Term Forty-Nine: A Hoard of Trouble
| House Point Totals |
| Hufflepuff | 1643 |
| Slytherin | 1505 |
| Gryffindor | 1306 |
| Ravenclaw | 1204 |
Plot summary by Zoe & sweetpinkpixie
THEY ARE COMING...
After the events of the last few terms, Hogwarts for once starts off as a normal school should -- classes are in full swing, students are safe and sound, there is no danger in sight. But this is Hogwarts, after all, and nothing stays quiet for long. What was meant to be a simple observation of the Black Lake's many inhabitants during a Creature Companions activity lead by Professor Wayland turned into a misadventure that would be the catalyst of unleashing a terrible fate upon the castle. While Professor Wayland left students in the care of Bartholomew Henry, resident giant squid to the Black Lake, in order to assist the merpeople with a rather unruly hippocamus.
Left to their own devices, students began to explore the surrounding area and discovered a hidden underwater cave with an ancient magic treasure guarded by a horde of grindylows! Fighting off the Dark creatures eventually, everyone returned to the surface accounted for and with minor injuries that were quickly treated by the school healer. The treasure itself was taken to the castle for further investigation by Headmistress Hawthorne herself who deemed the items to be safe and would even later use them as part of a bind rune study in her own classes. Though something comes to briefly lurk above the surface of the lake before winter comes and more is learned about the objects during an Ancient Runes lesson and from an old tapestry dating back to the 10th century depicting a wizard partaking in a Viking battle that was been stored away in the Scottish National Museum for Wizarding Artefacts ... nothing leads to any real concrete conclusions regarding the this mysterious treasure horde of Viking origin.
Life at Hogwarts continues as winter changes into spring and the thawing of the Black Lake. Soon, golden coins began washing up on shore and were discovered by Slytherin Quidditch captain Skylar Diggory and Head Boy Ronan Carter initially - though their investigation reveals nothing new. Soon these coins began appearing all over the Hogwarts grounds: the pathways, the entrance gate, the Whomping Willow, and in the hot springs. Then after nightfall one night, the surface of the Black Lake began to ripple and from its dark waters an army of inferi search of the treasure that had been wrongfully taken from its cave. The inferi, fallen Vikings who were cursed by a dark wizard to protect the treasure, first attack and destroy the merpeople village in retribution for their stolen treasure. Unable to fend them off and realizing that they are heading next for the school, Merchieftainess Arethusa and a number of her people swim as fast as they can up to the surface with a warning: they are coming.
One by one, the inferi climb onto the dock of the boathouse and up alongside the cliff to begin their ascent. Some find their way to the grounds, others inside the castle. The first to engage the inferi on the shores of the Black Lake were: Headmistress Hawthorne, Professor Noble, Professor Stewart, Professor Wayland, Professor Marchand, Professor Hirsch ; Slytherins Skylar Diggory, Vivian Fairfield ; Gryffindors Ronan Carter; Ravenclaws Jessa Cambridge, Chloe McCarthy, Trinetta Gladin, Dorian Katharos ; and Hufflepuffs Emmalyn Walsh, Maddie Kemp, Isa Wright. It was Hufflepuff first year Maddie Kemp that solved the riddle of why the inferi were attacking, quickly piecing together the story on the tapestry and the inferi searching for it to be returned, but unfortunately her soft voice was lost in the fray that followed. Much to the displeasure of sixth year Ravenclaw Jessa Cambridge, the destruction of the inferi with fire-based spell work began and a fierce battle for survival ensued while some fled the scene to help in other places under attack by the undead. In the greenhouses, Slytherins Felicity Harrington, Flynn Kowalski (who all but died), Vivian Fairfield, Gryffindor Ronan Carter, Ravenclaw Jessa Cambridge (who was still more concerned with capturing an inferius) and Professor Vance attempted to hold the Dark creatures at bay and were soon joined by none other than Hogwarts poltergeist Peeves.
On the pathways, Hufflepuffs Derfael Ashburry-Hawthorne, Bel Macindoe, Charlie Kane, Gryffindors Abraham Botros Jr., Anna Meriwether, Rylee Prichard, Slytherin Julie Bellaire, and Professor Grimsbane fought for their lives against the inferi though not even fire-based magic seemed to slow the raging horde. Making their way inside the castle and amidst the battle, to the shock of one and all in the entrance hall an inferius utters a demand of a single word: treasure. Quickly returning all the items that had been stored in the Tapestry & Hoard Viewing room did not appease the inferi who were sill on a rampage and demanded 'the rest'. All capable hands on scene used Summoning Charms to bring all the golden coins that had appeared around the grounds to them and handed them over to the army of the undead.
The moment the objects return to inferi possession there came a loud whooshing sound that grew louder and louder until the inferi all stilled, turned, and retreated back into the lake. And not a moment too soon as all groups battling on the grounds were on the cusp of defeat and untimely death! The merpeople follow from a distance, leaving those at the castle unsure of what could be next as fire still burns down parts of the castle not already destroyed by the inferi themselves. Many minutes pass before Merchieftainess Arethusa appears at the surface again, this time to confirm that the attackers were seen returning to the underwater cave, resting in eternal peace.
All is still. Order has been restored.
A few days pass, OWL and NEWT exams are sat, and the term comes to an end with one last feast before summer takes full swing. Parts of the grounds still remain scorched, and it is going to take the entire summer to restore it back to its former glory as well install additional magical precautions throughout. Regardless, all is well at Hogwarts once again and everyone is praying for a quiet term the next school year.
Term 48 | Term 49 | Term 50
