CHAPTER 30
The Following Day - Great Hall, 7:14AM
Breakfast was a particularly somber affair.
News had spread of the explosions that had, quite literally, rocked Hogwarts to its core. McLaggen and George Weasley were still recovering from their injuries in the Hospital Wing, miraculously not dying after an almost 200 meter drop from the sky thanks to the latter's ingenious use of Protego Orbis. Rumors were abound that the McLaggen more than likely owed a Life Debt to Weasley, a tidbit Amy Wilkes couldn't wait to rub in the arsehole's face when he was released from the Hospital Wing.
The injured NEWT Potions students were also recovering in the Hospital Wing, some better than others. Penelope was the only lucid one, refusing to be parted from Percy's side. He'd bore the brunt of debris to protect her, and was currently recovering in a healing coma. The same was the case for the remaining NEWT students, with the exception of Martin Beccles. The poor Hufflepuff had been transferred to St. Mungo's due to the severity of his injuries, as the entirety of his head had fused to the pewter cauldron during the explosion. Likewise, Professor Snape had been transferred to St. Mungo's for immediate surgery. The explosion had caused bits of debris from the masonry and exploded cauldrons to embed themselves in his brain, resulting in a coma. Though Madam Pomfrey was an exceptionally skilled healer, head injuries that serious required a considerably more deft hand than she possessed.
Slytherin was particularly subdued at the temporary loss of their Head of House and Potions Master, a sentiment surprisingly shared by a considerable number of students in the other houses. While Snape was generally very strict and tended to show a bit of favoritism towards his serpents, he was regarded as highly capable and dedicated to all of his students' success regardless of House or blood status. Quite a few students across all the Houses had sent owls bearing charmed 'Get Well Soon!' cards and candies to his private suite in St. Mungo's, much to Eileen Prince's appreciation (and delight due to her infamous sweet tooth).
In Harry's case, his frustration warred heavily with his anger. For the infinity time he was extraordinarily grateful for his grasp of Occlumency, verging on Level 3. Had he not possessed the aforementioned abilities, he imagined he too would be infirmed in the Hospital Wing or St. Mungo's for suffering a massive nervous breakdown. His mentor and uncle-in-all-but-blood had been taken from him, much like his beloved mother. Granted while the man would inevitably come out of his healing coma, it still felt the same. It didn't escape the younger Potter's notice that Severus had been attacked just when he'd indicated that he'd be willing to speak with the Hydra to see just whom the elusive Heir of Slytherin was. Harry snorted in spite of himself, causing Blaise and Theo to give him matching questioning looks.
Ignoring his two friends, Harry focused on eating his meal, doing his best to chew on his rashers between sips of apple juice. To his left he heard Luna softly humming whilst arranging her rashers and cut up fruit into shapes of what she called gulping plimpies and weetimorousbeasties. Chuckling in amusement at the blonde' antics, Harry turned his head towards the Head Table. With the exception of his mother and Snape, all others were in attendance.
Including Professor Hagrid, who, oddly enough, was not eating his meal. Instead he was staring rather forlornly at his plate, more content to play with his food as he balanced his massive head on a meaty hand. Harry stared at the half-giant, his mind spurring like a kaleidoscope as his abductive Legilimens ability pieced together critical bits of information tucked deep within the pockets of his mind.
Like how Professor Hagrid had been enrolled at Hogwarts during Tom's tenure.
Like how they hadn't only been enrolled, but had been great friends, their friendship enduring beyond their graduation and lasting till the present day.
Like how Hagrid actually hadn't graduated in 1945 with Tom and the rest of his classmates, but rather in 1950 when Tom had officially claimed the Gaunt Seat and Lordship.
Like how his graduation had been delayed because of an incident that had occurred in their Fourth Year, resulting in Hagrid earning an indefinite suspension that lasted for five years.
With a sudden whir-click, Harry felt the mental pieces fall into place.
"Hey Theo, Blaise, Luna," asked Harry after a few moments. "Are you three busy this afternoon?" The three Slytherins turned curiously towards their friend.
