Professor Dumbledore called all the Gryffindors back into the Great Hall, and ten minutes later the Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, and Slytherins arrived, all looking confused.
"The staff and I will be conducting a thorough search of the castle," Professor Dumbledore told the students as Professor McGonagall and Flitwick closed all the doors of the Great Hall."For your own safety, I think you'll be spending the night here." I asked the prefects to stand guard at the entrance to the Hall, and the Head of the Boy and Girl Union to remain in the Hall to manage it. Report to me at once if anything happens,"he added to Percy, who looked very important and proud." Get a ghost to bring it to me.”
Professor Dumbledore paused, about to leave the Hall, and said,"Oh, right, you'll need it."
With a casual wave of his wand, the long tables flew to the edge of the Hall and stood against the wall; With another wave, the ground was covered with hundreds of purple sleeping bags.
"Sleep well." said Professor Dumbledore, closing the door behind him as he left.
The Great Hall was immediately filled with a buzz of excited voices: The Gryffindors were busy telling the others what had happened.
"Everyone, get into your sleeping bags!" yelled Percy."Come on, no more talking! Lights out in ten minutes!"
"Come on." Bunce said to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who seized four sleeping bags and dragged them into a corner.
"Do you think Black's still in the castle?”said Hermione anxiously.
"Not here." Bangs said as he opened his sleeping bag.
"But Dumbledore obviously thinks so.”said Ron.
"You're too naive, Ron.”Bance said.
"You didn't tell us." said Harry.
"It's not time yet. You have to know that if you tamper with the future without authorization, the consequences will be very serious. Hermione should know a thing or two about this.”said Bunce, looking meaningfully at Hermione.
"How do you know I've got-" said Hermione, startled.
"What do you have?" said Harry and Ron together.
"It's nothing." said Hermione, changing the subject in a veiled manner."We're lucky he picked tonight, you know? Tonight is the night when none of us are in the tower."
The four of them got into their sleeping bags and leaned on their elbows to have a heart-to-heart talk.
"I reckon he's been living his life in a daze, because he's been on the run," said Ron."Didn't realize it was Valentine's Day. Otherwise, he wouldn't have barged in."
"Don't jump to conclusions, Detective Ron.”said Bunce, smiling. Harry and Hermione both chuckled, and Ron went as red as a monkey's butt.
The people around them were all asking the same question: "How did he get in?"
"Maybe he knows how to lurk," said one of the Ravenclaws a few feet away."Just emerge out of thin air, you know.”
"Probably in disguise," said a fifth year from Hufflepuff House.
"Or they flew in." said Dean Thomas.
"Honestly, am I the only one who's bothered to read Hogwarts: A History?”snapped Hermione.
"Maybe it is." Bance said.
"That's very possible, but why?”said Ron, puzzled.
"Because this castle isn't just protected by walls, you know," said Hermione."It's enchanted with all sorts of spells to keep people out. Light could not enter. And I'd like to see what sort of disguise can fool those dementors. These guys were guarding every entrance. If he flew in, they would see him too. And Filch knows all the secret passageways, they'll seal them up.”
"Don't think too highly of Filch, there are seven secret passageways in the school, Filch only knows four of them, you should know the rest.”Bangs reminded.
"So Black came in through the other three tunnels?”said Ron.
"Not bad." Bance said.
"Then why didn't you tell Dumbledore?”asked Harry.
"This is not something you should worry about." Bance said.
"But-" said Hermione.
"Lights out now!" yelled Percy."I want everyone in their sleeping bags and no talking!”
All the candles went out at once. The only light now came from the silver ghosts, who were wandering around, talking solemnly to the prefects. Like the sky outside, the enchanted ceiling was full of stars. Under these circumstances, and with the whispers still filling the Hall, Bangs felt as if he were sleeping outside.
Every hour, a teacher showed up in the hall to see if everything was okay. It was about three o'clock in the morning when many students finally fell asleep when Professor Dumbledore entered. Bunce saw him looking around for Percy, who was tiptoeing between his sleeping bags, telling on anyone who spoke. Percy wasn't far from Bunce and the others, so they quickly pretended to be asleep. Dumbledore's footsteps drew nearer.
