Chapter 369: Internal Support
After Cedric left, several more people came over to ask about the Kingdom of Order.
Seeing that, Dudley could only tell them he would put up a notice outside the Great Hall later, explaining how to join.
"Looks like everyone's enthusiasm for the Kingdom of Order is pretty high," Ron said.
"After how dazzling everyone was just now, using the Patronus Charm to hold off the Dementors, there's no way to keep a low profile," Hermione said with a smile. It was obvious she felt proud.
"Being too famous isn't always a good thing," Dudley said quietly.
"Look at Slytherin," Harry said with a small laugh. "Their faces are grim enough to curdle milk."
They all looked over and saw it was true. First, no one at Slytherin had managed a Patronus to resist the Dementors, so many of them still had not recovered from the aftereffects of hundreds of Dementors sweeping past. Second, all three other Houses had students who could cast such an advanced charm, but Slytherin could not. That stung the pure-blood students who prided themselves on being superior, and more than a few of them looked visibly shaken.
"Look at Malfoy," Ron said with a gloating grin. "He's staring over here. Don't tell me he wants to join us too?"
Sure enough, when they shifted their gaze, Malfoy was staring straight at them.
But the moment he realised the Gryffindors were looking back, he flipped them a rude gesture and turned away.
"Hmph. If he thinks he's getting in, he's dreaming," Harry said, unable to hold it in.
Dudley noticed Malfoy's expression looked especially unpleasant. Who knew what state the Malfoy family was in lately?
The Halloween feast ended under that heavy atmosphere.
Working with the Ministry, the school searched every corner they could, but Sirius Black was not caught.
It was as if he had never been there at all, vanishing into the castle without leaving a trace.
About an hour later, Professor Dumbledore returned to the Great Hall.
"We have searched the entire castle and still found nothing," he announced. "To be safe, everyone will spend the night in the Great Hall."
With a flick of his wand, all four House tables and benches rose into the air and stacked themselves neatly in a corner.
In the next moment, hundreds of purple velvet sleeping bags appeared across the floor.
"You should all be tired. Get some rest. Good night," Dumbledore said, then left the hall again, clearly with more matters to deal with.
No one argued. They each found a sleeping bag and clustered with their friends, whispering about Sirius while trying to settle down.
Dudley's group naturally stayed together.
"Dudley, honestly, shouldn't they have brought you along to track Black down?" Ron asked in a low voice. "You were the first to notice him, and you're especially sensitive to that kind of evil, dark presence."
"Oh, Ron, would you like to try using your brain for once?" Hermione rolled her eyes. "Who is the school searching for Black with?"
"Dementors?" Ron said.
"The Ministry, Ron. The Ministry," Hermione said. "If Dudley got involved, what do you think Scrimgeour would think when he saw him? And Fudge too."
"Er… right." Ron finally got it.
Harry glanced at Dudley and said nothing.
In truth, he had already guessed Dumbledore's reasoning. If not for the Ministry being involved, Dumbledore would have brought Dudley in immediately. He had not, because he clearly did not want Dudley to have any more contact with the Ministry.
"It doesn't matter," Dudley said. "To be honest, I already knew Sirius wasn't in the castle."
After advancing along the Justiciar Pathway, Dudley's perception within Hogwarts had become extremely sharp.
If Sirius were still hiding in the castle, Dudley would have told Dumbledore.
Since Dumbledore had not come to him tonight, Dudley was more than happy to enjoy the peace and quiet.
After a few more words, they slid into their sleeping bags.
Not long after, footsteps approached, and several people stopped near where Dudley and the others lay.
Dudley and his group were not asleep yet, but they decided to pretend.
"Professor, any clues on Black?" Percy asked.
"No. Not yet," Dumbledore said.
"How are things here?"
"Everything is fine, Professor," Percy replied immediately.
"Good. Tomorrow morning, you can all move back. I've found a temporary guard for the Gryffindor portrait hole," Dumbledore said.
"And the Fat Lady? Still not found?" Percy asked.
"We found her in the map of Argyllshire on the third floor," Dumbledore replied. "But she's in a dreadful state. Black couldn't give the password, so she refused to let him into the common room. Then Black attacked and tore the portrait apart."
"Her emotions are unstable. We'll have to wait for her to calm down before we can begin restoring her portrait."
As his words fell, more footsteps sounded from not far away.
"Professor Dumbledore, I searched all areas again, but still found nothing," came Snape's voice.
"Seems he truly is a slippery one," Dumbledore said.
Snape paused, then spoke in a hard, serious tone. "Headmaster, have you not considered how he got in?"
"I have," Dumbledore replied. "But none of the possibilities seem to hold."
"From what I've seen, I don't believe Black could have got into Hogwarts unnoticed without help from someone inside," said Snape, his voice hardening.
"Do you remember what we discussed at the start of term? I told you then that appointing Lupin as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher was a mistake. He and Sirius Black…"
"Severus," said Dumbledore, cutting him off. "I do not believe that anyone in this castle would help Black to break in."
Snape's breathing grew heavier, as if he were furious.
"All right. I'm going down to check on the Dementors," Dumbledore said. "Otherwise they may decide to slip inside."
"Er… but aren't they here to help?" Percy asked cautiously.
"Yes, they are," Dumbledore said coldly. "But as long as I remain Headmaster of Hogwarts, they will never cross any threshold here."
As he finished speaking, Dumbledore's gaze swept briefly over Dudley, who appeared fast asleep, and then he turned and left the Great Hall.
Snape fell silent for a moment, then snapped his robes around him and strode out in long, furious steps.