"Save for Hermione's joint study review for all our upcoming finals, my schedule is completely open." Luna was staring at a spot right above Harry's head, tilting her head curiously as his nargles shifted from his usual forest green to a glowing azure and began thumping their legs together, causing their ouroboros formation to look as though it was vibrating. "Seems like you're suspicious of something…or someone, and are excited to tell us about it. Something to do with all that's going on perhaps?" Harry could only smile at her persistently keen perceptiveness as Theo and Blaise exchanged confused glances.
"Hm…something like that."
The Gamekeeper's Hut, Six Hours Later…
Four pairs of wide could only stare as Professor Dumbledore flamed into Professor Hagrid's admittedly cozy abode in a fury, wand held aloft and ready to attack as his resplendent phoenix sat proudly atop his shoulder.
"Headmaster?!" asked Blaise incredulously. "What are you doing here?!" Dumbledore turned to stare intensely at all four of them, before infinitesimally relaxing his tense form.
"Children, I detected an unregistered and illegal Portkey being utilized in this exact location. Why are you four here? What happened? Where is Professor Hagrid?" Drawing on the reserves of his cunning Slytherin-ness and Occlumency capabilities to look and sound as believable as possible Harry replied:
"Not sure Professor Dumbledore. We just came in here to speak with Professor Hagrid about next year's CoMC curriculum. About halfway through our convo he got a personal owl, I believe from his brother? He looked properly spooked and Porkeyed right out."
"Yes sir," said Blaise quietly. "His brother Gunther, he's my mother's personal butler. He's been having a few health issues lately, and according to Gunther the two are pretty close." Blaise frowned as though he were truly upset, causing Dumbledore's shrewd expression to melt away.
"Brotherly ties…that's something I can understand all too well." His countenance became inscrutable for less than a millisecond before smoothing once more. Luna blinked, noticing the almost minute change in his nargles. "Nevertheless, I believe it's time you all returned back to your dormitories."
With zero hesitation all four Slytherins thanked the Professor and left the Hut, making sure they were well past the halfway point of their path before thinking to talk in hushed whispers (Harry cast a Muffliato just to be on the safe side).
"Blimey, that was unnerving!" Theo shuddered as though to prove his point.
"True, you could tell Dumbledore was genuinely spooked for a moment there." Three incredulous glances turned at Luna's statement.
"How could you tell that?!" asked Theo incredulously.
"His nargles of course! His are like bumblebees that sway back and forth in a hive-like formation, a pretty golden color too. They look pretty docile most of the time, but when he flamed in with Fawkes they were a deep orange, their stinger-like ends exposed and poised to attack." Three incredulous stares met her statement, but after a moment Harry nodded thoughtfully in acquiescence.
"So…" said Blaise quietly. "Do you plan on telling us exactly what made you think Professor Hagrid had anything to do with all of this Heir of Slytherin and Chamber of Secrets nonsense?" Harry snorted in response.
"Like I said, I literally cannot." He leveled a sly look at his friend. "Unless you're secretly conspiring against me and have some secret agenda meant to render me into a squib." Blaise rolled his eyes while Theo snorted, but Luna, oddly enough, just stared unblinkingly above Blaise's head.
"Fine, fair enough. Too bad we didn't learn anything from Hagrid, shame we wasted our afternoon." Harry had no response to that, because his friend wasn't entirely correct. Prior to his abrupt departure Hagrid had spelled a bit of paper into Harry's coat pocket. A small bit of paper he'd only had a chance to briefly glance at when following behind his friends as they'd exited the hut.
'Well, at least now I know that Hagrid's not the Secret Keeper either!'
25 April 1993 - Headmaster's Office, 11:22AM
"You've got to be bloody joking!" Fred Weasley's outraged tone rang out quite loudly, causing a few of the room's occupants to wince in response. George - seated next to his brother - felt himself slowly sag in exhaustion and defeat.
Dumbledore could only sigh, though his expression looked no less severe. "I am certain Mr. Weasley, I am not." He gestured to the potion phials on his desk, specifically the exact same four containing the modified Polyjuice Potion that had been stolen weeks prior and implicated in Jim Potter's brutal attack.