"Any sign of him, Professor?”Percy whispered.
"No, I haven't. How is this place?"
"Everything is under control, sir.”
"Alright, I'll do it. There was no need for them to change locations now. I've found a temporary guard for the Gryffindor portrait hole. You can call everyone back tomorrow.”
"And the Fat Lady, sir?"
"Hiding in the map of Angel County on the third floor. Apparently she wouldn't let Black in without the password, so he did it. She's still in a terrible mood, but once she's calmed down, I'll have Filch fix her.”
Bunce heard the hall door creak open again, and more footsteps.
"Principal?" It was Snape. Bunce and the others were still lying quietly, listening attentively. "We've checked the entire fourth floor. He's not there. Filch checked the main castle. Nothing there either.”
"What about the Astronomical Tower? Professor Trelawney's room? Where owls live?"
"I've checked everything."
"Very well, Severus, I didn't really think Black would stay.”
"Do you have any idea how he got in, Headmaster?”asked Snape.
"Many, Severus, each as impossible as the one below.”
"Do you remember our conversation, Headmaster, just before-er-term started?”said Snape.
"It's still fresh in my mind, Severus," said Dumbledore, in a voice that sounded like a warning.
"It doesn't look like-Black wouldn't have gotten into this school without-inside help, I did express my concern, before your appointment-"
"I don't believe anyone in this castle would help Black get in.”said Dumbledore, his tone clearly indicating that this was the end of the matter, for Snape had not answered. "I've got to get to the dementors," said Dumbledore."I told them we'd let them know when we'd finished searching.”
"Are they going to help, sir?”said Snape.
"Oh, yes," said Dumbledore coolly,"but I'm afraid I won't allow them to cross the school threshold as long as I'm headmaster.”
said Dumbledore, and he left the Hall, walking very quickly and quietly. Snape stood for a moment, watching the headmaster leave, his face full of fury. Then, he left as well.
"What are you talking about?" Ron whispered.
"Go to bed early, Ron," Bance said.
For the next few days, Black was the talk of the school. The story of how he entered the castle became more and more mysterious: One of the Hufflepuffs, Hannah Abbott, had heard that Black could transform into a flowering shrub and spent a good part of their next Potions lesson telling anyone who would listen.
The Fat Lady's ruined portrait had been taken down from the wall and replaced by a portrait of Sir Cadogan and his fat grey pony. No one was happy about this. Sir Cadogan spent half his time challenging people to duels. The rest of the time was spent on the ridiculously complicated password, which he had to change at least twice a day.
"He's really crazy." Seamus Finnigan said angrily to Percy.”
"None of the other paintings would do it," said Percy."Terrified by what happened to the Fat Lady. Sir Cadogan was the only one who stepped forward.”
As usual, Snape was taking Professor Lupin's place for Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Harry was still late.
"Sorry I'm late, Professor Lupin, I-" said Harry.
"This lesson started ten minutes ago, Potter, and I think Gryffindor deserves ten points. Sit down." said Snape.
But Harry did not move.
"Where's Professor Lupin?"
"He said he was too sick to go to school today.”said Snape, grinning."Didn't I tell you to sit down?”
But Harry stood where he was.
"What's wrong with him?"
Snape's black eyes were shining.
"No life-threatening danger." he said."Five more Gryffindor points, and fifty if I ask you to sit down again.
Harry walked slowly over to Bunce and sat down.
"You shouldn't have been stubborn with Snape. It's not worth it. Why didn't you ask me if you wanted to know?”Bangs said softly.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" said Harry.
"Who told you not to ask earlier?" Bance said.
"-hush, now, before Potter cuts me off, I'm saying that Professor Lupin hasn't left any records of your class 'progress-"
"Sir, we've got boggarts, red hats, kabs, grindylows," said Hermione quickly."We're just about to-"
"Shut up," said Snape coldly."I didn't ask you. I was merely commenting on Professor Lupin's disorganized teaching.”
"He's the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had.”said Dean Thomas boldly, and the rest of the class murmured in agreement. Snape looked even more menacing than usual.
"You're easy to please, Lupin hardly asked much of you-I thought you'd be able to handle the Red Caps and Grindylows by first year. Today we're going to discuss-"
Bunce watched him flip through the textbook quickly until he reached the last chapter.
