"We apologize for having you awoken at this time, but I gathered you all down here in a state of emergency," pronounced Dumbledore.
"No other then Sirius Black himself has broken into the Gryffindor common room, Ron Weasley and Sir Cadogan as witnesses."
Many students gasped or cried out.
"But do not worry, for you must not panic. Panicking leaves us powerless of the ability of rational thinking and solving the situation."
Students immediately calmed down. Harry too, suddenly felt safer. Dumbledore had a way with words.
"We have magically expanded the Great Hall to fit 140 makeshift bedrooms and 20 bathrooms. We have randomly chosen each of you one other dorm partner whom you will stay with and share the dorm with. I apologetically announce that besides classes, you will not be leaving these dorms for a week, or until further notice, while the dementors and Ministry detectives search the school." Everyone groaned.
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry could have sworn he saw a great black dog watching the conversation and then slipping through a window and out of sight. Harry shivered.
"On the good side," Dumbledore continued, he paused. "Well...-There is no good side!"
Although the students were tired, some managed a small chuckle or smile.
Professor Sprout then spoke, "All students will be excused for five minutes to grab what they need from their House dorms. When you come back down, you will find a list of your dorm partner and room number."
As Harry went up the stairs with the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, he heard Professor Trelawney say to an irritated Mcgonagall in her usual misty tone,
"I assure you, I knew this would happen! I saw this happen in the crystal ball with my own Eye!"
In his Gryffindor bedroom, Harry put all he needed in his trunk he usually only used during the Dursley's, he packed his clothes, his books if he got bored. His Invisibility cloak just in case. He picked up Hedwig's empty cage. He would like to have some extra company, but he had no time to run across the campus to the Owerly.
Suddenly Harry heard a tap on the window. He smiled at the white outline silhouetted agains the dark night sky.
Harry opened the window and let Hedwig fly into her cage. He loved that owl.
As he walked back down, he joined up with Ron and Hermoine, both still in their nightclothes. Hermoine looked distressed.
"I asked Mcgonagall." she was nearly in tears.
"They've closed the library! What will I have to occupy myself with if we will be locked in the rooms all the time besides classes?"
Ron nearly snorted. "Isn't that enough already?" he exclaimed, pointing to the bulging bundle of books in her arms, already threatening so spill out of her arms.
"I've already read all these books at least twice already!" she moaned.
"That's more books than I've read in my life," scorned Ron. He was still obviously upset about Scabbers. Harry had to put a hand on Ron's shoulder as he attempted to kick Crookshanks, who was trotting around Hermoine's ankles.
"You could use my Invisibility Cloak, to sneak to the library,"
Harry offered, though he already knew she would decline. As they approached the Entrance Hall again, they squinted over the crowd of students to the large scroll on the wall.
Hermoine read hers. "Room #67, with Katlina Smirnoff of Ravenclaw. Never heard of her. Bye!" she hugged both Harry and Ron goodbye, though Ron shrugged her off.
"Welp, I'm with Neville, room #101. I've got some Zonko's toys in my bag, I'll try to cheer him up," Ron claimed. "And you are with..." he searched the list. "Room #8 with... oh."