"And neither am I! Blimey Professor, you can't possibly think that me and George had anything to do with all this craziness that's been happening?! Blimey this is a joke!"
"Quite frankly Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore replied with noticeable asperity, "I am at the point where I am not certain what I should think at this point. There is a veritable madman running amuck in our school Petrifying students and Professors alike, the same madman who used explosive runes to blow up the only feasible means of curing the aforementioned victims. On top of that, it is revealed that one of the tools utilized in the attack of a Hogwarts student was discovered in your shared bedroom with your twin. So no Mr. Weasley, I am quite certain that I am in no way joking!" The older wizard ended in a yell, causing almost everyone in the room to jump in surprise. It was very rare to hear the usually genial man shout, even when he was visibly angry. It seemed the events of the months past had been getting to him.
"Headmaster," said Lockhart quietly. Everyone turned to the direction of the DADA Professor, whose expression looked uncommonly placid despite the seriousness of his tone. "I have mentioned this before when the potion phials originally went missing, but I believe it is worth repeating. I do not believe that Mr. Weasley was or is responsible for utilizing his modified Polyjuice to instigate that most violent attack on his own Housemate." Fred felt a touch of hope at the DADA Professor's defense of himself. That faded, however, at Percy's derisive snort.
"Something to say oh Perfect Prefect Percy?" George glared unseen at the side of Fred's head at his unnecessarily snide tone.
"Something to say?!" replied Percy incredulously. "You expect me to believe the two biggest bullying arseheads in all of the British Isles aren't involved in this perpetual madness, likening it all to some elaborate prank?! Please! Your entire tenure at Hogwarts has been filled with nothing more than carefully concocted schemes of childish cruelty against all of your classmates!" McGonagall's lips thinned at the insinuation, regretfully reminded of another Gryffindor prefect making the exact same accusation against another group of prank-loving Lions so many years ago. "You expect me to believe that you had nothing to do with this?! Merlin's sake, the evidence was found in your bloody rooms!"
"Yeah, evidence." Fred's snide tone caused Percy's eyes to narrow dangerously. With measured steps he walked to stand directly in front of his brother, lowering his gaze until his dark brown orbs were level with Fred's blazing hazel.
"I am quite aware," he hissed coldly, "of your willful ignorance towards the rules and regulations that govern these hallowed halls. But according to Section 3, Paragraph 19 of the Hogwarts Prefect Guidebook, an eyewitness may report an incident of interest to a Prefect for further investigation by said Prefect." His voice lowered threateningly as Fred's eye twitched in anger. "Said Prefect may choose to escalate the situation up to a faculty member based on the urgency of the incident. Should said incident be one so grave that it devolves to being one of life or death, then the Prefect may take the initiative to investigate the matter and escalate up to faculty."
"Have you lost the bloody plot?! Life or death?!"
"FOR LIFE OR DEATH!" Everyone jumped at his volume, not used to seeing Percy Weasley of all people yell. "Need I remind you that Jim Potter's life was threatened with certain death when you used your modified Polyjuice Potion to attack the Boy-Who-Lived! And what's worse is that you probably thought it to be one grand 'ole PRANK!" Fred sputtered indignantly as his face purpled in anger, though George looked noticeably stricken. That his elder brother thought so lowly of him and his twin was a testament to how badly fractured their relationship truly was. Unbidden, Percy's confrontation on that fateful September morning sprang to his mind. To his enduring shame, he felt the weight of his older brother's words heavily settle over his person, knowing deep within him that their marauding legacy was about to bite him and his twin in their collective arses.
McGonagall's loudly cleared throat helped diffuse some of the tension, though not enough of it as Fred and Percy continued to glare at each other.
"Messrs Weasley, I kindly ask the both of you to calm down so we may properly continue this discussion." Fred continued to fume but settled down next to his Twin while Percy woodenly resumed his seat near McGonagall and Lockhart. "Thank you. Now, onto the other matter of the incident in Greenhouse 3." George stiffened at Lockhart's eyes lightly narrowed. "According to Prefect Weasley, he also received an anonymous tip from an eyewitness that the-"
"Oh bullocks!" McGonagall sputtered at Fred's language. "George saved McLaggen's life! If it weren't for him I reckon that smarmy little arse would've been blown sky high with the rest of the mandrakes! Or would you all have preferred a bloody corpse to deal with!"