"-werewolf." said Snape.
"But, sir," said Hermione uncontrollably,"we shouldn't be werewolves yet, we should start hinkypunk-"
"Miss Granger," said Snape, his voice deadly calm,"I feel as though I'm teaching, not you. I tell you all, turn your books to page three hundred and ninety-four.”He looked around again. Now!"
Most of the class exchanged pained glances, some muttered darkly, and everyone opened their books.
"Can any of you tell me how to differentiate a werewolf from a real wolf?”
Everyone sat there in silence, not moving. Except for Hermione, whose hand was held straight in the air as usual.
"Who can answer?" said Snape, ignoring Hermione. He smiled coldly again. "Are you trying to tell me that Professor Lupin hasn't taught you the basic difference between the two-"
"We're telling you," cried Parvati suddenly,"we haven't got the werewolf chapter yet, we're still-"
"Silence!" snarled Snape."Well, well, well, I never thought I'd run into a third year who couldn't recognize a werewolf. I'm going to write it down and tell Professor Dumbledore how backward you are.”
"Sir," said Hermione, her hand still raised,"werewolves differ from real wolves in several ways. Werewolf snouts-"
"That's the third time you've spoken first, Granger," said Snape coldly."Five more points from Gryffindor for an insufferable know-it-all.”
Hermione went very red, dropped her hand, and stared at the ground, her eyes full of tears. The whole class glared at Snape, which showed how much they disliked him. Ron said loudly,"You asked us a question and she knows the answer! If you don't want an answer, why did you ask?”
Snape walked slowly toward Ron as the temperature in the classroom dropped.
"Stay after school, Weasley," said Snape darkly, his face very close to Ron's. "If I hear you criticize my teaching methods again, you'll be very sorry.”
After that, no one made a sound in class. Everyone was sitting down, taking notes on werewolves from their textbooks, while Snape paced back and forth between the desks, checking the homework they had done during Professor Lupin's lessons.
"That's a bad explanation. That's not right. Kaba's in Mongolia more than Professor Lupin said eight-tenths? I said less than three-tenths."
When the bell rang at last, Snape did not let them go.
"Each of you will write a paper and hand it to me. The content will be a method to identify and kill werewolves. Two sheets of parchment were to be handed in on this subject on Monday morning. Someone should take care of this class. Weasley, stay here, we've got to arrange your late school.”
Bunce, Harry, and Hermione left the classroom with the rest of the class, and Hermione waited until they were out of earshot before she yelled at Snape.
"Snape has never treated any of our other Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers like this before, even if he did want to teach us," said Harry."Why would he treat Lupin like this? Do you think it's all because of the boggart incident?”
"No." Bangs suddenly said.
"What's that?" asked Harry.
"Do you really want to know? Are you ready to accept these things? Harry." Bance said.
"I'm ready. Please tell me why.”said Harry.
"Because Snape hates Lupin," Bance said.
"Why?" asked Hermione.
"Because Lupin and Harry's father were good friends, and your father, James, was Snape's rival, see?”said Bunce."Harry looks just like his father, except for his eyes. That's why Snape hates Harry so much.”
"It's actually like this." said Harry, surprised.
"I won't describe the details. There are some things that you can't know now.”Bance said.
"What are you talking about?" asked Ron.
"Talking about something boring, Ron, did Snape tell you to clean the chamber pots in the hospital, and no magic, did he?”Bangs said with a smile.
"You know?" said Ron angrily."Bloody Snape, why can't Black hide in Snape's office? He can help us get rid of him."
"The idea is good, but reality is cruel.”Bance said. "I can't go to the Quidditch match tomorrow, I've got something to do.”
"Bunce, you've been so secretive lately, what have you been up to?”asked Harry.
"Buddy, are you dating some girl?”said Ron exaggeratedly.
"F * ck you. Do you only have women in your mind?”Bance said.
"Ignore him, Bunce, but why don't you tell us something?”said Hermione.
"You guys, it's useless even if I tell you! Besides, you'll be helping Harry on the field.”Bance said.
"Well, remember to come early and cheer for Harry.”said Hermione.
" I'll try my best," Bangs said with a smile.
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