The Traitors [HP6] *EDITING*

Chapter 15

At first, the Hall seemed to be in a state of shock. Everyone was just staring at Dumbledore, as if waiting for him to change his announcement, and say that he was only joking, and the trip wasstill on. But... no such statement came.

"WHAT!?" yelled Chris suddenly, breaking the silence. The Great Hall filled with very loud chatter, and everyone saying pretty much the same thing.

"What does he mean the trip's off!?

"How can he do that!?"

"Can he do that!?"

"Now I won't see any pyramids...."

"Please... please..." continued Dumbledore, putting his arms out and barely beginning to cease the talk. "I apologize profusely for the lateness of this announcement, but I would not have cancelled the trip if it was not for extreme circumstances. I have to say, that if we left for this trip now, there is little chance that any of you would come back alive."

That shut up the chatter. Everyone trusted his word, and if he said they were in danger, then they were all definitely in danger. There was no room for argument.

"However," said Dumbledore, now putting a single finger up, "while the trip is cancelled now, it may only be postponed for later. As of now, the field trip is scheduled for late May. I ask you all to return here at that time in the same position you are now, and please, no revolts. So, now, would you please all check the schedule for the next week as you will be here now, and not away. I thank you all for your cooperation."

And with that, Dumbledore walked down from his giant chair without saying another word. As soon as he got down from the podium, the mass of students in the room burst into a giant group of talking once again. This time, though, Harry was a part of it.

"I think I'm going to go talk to Dumbledore about this," he said to Ron and Hermione quickly as he sat up, barely hearable above the rest of the conversations. "So I can see what's behind this cancellation."

"I'm coming too!" said Ron, jumping up.

"Me too!" called Hermione.

"Alright," said Harry quietly. "I have the Invisibility Ring, and Ron can transform into the chameleon. But Hermione..." Harry dug into his packed trunk and grabbed the Invisibility Cloak out, throwing it to her. "You have to wear this."

She nodded, and the three of them ran past the rest of the students, some of which were already leaving back to their common rooms, wearing dismal and disappointed expressions. Harry, Ron and Hermione forced their way through some of the kids and eventually caught up to Dumbledore who was quickly gliding along the floor down a hall.

"Dumbledore!" yelled Harry, jumping over another short student to get to him.

"Yes?" he asked, turning around and sounding rushed.

"Well... I was- that is..." stumbled Harry. "What's going on with the trip?"

"Ah yes," sighed Dumbledore. "Well, you heard my announcement, didn't you? Something bad came up, and we had to cancel it."

"The cancellation... it didn't have anything to do with a house elf named Dobby, did it?" asked Harry, hoping that it wasn't his fault the trip was off.

"Dobby?" inquired Dumbledore. "No... he had nothing to do with it. Should he?"

"No, not at all," said Harry, quickly throwing off that subject. "But, what was it exactly that made you call off the trip so suddenly?"

"Harry..." said Dumbledore, sounding almost a little weak. "As much as I trust and adore you, I am afraid that I cannot tell you, and I hope that you will respect that decision."