The atmosphere at Hogwarts was heavy.
A Muggle family had been killed—this was already the thirteenth attack.
The Aurors were helpless against that group of outlaws.
Sometimes it was shops, sometimes households, and even high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Magic had been threatened.
The former Dark Lord had returned, and they were acting without restraint.
Barty Crouch Sr. had suddenly lost his former brilliance, becoming so muddled that it was almost unbelievable.
His approval ratings were steadily falling, yet with no real rivals left, he faced no serious threat.
Many Hogwarts students had taken long-term leave. At such a critical moment, grades and exams no longer mattered.
Among the sixth-years, the Patil twins' parents had come to take them away, but they refused to leave.
Seamus's mother had also come once, and he had a fierce argument with her.
"What are they even thinking?" Ron, finally able to get out of bed, was eating with great enthusiasm. "Dumbledore is here, after all."
"Right, Harry?"
Ron realized his friend wasn't agreeing with him. He turned his head and saw Harry staring off into space.
"Huh?" Harry snapped back to reality and nodded perfunctorily. "Dumbledore is indeed here."
"What's wrong, Harry?" Hermione noticed that something was off with him.
"I'm fine," Harry shook his head, then seemed to remember something and said, "Has anyone seen Malfoy today?"
"Malfoy? Why are you looking for him?" Ron said in surprise. "But I did see Goyle heading toward Hagrid's place."
"Hagrid?" Harry froze. What would Goyle be doing over there?
But as Malfoy's lackey, Goyle going to Hagrid's meant Malfoy might be there too.
Remembering what he'd overheard when passing the bathroom, Harry hesitated for a moment but ultimately didn't go.
"Ginny," Harry called out to Ginny, who was about to head to the library. "Have you seen Luna?"
"No idea. Maybe she went to the library, or went out with Tom," Ginny shrugged. "I'm going to the library anyway. I can let her know for you."
Ginny had broken up with Dean.
The reason was that Dean always liked taking care of her, and Ginny didn't like that.
Ginny wasn't opposed to being pursued.
Unfortunately, Harry had never managed to face his own feelings head-on.
Ginny and Luna were both in fifth year now and had to prepare for their O.W.L.s, so Harry couldn't really take up too much of their time.
Harry didn't notice the disappointment in Ginny's eyes. He wished her good luck with her revision.
For some reason, Harry felt vaguely uneasy.
As if something was about to happen.
The feeling was strong, like the instinct he felt when spotting the Golden Snitch.
"It's already this late, I've got to go. I still can't believe I have to take the Apparition exam," Ron complained. "I mean, I've been stuck in bed for almost two months."
"Yes, alright."
Harry wasn't old enough, so he couldn't really relate to what Ron was feeling.
Hermione had already passed in the previous exam.
A group of candidates heading to Hogsmeade left the castle.
Watching the now much emptier Hogwarts, Harry flipped through a couple of pages of Advanced Potion-Making, then decided to head toward Hagrid's hut.
As he was getting close, he saw Malfoy coming out of Hagrid's hut.
Hagrid seemed to be saying something to him, and Malfoy nodded before leaving.
Harry didn't even know why he was hiding.
Malfoy and Goyle walked past the wall behind which he was hiding.
As their footsteps gradually faded, Harry cautiously poked his head out.
The book he'd stuffed into his pocket slipped out by accident. Just as he was about to pick it up, another hand reached out and grabbed it first.
It was Malfoy.
"When are you going to get rid of your habit of spying on people, Potter?" Malfoy sneered, casually flipping open the book that Harry treasured so much.
His brows suddenly furrowed, and he stared at Harry. "You dare steal John's book?"
"I didn't!" Harry shot back.
"Don't play dumb," Malfoy sneered. "I recognize John's handwriting. This is written with his right hand."
"And also…"
Malfoy flipped to the first page and let out a scornful laugh. "Half-Blood Prince? You're really narcissistic."
Being mocked by others wouldn't have meant much, but hearing it from Malfoy made it feel especially biting to Harry.
"Wait, this handwriting looks familiar too."
Malfoy scanned the two different styles of handwriting in the book, then suddenly realized something and sneered. "This belongs to Slytherin. You're a Gryffindor thief."
Harry tried to snatch it back, but Malfoy dodged him.
"No wonder you've been doing so well in Potions class. Turns out you were stealing Slytherin House's achievements," Malfoy said disdainfully. "I'm returning it."
"Give it back, Malfoy!" Harry roared angrily. "Who do you think you are to do this?"
"Because this belongs to Slytherin's Head of House and Slytherin's king. You seriously can't tell this is Professor Snape's notes?"
Malfoy pointed at the handwriting. He had seen it countless times before on Snape's notes when applying for Quidditch pitch access.
