Over the Edge [ Lupin x Evans ]

Chapter 23: Manhunt

The five Gryffindors sat around the kitchen table in Lupin's house, enjoying a quick breakfast and chatting cheerfully about various topics. They were just about to gather their things and head back to Hogwarts, hoping no one had noticed their absence so early in the morning. How exactly they planned to get back to the castle remained a mystery even to them — a problem they had yet to solve. They were laughing at one of Sirius's particularly good jokes when the entire cottage suddenly shook violently.

All of them leapt to their feet, wands at the ready, fear etched on their faces. The tremor was impressive, but what followed was even worse. With a deafening crash, the front door was blasted off its hinges. In an instant, the group charged into the main corridor, prepared to defend themselves against an attacker. Lupin, more than any of them, feared the worst — Greyback. But what they saw by the front entrance was like a bucket of cold water thrown over them.

Standing at the front was a grim-faced Albus Dumbledore, his eyes narrowed dangerously. Beside him, equally stern, was Minerva McGonagall. Behind them loomed Rubeus Hagrid and two other wizards the teens didn't recognise. While it wasn't an attack by Death Eaters, the atmosphere inside the house was no less tense. It felt as though all hell was about to break loose.

"Does anyone here have the slightest idea of the consequences of what you did last night?" Dumbledore asked, his tone low but heavy with authority. His piercing gaze swept over each of them, as if burning holes through their defences.

"The entire castle was thrown into chaos!" McGonagall exclaimed, her voice high-pitched with worry. Despite her sternness, there was more concern than anger in her expression. Relief softened her features — at least they were all alive and unharmed. "We were certain that you —"

"— You have no idea how reckless and foolish your behaviour was," Dumbledore interrupted coldly, his words as sharp as ice.

He and McGonagall stepped inside like parents who were about to scold their wayward children. The Gryffindors would have much preferred shouting or even detentions to the look of disappointment and disapproval they now faced. As the professors drew closer, the group instinctively retreated until their backs were pressed against the wall. Their nervous glances darted between each other, and most of them swallowed hard, unable to mask their fear. Before Dumbledore or McGonagall could speak again, one of the unfamiliar witches stepped into the kitchen behind McGonagall and announced:

"Headmaster, the Ministry patrols need to be called off."

"The Ministry's involved?!" James blurted out before he could stop himself. "Oh no, my dad's going to kill me," he groaned, burying his face in his hands.

"And what did you expect, Mr Potter?" Dumbledore said curtly. "Four students vanished from the castle on Halloween night, just as the protective wards around Hogwarts were temporarily lowered."

"As soon as we realised you were missing, every resource was mobilised," McGonagall added, her voice shaking slightly. "We feared you'd been taken by Death Eaters."

Sirius let out a derisive snort, but his attempt at humour fell flat.

"Kindly restrain yourself, Mr Black," Dumbledore said sharply, his tone brooking no argument. "For your information, a pair of Voldemort's followers were spotted in Hogsmeade last night." His voice carried a weight of blame, as though their escapade had invited the danger.

The five Gryffindors froze, their faces instantly losing all colour. The war they'd read about in the Daily Prophet had always seemed distant, almost fictional. It was hard to believe the events described in newspapers or whispered about on the Wizarding Wireless were happening in their world. They were just teenagers, focused on finishing school, planning their futures, and enjoying their lives. War had felt like an abstract concept — until now.