so distrustful of Neville when he arrived at Hogwarts, even though that line of thinking was completely irrational. He had been justified in his suspicions, though not towards Neville.
"Well, I am glad you are okay now," Harry said. "Now that we're on friendly terms, I want to introduce you to this club my friends and I started. How about it?"
8th January
The Great Hall was bustling with students in the early morning, despite it being a Sunday with no classes until the following day. Everyone awaited the headmaster's words regarding the latest incident. Headmaster Flitwick stood up and every eye in the Great Hall focused on him. He didn't waste any time and made his announcement, even though they were still in the middle of eating breakfast.
"As you know, something strange happened last night," Flitwick said, his eyes scanning the Great Hall to address every student. "I regret to inform you that this matter is quite serious. The castle has implemented a lockdown because of a perceived threat. Currently, we are isolated from the outside world and unable to leave Hogwarts."
The statement caused an uproar as people rose from their seats, loudly demanding to know what was happening. Harry distinctly heard Draco Malfoy say, "Wait until my father hears about this." Underneath the clamouring of the students, there was an undercurrent of fear. It was understandable, given that they were prisoners and cut off from their families.
Headmaster Flitwick raised his hands, signalling for silence. He allowed a moment for the students to settle down, recognising the importance of allowing them to vent their frustrations.
"This is disturbing," Hermione exclaimed, her voice filled with concern. "What will my parents think if they don't receive any letters from me?"
"The castle is currently under lockdown," Daphne said, her brows furrowing. "I wonder what could have triggered such a response."
"It has to be the Enchanted Wall," Tracy said. "It can't be a coincidence that it appeared the same year that the school suddenly locked down."
The three girls glanced at Harry to get his opinion.
"It's the most likely explanation," Harry shrugged.
"Shush, the headmaster is speaking," Hermione hissed.
"Now, I understand that this may be frightening for all of you, but I want to assure you we are investigating the situation," Flitwick continued. "As far as we can determine there is no imminent threat to the students. We have access to school grounds, but cannot go any further than the ward boundaries. Classes will go on as usual, as we want there to be little disruption to your education. To ensure safety, we will restrict movements to specific areas. You will need to move in groups accompanied by a senior student or professor. We will post the specific details on the board in your common room."
Headmaster Flitwick sat down, and the hall broke out into discussion. Their friends from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff joined them at their table to discuss the matter. Tonks joined them soon after, with her typically lively hair now drooping on her head.
"Wotcher, squirts," Tonks said quietly, sitting down with them. "If you would like, I can be your escort around the castle."
"Thanks, Tonks," Harry said gratefully, before lowering his voice. "What is the likelihood that they won't allow us to use the Room of Requirement?"
"It is highly probable," Daphne said with a nod. "In that case, we will need to look for an alternative place to spend our time."
"We can find a place to sit outside in the courtyard or on the grounds in the meantime," Hermione suggested, casting a nervous glance around. "This castle no longer feels safe, even more so than the whole Basilisk incident."
Harry glanced down at the table where Neville sat eating his breakfast. "Mind if I invite someone to join us?"
10th January
Harry sought a distraction from his worries, immersing himself in deciphering the array schematic for the appraisal scroll for the rest of the day. His Assimilate Runes skill was not high enough to make the process any easier. But he found it preferable because he enjoyed the process of figuring things out.
He hadn't worked on the schematic for a while, so it surprised him by the amount of improvement he had made since then. By evening, he had inscribed the array onto parchment multiple times. Although success still eluded him, he could sense he was on the verge of a breakthrough.
Classes started the next day, and the professors escorted them to each classroom. Potions was a trial, as Snape was feeling foul-tempered following the loss of the unicorn blood. He directed his unpleasantness towards Neville and Seamus in particular, who were notorious for exploding their cauldrons. He didn't specifically target Harry, but perhaps he was hoping to get additional unicorn blood from him in the future. Snape was free to think whatever he pleased, as long as it stopped the man from bothering him.
