The school started to go crazy. All the classes were divided up because of all the attacks. They used to do Potions with Gryffindor. They hadn't seen Ginny for days, because now they only had Potions with the other Ravenclaws.

In the corridor they met the second year Gryffindors. They were being brought back from Transfiguration by Professor McGonagall. "Ron," Luna said quickly. He looked up. "Tell Ginny we love her." She added. Ron gave her a smile. "Will do." he said.

Snape dropped them off at Defence Against the Dark Arts. He knocked on the door. No one answered. "Bloody hell Lockheart, open the door." Snape shouted. "You could leave us here." Avalon said. "And risk you." He cleared his throat. "I mean risk all of you being attacked. No." He said. After 5 minutes of knocking and shouting, Lockheart opened the door to his room.

"Are you finally through with the painting of your ugly mug, Lockheart?" Snape said annoyed, "or did you get your curlers tangled up?" he added.

"I actually have a class to teach," he went on. "Yes Severus, we all do. This accompanying them to classes is nonsense." Lockheard complained. "I don't really care what you think. Just make sure these students are safe." Snape said as the class entered. "Watch them." Snape said to Lockheart. "If there is any harm to her, I will make your ugly face even uglier." Snape added before walking away.

Again Lockheart read from his book. This time it was about getting rid of a werewolf. One he had cured with a wolfsbane potion. When she asked Snape about it a couple of days later, he told her that, yes, there was a potion that could make it safe for them to be around her. But there was no such thing as a cure for a werewolf. So she knew he was lying.

The evenings were quite boring, but the nice thing about being locked up in the common room was that you could make friends in your own house.

One cold March evening, Luna, Avalon and Oona sat in their dormitory. They were doing their homework with the other girls in their year.

One of them had light purple hair, which she could change most of the time. She had beautiful grey eyes and it was clear that she would be a striking beauty when she grew out of her childish appearance. Her name was Emma Tonks, an other girl had the annoying habit of knowing what you were thinking. She called it Liggilimesy. And that she had it naturally, and that her power skipped a generation. She got it from her grandmother. She had brown hair. Light skin and blue eyes. Her name was Lucy Kowalski. According to her stories, her grandmother and grandfather had a great influence on the fall of. Grindelwald, whoever that was. And that although she was considered Pureblood because her mother was a witch and her father a wizard, she told them that her paternal grandfather had been a baker who had married a witch.

The last girl in her dormitory was called Sharon Prewett, who had been orphaned almost at birth. She had spent her life in a muggle orphanage near London. She had told Avalon. She had never known her parents either. And according to the orphanage matron, she was registered as Sharon Prewett, so they went with that name. She had chestnut hair that was almost red. And bright brown eyes. She also told them that until the day her letter arrived, he had no idea she was a witch.

"Can you block the reading of people's minds?" Avalon asked Lucy. "Yes, I can. I can also close my mind to other wizards," she said. "Can you read Snape?" asked Luna. "No I can't, I think he's learned how to block his thoughts." Lucy replied.

"Who would want that?" Emma asked. "Well, I don't know. I would like to know what he is hiding." Avalon said. "Be careful what you wish for." Oona said. "I wanted to know what my father was hiding. After a well-aimed spell, he told me exactly what it was. Little did I know that he was only my stepfather." Oona explained.

"That sucks." Luna said. "I got over it." Oona explained. "At least you have parents. Steph or adoptive." Sharon said. "I was in the orphanage for 11 years. Nobody wanted me. I wasn't cute enough as a baby and I wasn't young enough when I got older." Sharon said, looking sad.

"You have a family now." Luna said. Sharon smiled at her. The next few weeks Avalon enjoyed spending time in their common room, but the topics of conversation became boring. They longed for more to do. The next lesson in Defence Against the Dark Arts was even more ridiculous. After reading pages from his own book again, he addressed the class.

"i think the worst is over, children."Lockheart said, "I think the perpetrator knows I am here now and will back off. I think the attacks are over," he said. "And on what do you base that?" Avalon said, finally fed up with him.

"Have there been any more attacks?" he said. "No, but last time it was quiet for months." Sharon called out. "Yes Miss Prewett. But this time we have found a cure in Mandrakes. Once that is done we will get to the bottom of this." Lockheart said smiling.

The bell rang and Lockheart groaned. "Let's go I have to get you to Potions," he said sounding angry. "Lets go I have more to do. Like get ready for my second year Gryffindor class. And my hair needs attention." He complained as the class gathered their books. "CAN YOU JUST HURRY UP?" he shouted.

"Some one's testy," Avalon whispered to Luna. "He could let us go ourselves if it's that much of an inconvenience." Luna Whispered"I mean, he's so sure it's over, right?"she added a little louder than a whisper.

"You know what Miss Lovegood. I think you're right," he said. "You just go. Go to Potions," he said. "But Sir, these are the rules." Emma said. "I don't care about those rules, GO!" he shouted, "let's just go." Avalon said. And they all left the room quickly.

When they reached Potions, they had to wait a few minutes for Snape to return. When he came into the corridor he looked angry. "Where's Lockheart?" he asked. "He wouldn't come with us," Avalon said plainly. "What?" Snape snapped, quickly opening his classroom.

