Phoenix Wings

Another Haunted Halloween At Hogwarts

This one is short and mostly sweet!  I have a longer one coming up next to make up for it.

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     An explosion of gasps and shrieks tore through the crowd that was huddled by the remains of the Fat Lady's portrait.  Everyone had a million questions, but the most common one was 'Is Black in the castle?'

     Dumbledore didn't answer any of them.  He promptly began ushering all the Gryffindors back the way they'd come.

     "All students are to return to the Great Hall!" he ordered.

     Elaine did not let go of Ginny's hand, lest they get torn apart in the throng.  She noticed Harry and his friends a few heads over in the crowd, being herded in much the same way.  Each of the students had a very similar expression on their faces — that of helpless confusion, and fear.

     They milled about the Great Hall, sticking in groups and not daring to venture far.  The other Houses joined them in quick succession, all looking baffled.  When Dumbledore did finally address them, silence immediately saturated the space.  They all looked to him eagerly.

     "The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle.  I'm afraid that, for your own safety, you will have to spend the night here."

     Most of the students gave indignant shouts, with the exception of Gryffindor, who knew what the fuss was about.  Elaine imagined that when they got to telling the rest of them what'd happened, they wouldn't be so unhappy about spending the night away from their beds.  Dumbledore didn't afford them much more, just a few vague instructions to Prefects and Head Boys and Girls.  He magicked them all up fluffy sleeping bags.

     "Sleep well," he said with an air of peace that Elaine knew was a front.  He closed the door behind him on his way out, barring them all in.

     The quietness that ensued was swiftly broken by the Gryffindors, filling the others Houses in on what they were lucky to have missed.

     Percy, who was seemingly in his element, barked at them to settle down and get into their sleeping bags.  There was a large commotion as every pupil of Hogwarts scrambled to grab one up with their friends.  Elaine and Ginny dove into the nearest two, and their dormmates weren't far behind them.  They slept on the other side of Ginny from Elaine.  On the other side of Elaine, Harry, Ron, and Hermione snatched the other three.  

     "How long do you think we'll have to stay here?" Mary asked.

     Holly answered, "Indefinitely.  It could take days to search this whole castle.  It's got tons of secret places to hide."

     Mary made a sorrowful sound and was comforted by Petra, who laid in the sleeping bag beside her.

     On her other side, two places over, Elaine heard Hermione's distressed whisper to her friends.

     "Do you think Black's still in the castle?"

     "Dumbledore obviously thinks he might be," Ron answered, and it was far from comforting.  

     Hermione shuddered, and so did the others.  So did Elaine.  She didn't see how any of them were expected to sleep tonight.

     "For once, why couldn't we just have a nice Halloween?" Elaine asked.

     "I'd still say it was better than last year's," Harry replied beside her.

     Elaine's dormmates were chittering amongst themselves, having a quiet yet lively debate about how Black had gotten into Hogwarts.  She guessed that all the other students were asking themselves the same question.  Hermione prattled on about the extensive protection enchantments placed on the castle.