Sirius Black's Attack

After taking care of Draco Malfoy's situation, the spell classes continued without any problem for Nathaniel.

A second-year student from Hufflepuff House caught his attention, Lorenzo De Luca, a young Italian wizard who had the opportunity to study at Hogwarts. A half-blood child of a witch mother and a Muggle father, his knowledge of the main basic spells far surpassed the other students in his year. While the third-year students were still in the early stages of learning the Bombarda charm, Lorenzo could already use the spell satisfactorily.

Another person who caught his attention was the young witch from Ravenclaw's second year, Luna Lovegood. The girl undoubtedly possessed an imagination that allowed her to see beyond the normal material world.

Since the first day, Nathaniel began taking notes of talented students or those with indications of such abilities in spells and enchantments. At the request of Headmaster Dumbledore, he was to monitor these students, as the Dueling Club might possibly be reopened but with reservations due to the events of the previous year.

Not to mention, Albus was considering passing the position of Ravenclaw House Head to him, since with the unfortunate death of Flitwick, the Headmaster himself was temporarily handling the responsibilities of the position.

On his way to his office again, he heard commotion in the corridor leading to the Gryffindor Tower. "It seems like there won't be a normal day here," he sighed, already sensing another problem at Hogwarts.

"Let me through," Percy Weasley's voice was heard, passing by with impatience. "What's the reason for this holdup here? It can't be that everyone forgot the password," he said as he passed through the small cluster of students.

Percy arrived in front of the door leading to the Gryffindor Common Room and realized what was happening. His voice trembled as he spoke. "Someone, fetch the headmaster. Quickly!"

At that moment, Nathaniel, already close to the commotion, intervened, "What happened to Prefect Weasley?" His cold voice echoed in the silence that fell upon the corridor after Percy asked for help to contact someone at the school.

Nathaniel assessed the painting on the entrance door to Gryffindor and found the portrait torn into several parts with no sign of the Lady residing in the painting.

"Oh... Professor WinterHeart... the Fat Lady's painting... it's destroyed," fear could be sensed in Percy's voice.

Moments later, Headmaster Dumbledore arrived on the scene and headed towards the portrait as Gryffindor students made way for him.

Dumbledore glanced quickly at the destroyed portrait, turned with a somber look, noticed Nathaniel was also present, and saw approaching behind him Professor McGonagall, Lupin, and Snape coming his way.

"We need to find her," he said. "Minerva, please locate Mr. Filch immediately and tell him to search for the Fat Lady in all the castle portraits."

At this point, a laugh was heard. "You'll need a lot of luck to find her."

It was the poltergeist Peeves, hovering over the students.

"What does this mean, Peeves?" Dumbledore asked calmly, and the ghost's smile faded slightly, knowing better than to torment the Hogwarts headmaster.

"She's ashamed, Headmaster, doesn't want to be seen after what happened... I saw her running through a landscape on the fourth floor while crying," he said to the headmaster.

"Did she mention who did this?" Dumbledore asked in a low voice.

"Oh, she did indeed," replied Peeves. "She said he wanted to get in, and he did this because she stopped him." Peeves somersaulted in the air and smiled at the headmaster. "An unlikely former Gryffindor, Headmaster... the murderer Sirius Black," he chuckled, disappearing through the castle walls.

Leaving a tense atmosphere in the place.

Nathaniel's eyes, at this moment, shone in a vivid blue at the mention of Sirius Black's name, who, according to the ghost's words, had invaded the castle. Thus, in case of emergency, he would have no reservations about eliminating a fugitive, also noting Professor Remus Lupin's trembling at the invader's name and even a glint of happiness that passed through his eyes. 'Don't make me have to take care of you too, Lupin,' Nathaniel thought considering the situation.

With tension escalating for everyone, the headmaster's voice was heard in a loud and clear tone, "Professors, today we will maintain guard against the intruder. Prefects should direct all students to the Great Hall where everyone will sleep tonight." With the command given, he left.

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{ Great Hall }

"Everyone into your sleeping bags!" Percy shouted. "Move quickly and no more talking! The lights will be out in ten minutes."

"Let's go, guys," said Ron to Harry and Hermione. The three grabbed their sleeping bags and dragged them to a corner.

"Do you think Black is still in the castle?" Hermione whispered anxiously.

"Obviously Dumbledore thinks he is," replied Ron.

"It's lucky he chose tonight," Hermione added, getting into her sleeping bag. "The one night we weren't in the Gryffindor Tower," she shivered.

All around, their peers were asking the same question: How did he get in?

"Maybe he knows how to 'apparate'," suggested a Ravenclaw student. "Appears suddenly without anyone seeing or knowing."

"I think it was a disguise," suggested a fifth-year Hufflepuff student.

Hermione, once frightened, was now furious at the wild ideas the other students were speculating. 'Was I the only one who bothered to read Hogwarts: A History?' The school wasn't just protected by tall walls but also by enchantments to prevent people from entering covertly.

"The lights will go out now!" Percy announced. "I want everyone in their sleeping bags, and no talking."

All the candles extinguished simultaneously, and the darkness couldn't completely cover the hall because of the silvery glow from the ghosts and the enchanted ceiling, which mimicked a starry sky.

With the creak of the Great Hall door, Nathaniel made his presence known. "Headmaster," he greeted Dumbledore.

"How was it, Nathaniel?" the headmaster inquired.

"The entire third floor was searched. He's not there, and Filch checked the dungeons as well, finding no one," he informed about the areas he had searched.

At that moment, Severus also entered the hall. "Do you have any theories about how he got in?" he raised the question.

"Many, Severus, each more unlikely than the other," sighed Dumbledore.

"Could he have had help from someone inside?" Severus raised the query.

For Nathaniel, the face of Lupin was the first to appear in his mind upon hearing Snape's question. The satisfaction on his face was odd when Black's name was mentioned at the Gryffindor entrance.

The headmaster's thoughts were regarding the young wizard who pretended to sleep but was listening to the conversation from afar—the young Harry Potter—and how to explain Sirius Black's relationship with the boy.

"I'll keep guard at the hall door tonight, Headmaster," Nathaniel spoke up. "Not even the Dementors will get through without my permission," he added with a cold tone in his voice.

Dumbledore looked at him. "Of course, my friend. I trust you to ensure the safety of the young wizards," replied the headmaster with a sparkle in his eye and headed, presumably, towards his office.