= Wands High =

Chapter 5 - 9 May 1998, Saturday

- Rise and shine, sugar, or you'll have to deal with your girlfriend's pouting before breakfast.

- Who now? – Daynen's tongue barely moved ending up producing just a few sounds, muffled by the pillow in which his face was half-buried. He mustered some willpower to partially lift himself up and turn sideways. At the mention of his "girlfriend" a face shone for a moment through the fog in which his brain was swimming – a face that almost managed to fully wake him.

- Cynthia, of course – Orianna shot a glance at him while tying her long black hair in a high ponytail. Then the corner of her lips lifted a little in a grin. – But, of course, she's not the reason why you snuck so late last night, is she? Otherwise you wouldn't actually come back here to sleep, huh, sweetiepie? I was still reading when I heard you crossing the corridor. You know I can recognize your awkward way of walking any day. Or night for that matter.

- Screw you, Firethorne – he tossed his pillow at her, missing by an inch, and got up from the bed, feeling quite dizzy. – What's the time? – he asked hoarsely.

- Right about time we get our asses down for breakfast before your sleepyhead wanna-be girlfriend realizes you didn't have much sleep – she laughed at his expression.

- Orianna, I swear on my guitar, if you make a fuss ab...

- Oh, come on, you stupid, for how long have we been playing together and copying each other's homework? You must know by now that I might be a grumpy bitch, but a loyal one. I got your skinny butt covered. Now stop insulting me, tell me where your astronomy tables are and move it, I'm starving.

- Sheesh, woman, who's insulting who – muttered Daynen fishing for his backpack from under the bed with one hand. He pulled his homework from inside and threw it to the girl, then rolled out of the bed and started getting ready for the day. – And when will you stop entering my room while I am asleep?

Not really expecting a reply, he tossed a quick gaze through the window as he was about to follow Orianna down the stairs. Outside it looked like another nice summer day was just beginning... but all of a sudden Daynen stopped in his tracks and went back to look more carefully.

- Orianna – he called her.

-What?

- Come here.

- Ughhh, what now?!

Orianna stomped back up the stairs and came to the window.

- See that? – Daynen nodded towards the open spaces around the castle. Several figures in what seemed like uniforms with some unreadable insignia on the sleeves and the backs were walking around in pairs.

- Looks like they're patrolling the grounds or something – she pointed out. – The uniforms look like the local authorities but what would they be doing around here? You think something happened in the school?

- Who knows, I guess we'll find out soon. Come on.

* * *

- In any case, Headmaster, we should not be taking any risks – said Auror Smith at the same moment.

Professor Brunhilda Ashdrake, Innestrad's headmaster, nodded sharply.

- Of course, taking the matter lightly is absolutely out of the question with all our students here. You have my full support. Mr. Dekoff, please gather all students outside right away. Ask professors Errikson and Phaedros to help you, they're both outside my office.

- Yes, ma'am – the caretaker bowed quickly and left.

Ashdrake – slender woman in her fifties, with long graying hair collected in tight braid and simple but stylish dark purple robes – rose from her chair and went to the two Aurors. Her eyes were calm but sharp; only the delicate wrinkles around them gave away her anxiety.