Melody Riddle and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter 8: Forest Meeting

We reached the Great Hall at about the same time as the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. Gryffindors were already there waiting.

Professor Dumbledore spoke to us all once everyone had filed in. "The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle. 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 should be reported to me immediately," he added to the Head Boy and Girl, "Send word with one of the ghosts." The professor started to leave the hall, but paused and said, "Oh, yes, you'll be needing..."

With a wave of his wand, the tables moved to the edges of the hall and stood up against the walls. With another wave, the floor was covered with hundreds of squashy purple sleeping bags.

"Sleep well," Professor Dumbledore said, leaving the hall and closing the door behind him.

The red-headed Head Boy, probably a Weasley, shouted, "Everyone into their sleeping bags! Come on, now, no more talking! Lights out in ten minutes!"

We took six sleeping bags and moved to one side of the hall to sleep. Becky insisted she would never sleep next to a boy and lay on my left side, while Marcus insisted on being on my right.

"How did he get in?" Becky asked. We all sat with our backs against the wall.

I shrugged my shoulders, "I honestly don't know. There's no solid answer about how he entered the castle unless someone invited him in."

"He can Apparate," Draco scoffed.

I glared at him.

"What?"

"The castle is protected by many enchantments. There's no way he could Apparate onto the grounds, it's impossible."

"How do you even know that?"

"I read. It's all in Hogwarts: A History. Maybe you should check your own resources before you start acting like I'm an idiot who doesn't know what I'm saying."

"I never said –"

"You were thinking it!"

Draco just looked at me, small shock etched on his face, and then looked down. Not one more retort came from his mouth.

We lay down to sleep once the lights went out, and the Head Boy and Girl began patrolling along the aisles of sleepy students. I lay on my back and just stared at the ceiling, feeling frustrated.

"You're very smart."

I turned to Marcus, he was the one who whispered it. His voice had been very soft. "Wha – ?"

"You're very smart... Draco told me all about your tutoring sessions and extra lessons with Snape. So obviously not an idiot."

"Ah... thanks," I replied softly.

"If you like, I can always knock some sense into the blundering idiot."

I couldn't help but giggle. It caused the Head Boy to wander by and violently go, "Shhh."

I waited until he walked away before I whispered, "Thank you, Marcus. I'll let you know if I need you to."

At his grin, I closed my eyes to give in to sleep.

Next to me, Becky gave a cough to keep from choking on her silent gasp. Next to Marcus, Draco's face grew red as he struggled to force himself to breathe.

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