Pansy was standing behind the doors of the Great Hall. Her heart pounded with anticipation if not dread. Suddenly, an urge to go elsewhere was all over her, but she couldn't move. The day before, in the evening, she received a letter from her parents with instructions. She did not want to follow such instructions but could do nothing but follow what she was told to do. She swallowed her nerves, entered the hall, and walked to the Slytherin table, trying to be as normal as she could be.

The hall was packed, buzzing with students talking to each other. The only exceptions were in the Gryffindor table, in the area where the second years were sitting. Dean was seated without eating, and Seamus was trying to cheer him. Lavender and the other Gryffindor's first years were silently eating. Even Ron was calmer than usual, not eating at his regular speed.

The Headmaster then stood up and called for the attention of all the students, "My dear students, faculty, and staff," Dumbledore began. "It is with a heavy heart that I must address you today. As many of you are aware, our school has been afflicted by an unfortunate event."

A collective intake of breath rippled through the assembled crowd, anticipation hanging thick in the air.

"It grieves me deeply to inform you that Miss Hermione Granger, a bright and beloved member of the Gryffindor house, has been found petrified," Dumbledore continued.

Gasps of shock and disbelief filled the Great Hall as the news sank in. Students exchanged worried glances, their expressions a mixture of fear and concern.

"In light of recent events, I am implementing new safety measures," Dumbledore announced his voice firm. "Effective immediately, students are not to wander the halls unaccompanied. They must be supervised by a teacher or a prefect at all times. After class, they will be escorted to their respective common rooms. If they require access to the library, they must first approach an available prefect in their common room for assistance."

He paused, allowing his words to sink in, his gaze sweeping across the sea of faces before him.

"I understand that these changes may seem drastic, but the safety and well-being of our students are paramount," Dumbledore continued, his tone unwavering. "We must remain vigilant and united in the face of adversity. Together, we shall overcome these dark times and emerge stronger than ever before."

With those final words, Dumbledore concluded his address. The Great Hall remained silent, the solemnity of the moment weighing heavily upon the hearts of all who witnessed it. Suddenly, a single person stood up, taking the attention of everyone present.

Steeling herself against the tremors coursing through her limbs, Pansy Parkinson took a deep breath and looked to the front, where the professors were sitting, and then she started to walk in that direction.

As Pansy neared the high table where Dumbledore presided, she could feel the other students' stares burning holes in her robes. She tried to ignore them, focusing instead on the man that has become either a target or a trampoline. Her hands gripped the parchment clutched in her fist tightly enough to leave imprints.

When she finally stood before him, she said, "Headmaster Dumbledore, I want to know the reason why you have not purchased the Restorative Draught for the petrified students." Her nervousness and hatred for the position she found herself in made her speak with a touch of bitterness in her tone that not even she could hide.

Unsurprised by her ire, Dumbledore answered, "Miss Parkinson, rest assured that the school is working tirelessly to procure the Draught. Its cost is exorbitant, and while we would love nothing more than to provide immediate relief, we must also ensure that funds are allocated wisely. Not only that. Due to the –". Before the Headmaster could explain that creating the Potion inside Hogwarts was safer, Pansy cut him.

"Wise use of funds?" Pansy spat out, her voice rising. The whole hall looked at her. "How can you speak of 'wise use of funds' when you refuse to help the very students who need it most?" A murmur spread through the crowd.

Dumbledore inclined his head slightly, acknowledging her frustration without yielding ground. "I assure you, Miss Parkinson, that no decision taken in this hall is without careful consideration."

Undeterred, Pansy pressed on. "If funds are the problem, why is the Ministry not taking care of it? After all, Hogwarts is a public and free school. So, why is a politician who knows about the problem, a politician like the Supreme Mugwump and Chief Warlock, unable to move his strings to help? It seems more like you are waiting for the whole problem to be resolved by itself."