"FRED!" George's tone was uncommonly sharp, startling his twin who had never been spoken to in that manner by his other half. "That's…that's enough." He sagged once more in his seat, looking as exhausted as he felt and sounded. While he was fully recovered from his ordeal, the emotional weight of the entire fiasco was bearing down very heavily on him. "What…what would you require of me to prove my innocence that I was not involved in drawing the explosive runes that blew everything up?
"George you can't be-"
"Fred." The tone was clipped and stony, enough to quiet his twin down though he did not cease his scowling.
"Please, hand over your wand to Professor Lockhart to be subject to the Reverse Spell, otherwise known as Priori Incantem. It will reveal what spells were cast within the last week at the most."
George hesitated a moment before handing over his wand - 11 1⁄2 inch dogwood with unicorn hair - over to Lockhart, who looked to be holding back a grimace. Touching his wand to Weasley's, the Professor cried "PRIOR INCANTATO!". The ghostly forms of the spells the younger wizard had cast spring from his wand. Most were fairly tame, and quite a few were rather juvenile. George almost sighed in relief before the spell sigils shifted to that of the Pyrologos Flagrate Spell, often used in rune-writing for ritual magicks. Lockhart's expression tightened as he sharply looked over to George Weasley, practically radiating disappointment as he iterated to the professors that George's wand did in fact indicate that he'd drawn the explosive runes.
"It was me." George's head whipped to Fred, a movement mimicked by all the room's occupants. "I stole George's wand and used it to create the explosive runes. I stole them from his personal notes. Thought it'd be - like Prefect Weasley here said - a bloody good prank." He smiled with all of his teeth, eyes burning in an uncommon intensity.
"Are you mad?!" his brother exclaimed. "You take that back this instant!"
"Will not!"
"Will too!"
"Take it back Fred! Take it back this instant! I won't have you ruin your life over this rubbish. Merlin mum will kill you!"
"And you don't think she'll kill you for taking the fall for something you were clearly framed for?"
"THAT'S NOT THE BLOODY POINT!"
"THERE IS NO OTHER BLOODY POINT!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Both brothers started at the sound of the Headmaster's intimidating voice. Breathing heavily and refusing to stop glaring at the other, both Twins' resumed their seats, having resorted to standing during their scream-match. A few moments passed before Dumbledore, eyes shining in disappointment, spoke again: "Unfortunately Messrs Weasley, you've left me with no other choice."
Twenty Minutes Later…
With an expression schooled into grim satisfaction, Percy Weasley briskly marched out of the Headmaster's Office. As it stood, Fred and George Weasley were suspended for the remainder of the school year, pending further investigation by the Hogwarts Board of Governors for the final disciplinary outcome. Percy was hopeful that with Lucius Malfoy's influence, the two ginger git extraordinaires would be summarily expelled from Hogwarts.
With deliberate steps the Gryffindor Prefect made his way to the Common Room and straight upstairs to his personal study in the Prefect's Alcove, located next to three other rooms similar-sized rooms used by the other Gryffindor Prefects.
Upon entering and locking his door, Percy was suddenly overcome by a powerful bout of nausea. Eyes comically bulging he raced to the ensuite bathroom, barely making it to the toilet in time as he violently vomited all of the contents of his stomach for almost fifteen uninterrupted minutes. With fumbling hands he reached into his knapsack and pulled out an anti-nausea, stomach soother, and Pepper-Up, downing all three in quick succession and fighting not to vomit them back up. It took close to ten minutes, but Percy slowly felt his nausea subside as his head finally stopped swimming.
Groaning, he flushed the toilet one final time he made his way to the sink to wash his hands, looking up to stare at his reflection.
His true reflection.
It was not Percy Weasley that stared back from the reflective surface. It was his baby brother Ron. The same baby brother who'd incapacitated him, knocking him out with a parseltongue Stupefy and tying him up with an Incarcerous, leaving him on his bed in his bedroom. He'd gone as far as to spell some Dreamless Sleep directly into Percy's stomach, ensuring he wouldn't awake for the next few days at the least.
