Chapter 104: A Night in the Great Hall
"It seems we'll be spending the night here," Malfoy remarked with a theatrical wave of his hand, gazing at the enchanted ceiling. "Thanks to Sirius Black, we get to enjoy sleeping under the stars for once," he added with a smirk.
"The staff and I will conduct a thorough search of the castle," Professor Dumbledore announced as Professors McGonagall and Flitwick sealed the doors to the hall. "For your safety, you must remain here overnight. I ask the prefects to stand guard at the hall entrances, while the Head Boy and Head Girl supervise inside. If anything happens, inform me immediately." Dumbledore directed this last instruction to Percy, who looked immensely proud of his newfound responsibility. "Send word to me via a ghost if necessary."
For Slytherin, Professor Snape assigned only the fifth-year and higher prefects to guard duty, while the rest were treated the same as the other students. Before leaving, Dumbledore flicked his wand, causing the long tables to slide to the walls and conjuring hundreds of purple sleeping bags across the floor. "Sleep well," he said, closing the doors behind him.
Excited whispers erupted almost immediately. Gryffindor students eagerly recounted the events to those from other houses.
In one corner, Augustus and his friends settled into their sleeping bags, still fully clothed. "It's remarkable Sirius Black managed to infiltrate Hogwarts," Thor said, his voice tinged with curiosity. "Forget the Dementors patrolling the grounds—just the castle's defenses alone should make it impossible for an outsider to get in."
"Well, let's not forget Sirius Black once studied here," Lillian replied, stifling a yawn. "He probably knows the castle as well as any teacher, maybe even better. Hogwarts is full of hidden routes. With the right knowledge, it wouldn't be that hard to find a way in."
"Exactly, like the Room of Requirement that Augustus discovered," Malfoy chimed in, his gray-blue eyes glinting. "Even most of the staff don't seem to know about it. Hogwarts has too many secrets for its own good, so it's no surprise if Black found one of them useful."
"Even so," Loki interjected, his amber eyes sharp, "how could anyone avoid detection by Dementors while wandering the castle grounds? You can't hide from them, even with an Invisibility Cloak. They don't rely on sight. How did Sirius manage to evade them?"
"He might have used Disillusionment," suggested a nearby Ravenclaw. "Blended into his surroundings."
"Or maybe he disguised himself," a Hufflepuff fifth-year added.
"Useless guesses," Loki muttered disdainfully, silencing the students with a glare.
"The most plausible explanation," Augustus began thoughtfully, "is that Sirius Black might be an Animagus. If he transformed into an animal, neither Dementors nor the staff would suspect him. An animal wandering the grounds wouldn't draw attention. Combined with his knowledge of secret passages, it's entirely feasible for him to infiltrate the school unnoticed."
"That makes sense," Loki agreed, a gleam of understanding in his eyes. "Even ghosts or teachers would dismiss him as someone's pet. It's a clever way to avoid detection."
"That's brilliant, Augustus!" murmured several students, their earlier wild theories now seeming laughable. Augustus offered a faint smile, amused by the shift in tone.
"Lights out!" Percy's voice rang out, commanding and firm. "Everyone in your sleeping bags. No more talking!"
"Impressive," Loki murmured with a smirk, watching Percy patrol the hall like a self-important general. "At this rate, he'll be Minister for Magic in no time."
"Well, he is the pride of the Weasley family," Malfoy added with feigned admiration, a cold smile tugging at his lips. "Let him bask in the glory. They don't get opportunities like this often."
The candles extinguished, leaving only the soft glow of wandering ghosts. The enchanted ceiling twinkled with stars, casting a serene light over the hall. Despite the calm surroundings, whispers persisted, and a cool breeze seemed to linger near Augustus, ruffling his golden hair.
Teachers made periodic checks on the students. Around three in the morning, most had finally fallen asleep. Professor Dumbledore returned quietly.
"Any signs of him, Professor?" Percy asked in a hushed tone.
"None," Dumbledore replied. "How is everything here?"
"Everything is under control, sir."
"Good. There's no need to move them tonight. I've arranged a temporary guardian for Gryffindor Tower. You can send everyone back to their dormitories tomorrow morning."
It seemed Sirius Black had once again eluded capture. For him to evade both the staff and the Dementors spoke of extraordinary skill. Even if he was an Animagus, it required daring and cunning beyond the ordinary. Augustus closed his eyes, deep in thought, as the cool breeze danced softly around him.
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