𝐀 𝐇𝐎𝐆𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒' 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐘 (𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙮 𝙆𝙞𝙙𝙨 𝘼𝙐)

𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐀𝐓 𝐇𝐎𝐆𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒

Minerva McGonagall was distressed. "We're having students coming over today, Pomy", she complained to the Herbology teacher, who'd been trying to calm her down. "Those accidents aren't normal. Three roosters were killed and Filius was attacked. How can I be sure that nothing will happen to a thousand students?"

"But we don't know if there actually is something behind these accidents!" protested Flitwick, who did not like very much the idea of being considered unable to defend himself.

"How can you be so thick, Filius!" cried the Head Ministress, getting up from her chair and starting to make little revolutions around the fireplace. "Roosters don't naturally die from strangulation! And you certainly are be able to come up with an effective counter-curse to a back jinx!"

"But that's the point!" insisted Flitwick. "Was it actually a jinx? It mitght've been some strange defense charm the castle has – it wouldn't be the first time either if  I recall correctly. We can't be sure".

"Yes, but we can't be sure of we being safe either!" shouted back McGonagall. "For Merlin's sake, Filius, you were locked in the nursery for two weeks!"

"I think we should tell the students" suddenly said Sprout. McGonagall almost fell off of her chair.

"Well – did you just lose your sanity completely? Tell the students! As if! They're all going to be wanting to leave!"

"Yes, but they are not stupid" Professor Sprout was very dignified for one who had been called mental just a few seconds beforehand. "They'll find out eventually on their own. And they'll tell their parents. And we'll be in great trouble".

"We could tell the Head Boys, at least" considered Neville Longbottom. "To me, they have proven to be trustworthy".

"I do see your point, Neville – otherwise I wouldn't have chosen them to begin with! –, but what you've got to understand is that they are still young! They might let a few words slip unintentionally or something, it's normal!" reasoned the former Gryffindor and current Headministress.

"Then we could just tell them part of the story" proposed Madame Pomfrey. "This way, they'll still know something's not right, but the risk of them getting absolutely terrified would be reduced. Besides, I really do think we can trust them".

"I also think we should tell the Head Boys" agreed Yuna. She was the new Head House Teacher for House Slytherin, and taught Potions. Her dark brown hair and deep grey eyes were able to captivate even the most distracted of students. "They ought to know. Besides, I don't think it's wise to leave Hogwarts unprotected. We need to be sure we are not running too many risks! If a teacher was knocked out for two weeks, imagine what might happen to a student!"

"What's your plan then? D'you wanna close the school? Go back home?" asked a pretty annoyed Neville Longbottom, who disliked the authoritarian and pessimistic tone the woman had used.

"No one will close this school!" sentenced Poppy Pomfrey, the nurser. "It'd be wrong. We need to give young witches and wizards the right education, for them to be able to cope with these situations themselves".

Before anyone could protest, McGonagall, seizing the opportunity, quickly continued: "And here comes the reason as to why I've gathered you all here – not to quarrel with each other, although you clearly have not grasped it" and she shot an angry look at the Gryffindor and Slytherin Head teachers, "but to instruct you on how to act should something happen: protection will be our key word" she explained. "I want you all to cast as many shield spells as your bodies can handle. By tomorrow night, when the students come, I want Hogwarts to be completely impenetrable. Now go, quick!" she gestured towards the exit of her office "Let's get this over with now!"