Finishing his ablutions Ron exited his brother's study, stopping by his room to pick up his necessary supplies before heading to his next location.
'On to Phase Two.'
The Staff Room, 4:49PM
The Staff Room was teeming with an unexpected amount of activity as quite a few students from each House milled about. Located in the back of the Great Hall, the entrance to the adjoining room was located to the back left of the High Table that seated the staff during meals. It was primarily utilized as a lounge area and faculty meeting room for when Dumbledore preferred staff meetings to be informal and not in his office. Most notably was the massive floor-to-ceiling fireplace that occupied almost the entirety of the room's backwall. In centuries past it was used by the Headmasters and Headmistresses to receive the Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot during parent visits, receiving foreign dignitaries for diplomatic events, and hosting international students for interschool cooperation affairs.
It was here that the rather large group of current students and select members of the faculty congregated, wondering why in Circe's name they'd been called to the Faculty Room in the first place. In addition to the Head Boy and the bulk of the Prefects, the other attendees included Theo Nott, Blaise Zabini, Yurika Haneda, Luna Lovegood, Susan Bones, Zachariah Smith, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hannah Abbott, Alicia Spinnet, Amy Wilkes, Cormac McLaggen, Hermione Granger, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnegan, and the Patil Twins. With the exception of Lockhart, Babbling, and Trelawney most of the faculty were in attendance as well. Even Filch, who stood in a far side corner and oscillated between cooing and cuddling Mrs. Norris and glaring at the room's members.
The most conspicuous absences were Harry Potter, Miranda Bonnevie, Cassius Warrington, Jim Potter, Ron Weasley, and Percy Weasley. The Slytherins (with the exception of Cassius) were currently at the Library, individually working on completing their homework assignments and thus missing their summons to appear. All of the Gryffindors - including Percy Weasley - were unaccounted for, which was quite strange considering that Prefect Weasley was the source of the summons for almost everyone in the room.
Nonetheless, it seemed everyone in attendance (despite their lingering confusion) was content to wait for Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall as they engaged in conversation. Luna Lovegood was engaged in a hearty conversation with Amy Wilkes and Hannah Abbott, describing the unique configurations of their nargles to the slightly amused if not thoroughly confused witchlings. Justin, Cedric, Susan, and Yurika were eagerly chatting with Professor Flitwick regarding their upcoming Charms final, a move mimicked by Hermione and Padma as they chatted with the remaining Prefects about their OWLs and NEWT classes, much to the amusement of Head Boy Jeremy Stretton. Sprout was busily discussing the upcoming astrological cycle with Sinistra, hoping to begin replanting the botched mandrake crop. Cho was busily chatting with Professor Hooch regarding the upcoming women's quidditch season and what it meant for the Holyhead Harpies now that Gwenog Jones was still in a coma.
"WHAT IN MERLIN'S NAME ARE ALL OF YOU DOING HERE?!" McGonagall had finally arrived, her furious shriek thick with her Scottish brogue.
All conversation scratched to a pause, so silent you could hear a pin drop. Flitwick informed her that all the Professors present had received her explicit written correspondence to converge in the Staff Room to discuss a pressing school issue. Likewise, the Head Boy and Prefects iterated that they'd received her summons through Percy Weasley for them to gather there. Naturally McGonagall grew more outraged as she very loudly repeated that not only had she not spoken to Percy Weasley for almost three hours, she hadn't, in fact, asked for any of them to meet her anywhere! Least of all in the Staff Room!
There was a sudden strange and distinctly loud noise coming from the bathroom adjoining the room, almost as if…someone was rattling the door.
"What the devil is going on there?" asked Cormac in confusion.
"Not sure…sounds like someone's trying to get in." Padma looked a touch apprehensive, wondering why anyone would be coming from the bathroom and not the room's actual entrance.
