Finally!

Finally safety!

Cosgrach wasn't smiling or anything, because they lost that Slytherin girl as well (Ilia, her name was Ilia), but no one was dead . So he allowed himself a sigh of relief - this didn't look to ve over at all, but they could at least get some rest.

He noted Maggie had made it as Moxley told them to count who was there, and he panicked when he couldn't see some of the faces outside immediately. Was it his eyes or... or...

HAD THEY FAILED TO FOLLOW THEM?!

He rushed tonthe door to help whoever was still outside, inside. Come oooon!

Oh good, Culloden was here too!

Maggie gave him a nod but was still trying to find certain people in the great hall. Where was Dante? And Noel??? This wasn't good and it was making her extremely uncomfortable. So uncomfortable in fact that she hadn't even bragged about blowing up that one acromantula on the second floor.

Yes that had TOTALLY been her.

Where was Sam? Or Kyroh and Dima? Or Meely? Or Kay-

Hearing Caleb's order, Maggie eventually walked over to him and stood beside Dot. Eh. Yeah. What were they going to do now? Unlike the other slytherin girl, Magdalena did NOT offer to be anything. Instead she just stood there, wand still in hand, occasionally looking around the great hall.

Chris barely registered that his friend was sitting down next to him. He wanted to go home. Like...now. Safest place to be. Pffft his mum had lied to him. Tears fell down as his head was in his hands. It was too much. Spiders everywhere and he was pretty sure someone got taken based on the commotion but he wasn't sure. He leaned against Torie and didn't stop crying, "I want to go home Tor..." he said his voice trembling.

In the distance he heard someone say that they needed to get with their houses. Nope. He wasn't moving. They would have to move him and if they did he might bite one of them. He wanted to stay with his best friend and hopefully they would find Jay soon. What if he got eaten too?! He couldn't deal with this. Nope. It was much more than a 12 year old could handle.

Oh there was Culloden at least! Where were Thompson and the others? Adi could see the Potions master going to help get the others but Adi stuck with Henric. He was more concerned about his buddy right now.

But then Moxley was suggesting that the prefects keep track of their students. Huh? It was only then Adi realised that there were others there. Oh, hi, everyone. AJ... where was she? THERE she was! Adi smiled faintly at her before calling to his Hufflepuffs.

"HUFFLEPUFFS! Can you guys come over here, please?" Adi pretty much had an eye on Henric, Toby and Torie already. But the others? Kace, Norah, Annabeth, Margo... the others?

Ah, well at least Zhenya knew she could rely on her Prefects to get them through the scare. It was still a bit of a blur, people arriving, people worried, people taking charge. Zhenya would be as useful as soggy bread.

Somewhere in the distance Caleb shouted for all of the Slytherins to gather around him for a head count. That seemed like a good idea, and before she knew it, there she was. In front of Caleb. Well, at least they would get a better idea of anyone who was missing. Hopefully no missing people. That would be disastrous.

"Need help with anything?" she mentioned to the Prefect, not knowing what she would be useful with at this time.

She heard Adi do the same thing, and saw some older people arrive; Moxley and Culloden. Good. Good good, the more people, student or Professor, to arrive at the Great Hall, the greater at ease she felt. But where was the Headmistress and whoever else was stolen? At least one other student, but probably more. Where were they?

.

.

.......faired pretty well.

Gabriel had an odd expression on his face as he considered that. Yes, they had. They were in the safety of the Great Hall, with professors prepared to protect them now...but wasn't it the equivalent of being...trapped, as well? They couldn't apparate from inside the school...They could maybe floo, or use...secret passages, if they could get to them. He was just trying to figure out where were they going from this point? How were they going to get the Headmistress back? And Noel?

...because they hadn't faired well, at all.

...Were they even still alive? How long had it been, now? A few hours....right?

"Yea...Yes."...and that was directed at Dot, as well. Gabriel didn't have much else to say...as he'd just realized that he had fresh tears leaking down his face again. He felt scared, overwhelmed, and mentally exhausted.

.

.

Right. He needed to...pull it together. Professor Moxley was shouting at the Prefects to do their job. So, wiping at his eyes...(STILL CLINGING TO EDEN), he stood on shaky legs and cleared his throat.

"Ravenclaws. Over here....please." Where was Sophie Brown? Couldn't she deal with this?

Torie was trying to keep it together and was searching the crowd that was growing larger for his brother. He really was scared that Jay wasn't okay! "I....I know." he whispered his voice catching "I do too." He was too stunned to cry now, and too frightened that Jay was hurt or worse. "I need to find Jay" he said his voice trembling as well. "I need to find him." He just didn't want to go out where the spiders were! He heard one of the prefects say all Slytherins to him and then a professor speak. He looked up at Adi when he called Hufflepuffs and hoped he saw him. He wasn't going to move away unless Chris did. First years should stay together right?

Then Ravenclaws were called, "Chris...?" he whispered, unsure if Chris was going to go to them or not. His eyes were flickering over the students going to Adi, where was Jay??? He had to be there!