Harry felt as though he'd been struck by lightning.
He had always wondered who the Half-Blood Prince was.
And it turned out to be Snape?
The person he hated most.
Harry watched Malfoy leave with the book, while he himself stood there in a daze.
He no longer had any mood to go to Hagrid's hut.
All he wanted was to be alone for a while.
Not long after Harry left, Hagrid hurried into the Forbidden Forest.
…
Harry returned to the castle.
As dusk fell, he heard hurried footsteps and panicked voices.
"What's going on?"
The students who had gone out for the exam all came running back in disarray. Harry grabbed Ron and asked him what had happened.
Ron's face was filled with fear. Behind him, Professor McGonagall loudly cut off their conversation. "Everyone, gather in the Great Hall immediately. Harry, go and inform Professor Slughorn."
Professor McGonagall's face was frighteningly pale. She grabbed Harry by the shoulder and said, "Voldemort is here."
That name.
The moment it was spoken, Harry felt a brief moment of shock, but he quickly recovered.
He sprinted toward the Headmaster's office as fast as he could.
By the time Slughorn hurried into the Great Hall, Professor McGonagall had already summoned the other professors.
"What happened, Minerva?" Slughorn asked, seeing their battle-ready stance.
Professor McGonagall took a deep breath, her fingers clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
Just moments ago, Hogsmeade had been attacked.
The attackers were Voldemort and his people. The Aurors stationed there had been killed, and the students had fled back to Hogwarts.
"Hogsmeade has fallen?" Slughorn stared in disbelief.
After receiving confirmation, Slughorn stood there in a daze.
"Horace, we need to make a decision."
Professor McGonagall was resolute and decisive as she said, "Voldemort's target is Hogwarts. We must defend the castle."
"But—but those people…" Slughorn hesitated.
Professor McGonagall said, "We still have Albus."
Yes—Dumbledore was still here.
This old friend had been so low-key in recent times that Slughorn had almost forgotten.
The moment he heard those words, Slughorn regained his composure.
"Strengthen the defenses. Protect the children."
After giving a few quick instructions, Slughorn hurried off to summon Dumbledore.
All four Heads of House were present. Snape glanced in the direction of Slytherin.
As Slughorn and McGonagall finished their exchange, the entire Great Hall was already steeped in an atmosphere of tension so thick it was almost nauseating.
"You, go and notify the other students."
Many students were still unaware of what was happening and were scattered around the school grounds. Professor McGonagall had the students who had returned from the exam spread the news.
Professor Flitwick went to arrange Hogwarts' defenses.
"Why would Voldemort suddenly decide to attack Hogwarts?" Harry reacted quickly and hurried off to gather the people from the former army.
Compared to the other students, they had undergone training, and their strength was far greater.
After a while, Harry saw Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Weasley appear in the Great Hall.
Not only them—many others had arrived as well.
"Thank goodness you're all safe," Mrs. Weasley said as she pulled Harry and Ron into a hug.
"Sirius notified us," Mr. Weasley said. "We came through the Hog's Head. That's when I found out there's a secret passage leading to Hogwarts. The area nearby was destroyed—people were injured everywhere."
"Alright, enough talking," Mrs. Weasley said as she grabbed Ginny's hand. "Come with me, Ginny. Now."
"No, I'm staying here!" Ginny protested loudly.
Mrs. Weasley raised her voice. "You're only a child!"
"John almost killed Voldemort when he was my age!" Ginny shot back without backing down.
But not everyone was John.
"Arthur, will the Ministry of Magic send reinforcements?" Professor McGonagall, having entrusted Mrs. Weasley with helping to evacuate the students, found Mr. Weasley and asked him.
Mr. Weasley shook his head. "I'm afraid that will be very difficult. We suspect the Minister has been controlled. The Ministry is badly divided right now."
"Then it looks like we can only rely on ourselves," Professor McGonagall said, raising her wand and shouting, "Piertotum Locomotor!"
The statues and suits of armor in the corridors leapt down from their pedestals. Professor McGonagall said with a trace of excitement, "I've always wanted to try that. It's technically the Headmaster's authority, but Horace is too busy right now."
"Hogwarts is under threat!" Professor McGonagall called out loudly. "Hold the borders! Defend us! Do your duty to the school!"
The statues and armor let out roaring cries and rushed out of the entrance hall.
Students from all four Houses were gathered in the Great Hall, where the prefects began organizing their evacuation.
If they were old enough, they could stay behind.
Dumbledore finally left that cramped office as well, though he couldn't be away for long.
Looking at those young faces, Dumbledore felt a storm of emotions rising in his heart.
~~~
o(*￣▽￣*)ブSupport and Read 12 Chapters ahead: Patreon/Dragonel