The Hollow Beneath Hogwarts

110. Memories

The Quidditch pitch had never looked so intimidating.

Normally it was a place of excitement. Competition. Laughter. Students cheering from the stands.

Tonight it felt more like a military camp. Or a battlefield.

Draco stood in the centre of the pitch, staring around him.

Kingsley hadn't been exaggerating when he mentioned reinforcements. Not even slightly. At least thirty people had arrived. Possibly more.

The sudden influx of support had transformed the entire grounds. Aurors stood at the entrances. Order members occupied the gates. Several witches and wizards patrolled the perimeter. Others were positioned throughout the stands.

Every viewing platform had at least two guards watching from above.

Wands already drawn. Alert. Ready. It was comforting. And deeply unsettling.

Because if they needed this many people...

Then things were clearly worse than anyone wanted to admit.

Draco glanced towards the castle. Even from here he could see movement. Tiny figures standing watch in windows. Others patrolling corridors.

The entire school had effectively become a fortress.

And yet...

It still didn't feel safe. Not after tonight. Not after Jack.

Beside him, Sloane looked equally overwhelmed. The cool evening wind tugged at her hair. Her arms folded tightly across her chest. Not because she was cold. Because she was nervous.

Draco could feel it.

The bond made that impossible to miss. Fear. Doubt. Frustration. All tangled together.

And honestly?

He wasn't feeling much better.

"So..." Draco finally broke the silence. His voice carried across the pitch. "How exactly do we begin?"

Several adults exchanged glances.

Which immediately worried him. Because if they didn't know...

Then what chance did he and Sloane have?

Professor McGonagall sighed.

Professor Flitwick frowned thoughtfully.

Kingsley rubbed his forehead.

Again.

Draco was beginning to think it had become a nervous habit.

Nearby, Newt stood with an enormous textbook balanced in his arms. The thing looked ancient. Dusty. Heavy enough to stun a troll.

It had taken both him and Hermione nearly an hour to locate it in the Restricted Section. Apparently there weren't many books discussing Blessed Fire.

Which wasn't exactly encouraging.

"Do either of you know much about the spell?" Professor Flitwick looked between Draco and Sloane.

The pair exchanged a glance. Then simultaneously shook their heads.

"No, sir." Draco answered first. "I've never even heard of it until recently."

"Same." Sloane shifted her weight. "The only thing I know is what Harry told us."

Everyone looked towards her.

She took a breath. "Professor Dumbledore used it when he and Harry went looking for the locket Horcrux."