Madam Hooch - standing closest to the rattling door - rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Oh hold your Abraxans, I'm coming!" Unholstering her wand - 9 ½ inch Chestnut with dragon heartstring - she cast "ALOHOMORA!" The bathroom door swung open. Eyes widening in shock Madam Hooch made to swear viciously before she keeled over backwards, completely Petrified. A horrifyingly earthshaking hiss filled the Staff Room, causing many eyes to widen. Turning to the direction of the frightfully horrendous noise Cho's eyes comically widened as she made to scream, before keeling over as well, equally Petrified.
Bedlam erupted.
The sheer impossibility of a creature that size somehow fitting in the Staff Room, let alone the washroom from which it emerged, was such a surprise that most of those present couldn't help but look at the monster in amazement. And it is the nature of the mighty basilisk that to look upon it for any length of time is to be defeated by it. Most of the faculty and students were petrified before they could even draw wands, falling downward with hollow thuds. Standing near the entrance Blaise and Theo had turned around instinctively at the first sign of trouble and were turned into statues, blocking the door against anyone else trying to escape. Theo Nott's frozen fingers were almost in place to twist his Notice-Me-Not ring before they were stilled. Marcus Flint and Emily Rossum were locked in a half-embrace when the Basilisk's eyes found them, with Marcus protectively positioning his body in front of hers as he unholstered his wand. Padma and Parvati - flocking to the other in the midst of danger - were huddled tightly together, wands held aloft as they made to cast Protego. They never stood a chance as the fell over as one, petrified.
Sinistra and Sprout (along with three Prefects) had placed themselves between the monster and the children who were not yet petrified and tried to protect them all with a Protego Maxima, forgetting in their collective haste that the Protego shield (even with a Maxima modifier) was transparent and as such held no defense against a basilisk's gaze. To protect his charges, Flitwick unleashed a deadly flock of ravens armed with razor-like talons that would have flayed any lesser creature alive, but they all dropped to the ground like stones before they could inflict any damage. The diminutive professor and the four students standing beside him followed his summoned birds into petrification barely a second later.
Amy Wilkes could only watch with horrified eyes as her classmates and friends fell down petrified and immobile. Not yet ready to die, she grabbed the arm of the witch closest to her. It was Luna, who could only watch aghast as her friends and classmates met their untimely demise. Screaming at the blonde to "KEEP YOUR EYES CLOSED!", Amy turned her eyes downward and practically dragged the blonde into the massive Floo and pushed their bodies against a set of bricks that she'd noticed stood in sharper relief than the others upon her entry into the room. That action activated a false wall that deposited them in a tiny alcove before turning back to its initial position. Living with Lord Goyle and his moods had taught Amy to always be aware of an escape plan. She and Luna huddled tightly together, eyes closed and not making a single sound.
The last adult in the room focused her attention not on fighting the monster but on protecting the few children not yet petrified. McGonagall lashed out with her wand, and a large sofa flipped itself up and over before melting into the shape of a protective opaque dome that landed on top of Cormac, Neville, and Hermione. However, this attracted the monster's attention towards her. She jumped, and her form suddenly flowed like mercury, but it was a brown tabby cat with spectacle-like markings around its eyes that landed on the floor and fell over, petrified.
The only ones who remained were the three students huddled underneath McGonagall's improvised barrier. Almost immediately Hermione Granger set herself to the task of transfiguring a hole in the floor through which they might escape, assisted by Cormac McLaggen who poured quite a bit of power into spells. In the midst of pandemonium, both had seemingly forgotten their past animosity and worked together to help ensure their escape. Taking a deep breath, Neville allowed his happiest memory to wash over him, softly smiling as he keenly remembered the smell of sea salt and the invigorating feeling of ice-cold waves crashing over him.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
Hogwarts Library, Eleven Seconds Later…
Bent over his Charms exam review syllable (courtesy of Hermione's meticulous planning) with quill scratching away, Harry was suddenly interrupted by the sudden arrival of the medium-sized glowing grizzly bear Elby. He felt his stomach leaden as he felt dread settle in. 'This can't be good.'
He wasn't the only one, as quite a few other students either looked on in awe or screamed in fright at the sight of it. Miranda Bonnevie was the former, openly gawking at the corporeal Patronus. Her shock was further compounded when the beast spoke in the terrified voice of Second Year Neville Longbottom!
