Chloe Cullen 3 - A Harry Potter and Twilight Crossover

Chapter 8: Grim Defeat

Dumbledore sends us all back to the Great Hall. My vampire instincts are put on high alert. I scan every little thing around me for any sign of Black, but nothing. To make myself feel better, I grip my wand tighter in my robes. So when the other three houses arrive, I start rapidly scanning people that might resemble Black. As I'm scanning a tall black-haired Slytherin, I feel someone interlock their hand with mine, making me jump. "It's just me, it's just me," Fred says soothingly. I start to calm down a little bit, but I still scan everything around me. "I don't think Black would stick around after making all the staff on red alert. You have to calm down," he says while rubbing my thumb at the same time. Part of my brain knows he's right, Black probably didn't stay around to get caught, but most of my brain is focused on self-preservation.

"The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle," Professor Dumbledore tells us. "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 disturbance should be reported to me immediately," he adds to Percy, who is looking annoyingly important. I know he's going to let the power go to his head. I have to rely on Prefects to keep me safe? Seriously? That doesn't make me feel any better. Professor Dumbledore is about to leave when he says, "Oh, yes, you'll be needing..." He waves his wand and the tables stand against the walls and the floor is covered with hundreds of purple sleeping bags. "Sleep well," says Professor Dumbledore.

As soon as he leaves, everyone starts talking. "Everyone into their sleeping bags! Come on, now, no more talking! Lights out in ten minutes!" shouts Percy. Fred has to drag me with him so he, George, Lee and I can get sleeping bags. The four of us drag them into a group consisting of a few members of the Quidditch team including Angelina and Katie. Once we're somewhat comfortable, we prop ourselves up and everyone starts talking while I grip my wand and continue to check out everything around me. When Fred notices this, he puts his arm around me.

"Do you think Sirius Black is still in the castle?" Katie Bell asks. "I don't know about the castle, but I think he's still on the grounds," I say immediately. "What makes you think that?" she asks nervously. "He came here for a reason. He obviously didn't get what we came here for, so since he has unfinished business, he doesn't have a reason to leave. Just hide," I answer, still looking around. She shivers and I instinctively look at the source of her sudden movement before going back to looking around. "How do you think he got in?" Angelina asks. "Does it matter? He got in anyway," I say. After that, they get the hint that I'd rather not talk. Ideally, I'd be with the teachers doing something productive instead of being forced to lay down. Do they really expect any of us to be able to sleep?

Once the lights go out, the talking drifts into a whisper. Once every hour, a teacher comes in to make sure everything is silent and Percy is always prowling to make sure we're sleeping. He's told me off a couple times for still being awake, so now whenever he comes by, I have to pretend to be asleep. Whenever the Professors start to talk, I eagerly listen. "Any sign of him Professor?" asks Percy in a whisper. "No. All well here?" "Everything under control, sir." "Good. There's no point moving them all now. I've found a temporary guardian for the Gryffindor portrait hole. You'll be able to move them back in tomorrow." That's a good sign, not catching Black yet. Have they checked the grounds though?

"And the Fat Lady, sir?" asks Percy. "Hiding in a map of Argyllshire on the second floor. Apparently she refused to let Black in without the password, so he attacked. She's still very distressed, but once she's calmed down, I'll have Mr. Filch restore her." Then, I hear more footsteps. "Headmaster?" Snape asks. "The whole of the third floor has been searched. He's not there. And Filch has done the dungeons; nothing there either." "What about the Astronomy tower? Professor Trelawney's room? The Owlery?" "All searched..." "Very well, Severus. I didn't really expect Black to linger."