As Harry and Max took their plates filled with food and scanned the bustling hall for a place to sit, Harry spotted a familiar face waving at them from the far corner of the room.
It was Lily, her red hair unmistakable even in the dim light of the hall. Next to her sat James, wearing his usual small grin despite everything they'd been through.
A few more classmates from their group were also seated there, including those who had survived the initial chaos alongside them and others who had joined from the different groups that had been scattered around this strange world.
Harry nudged Max and pointed towards the corner table. "Let's sit over there," he suggested, leading the way.
As they approached, Lily stood up and rushed over to them, to Harry, her face lighting up with relief. "Harry! I'm so glad you're okay!" she exclaimed, pulling him into a quick hug.
Harry was perplexed by the sudden affection but remembering how he helped her throughout the ordeal, he guessed she somehow wanted to thank him.
'But a hug out of the blue...'
"Come on, he should be really hungry,"
Thankfully, James came into the rescue, leaning back in his chair as they all sat down. "Took you guys long enough. We were starting to think you'd sleep through the whole day."
"More like I barely woke up," Harry joked, trying to lighten the mood, though there was still a heaviness in his voice.
Harry took a seat beside Lily, giving her a quick, grateful smile. His eyes scanned the table, recognizing some familiar faces, including Emma, the girl who always sat at the front of the class, and Alex, the nerd of the group. It felt comforting to see them, even if the circumstances were anything but normal.
Max settled in beside him, starting to eat quietly, his eyes darting around the room, absorbing everything. Harry noticed it and just smiled.
"Hey, everyone!" Harry greeted the others with his usual enthusiasm, despite the underlying tension. "I'm glad to see so many of us made it here."
"Harry, you're a sight for sore eyes!" Emma exclaimed, her voice full of relief. "We missed your jokes, you know. Glad to see you ok."
Harry nodded, grabbing a piece of bread from his plate. "Yeah, thanks. I'm glad to see you all as well. Anyway, where are we? Do you have any info?"
James leaned forward, his voice lowering conspiratorially. "Well, not a whole lot, but enough since we only arrived yesterday, and it seems like this place, Elendir Keep, is one of the last strongholds left after... whatever ended this world."
"The End," Alex chimed in, his face somber. "That's what the people here call it. Apparently, it happened about a decade ago. Some kind of catastrophic chain of events wiped out most of the population, leaving only a few scattered bases like this one. They didn't exactly tell us in detail but it should be the same End as we are in now."
Harry took in the information, chewing thoughtfully. "So, we're in a medieval-style fortress with a bunch of survivors who've been dealing with... who knows what for ten years? That means they failed The End or something?"
"Pretty much," Alex added, trying to keep the mood light. "However, they seem more powerful than us Earthlings, so if they didn't survive the End..."
"But hey, cheer up man, at least the food is good, right?" Harry gestured to his plate, which was already half-empty. "Or it just feels like it since I'm hella hungry."
"Haha, a good one."
"Ah, right, what about the people here?" Harry asked between bites. "Are they friendly? Hostile? Can we trust them?"
James shrugged. "They seem cautious but willing to help us out. From what I've gathered, they've been fighting off all sorts of creatures and dangers ever since The End. They're just as curious about us as we are about them, though they're more used to dealing with threats."
Alex nodded. "Yeah, they're treating us like guests for now, but I think they're trying to figure out if we're a danger or not. Can't really blame them, considering what they've been through."
Harry listened intently, mentally piecing together the bits of information. The more he learned, the more he realized how much they didn't know. This world was filled with mysteries, and they had barely scratched the surface.
"And the other groups?" Harry asked, glancing around at the table. "Have we heard from everyone?"
"Not everyone," Emma replied, her voice tinged with worry. "Some groups haven't made it to the keep yet. We're hoping they're just lost and will find their way here soon."
"Right, right now only half of the school is here," James added.
A brief silence fell over the group as they each thought of their missing friends and classmates.
Then, to lighten the mood, James grinned and said, "So, Harry, are you gonna save us all now with your OP skills and spells? You've been going on about your fantasy adventures in class for years. Time to put your money where your mouth is!"
Harry laughed, appreciating the attempt to inject some humor into the tense situation. "You'll have to wait a bit longer," he joked back. "I want to tame a dragon first. A big black or golden one. Then we can talk about saving the world."
The group chuckled, their spirits lifting slightly. It was good to have a moment of levity amidst all the uncertainty.
Suddenly, their class gossip, Megan, leaned in with a conspiratorial look. "Speaking of important stuff, I overheard something interesting earlier."
Everyone at the table turned their attention to her, eager for any new information.
"What did you hear, Megan?" Harry asked, his interest piqued.
Megan grinned, enjoying the attention. "Well, I heard that some of our teachers and a few students, like the class rep, the student council president, the disciplinary action president, and a few others are in a meeting right now with the leaders of Elendir Keep. Apparently, they seem to be discussing our situation and what's going to happen to us."
Harry's eyes widened, realizing the potential significance of this meeting. "Did you hear anything about what they're talking about?"
Megan shook her head. "Not really. But from what I gather, our side is trying to figure out if we can stay here, what is the End, and so on."
Harry nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. "Thanks, Megan. That's really helpful to know."
The group nodded in agreement, their earlier levity replaced by a renewed sense of purpose.
Just then the doors opened once again and all the attention shifted to the entrance for unknown reasons.
Harry, Max, and his classmates exchanged glances and turned their attention to that side as well.
The next moment, several figures started to enter the hall, with their school's Director and a middle-aged man dressed in medieval lord clothes.
'I guess I'm get more info now...' Harry smirked as he already guessed what was about to happen.