When Kate finally made it to the Great Hall, she was out of breath. She'd run all the way from the third floor corridor at full blast, not even bothering to stop or slow down at all. She'd had not one, not two, but THREE run-ins with the Acromantula. If the entire school was heading down to the Great Hall, then that's where she wanted to be, too.

She paused at the entrance to the Great Hall and took a few deep breaths. She had no idea if there was any organization to this, or if they just hung out waiting for somebody to tell them where to go. She was just about to start wandering around aimlessly, when she heard directions as clear as day.

GOOD. Just what she was looking for! Kate took another deep breath and walked to where her prefect was. "Thanks," she said, still out of breath but starting to breathe normally again. "I'll help you look for the others." There wasn't much else to do, but maybe they could at least get everybody organized and listen for somebody somewhere to shed some insight.

Kate was also wondering if she could go home, because she kind of wanted to.

What in Merlin's name was going on? James had been happily sat in a rarely used corridor and had been doing his homework. Nothing disturbed him there until a lot of people had rushed past and urged him to go to the Great Hall. He had his wand in his hand even though he wasn't quite sure how to use it right now, nor what he was supposed to be using it ON. His books were clutched to his chest and there was a slightly suspicious line of dribbled ink following him where he hadn't put the lid back on properly because he'd been hurrying.

The first year entered the Great Hall looking pretty calm and just looked around with interest. His blue eyes found the Hufflepuff prefect and then his brother who looked very unsettled. Jay happily approached them and put his books down. "What's a kid gotta do to get his homework done in this place?" He was completely oblivious to what was going on. "I was just about to write back to mum! She said something about being careful." he shrugged and slid the letter over to Torie. That was when he really saw his face. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked, suddenly concerned.

Henric was literally dragged across the hall by Toby.The older hufflepuff had a strong grip on his shirt and he had no choice but to move along with the rest of the group. For someone like Toby, he sure had some guts trying to contain him. Good thing Adi was there to calm him down or Henric could have thrown Toby over his shoulder if he wanted to but refrain himself. He knew Toby only wanted to keep him safe and prevent him from doing anything foolish. But, didn't he realise llia could be in danger right now?! He didn't want to stay in here with the rest, he wanted to go after llia! He pushed Toby away from him with his good arm as soon as they were safely inside,"I'm fine..." he muttered, his voice low with menace. Henric was still furious not at Toby but at himself for not being able to do anything to save his bestfriend.

At first,Henric didn't respond to Adi when he called the Hufflepuffs to gather around them. He hated that he was temporarily safe in here while his bestfriend was being taken away to merlin knows where. He was glaring at the floor, still clutching his injured arm on his side. He had half a mind to bolt out the door in order to find llia while the other half was debating to stay with the rest in case anymore of those blasted spiders came running amok in here. However, he knew he wasn't in his best condition to fight off those creatures by himself so he silently stood closely behind and listened for further instructions.

Chris looked up as he heard the tall Prefecty guy say all Ravenclaws over there and just shook his head. Yeah. Nope. That wasn't happening. "I'm not going over there, Tor...." He was going to sit right here and if he got in trouble then so be it. Surely someone would see the blue robes and just count him off.

He lifted his head off of Torie and wiped his eyes just in time to see James come up babbling on about something dealing with homework. "Do we look okay?!" he hadn't meant to yell but he had mainly because no one but Torie seemed to care about Chris right now. He probably would've been dragged off by the spiders had Tor not pulled him along making him run.

He nodded at Chris' words. He didn't blame him, and Torie wasn't getting up and leaving his side either. Torie felt safe there on the bench, almost in the center of the hall. The spiders were outside those doors somewhere... "I'm not going over there either" he said shaking his head. He needed to find out about Jay but he wasn't leaving Chris either.

He nearly flew through the roof when Jay appeared and tackled him the moment he realized it was him, giving him a huge hug. He'd feel bad in a minute he was sure because he probably had just pushed Chris away but his brother was safe! "You're safe, you weren't eaten by the spiders!" he managed to get out all in one gasp. Yeahhh, Chris was right, they uhh didn't look okay. Uhhh explanation... "Weweredowninthedungeonsexploringwhensomespidersst artedchasingusandsuddenlythisvoiceappeared" he managed to get out all in one breath. "Weranforitandendedupintheentrancehallandmorespide rsweretherewegotsomeshieldsandaprofessor" Intake of air... "pickedmeupandthrewmeoverhershoulderandranforthegr eathallandhereweare." Yep, just like that...

Blinking at Chris' rather MEAN reaction, Jay opened his mouth to speak, but fell back onto a bench when Torie tackled him. He hugged him back, looking surprised. Spiders? What spiders? He looked confused until Torie finally explained. "Oh... I..." he frowned, trying to work it out. "Spiders?" Weren't they tiny things? Was it a wall of them? He didn't know. He was doing his best not to laugh because the biggest spider he'd seen was the size of his hand and that had been COOL. "You got a ride from a professor?" he asked, looking impressed. Then he focused on Chris. "And you were running too? How big were the spiders?" If they were little baby ones, James would be gone. He would just be laughing too hard to be useful.