Severus Snape stood up, but Professor Lockhart put a hand on Snape's chest to stop him, and with the other, he used it to comb his hair back. "Amazing! Miss Parkinson, your words truly had the feeling of TRUE FRIENDSHIP." He then winked at her, "Very well done. Unfortunately, even when so many tales want you to think that 'the power of friendship' would resolve all the problems, reality says otherwise."

Lockhart then turned to the Headmaster. "I applaud the student for bringing to our table the very reality that the Headmaster does possess a very advantage over all of us because of his political position." The Professor then turned to the students and covered his face as in sadness, and his other hand was above his chest, where the hearth should've been. "I had already contacted some people. I do have better communication with the Hag that survived, but she has told me that she does not possess the ingredients necessary for the Potion, though, I don't think that in WHOLE Europe, or any country in the International Confederation of Wizards, don't have the needed ingredients with the quality required."

He then turned to the Headmaster while the students were buzzing with murmurs, "Of course. The full extent of the duties of a Supreme Mugwump is unknown to me, so I do think that the Headmaster has already tried to do something in that regard." Lockhart then turned to the Headmaster, smiled at him, and nodded before sitting again.

Dumbledore nodded back and smiled at him. "Perhaps there is some truth to your accusations, Miss Parkinson. We are, after all, human, and politics has not been used to its full extent for this situation. But rest assured that I am committed to finding a solution". The Headmaster would then nod at Pansy and the rest of the students. Pansy nodded back at Dumbledore and then walked back to the Slytherin table.

For anyone, she looked regal, almost angry, but her image of the Slytherin Princess had been cemented in the minds of everyone, the only student who would talk back at the Headmaster and not receive any punishment for it. Unknown to them was that Pansy felt like puking due to the nervousness, and when she sat, her legs started to shake. She had to continue with the charade.

A few students looked at her with awe, and one of them was Dean Thomas. He was depressed by Hermione's situation and looked at Pansy as the bravest person in the school. She was able to say what his heart had wanted to while he, a Gryffindor, was cowering at his table.

Draco was amazed, unable to understand what happened. He hadn't seen Hermione the day before, and Suzuki hadn't said anything about it. The news of Hermione being petrified was a shock that made him almost miss the whole situation with Pansy, which was another shock. Was she really that affected by Hermione's attack? He saw her sitting back, almost wanting to cry but making her best effort not to do it.

/*/

The classes restarted, and the professors tried to continue their lessons with normalcy. The Gryffindors and Slytherins, the second-year students, were on their way for Transfiguration, a class that Harry and Pansy were forced to attend due to the new school rules.

The class was assembled without any students missing, except those attacked, but the Professor was nowhere to be seen. The students were with some animals next to them. Pansy and Harry remained in the far corner without an animal to work with.

As the students waited inside the classroom, the silence was deafening, broken only by whispers and the occasional rustling of parchment. It was as if everyone was holding their breath, waiting for something or someone to break the silence.

Then, some noises were heard, and some students decided to walk to the door. Harry and the other students approached the door and found a scene they had never thought they would see. Professor McGonnagal was discussing with Professor Lockhart.

Professor McGonagall, her face a storm cloud of displeasure, facing off against none other than Professor Lockhart. The DADA teacher was standing straight, one hand on his back and another waving, to gesticulate his discomfort with the Transfiguration teacher.

"It is of VITAL IMPORTANCE that I, GILDEROY LOCKHARTH, have all the information and free reign to fix the problem.", explained the DADA teacher.

His words echo around the room, "It is of VITAL IMPORTANCE..." and the students, who, despite their earlier reluctance, now lean forward, eager ears straining to catch every word.

McGonagall, still not aware of the students watching the scene, scowled, "We have already told you that the Ministry would take care of it, Lockhart." She, of course, doesn't believe that the Ministry had the correct person, but she knew that she couldn't do anything, and it should alleviate the tension for the rest of the students.