Later that evening, the Phoenix Club took their seats in a corner of the Gryffindor common room, joined by their newest member, Neville. Now that they had less freedom to move around, his grandmother had enlarged the common room and added more furniture and activities for everyone to enjoy. They added several additional bookshelves, and there were areas set up to enjoy wizard's chest and gobstones, among other games.
The best thing deriving from the situation was that the students could visit the other common rooms besides their own. The professors likely believed that allowing students to hang out with their friends from different houses would provide them with some solace. Only Slytherin abstained from taking advantage of the privilege. It was unfortunate for the open-minded individuals who could get along with people from other houses. So far, the students were adjusting to the new reality, although a few sought help from Madam Pomfrey. Some of them were struggling to cope with the situation.
Another change was that the students noticed an increase in the presence of house elves within the castle, especially in the dormitories. Because of their inability to apparate everywhere at will, they were more noticeable. Hermione looked like she was going to pop a blood vessel every time she witnessed a house elf bow to a student.
"Yes!" Harry let out a triumphant whoop, causing his friends to turn their heads in his direction.
Daphne arched an eyebrow. "Based on your excitement, it seems like you have finally achieved success with your project."
"That's right," Harry said, holding up the appraisal scroll for everyone to see. It took him over an hour to inscribe it, but he had finally created a fully functional scroll. Incorporating his obscuring sequence into the two combined arrays proved to be the most challenging part of the finishing process. The schematic didn't have an obscuring sequence, which was a huge oversight on the Source's part. Still, the experience he gained from tackling the challenge was worth it.
"It looks like an ordinary piece of parchment," Terry laughed.
"That's how it's supposed to look," Harry scoffed.
"Well, what does it do?" Padma's eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"Harry, show us," Hermione said impatiently, bouncing in her seat.
"Watch and be amazed," Harry said with a bow. He laid the parchment on the table and then stole the book Hermione was reading. Laying it on the parchment, he patiently waited for it to work its magic.
"Did you have a reason for taking my book?" Hermione glared at him.
"Be quiet. It's working," Harry said, as the text appeared on the scroll. He removed the book and showed the contents of the scroll to his eager audience.
"It's a description of the book," Daphne said in realisation.
"How is that possible?" Padma asked.
Everyone looked at Harry for an explanation.
"I call it an appraisal scroll," Harry said. "It can identify an object and briefly describe its characteristics and functionality."
"What?" Hermione grabbed the scroll with excitement. "This is incredible!"
"Do you mean any object?" Daphne asked with disbelief. "Even ones with magical protections on them? What about dark objects?"
"I don't know," Harry said, although he was ninety per cent confident it could work on anything. "I need to conduct some further tests. But it should include descriptions of magical items with enchantments on them. While it may not provide every detail, the information suffices to serve as a starting point."
"Congratulations, Harry," Neville said quietly. "It is an amazing accomplishment."
"Thanks," Harry said. His girlfriend wrapped her arms around him and planted a passionate kiss on his lips.
"Ahem," Terry coughed as the kiss lingered for a little too long. After finally releasing him, Daphne leaned back in her chair, her face flushed. "Will you be patenting the invention and selling it?"
"That's the plan," Harry agreed with a nod. "Because of all my spending, my trust vault is looking quite empty. It will be replenished on my birthday, but that is still seven months away. The Artisan Guild provides a service for patenting your products. I will need to consult the handbook to determine the cost of the service."
"You won't be able to do anything until the castle frees us from its clutches," Tracy said glumly.
"If we can't go anywhere, then there won't be a need to spend any galleons," Padma pointed out logically.
"What is this item?" Master Footshredder inquired as he joined them at their table.
The old goblin had made himself at home in the Gryffindor dormitory, serving as an endless source of fascination for the students. They did not get to communicate with goblins beyond the brief interactions with the tellers at Gringotts, and he was surprisingly approachable. Master Footshredder had a lot of stories to tell, and Hermione found them fascinating. The greatest benefit was that he provided an alternate viewpoint on the goblin rebellions that Professor Binns taught.
