As she stood in the entrance hall, wand still at the ready, Maddie was surprising herself. Shocking herself, even. Had somebody told her this was going to happen, she'd bet all her money at Gringott's that she'd be bawling her eyes out right now. Maybe even hiding. Maybe even on her broom flying away from the school.

But guarding the school at its entrance, heart thumping a million miles a minute, without a tear in sight? She'd never have guessed it. Maddie overheard Isa's question and shook her head. "I don't think so," she said. "Inferi are controlled creatures. I'm worried they're just a distraction." A distraction that was trying to kill them.

Poor Chloe. She was acting just how Maddie imagined she'd have acted if this had happened during her first year. "Nettie, I don't know. Do we really want her out there alone? Not wanting to fight?" she asked. It just didn't seem like a good idea to have a first year out there alone, especially one that wasn't even comfortable fighting. What would she do if the inferi attacked her in the hiding place?

There were other things she wanted to say to the others gathered around her, but Marchand had commanded the plan--a wall of fire. Maddie nodded and moved to stand in the line beside him. "Chloe, do you want to stand beside me? I'll cast a fire lasso around us both," she offered.