Lockhart covered his face in a very dramatic way, "Oh, so naïve of you! OR that is what I wanted to say. Do you really believe that they would have the culprit? When did their investigation start? When did they step inside the castle?"

The transfiguration teacher frowned. "Are you implying anything, Lockhart? I have known you since you were my student. Your mannerisms have gotten worse, and you may have some connections to be in the current position. But here, we all have faith in our Headmaster."

"Such a shame!" said Lockhart in a malicious voice. "I am here because I was asked. Not because I move any 'connection.' I was not the son of a Ministry worker, after all. My vocation is to help, and maybe the destiny is what brought me here."

Professor McGonagall scowled. "Yes, you are no teacher!"

Lockhart smirked, "Of course I am not. Because, It is just as the saying goes, 'Those who can't do, teach'. But we are not here talking about the best wizard out of us. Magazines already talk enough about my humble self." Lockhart then put his free hand over his chest, "I am here to do what the supposedly 'strongest wizard in Britain' couldn't. As he is at the Ministry, and you, as his replacement due to your role as the Deputy Headmistress, should be able to give me the information needed so I can end this problem."

With a smirk, the Transfiguration teacher replied with a heavy Scottish accent, "You are right. I am the person in charge at the moment. Thus, I'll ban you from doing anything that was not asked of you, Lockhart."

Gilderoy would shake his head and exhale. Then he looked past the Transfiguration professor, "Fear not, students. That I, Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League, will protect you." He paused and then looked at Minerva McGonagall, "Even if pure-blood fanatics hide as professors do not want me to." He then left the place while Minerva was livid, with her face all red.

Draco, who was standing next to Harry watching everything, said in a low voice, "Father told me that Dumbledore is going to be sacked."

Professor McGonagall turned and entered her classroom. With just her eyes, she managed to get the students to return to their seats. The class was again in silence, and all the students looked at how the Professor created a cup of glass out of a tiny mouse and then used "Aguamenti" to fill it with water.

After a couple of moments, the class finally started. "Today, we shall discuss and recapitulate the spell we have devoted ourselves so far: Vera Verto." Her eyes narrowed as she paced the length of the room, her gaze fixed on the students, daring them to meet her eyes.

"Miss Dunbar," she called out, her tone cutting like ice. "Define for the class the precise wand movements required for the Vera Verto spell."

Fay Dunbar, taken aback by the intensity of the question, stumbled over her words before offering a shaky response. "Um, well, Professor, it's, uh, a series of intricate swishes and flicks, with a specific emphasis on the downward motion on the final flick," she stuttered, her confidence faltering under McGonagall's withering glare.

The Professor shook her head, "And could you tell us the exact intricate swishes and flicks that are needed?" The Gryffindor girl raised her wand, but the Professor stopped her, "Only with your hand. Let's not create an accident". The student nodded and did as told.

"Miss Patil, can you enlighten us as to the historical origins of the Vera Verto spell?"

Patil's eyes widened in panic as he racked his brain for an answer, any answer, that might appease his formidable Professor, "Uh, well, Professor, I think it originated in ancient Greece, but its exact origins are, um, somewhat disputed," she ventured tentatively, praying that McGonagall wouldn't see through his bluff.

"Now, Mr Potter. Enlighten us with the properties used for the spell," McGonagall asked, looking at Harry, who was reading the Potion books.

"MR POTTER!" yelled the Professor standing in front of Harry. Pansy elbowed Harry, who then looked at the Professor and then back to Pansy, "She is talking about another student, obviously. I mean, my last name is Suzuki."

McGonagall's lip curled in disdain, her patience wearing thin. "Mr Potter, I've accepted you back to this class, but you still have to earn your place."

Harry nonchalantly again speaks to Pansy in a clear voice, "See. This Potter guy wants to come back to this class. While we are here only because of the new rules, not out of our free will". Pansy had the urge to facepalm while some Slytherins began to laugh at Harry's comments.