"Get inside. Stay there, I'll be right back." he said and walked away again. After about 15 minutes he came back, looking even angrier. "I won't be teaching today, I'm taking you to your common room," he said. The class did not want to push him, they had all seen him snap at first hand. So instead of saying anything, they all followed him quietly.

That night they all speculated about what had happened. "I swear I hope Snape beat the smug out of him." Avalon said when the conversation turned to Lockheart. "He's such a phony. I can't believe I ever liked him." Lucy said. "Totally." Luna added.

The next day they were allowed a treat. After a few weeks of no attacks, the faculty decided it was okay to have a Quidditch match with an audience. Today would be Gryffindor against Ravenclaw. They passed the Great Hall, which was still locked.

"Oh damn it." Luna screamed suddenly. "I forgot my hat," she added. Luna had made a habit of making hats for the Quiditch maches. She had made one that looked like a lion and another that looked like an eagle. "I'll go back and get them," she said. "Want me to come with you?" asked Avalon. "No, I'll be right back." Luna said. "Are you sure?" Avalon asked again. "Yeah, who wants to attack Loony?" she said as she ran off. "Be careful!" she called after her.

20 minutes passed and Luna had not returned. "I don't trust it" Avalon said. "I know." Lucy said. "Stop reading my mind," Avalon said. "Sorry." Lucy replied. "Give it a few more minutes." Lucy started to say as Luna's blood curdling scream ripped through what seemed like the entire school.

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"LUNA!" Avalon ran up the stairs. And she kept running. "LUNA!!" she shouted again. "AVA!" she heard Luna scream, which seemed to come from around the corner of the library, and as she rounded the corner she stopped dead in her tracks.

There were two bodies on the floor. One of them they recognised as a girl called Penelope, because she was with them in Ravenclaw. But what was more frightening. Next to her was Hermione Granger. There was a small hand mirror next to the girls.

"Luna." Avalon said. Luna stood stunned and looked nailed the floor. "Luna." Avalon said again. "LUNA!" Avalon shouted, which seemed to wake Luna. "Yes?" she said. "Get Snape and McGonagall." Luna ran off quickly.

Avalon put her cloak under Hermione's head and found something else to put under Penelope's. After another 10 minutes, both Snape and McGonagall came running in. "Oh my goodness, Miss Granger, Miss Clearwater." McGonnagall shouted.

"Professors. I found this near them," Avalon said. She handed them the mirror. "What does it mean?" asked Snape. "And you found them,?" he asked. "No, Luna did. I heard her scream and came to find her."

Avalon said. "5 points from each of you." Snape said. "I hate doing this, Avalon. I do, but you two put yourselves in danger and that's not right." Snape said. McGonagall gave him a look of suprise but then quickly looked back at Luna and Avalon.

"I agree, Professor Snape. But now, first things first. Miss Prince, Miss Lovegood, go to your common room immediately and stay there." McGonagall said. "Professor Snape, have Madam Pomfrey take Miss Clearwatter and Miss Granger to safety." She added.

"But what about Quiditch?" Luna asked. "That will be cancelled, I must hurry. Do as I say, ladies," she said. If ever there were two teachers not to cross, it was McGonagall and Snape, so they did as they were told.

That evening they heard screams coming from the gamekeeper's hut. They could not quite make it out. It seemed to be two people being led away by two others. But they were too high up to see properly. The next day there was a message on the Builitin board, which had been put up since the attacks had begon."Important Update

Official Update by Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge,

Announcement of the arrest of suspect

Rubius Hagrid.

By order of the representetives of Hogwarts

Dismissal of Professor A, P, W, B Dumbledore effective immediately."

"Oh my God," was all Avalon could say. "Hagrid's gone? Dumbledore is gone. This is bad." She added. "Bad? This is worse than bad." Luna said. "No kidding, this is catastrophic." Sharon cut in. "I could be Muggle-born, so could you, Avalon. We are so going to die." Sharon said sounding panicked.

"Calm down." Luna said. "Why?" Sharon said, sounding more desperate by the second. "Because if you expect the worst, the worst will happen." Luna said. "We are beyond the wax on wax of approach Lovegood," a boy said.

"STOP IT." Avalon shouted. "Stop. We're all scared, we all mean well. Let's not fight." Avalon added. "She's right." Julie Smith, the House Prefect, said. "We're all scared, let's stick together." she said. "Yes, I am sorry." the boy said. "I will get more information. As Prefect I am allowed to leave the tower." she said.

"Your Muggle born." Emma said, "I'm half-blood, I'm safer. If you give me permission, I can get the information," she added. "You are very brave and noble, almost Gryffindor. But no, you are a first year, I cannot send you." Julie said.

A moment later the intercom clicked on and Professor McGonnagall's voice came on. "All students are allowed to eat in the Great Hall," the intercom clicked off.

"Let's go together." Julie said. And just like that, the entire Ravenclaw common room walked down to the Great Hall. When they got there, everyone was already sitting at their house tables.

"How nice of Ravenclaw to join us," a smug looking Slytherin said. All the other students were rather defeated because now every house had lost a student. Well, almost every house except Slytherin.