"HARRY! SEND HELP! ME, HERMIONE, CORMAC AND A BUNCH OF US FROM LOCKHART'S RESEARCH TEAMS ARE TRAPPED IN THE STAFF ROOM WITH A BASILISK! EVERYBODY ELSE IS ALREADY PETRIF-...OH NO! HAR-"
Without a second of hesitation Harry immediately unholstered his wand and yelled "PACK FAST!", watching his items neatly place themselves in his knapsack in record time. He swung the bag over his shoulder and raced from the Library, with Miranda Bonnevie (unknowingly) hot on his tail.
Harry slid to a stop near the door to the Staff Room so suddenly that Miranda nearly fell into him. He turned around sharply, glaring a hole into the suddenly nervous witch's head. But then, Luna's cryptic words regarding masks flittered through his mind.
"Do you have a mirror on you?"
Miranda looked startled at the non-sequitur, but she nonetheless fished a compact mirror out of her robe. He took it and dropped to one knee before slowly edging the mirror in front of the open door less than a foot above the floor. He didn't want to make direct eye contact with the Basilisk should it still be mucking about. It was a moot point, though, as there was no sign of the creature – just a score of petrified wizards and witches, professors and students alike. Marcus and Emily in their half embrace. A petrified Minerva-cat laying on its side. Neville crouched defensively in front of Hermione (and McLaggen!) who were kneeling next to the almost ten-inch wide hole the two had transfigured in the floor. Harry felt his heart pang painfully at his best friends' incapacitations. Another twenty seconds or so, and they'd have made it!
Harry and a horrified Miranda entered the room silently, edging carefully around the petrified forms of Blaise Zabini and Theo Nott which nearly barred the entryway. Harry felt that painful pang in his heart at seeing his other best friends cruelly felled. Nearly everyone he considered a friend or an ally had met their end in this room. Harry closed his eyes and took a moment to lock down his emotions, lest he crumbled in a nervous breakdown or lost himself entirely to an endless screaming rage.
A sudden movement in the Floo had Harry unholstering his wand in a flash, with Lacero at the tip of his tongue.
It was Luna and Amy, stumbling out of a hidden alcove groove. Their eyes were closed, though Harry didn't miss the tear tracks running down their faces.
"Luna! Amy! It's me, it's Harry! Open your eyes!" Two pairs of eyes flashed opened.
"HARRY!" In a flash Luna raced into his arms, hugging him tightly as she sobbed her eyes out. Harry hugged her just as tightly, needing an anchor amidst his own roiling emotions. Amy immediately ran over to where Hermione and Neville had been Petrified, silently crying while she stroked their ice-cold flesh with trembling hands.
"They're all gone." Miranda's voice was a shaky whisper, expression blanched as her eyes turned wet with tears. She slowly sunk to her knees as she continued to look around her in disbelief at the carnage. "What are we going to do?" Tucking a still sniffling Luna protectively into his side, Harry attempted to respond before he was immediately interrupted.
It was the Head Girl, Hufflepuff Tamsin Applebee. She looked uncharacteristically ruffled, hair loose from its short pigtails, tie askew, and eyes wide in panic. They widened even more upon seeing the sight before her, jaw dropping open.
"Tamsin?!" The witch jerked out of her stupor at Miranda's voice. "What's wrong? What happened?" The Hufflepuff's mouth moved without words for a few moments, literally at a loss for words. With a light growl Bonnevie rose from her kneeling position and lightly shook the girl to get some sense into her. "Come on Tamsin! What's going on?!"
"I-I-I was doing my rounds. You know, since the petrifications McGonagall assigned us to do more to help keep the student's safe." Her shell-shocked chocolate brown eyes landed on the frozen Transfigurations professor, growing even wider. "I…I came across the landing to the Second Floor, near the abandoned girls' lavatory." She shook her head as though to clear it. "It's…it's Professor Dumbledore…I found him…Merlin help us Miranda, the Headmaster's been petrified!"
AN 1: Percy vs. the Twins Round 2, I kind of like them squaring off against each other.
AN 2: "PACK!" is actually a spell according to HP Wiki, so I assumed it can be used with English-based modifiers.