Kassandra Bauer and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3)

Chapter 9: Grim Defeat.

After being shipped back to the Great Hall. A few minutes later, the other Houses also joined us. And Dumbledore had made an announcement that they needed to search the castle for Black. And that meant that we were going to have to stay here. 

"The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle." Dumbledore informed us as McGonagall and Flitwick closed all doors in 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 Head Girl in charge. Any disturbance should be reported to me immediately." He added to Percy, who was getting that feeling of importance again. "Send word with one of the ghosts." 

He just had to put Percy of all people in charge, didn't you, Dumbledore? I wanted to say that. But I didn't.

Professor Dumbledore turned to leave the hall, but not before he said: "Oh, yes, you'll be needing..." 

One casual wave of the wand and the long tables flew to the edge 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." Dumbledore said, closing the door behind him. 

"How do we do that, when there's a killer on the loose in the castle?" Ryan asked. And I was thinking the same thing. "Just saying." 

"Just remember, Ryan. If things get out of control. Anubis and I are right here and ready to fight." Horus assured.

The rest of the hall buzzed excitedly, but not me. I guess I was just a little spooked about a killer in the castle. The Gryffindors had begun to tell the rest of the school what had just happened.

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

"C'mon." Ron said to us. We seized our own sleeping bags and we dragged them into one corner.

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

"Dumbledore obviously thinks he might be." Ron answered.

"It's very lucky he picked tonight, you know." Hermione commented as we climbed fully dressed in our sleeping bags and propped ourselves on our elbows to talk. "The one night we weren't in the tower..."

"Seems like he would've planned it out better if he wanted to get us out. I mean... it's Halloween. So why didn't he come bursting in here?" I asked. 

Hermione shuddered.

"How did he even get in here?" Ryan asked. "That's what I want to know."

And I think a lot of people were thinking the same thing. Because that's what they were saying to themselves.

A couple of the Ravenclaws thought he just appeared out of thin air.

A Hufflepuff said that he disguised himself probably.

And Dean Thomas had suggested that he flew in.

But Hermione just looked peeved about the whole thing. "Honestly, am I the only person who's ever bothered to read Hogwarts, A History?" She asked crossly.

"Probably." Ron replied. "Why?"

"Because the Castle's protected by more than walls, you know. There are all sort 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 those 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..." Hermione explained.