A Huffelpuff stood up. "All I'm saying is that Potter can't be the Heir of Slytherin," he said. "What makes you think that? Fred Weasley said, sounding less cheerful than ever. "He would never attack the Granger Girl. If he was going to attack the Muggle-borns, she would be the only one that would be immune," he added. "I'm sorry, Harry," he said finally.

The only one who looked as smug as the Slytherins was Gilderoy Lockheart. He was talking to Professor Sinistra, looking very amused. Dumbledore's throne-like chair was empty. Professor McGonagall was sitting next to it. She stood up after breakfast.

"Let's face facts. We are safer together now. So I am allowing the classes to resume as before. And I want everyone to travel with at least 3 people. I am sorry. But this is probably the end of our beloved school. So you might want to get your trunks ready, just in case we have to close abruptly. That is all," she said and sat down, clearly defeated.

The next weeks The school felt as defeated as McGonagall looked. No one was hanging around anywhere. Or even talking to each other, it seemed. It was late may now, the chill had left the air but definitely not the castle.

Having Ginny back on their side was the only good thing that came out of this new situation. They were just as much inseparable as they had been from the very beginning. Their last lesson before the weekend was Potions.

"I want you to know that we are close to making the Mandrake Potion to heal our petrified students. We are reluctant to do so until we have clarity," he said. "He looks kind of human," Ginny whispered. Avalon looked at her favourite teacher. He did indeed look as defeated as the whole school seemed to feel.

"Avalon, I want you to stay behind if that means Miss Lovegood and Miss Weasley stay behind. is fine." he said. So again Avalon waited until almost the whole class had left.

"Listen Avalon. I have spoken to your mother. I want you to leave here. Tonight," he said. "Why? You said I wasn't Muggle born , so I'm not in that much danger." she said. "Any danger you are in is too much danger. I do not care who you take with you to keep you safe. But I want you to be completely safe and if that means I have to home school you and keep you away from the wizarding world, then so be it," he said.

"I don't want to go," she said. "But you are in danger." he said, looking worried. "I'll be fine." she said. "With Dumbledore gone, it is more dangerous than any of you know." he said, sounding desperate now. "I can't leave my friends." She said.

His eyes went a little glassy at that. "No. I thought you would say that." Snape said. "Just be very, very careful." he told her, sounding begging. "I will." she told Snape.They then left his class to go to dinner.

At dinner Lockheart spoke again, but this time to the whole school."It's over now, Hogwarts, the culprit has been caught," he claimed. The whole school began to talk excitedly. "The Mandrake Potions are days away from being ready, and once they are, I am 100% sure that the newly awakened students will tell us that Hagrid was behind it. I never trusted him to begin with," he finished.

"Are you mad?" Ron Weasley said. "Hagrid would never hurt any of us. Certainly not Hermione." he shouted across the hall. Renewed chatter broke out.

"Look, the Ministry arrested him, they must have had a reason." Lockheard defended himself. "To protect themselves from further embarrassment. To pretend they were doing something." Harry Potter had said after getting up. "The attacks stopped after he was arrested, Mr Potter. Besides, I am the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher and I know what I am talking about. I have more information than you. And more knowledge," he said, sounding annoyed.

"About what, reading from your stupid books?" a Huffelpuff screamed, Avalon was recognising him as Cedric Diggory. "Yeah, or telling us that you won the most daring smile for 5 years in a row or something." Emma Tonks said. "There's no need to turn on me. I am just stating facts." Lockheart said.

"What facts?" Fred Weasley asked. "Two facts realy Mister Weasley, one: that I have been a great teacher to you all and two "that there have been no more attacks since Mr Hagrid was arrested." Lockheart sounded threatened.

"A great teacher do't not make me laugh," said a boy called Erneie MC Millan. "No kidding." A dark-skinned boy called Lee agreed. "You've only told us what you supposedly did in your books, which doesn't teach us anything," Fred Weasley said. "No, that does not prepare us for a world of Dark Arts outside. Even Snape could do a better job," George added. "Oh totally, and he would probably tell us to use the Dark Arts and it would be more instructive in defending ourselves than what you have been teaching us." Dean Thomas of Gryffindor exclaimed. "Indeed," his best friend Shamus Finnagan added.

"And who made you so clever?" shouted Bridged Rookwood. "So you think Hagrid's guilty?" Fred asked. "No. He's too stupid for that." Briget spoke. "Like you're any smarter," George said. "But may I point out that Slytherin is the only house that hasn't lost anyone?" George added."Duh." Malfoy cut in. "We're all purebloods." Malfoy said smugly. "Well congratulations then." Fred said,

"SILENCE." McGonagall's voice cut through the school-wide argument. Her voice was magically amplified. "This is not the time to argue. This is a time to stand together," she said. "With Dumbledore not here, we could all be in very real danger. More danger than we were in with the other attacks. It is up to all of us to stay safe now," she added, sounding very scared. In fact, all the teachers looked scared. Well, if you did not count Lockheart. But no one seemed to take him seriously anymore. All Avalon knew was that she was more afraid of what was to come than she had ever been in her life.