Chapter 584: Preparations
Chapter 584: Preparations
Hermione's concerns about the situation were well-founded. Although the Daily Prophet continued to claim that everything was under control, Liam, based on information from the Order of the Phoenix and Lupin, could clearly sense that Voldemort and his followers were planning something big.
From the progress of the Vanishing Cabinet's repair, it was evident that this event could happen within a week. So, over the next few days, Liam focused all his energy on preparing for battle. If he was lucky, he might even be able to handle the group of Death Eaters who could invade the School through the Vanishing Cabinet on his own.
However, not everything went as smoothly as Liam had hoped. On a Friday evening, after dinner, Liam and Hermione were studying in the Library when Liam suddenly tensed and turned to look out the window.
"What's wrong, Liam?" Hermione asked, noticing his agitation.
"Look outside", Liam said, pointing to the sky. Hermione, who had been sitting with her back to the window, immediately turned to follow his finger.
"What is—this?" Hermione asked, surprised. Through the Library's glass windows, she saw a transparent barrier slowly forming in the sky, the setting sun casting a golden glow over everything below, including the castle.
"It's Hogwarts Castle's magical defense", Liam said, looking out the window. By then, almost everyone in the Library had noticed the unusual sight and gathered by the windows, pointing and whispering.
"Quiet in the Library!" Madam Pince, holding her wand, emerged from her office and shouted. "If you can't keep quiet, please—"
She stopped mid-sentence as she saw the scene outside, then took a few steps back, sitting down on a chair and shaking her head in disbelief. "This can't be happening. How could things have gotten so bad?"
As everyone in the Library continued to debate the situation, Professor Mcgonagall's magically amplified voice echoed throughout the castle. "All students, return to your house common rooms immediately. All teachers, return to the staff room. Please act immediately."
"What's going on?" Following Professor Mcgonagall's orders, Liam returned to the Common Room and tried to find out what had happened. However, everyone seemed confused, and no one knew what was going on.
Fortunately, about seven or eight minutes later, Professor Mcgonagall entered the Common Room. She looked serious, her lips tightly pressed together.
"Professor Mcgonagall, what's happening?" "What's going on outside?" "Is anyone hurt?" The students, finding a sense of security with Professor Mcgonagall's arrival, immediately surrounded her with questions.
"Please, everyone, be quiet", Professor Mcgonagall said, raising her hands slightly to calm the room. Once everyone was silent, she announced, "Fifteen minutes ago, the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters attacked the Ministry of Magic. At the request of Minister of Magic Scrimgeour, Dumbledore has gone to the Ministry to provide support. For safety reasons, Hogwarts is now under curfew."
"Under curfew, every entrance to the castle is protected by powerful magic. All students should remain in their common rooms and are strictly forbidden to go outside. The professors and some volunteers will patrol the school to ensure everyone's safety. I hope each of you will follow the rules, especially now, when reckless and uncontrolled actions are absolutely not allowed." As she spoke, Professor Mcgonagall glanced at Harry.
"Alright, that's all I have to say." Professor Mcgonagall scanned the Common Room. "Now, the seventh-year Prefects and I need to step out for a moment. I have some matters to discuss with you."
Liam followed Professor Mcgonagall into the corridor outside the Common Room. Once all four Prefects had gathered, she spoke seriously. "Due to a shortage of professors and volunteers, I hope you can join the patrol. Of course, this is not a mandatory requirement. You can also choose to stay in the Common Room and help maintain order."
"I'm willing to patrol the school", Liam was the first to speak up. He had already planned to find an opportunity to monitor the entrance to the Room of Requirement while Professor Dumbledore was away. This chance to move around freely was too good to pass up. After he spoke, Hermione and the other two seventh-year Prefects also volunteered to patrol the castle.
This was not surprising, as Gryffindors were known for their adventurous spirit. Professor Mcgonagall looked at the four Prefects standing before her, pleased that none of them had backed down in the face of danger. "Don't worry, we won't assign you any overly dangerous tasks. You'll just need to patrol the upper floors. The main entrances and the Great Hall will be patrolled by the professors. Today's curfew is just a precaution Dumbledore has put in place before his trip to London. I don't think there will be any serious danger."
After that, Professor Mcgonagall led everyone to the staff room downstairs. When they entered, they found that most of the professors were already there, along with the Prefects from Hufflepuff and Slytherin, who had arrived earlier due to their closer proximity. Liam immediately focused his attention on Malfoy, who seemed to have shaken off his previous dejection. His lips were curled in a slight smile, as if something very exciting was about to happen.
It looks like today is the day Malfoy plans to strike, Liam thought, raising his guard. He then shifted his gaze around the room and noticed that the volunteers were actually members of the Order of the Phoenix, including Tonks, Bill, and Arthur Weasley.
After sitting down in the empty chair next to Arthur Weasley, Liam asked, "Mr. Arthur, are you three the only members of the Order of the Phoenix here?"
"Only the three of us", Arthur whispered. "Mad-Eye Moody, Sirius Black, and Kingsley are near the Ministry of Magic in London, fighting alongside Dumbledore. The Dark Lord and a large group of Death Eaters are causing a lot of pressure there, especially this year. The Dark Lord has somehow recruited many Dark Wizards from other places, so more capable people are needed in London."
"Where is Professor Lupin?" Hermione, curious about the activities of the Order of the Phoenix, asked Arthur after he listed the members' whereabouts.
"He wanted to come, but we stopped him. Most of the werewolves he's with are elderly, weak, or young, and not suitable for battle. I told Lupin that we have enough people, and he needs to protect those vulnerable individuals", Arthur leaned in and whispered to Liam and Hermione. "Alright, let's keep quiet. Everyone is here."
Liam looked toward the room's entrance and saw that the four Ravenclaw Prefects and the male student council president had just arrived with Professor Flitwick. Once everyone was present, Professor Mcgonagall and the other three Heads of House gathered to discuss the evening's plan. Then, she stood at the front of the room and announced the arrangements for the night.
(End of Chapter)
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