A Young Wizard's Journey - Prisoner of Azkaban

Intruders on the Pitch

Professor Dumbledore sent all of them back to the Great Hall, where they were joined shortly after by the students from the other three Houses, all of whom looked a mix of confused and excited.

'The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle,' said Professor Dumbledore. '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 disturbances are to be reported to me immediately,' he added to Percy, who's chest swelled with pompous pride, 'Send word with one of the ghosts.'

Professor Dumbledore turned to leave and was about to step out before pausing and saying, 'Oh yes, you'll be needing...' he waved his wand, and all four House tables flew to the edges of the hall and stood up along the walls. Another wave, and the floor was covered with hundreds of purple sleeping bags. 'Sleep well,' he added as he closed the door.

The hall immediately began to buzz with chatter as the Gryffindor's began spreading the word of what had happened to the other houses.

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

'Come on,' muttered Ron and he and Harry grabbed two sleeping bags and began dragging them off into a corner.

'You want to join them?' Y/N whispered to Hermione, who sighed.

'Not particularly, but we probably should.' They both scooped down to pick up sleeping bags when Y/N caught sight of Ginny, she was stood a few feet away looking around as though kind of lost.

'Hey Gin, over here!' he called, waving her over. She looked around and her face cracked into a smile as she grabbed her sleeping bag and dragged it over with them.

'What's she doing here?' asked Ron sharply, staring at his sister as they arrived.

'She's here at my invitation,' snapped Y/N, glaring at him, 'If you've got a problem with it, we'll all leave,' he added, indicating himself and Hermione.

'Don't have a problem...' muttered Ron.

'Anything you have to say can be said in front of her. I trust her, and she's been through as much as we have and even more last year. She can look after herself.' And Y/N dropped his sleeping bag down, finishing the conversation there. Ron flushed but did not argue, and the five of them settled in, Hermione putting her sleeping bag right up against Y/N so she could wrap herself around his exposed arm.

'Do you think Black's still in the castle?' Hermione whispered around anxiously to the rest of them.

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

'The fact he slashed up the Fat Lady though, he must know they'd go looking for him after that,' said Y/N. 'He may have left just to cover himself.'

'Speaking of, it's very lucky he picked tonight,' said Hermione, 'The one night we weren't in the tower...'

Y/N's eyes widened. She was right! He didn't like that, didn't like that at all. He caught Ginny's eyes as she glanced in his direction and her eyebrows raised, she knew he'd thought of something.

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

But would he?

Black was dangerous yes, reckless, but would he have really risked attacking the entire school? Plus, the feast was never exactly quiet and tonight's was no exception. Y/N wouldn't be surprised if Black had heard them whilst moving through the school.