"Any casualties?" Harry scanned the crowd quickly. No one seemed injured, but that didn't mean much.
"No," Su Li answered. "Spooked everyone. No one was hurt."
"Except McLaggen," Luna added with a smile. "He fainted when Voldemort appeared."
That earned a few laughs.
"Fainted?" He asked, eyebrow raised.
"Dropped like a sack of potatoes," Lavender confirmed. "Tried to act like he tripped after, but, come on."
Shaking his head, Harry lead the way inside. Gathering in the Room of Requirement, the usual lot had already claimed their spots, some lounged across conjured armchairs, others sprawled on rugs, plates of leftovers from the kitchens passed between. The room had taken on its relaxed, common-room style tonight, dimly lit, plenty of cushions, warm fire in the corner. Everyone was still riding the tail-end of the chaos from earlier.
Harry dropped into a seat between Daphne and Susan, stretching his legs out.
"Alright," he said, brushing ash from his sleeve. "Before anyone asks again, yes, Voldemort kidnapped me. No, he didn't monologue. Yes, I got out."
"You really are awful at telling stories," Tracey said, narrowing her eyes. "That was supposed to be the opening line?"
Harry glanced at her, unfazed. "I thought it was a good summary."
"That's barely an outline," said Hermione, frowning. "Start from the beginning. How did he even get into Hogwarts?"
"Vanishing Cabinet," Harry replied, accepting the cup of tea Astoria passed him without missing a beat. "Old one, linked into the school years ago. I didn't even notice it until I stepped inside the Room earlier."
"So he just... waited in there?" Parvati asked, her nose wrinkling.
"Not quite. He used it to drag me through to a vault inside Gringotts."
That got a proper pause.
Padma straightened. "Wait, Gringotts? The bank?"
Harry nodded. "Deep vault. Wardlocked. Apparition and Portkeys both blocked."
"So Voldemort tried to keep you locked in a vault?" Megan asked, brow raised. "That is new."
"It wasn't a random grab," Harry said. "He didn't try to kill me. Just trap me."
"Prophecy," Luna said softly from her beanbag in the corner. "He is scared to gamble on what it means."
"Exactly," Harry said. "He figured if killing me wasn't certain, then hiding me was the next best option."
"Coward," Ginny muttered.
"Clever," Nott corrected. "But still desperate."
"I like how you say that like you would do different," Su Li said, nudging him.
"Fair," Nott admitted with a shrug. "Still. Dragging someone into a goblin vault and locking the door? That is pure fear."
"Don't forget the Fiendfyre," Harry added. "Storage space nearly went up in flames."
Draco blinked. "Wait. He started cursed fire inside Gringotts?"
Harry smirked. "Didn't last. Unicorn ice variant slowed it down."
Cho leaned forward. "Unicorn what now?"
"I will explain it another time," Harry said.
"That explains why you looked like you ran through an ash cloud," Daphne said, giving his robes a pointed glance.
"Wasn't exactly a stroll."
Tracey leaned forward, expression thoughtful. "So the Vanishing Cabinet… you said it was two-way. You think it's still active?"
Harry shook his head. "He killed the magic after leaving." He then added, "Long story short, it bought me just enough space to find a door."
"But goblins don't let anyone use vaults like that," Cho said. "That is not just property law, it is sacred contract stuff."
"Right," Lavender added. "Even the Ministry can't poke around without a treaty."
Daphne turned toward him, one arm resting on the back of the seat. "So how did you get out, then?"
"I called in a favour," Harry said, casually.
"Grimbletack." They nodded, as if name explained everything.
Hannah frowned. "Isn't it, like, forbidden for goblins to let things be removed from vaults without the keyholder present?"
"It is," Harry said simply, taking a sip of tea. "And Voldemort broke that first."
Astoria raised an eyebrow. "How?"
"He smuggled in a two-way item. Something that could remove and add contents without opening the vault door. Completely violates Gringotts' core policy."
They nodded, that bit of information clearing up a lot. Harry's rapport with the goblins wasn't exactly new. Everyone who kept an ear to the ground had heard of his dealings.
"Of course they helped you," Tracey muttered. "You've been their favourite snake since before you joined the school."
"They would've helped even if Voldemort hadn't botched the rules," Blaise said, reaching for the last slice of toast from the plate in front of them. "But since he did…"
"They basically own that vault now," Daphne finished.
"Bet they're thrilled," Nott said dryly. "He basically gifted them a vault and gave them an excuse."
Su Li snorted. "Only way to make goblins happier is to do it twice."
Cho spoke up, "So what's stopping him from just trying again? Another kidnapping, different method?"
"Timing," Harry replied. "That was his first move. He won't try the same thing again. Not unless he is desperate."
"Wasn't this desperate?" Megan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No," said Luna, from where she curled up with a biscuit in one hand. "It was calculated. But now he will worry it is predictable."
"Lovely," Hermione muttered. "So he will switch tactics. Again."
Harry tapped his knee, eyes narrowed slightly. "What bothers me is the Elder Wand. If Dumbledore lost it, that means Voldemort's walking around with more firepower than ever. I wasn't expecting Dumbledore to lose it. Doesn't add up."
Hermione frowned. "You think he gave it up on purpose?"
Harry shrugged. "Honestly, no clue. But I wouldn't put it past him. He knows Voldemort can't match me in a fair duel. Might've decided to toss the Elder Wand over just to make it more interesting."
Tracey raised an eyebrow. "What, like evening the odds for Quidditch?"
"Not Quidditch," Harry said, thinking. "Dumbledore wants the prophecy done with. Can't do that if Voldemort's too scared to take a proper swing."
"That is mental," Susan muttered. "Just hand him the strongest wand in existence and hope for the best?"
"Wouldn't be the first time Dumbledore made something worse to push things along," Blaise added. "He is a big fan of the long game. Doesn't care who bleeds during it."
"Still," Hermione said, brows furrowing further. "Giving up the Elder Wand... it is reckless."
Harry tilted his head. "Reckless for anyone else, maybe. But he probably thinks it is calculated. A strong Voldemort is one that steps out of hiding."
"Which means more chances to catch him out," Daphne said thoughtfully, "instead of waiting another year while he hides behind proxies."
"Exactly," Harry said.
The room fell into a short silence, only broken by the sound of Ginny biting into a biscuit.
"I hate that this makes sense," she muttered through crumbs.
Hannah passed her a napkin. "So we are basically saying Dumbledore chucked away the strongest wand just to see what you would do?"
"Or to see what he would do," Harry said. "Voldemort's next move will be louder now. More desperate."
Tracey's voice dropped. "Then we would better be ready."
No one responded for a moment. The fire crackled softly.
Because they all knew… whatever came next, it wouldn't be subtle.
Dumbledore appeared at breakfast the next morning. He gave a speech in the Great Hall over breakfast. He praised the staff for holding the school together, commended the students for their level-headedness during "an unexpected breach," and made a vague but firm statement about how Voldemort's appearance had been "swiftly repelled."
No details. No names. Just polished words about bravery, unity, and vigilance.
Most students nodded along, too busy finishing their meals to fuss about it. Those who knew better didn't say a word.
After breakfast, Harry slipped out of the Hall with his friends.
By the time lunch rolled around, the gossip had already shifted. Someone claimed McLaggen had wet himself when Voldemort showed up. Someone else said they saw Peeves trying to steal Dumbledore's wand while he was on the ground, though that part was less believable, mostly because Peeves would've bragged if it were true.