The Prisoner of Azkaban (Hermione Granger X Male Reader)

13. Certain Feelings Acknowledged

(Y/N)'s POV

Professor Dumbledore sent all the Gryffindors back to the Great Hall, they were joined ten minutes later by the students from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin, who all looked extremely confused.

"The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle," Professor Dumbledore told them as Professors McGonagall and Flitwick closed all doors into the Hall.

"I'm afraid that, for your own safety, you will have to spend the night here. I want the Prefects to stand guard over the entrances to the Hall and I am leaving the Head Boy and Girl in charge. Any disturbance should be reported to me immediately," he added to Percy, who was looking immensely proud and important. "Send word with one of the ghosts."

Professor Dumbledore paused, about to leave the Hall, and said, "Oh yes, you'll be needing . . ."

With one casual wave of his hand, the long tables flew to the edges of the Hall and stood themselves against the walls; another wave, and the floor was covered with hundreds of squashy purple sleeping bags.

"Sleep well," said Professor Dumbledore, closing the door behind him.

The Hall immediately began to buzz excitedly, the Gryffindors were telling the rest of the school what had just happened.

"Everyone into their sleeping bags!" shouted Percy. "Come on now, no more talking! Lights out in ten minutes!"

"Your brother is one self-important arse, isn't he Ron?" said (Y/N), dragging his sleeping bag into a corner.

"Don't need to tell me that, I've lived with him for thirteen years," said Ron.

"Do you think Black's still in the castle?" Hermione whispered anxiously.

"Dumbledore obviously thinks he might be," said Ron.

"It's very lucky he picked tonight, you know," said Hermione, as the climbed into their sleeping bags, fully dressed. "The one night we weren't in the Tower."

"I reckon he's lost track of time, being in the run," said Ron. "Didn't realise it was Halloween. Otherwise he'd have come bursting in here."

All around them, people were asking each other the same question: "How did he get in?"

"Maybe he knows how to Apparate," said a Ravenclaw a few feet away. "Just appear out of thin air, you know."

"Disguised himself, probably," said a Hufflepuff fifth year.

"He could've flown in," suggested Dean Thomas.

"Honestly, am I the only person who's ever bothered by read Hogwarts: A History?" said Hermione crossly to (Y/N), Harry and Ron.

"Probably," said (Y/N). "Why?"

"Because the castle's protected by more than walls, you know," said Hermione. "There are all sorts of enchantments on it, to stop people entering by stealth. You can't just apparate in here. And I'd like to see the disguise that could fool the Dementors. They're guarding every single entrance to the grounds. They'd have seen him fly in, too. And Filch knows all the secret passages, they'll have them covered . . ."

(Y/N) turned over, he looked up at the ceiling, the night sky was scattered with dozens of twinkling stars. "Well he got in — somehow. We'll probably be up all night trying to figure it out . . ."

"The lights are going out now!" Percy shouted. "I want everyone in their sleeping bags so no more talking!"

The candles all went out at once. The only light now came from the silvery ghosts who floated around, talking seriously to the Prefects, and the enchanted ceiling, still twinkling full of stars.