After a few seconds, the class continued, and the tension in the room was palpable as the students struggled to keep up with their Professor's relentless interrogation. McGonagall, for her part, seemed to revel in their discomfort, her mood only growing darker with each incorrect answer.

Finally, the bell signaled the end of class.

McGonagall sighed deeply and asked her students to save all their school supplies. A knock sounded, and behind the door was a Hufflepuff prefect. Professor McGonagall asked him to take the Slytherins to their next class.

While the Slytherin students started to walk out, the prefect nodded to Pansy approvingly, something that surprised the Slytherin princess, but she did not show it.

/*/

At lunch, the Great Hall was full of students, who now needed to follow the schedule given to them. Surprisingly, a peach black owl with green eyes arrived in the afternoon with an oversized parcel. Its emerald eyes twinkled as it perched gracefully in front of Pansy Parkinson, delivering a mysterious package. Pansy then took the box and saw a letter at the top.

While this was happening, Harry decided to give the owl something to eat, and the owl accepted the food offering.

"Harry," a female voice called out shyly, her gaze darting away as though unsure of whether she should interrupt him. The Suzuki heir looked at the direction of the source and found the Weasley girl.

Harry looked at her for a moment while the girl was having second thoughts about what she was doing there. "Ginevra Weasley, correct?" The redhead girl nodded, evading his eyes. Her face was almost covered by her long, vivid red hair.

"How may I help?" asked Harry, confused by her sudden approach. 'Maybe,' he thought, 'she came to talk about Hermione. She is also a Gryffindor, after all.'

"I've got to… tell you something…" The youngest Weasley was interrupted when Pansy stood up when she re-read the letter. Pansy looked at Harry and frowned deeply for a second before calming down. She then looked at the Professor's table. She took the box and walked in the direction of the teachers.

Ginny froze for a moment, and when everyone was distracted looking at Pansy walking to the teachers, she decided to walk back to the Gryffindor table.

Ron saw everything and walked to stop Pansy. "What did you do to my sister?" asked Ron, upset. But when Pansy was about to only walk past him, he tried to grab her shoulder. Harry was already on his way, but Dean Thomas stopped Ron's arm.

Dean's face was unrecognizable, angry. "Mate, you better go back to the table," said the dark-skinned Gryffindor, trying to calm himself. Ron looked at Dean and frowned for a moment, then he yanked his arm and walked back to his table.

Dean nodded at Pansy and walked back to his table. Pansy, still confused about this sudden acknowledgment from people, decided to continue walking to the teacher's table.

Once she was at the table, the professors couldn't do anything but acknowledge her presence as the students started to look in their direction again.

"My father had contacted some of his colleagues outside Britain, and he was able to acquire the Draught needed for the students who were petrified," Pansy said to the teachers with a calm voice that did not reflect her inner tiredness. She was being used for what purpose? She doesn't know. Or maybe she does, but that was not the right moment to think about it.

The students started to buzz about what she just said.

"Oh, Miss Parkinson. It is DELIGHTFUL that a student such as YOURSELF could beat all the Professors, and even the Supreme Mugwump and Chief Warlock of our country with your resources." Said the Professor with a high spirit. "I must say that you just proved me wrong about the 'POWER OF FRIENDSHIP.' It is truly magnificent."

Mrs McGonagall clear her voice to let her presence be known. "Miss Parkinson. We do agree with Mr Lockhart about your dedication toward your friend. But unfortunately, we can not let the students use a Draught that we can confirm would work. I would ask you to take the potions back."

"BANG!"

The sound of the table being hit by Lockhart sounded around the Great Hall. All the students went quiet. "I oppose that decision. You have the solution in front of you, but you will act against it? Is it a predisposition against the Slytherins, the Parkinsons… or perhaps" he stopped dramatically, and all the students were attentive to his following words. "the Muggle-borns."

