Chapter 56 - Specters

"Us..."

"We found ourselves lost, on our way to a Halloween makeup party."

Harry abruptly cut off Ron.

He harbored a distrust for Snape and couldn't divulge what Hagrid had entrusted them to hide here.

He presented the mask in his hands to Snape.

"These are our props for the Halloween makeup party."

"Humph!"

Snape scoffed coldly, gazing at them. After a brief silence, he uttered:

"Return to your dormitories now! Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, congratulations on the fifty-point deduction for Gryffindor! Fifty points each!"

"Remember, you're forbidden from coming to the fourth floor in the future! You are not allowed to enter this room!"

Snape flicked his sleeves and stowed away his wand.

Harry and Ron didn't dare to protest. However, the news of another fifty-point deduction left their faces filled with despair. Last time, a similar deduction from Professor McGonagall had made them unpopular with the seniors. Now, with the points not restored and another fifty deducted...

With heads bowed, Harry and Ron departed in dejection. Snape trailed behind them, covertly vigilant of their surroundings. He feared that the "Dementors" might reappear and harm Harry.

Meanwhile, the Weasleys and others had already reached the library. Spotting Filch patrolling through the Marauder's map, they anticipated his arrival at the library and decided to lay in wait.

After some time passed, they noticed Professor McGonagall's name approaching the library.

"Oh no! It's Professor McGonagall!"

George exclaimed, signaling for Fred and their roommates to quickly hide.

Given the library's vastness, they hoped luck would be on their side and they wouldn't be discovered.

Just as they hid, the irregular sound of Professor McGonagall's footsteps reached their ears.

For some reason, the footsteps seemed disordered.

"Expecto Patronum!"

"Get out of Hogwarts, you bastards! I'll report this to the Ministry of Magic!"

Professor McGonagall's voice echoed.

The Weasleys and others became even more curious—what was happening?

It seemed like Professor McGonagall was battling something.

An unexplained chill descended upon them.

The Weasley twins couldn't help but shiver, and a white light flashed again. This time, the four hidden individuals finally saw it clearly.

Five enormous dementor-like creatures hovered above the library, evading the white light.

The bookshelves closer to the monsters were now encased in a thick layer of frost.

"Not good!"

As a few onlookers observed the scene, two monstrous figures descended from the air, their chilling breath penetrating the bone marrow of the witnesses, causing shivers to ripple through the crowd.

"Incendio!" shouted one of the Weasleys, brandishing their wand, while another countered, "Protego!" The two monsters, undeterred, advanced toward them. The Weasleys, unable to endure any longer, unleashed spells from their wands.

The monsters, resembling spectres, recoiled from the flames and eventually merged with other ghosts, vanishing into the walls of the library, summoned back by Artel. Although they appeared terrifying, these spectres were relatively low-level undead creatures.

A collective sigh of relief swept through Weasley and the onlookers as the monsters disappeared. However, their respite was short-lived. Professor McGonagall, recognizing the voices, pointed her wand at the Weasleys.

"George? Fred?" she questioned, uncertainty clouding her face due to the four black mists before her. The eerie encounter had left everyone in doubt.

"Professor McGonagall..." George began, realizing their fate. In unison, they removed their masks, revealing their true identities.

"George! Fred! David! Gross!" scolded Professor McGonagall, anger etched on her face. She scolded them for violating the school's ban on night tours, expressing both anger and concern.

Demanding they return to their dorms and admonishing them to visit her office the next day, Professor McGonagall deducted fifty points from Gryffindor for each of them and announced their confinement. The urgency of the situation compelled her to hasten everyone's exit.

Weasley and the others, understanding the gravity of the situation, prepared to leave without jesting. Professor McGonagall, still anxious, personally escorted them to the eighth floor, where she encountered Snape, who had just brought Harry back.

Learning that Snape had caught Harry and Ron added to Professor McGonagall's distress. With Snape's character, more points would be deducted, spelling a deduction of 300 points for Gryffindor that night.

.....

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