Harry told him about the appraisal scroll's function, and the goblin looked visibly impressed.
"If you plan to sell that item, the goblins would be your first and most significant customer," he explained to Harry. "It would benefit the curse breakers who venture into tombs. It has the potential to save both gold and lives."
"Yeah, I'd need to patent it and recruit some Enchanters to make them," Harry said. "I can't produce sufficient quantities by myself."
Master Footshredder nodded in understanding.
"We will begin your training tomorrow," he informed Harry. "I'll meet you in the common room at sunrise to start your physical conditioning. I believe your grandfather will join us as well."
"Okay, thank you Master Footshredder," Harry said, hiding a grimace. "I look forward to it."
"There's no need to lie to me, dear student," Footshredder smirked, before walking away.
His friends turned to him with curiosity, wanting an explanation.
"Did I forget to mention that I have discovered a new ability?" Harry asked with an innocent expression.
Later that evening, hidden behind the drapes of his four-poster bed, Harry summoned the Source and looked at the message waiting for him.
The host has created the Appraisal Scroll x2!
General Experience: + 800
Skill Experience: [Elder Futhark Runes, Anglo Saxon Runes, Dexterity] + 400
Anglo-Saxon Runes has increased to level 2!
Progress to level 11: 3034/76800
Level 11 Unlocks:
Feature: Increased range of items in the Magic Emporium.
Item: The Double Tier Array Schematic.
Harry smiled. Earlier on, he had inscribed a second scroll and shown it off to his visibly impressed grandparents. Although he did not design the scroll himself, he invested considerable effort into replicating it and even made some adjustments. Perhaps he should also make one for Master Karlsson as well. He wanted an expert opinion from someone with comprehensive knowledge and experience in the profession.
He rose from his bed and entered the bathroom. After finishing his business, he made his way back to his bed. A noise in the hallway caused him to freeze in his tracks. It was a dreadful sound, reminiscent of hundreds of fingernails scraped across a chalkboard all at once. Adrenaline coursed through him as he summoned his wand, fully expecting that the source of the noise would soon invade his dormitory room.
The noise abruptly stopped, and nothing entered the dormitory. Harry waited anxiously for a minute, and just as he doubted whether he had actually heard anything, it suddenly started again. He glanced at the beds of his dormitory roommates, puzzled by their lack of reaction to the dreadful noise. Then he remembered the drapes had silencing charms on them. When the drapes were closed, they created a complete sound barrier, blocking any external or internal noise.
Harry clenched his jaw in determination as he made his way towards the door. Sometimes, he was too inquisitive for his own good. He cracked the door open and peered into the hallway. The sound had stopped once more, and there was nothing visible in either direction. He stood still, his hand tightly clutching his wand. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and he felt his instincts sending him a clear signal that something was about to happen.
Even though he was expecting something, it still startled him when a ghost suddenly appeared further down the hallway, drifting towards him. It was a woman, with waist-length hair and wearing a cloak that flowed down to her ankles. It wasn't a ghost he had seen before.
He was about to open his mouth to speak when she beat him to the punch. The woman opened her mouth, and the horrible noise emerged again. She tried to communicate with him, but some kind of filter that impeded her normal speech hindered her.
Before Harry could react, a second ghost emerged from the wall behind her, its blood-stained clothes starkly apparent. The Bloody Baron. Upon seeing the new arrival, the woman let out a piercing scream before vanishing into the wall. The Bloody Baron, without uttering a word to Harry, promptly followed her through the wall.
Harry placed his hand over his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart. What had he just witnessed?
So, what do you think? Who is the ghost attempting to communicate with him, and what prevents her from doing so?
Patrons get access to advanced chapters for all of my stories. Read my profile for information on how to join if you are interested.
Thanks for reading.