McGonnagal stood up in anger, "How dare you?!"

The other professors intervened; Professors Aurora Sinistra and Pomona Sprout stopped Minerva from lashing out. "Perhaps we should take this to the staff room," offered Professor Flitwick. The rest of the Professors agreed and started to walk to the door behind their table.

Snape looked with frowned eyes at Lockhart, who looked overconfident walking behind the other professors. Professor Snape opened the box that Pansy had presented and took one flask, then he turned to the Head-boy, Robert Hilliard, and said, "Make sure that no dunderhead leaves the Hall unsupervised." The Ravenclaw Head-boy nodded, and then the potions teacher left to follow his co-workers. And as a bad omen, a redhead girl left the hall without anyone noticing her.

Once Snape entered, he was welcomed by a series of screams against the DADA teacher. Snape was impressed that he was immune to the constant yelling of vulgarities from Minerva in Scottish English. Snape remembered that Lockhart used to be an overconfident Ravenclaw student, four years younger than him, but his current attitude seemed off and, at the same time, fitting.

"I'll no be fool by you," said Lockhart with his hands on his hips. "I did my research before coming. Halfblood, who did not want to go back to the Muggle world. A woman who was clearly in love with a Muggle but who decided that your life with a Muggle was not worthy. Too much Mundane, I suppose, or was your hate for Muggles? I wonder if that started with your father."

"YOU EEJIT NYAFF. THAT IS PERSONAL," Minerva yelled with all her strength. All the teachers frown at Lockhart, who is still impassive.

"Not when your personal problems are affecting students!" he said in a menacing tone, while his face turned into something darker, with a gaze that looked like it could kill a werewolf. For the first time, the Professors start to think that maybe Lockhart's goofiness was a mask and that his books may have some truth behind them.

The room was silent with immense tension. For that reason, Severus Snape cleared his voice to distract the other professors and stop them from harming each other. "I've acquired one of the flasks inside the box given by Miss Parkinson."

He took the flask from his robes and showed it to the other professors. "I can confirm that this Draught has been modified, perhaps to accelerate the process. The Potioner who crafted this should be very intelligent or way too stupid for the alteration. Thus, I can't confirm yet if it works or if it would do any harm to the students."

The whole staff was looking at him attentively, "but I can investigate its effectiveness before administering it to anyone." He then turns to the Herbology Professor, "Mrs Pamona, please continue with the Mandrakes." She nodded, and then he turned to the rest of the teachers, "Will this suffice to end this embarrassing situation?"

"I know you are committing a grave mistake. But hear me this. If a student is killed before Professor Snape ends his investigation…" Lockhart looked then directly at McGonagall's eyes, "I'll come for you." The Professor then walked to exit the room, and at the door, with his back to the teachers, he looked back and said, "All of you." Then he walked away.

The teachers remained in silence for a moment, and then someone spoke, "I have never seen him like that. I know he wrote about that in one of his books, but I always thought that it was for the sake of the suspense."

/*/

When Professor Snape left, Pansy decided to walk back and finally eat. But before she could arrive at her table, a bunch of students approached her, most of them Hufflepuffs.

"Is it true? Those are the cures for the petrification?" "How long have your parents been working on this?" "Are there any side effects we should know about?" "Why didn't you give it directly to the affected students instead of letting the teachers approve it?" "When will our friends start recovering?" "Do they need to follow any special instructions after taking it?" "Is there enough for everyone who needs it?" "If it doesn't work, do you think your parents have something else we can try?" "Are there any restrictions on age or health condition for using the cure?"

Pansy was startled, unable to understand them as most of them asked their question at the same time. It took Percy Weasley, the Head Boy Robert, Gemma Farley, and Cedric Digory to calm the students with their questions. Harry also arrived to stand next to Pansy.

Unfortunately for Pansy, the male prefects who helped her were also curious about it, and instead of sending them back to their seats, they told them that they should ask one by one. Then a Hufflepuff spoke up with one question: "When will our friends start recovering?"

