Hidden Wings - Part I

The headmaster's backup

I felt bad for leaving you with a cliffhanger, so I hurried to publish the next chapter 😊.
I expect some presents under my Christmas tree though...😏

"No."
Everyone's head whipped to the High Table. Gandalf had stood up and looked down at the approaching wizards, blue eyes ablaze.
"Leave Hogwarts at once."
He did not shout. He didn't have to.
Gandalf's old face was stripped of its usual humorous smirks and replaced with a hard mask that radiated authority. Even though all Aurors stared grimly at the headmaster, many of them flinched.

"By the order of our Minister", Percy began, "we have the authority to search this school for the Silverwing."

Immediately, chattering filled the Great Hall. Students exchanged excited looks.

"So it's here?"

"I knew it was Weasley!", a Hufflepuff exclaimed.

Hermione put an arm around Ginny and glared at an Auror, who neared them with his wand pointed them.
"Miss Weasley", he instructed coldly. "Come with me."
Instantly, Ron and Harry jumped up and pulled out their wands. They stared at the wizard, jaws tense.

Mioha instinctively wanted to get up to help Ginny, but Esma dug her talons into the girl's shoulder.
"Don't", the bird hissed and Mioha slumped back down.

"Move before I make you", the Auror sneered at Ron and Harry.

"Do not threaten my students", said Gandalf sharply. Professor McGonagall stood up, her lips a dangerously thin line. Professor Snape, Professor Flitwick and Professor Sprout imitated her, their eyes fixed on the students of their house. Professor Slughorn tried to get up, but after a futile attempt he just leaned back with a wobbling belly and looked around excitedly. 
The headmaster slowly walked around the  High Table and approached Percy, who looked up at the white-haired wizard through his thick glasses.

"I am sure you have invested a lot of time to organize this, Mr. Weasley", said Gandalf coolly, "But I think it would be easier for all of us if you would stick to the date we had agreed on."

"Mr. Fudge thought you might say that", Percy said snobbishly. "The Wizengamot has decided that this search shall be conducted earlier than planned."

Mioha felt her mouth dry as she saw how the Aurors were scanning the crowd carefully.
What was she supposed to do?
She looked at Gandalf, clenching the bench to stop herself from shifting restlessly.
Her lungs felt like they'd been pushed together and now she couldn't breathe.
Why did the Ministry have to come earlier? To surprise Gandalf, so he couldn't hide anything?

"Then I suggest we take this to my office", said Gandalf quietly, observing the Aurors through his spectacles. "This turmoil will do neither of us any good."

"We have orders to keep everyone in the Great Hall", said Percy, puffing up his chest.
"Tell the Head of Houses-"

Gandalf held up a hand.

Students stared at their headmaster with questioning faces. Ginny looked a little pale, but she stuck her chin out bravely. She was smart enough not to look into Mioha's direction, but instead glared at three more Aurors that circled her from all sides.

"Students", Gandalf's voice rang through the hall. The white-haired wizard looked at them calmly. "Stay seated at your tables. Your Head of House will one by one escort the different years into a separate room, starting with the seventh-years. There, you will be tested."