"Who owns this bottle?" Professor McGonagall's voice sliced through the silence of the Quidditch pitch like a blade.
No one answered.
Rain continued to fall softly around them while the wind whipped across the empty stadium, rattling the stands and tugging at robes. The vodka bottle sat firmly in McGonagall's hand like a piece of evidence in a murder trial.
Every single student stared resolutely at the ground. Even Goose looked nervous.
McGonagall's sharp eyes swept across them all slowly.
Harry Potter.
Hermione Granger.
Ron Weasley.
Ginny Weasley.
Luna Lovegood.
Draco Malfoy.
Blaise Zabini.
And Sloane Sage.
A truly catastrophic collection of teenagers.
"Who owns this," she repeated, more sharply this time, "I asked."
Still nothing.
Ron's heart hammered violently in his chest. He should say something. He knew he should. But fear glued his mouth shut.
McGonagall straightened slowly, disappointment darkening her features. "Very well."
That single phrase made everyone tense. Then suddenly she lifted one hand and clicked her fingers.
Instantly every student gasped. Their hands shot forward against their will, stretching toward the centre of the group as though pulled by invisible strings.
"What the hell—"
"Merlin—"
"Bloody—"
Before anyone could properly react, McGonagall placed her own hand firmly on top of theirs.
Sloane's eyes widened instantly. "Oh no."
She recognised the spell immediately. Before anyone else could even process what was happening, Sloane shut her eyes tightly and instinctively leaned directly into Draco's chest, wrapping one arm around him as the world vanished beneath them.
The sensation of Side-Along Apparition hit them all violently.
Harry gagged. Ron stumbled. Ginny swore loudly.
Goose screamed. And then—
Silence.
When Sloane opened her eyes again, they were standing inside Professor McGonagall's office. The circular room glowed warmly with firelight despite the storm outside. Portraits of former Headmasters and Headmistresses watched the group with varying levels of interest and judgement.
Phineas Nigellus looked delighted. Dumbledore looked tired already.
Sloane blinked. Then realised—
She was still clinging to Draco. Her face immediately burst into flames. She dropped her arm so fast it nearly smacked him in the chest.
Draco looked equally startled by the realisation.
Blaise noticed instantly. Of course he did. The smug bastard.
He passed Goose directly into Sloane's arms with the most infuriating smirk imaginable. "Oh this is priceless," he whispered.
"Shut up," Draco muttered immediately.
McGonagall either didn't notice or chose not to acknowledge the awkwardness currently radiating between the pair. "Now then," she said sharply, beginning to pace around the students as they stood in a miserable circle in the centre of her office.
The tapping of her heels against the stone floor echoed ominously. "Possession of alcohol on school grounds," she said coldly, "is strictly forbidden."
No one dared interrupt.
YOU ARE READING
The Hollow Beneath Hogwarts
FantasiThe Hollow Beneath Hogwarts When the war ended, Hogwarts was supposed to be a place of healing. Instead, it became a place haunted by grief. Sloane Sage arrives at Hogwarts carrying scars no one can see. After losing her family in the war, she dedic...