Pansy shrugged nervously, "It should be immediately, but I don't know if they will be released from the Hospital wing that fast."

"How long have your parents been working on this?" asked someone else.

Pansy fortunately already knew how to answer, "I owled my dad about it when the first attack happened…" She then turned to see Harry and exhaled, "And when Hermione was attacked, I sent another owl."

For everyone, this interaction looked as if she was searching for strength in Harry. The reality was that Pansy eyed Harry to confirm her theory. After that, many other questions arrived, and most of them Pansy did not have the answer to, but the students were satisfied with her answers.

After a few minutes, the professors returned. The first to come back was Lockhart, who called for the Gryffindors and Slytherin's second year, as their class was next, and with that, Pansy left the hall and went to class.

When they entered the classroom, they found that there were no chairs, and at the side where the teacher's office should be, there was a big blanket.

"My dear pupils, today we shall delve into the arcane arts of self-preservation. In the realm of defense magic, one must be prepared for the unexpected. Hence, we shall harness the mystical powers of Spongify!" He then pointed behind him, and the blanket fell, revealing multiple objects.

Some students looked at him with some skepticism. Lockhart smirked, "Now, does any of you feel strong enough? What about you, Mr Finnigan?"

Seamus stepped to the front nervously. The Professor then turned his back, "Mr Finnigan, your job will be to throw me any object of your like to me. Then I'll demonstrate THE IMPORTANCE of acquiring this knowledge."

Seamus walked, grabbed a cement block, and looked back to the Professor, "Ar-Are you sure?"

"OF COURSE. Don't be shy, now!" said Lockhart while removing his cloak in a dramatic fashion, making the cloak wave completely open. Lockhart was standing straight with a confident smile, wearing a white shirt and a pair of khaki trousers. "Let's start with the exercise!" he yelled.

Seamus then threw the cement block at him, and the Professor slowly moved his wand in an "S" pattern and said, "Spongify!". A yellow light came from the Professor's wand and landed in the block, but it didn't stop its course, and the students saw with horror how the Professor was standing still. Many students closed their eyes when the clash was inevitable, while others looked away. Those who saw what happened were amazed at how neither the Professor nor the cement block looked affected.

Lockhart exhaled deeply, "My dear students. You must see the exercise to learn. It seems, Mr Finnigan, that we must repeat the exercise". Seamus nodded slowly, still amazed that nothing had happened to the teacher.

The second time the exercise happened, the student looked at how the cement block hit him, but the impact was harmless, as if the Professor had been hit by a pillow and not a cement block.

"Excellent! Thank you, Mr Finnigan." The Professor then turned to see the rest of the class. "My dear students, I have prepared the exercise for you to practice. It is really simple. But, DON'T BE AFRAID; of course, I won't make you throw objects at each other." The Professor made a charming smile while the students were still unsure.

Lockhart walked and grabbed his cloak. "My dear students. Your exercise will consist of selecting one object from the pile, throwing it into the air, and using the spell in it before it hits the floor. This is to make you train not only the spell but the speed of your wand too".

The students walked slowly and, one by one, started to select an object. Pansy grabbed what looked to be the back of a wooden chair. Meanwhile, Harry grabbed a piece of thin metal.

The class was a cacophony of noises from different materials. Some students were able to learn the spell right away; the problem was their speed and aim.

Suddenly, the Bloody Baron ghost appeared and spoke with the Professor. He frowned but nodded at the ghost who left the classroom. "Students, YOUR ATTENTION!" yelled the Professor and all the students turned to see him. "I need to announce that something has happened, and our class needs to be cut short. I'll escort all of you to your respective Common Room."

Lockhart raised his eyebrow to Harry very subtly, something that almost all the students missed, except for Draco, who frowned. The students then followed Lockhart. The Professor started to move in a very strange way. He asked the students to stop in any corner and instructed the students to remain close to the walls.

Due to all these theatricals, no one, except Draco and Pansy, noticed Harry detaching himself from the group. "I'll go back to the group as soon as I can. Cover me, please," said Harry to Pansy. Meanwhile, Draco was a few steps away, hearing their hushes.

"Are you mad? Another attack probably happened," said Pansy.

"I really need to the loo," Harry urged, but Pansy did not believe him. "I really need to go," said Harry now in a severe tone.

"No, you don't," Pansy crossed her arms, frowning. Harry couldn't do anything but smile. "I'd tell you why, but right now, it's not the moment." Then he just ran in the opposite direction. Pansy had no reason or will to go after him, but he was the only person close to her, so she wished for him to return safely.

Draco saw everything, and he also asked Crabbe and Goyle to cover him, and he left the group. Draco followed Harry, who, just like Lockhart, stopped at every corner, only for him to have a reason, as a group of Ravenclaws happened to pass close to them. Draco hid behind a column and then continued following Harry, who hid inside a classroom.

"[Message] the mission started," said Harry.

"Suzuki!" Draco said, entering the classroom.

"Draco?"

"What are you plotting? You and Lockhart…"

Harry looked at Draco with a confused face, then as if the answer hit him in the face, his expression changed, "Your father hasn't told you?"

"Tell me what?"

Harry shook his head, "Or maybe he did? Tell me, did he give you an instruction about the school or me?"

Draco frowned, remembering what his father asked him at the beginning of the school, 'Put distance from him, but find a way for both of you to still be on good terms. If you are able to enter the Quidditch team, it will make things easier.' Draco remembered that this was his plan to keep being close to Pansy, which did not work.

Harry smiled when he saw Draco's thinking face, "So he did tell you something."

"Just to try to be close to you without getting too much attention," said Draco.

"That… is kind of vague," Harry sighed, thinking, 'Maybe Demiurge decided to go for a different approach. No, maybe it is my fault for not saying anything. This is my mission, after all,' Harry sighed again. "Anyways, we should move. "

Harry was cut off when he saw Lockhart walking fast through the corridor. Lockhart's cloak moved dramatically in waves, even with no wind. Harry walked behind him, and Draco did the same after a moment of reluctance.

Lockhart opened the door with a 'BANG,' startling the Professors, who were already there. The door remained open, letting Harry and Draco hear everything.

"I saw the message on my way here!" said Lockhart dangerously. "Who is the victim?"

Silence remained momentarily, and then Pomona spoke, "A first year. Ginny Weasley. She did not show up at my class."

"I am afraid we will need to close the school," said McGonagall between sobs.

Lockhart clicked his tongue loudly, "Of course. Continue classes as if nothing had happened when Muggleborns are attacked. A Pureblood was attacked? How horrible! We need to close the school for the safety of the students." With a venomous voice, he looked at the teachers and spoke, "But I guess that if that is a decision, it means that there is nothing that can stop me from doing something anymore!"

Harry and Draco heard Lockhart coming out, and they started to run away. At some point, they stopped. Draco looked around, still with adrenaline pumping blood through his head so hard that he could hear his own heartbeat as the loudest thing around.

Harry raised his hand and said [Clairvoyance]. An orb of light only seen by Harry appeared, and Harry started to run following the orb. Behind him was Draco, who believed that he would give him the fastest path to the Slytherin Common Room. Unfortunately, they ended up in the second-floor girls' bathroom.

Draco ran behind Harry, and once inside the bathroom, he stopped for a brief breath. He looked to the floor with his hands on his knees. He heard then sounds of steps in front of him, and when he turned to see who that was, he was welcomed by a black tube pointed at him. Draco recognized the thing as a muggle weapon, but what startled him was the person pointing the weapon at him. A doll-faced girl with straight red-gold long hair, wearing an eyepatch on her left eye.