Chris watched Torie basically tackle James and put his head on his arms on the table practically pouting. He nodded as James asked him about running. "Tor pulled me along. I would've been eaten..." his lip wibbled again as he threatened to cry again. "They were huge. Like two of me!" Well at least that's how it seemed. "I think they....I think one of them took a girl...." More wibbles and be buried his face in his arms again. "I want to go home...."

Torie finally let go of him but relief had spread through him and moved back to sit down again by Chris. Yeah he felt bad for Chris he was really not doing well. Merlin he wasn't doing well! He blinked at him when he looked like he wanted to laugh. "Spiders! HUGE spiders!" he said his eyes wide, agreeing with Chris. Wait? He'd saved Chris' life? No, he wanted him to not be...okay fine saved him. "A girl got taken?" he asked wide-eyed to Chris now. "They could speak, they kept saying 'get them!' They're horrible and they were chasing all of us, and so many of them in the hall. "Did...you see who sent that spell?" he asked Chris "In the passage? Did they get out?" Please, let that person have escaped! He swallowed and refused to let the tears fall though he wanted to go home to mummy and daddy too.

If he got out of here alive he was officially transferring to a different school. He was already going but if he ever needed a reason to not stay. This was it. He hadn't signed up for this! Hogwarts has the best education. ..yeah right! He hadn't need to fight for his life back at Charms school.

The Prefects were gathering their housemates now. Yoongi stood up, wand still in his hand and looked around. This was a good theory but his Prefects weren't here. What should he do now? Go with the others? He does rather stand stand in a group then standing alone.

Instead of shouting throughout the Great Hall, Yoongi walked to Adi. "Hey, can i stand with you lot?" he obviously meant the Hufflepuff group. "Our Prefects aren't here and there aren't a lot of Gryffindors as well" He hoped they were all ok. ..and in any other time he wouldn't have asked this but this was a dangerous situation and he didn't want to blow it up. "When our Prefects come I'll stand with them but for now i don't wanna stand alone. .."

Abby heard Gabe her prefect call out for all Ravenclaws to come over to where he was and Abby made her way across the hall to where Gabe was standing and stood next to Kate and knew that Gabe would be taking a head count to see if every Ravenclaw was present and accounted for

After leaving the staff room, Leo had rushed up all the stairs to the seventh floor to check that there were no eagles left in the tower. In emergencies everyone was supposed to evacuate to the Great Hall, reassemble and then figure out a plan of action. After searching all the dorms and common areas in the Ravenclaw Tower Leo left it satisfied that no student would be left behind and there were no spiders in sight. As an extra precaution he charmed the Bronze Knocker to send any eagle student's who came that way to the Great Hall.

Taking a short cut Leo arrived in the Great Hall from behind the Staff dais a short while later. He noted with a quick glance around the room that it was filling up with students of varying ages. His colleagues had been keeping busy. Spotting a small group of his eagles forming, he headed over there with quick worried strides."Gabe, Kate, Eden, Abby is everyone all right? No injuries?"

He also noted that one of his first year eagles; Christopher was there in the Hall but standing with some other students. Turning back to Gabe and the others he asked "Have you guys seen Sophie, Penelope, Evie, Tia-Marie, Thornton or any of the others anywhere?" Hopefully they'd be coming in with those still in the Entrance Hall. Leo sincerely hoped that nobody else had been captured by the spiders.

Abby saw her head of house and said "I was bitten but i got myself to the hospital wing and i have been treated but no further injuries for me so i am okay, and i have not seen any of the other eagles apart from the ones here sir"

Marsha had just come into the Great Hall, past Professor Culloden and she looked around as she started to hear the Prefects shouting for their own houses to join them. Furiously, her eyes scanned the room for Puck or Zander… Heck, Professors Airey or Quiggley… Really ANY Gryffindors.

Her heart was thudding wildly in her chest from running all the way here from Herbology. Come on, where were the other Gryffindors? Where was her aunt Whitney? Or Lance? Zak and Rusty? Was everyone okay?

OH GRIFFIN!! Let them be okay.

As she scanned the room, her eyes found Yoongi, one of the transfers that had started at the start of the term with her. She ran over to him and tugged on his sleeve. He was much taller than her, and she looked up at him with scared eyes.

Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. There were others behind you - your friends are still coming… They are okay…

”Yoongi? Can I stay with you?” Griffin, she wanted to cry. She looked at Adi, before taking the three steps to him at a run, wrapping her arms around his waist. She knew Adi... Adi would look after her, right? Adi AND Yoongi... Please?

No, his buddy wasn't fine. It was now that Adi was really looking closely at Henric, he noted that something was wrong with Henric's arm. Of course the other guy wouldn't have said anything... especially not now with Ilia gone. "Um, Mr Kittridge? Henric's arm is injured. Could you take a look at it, please?" Adi didn't tell Henric what he had done because his friend would have refused flat out to let anyone take a look at it. And just where was everyone? Couldn't they hurry this along? Who knows how long Ilia would be... nooooo, positive thoughts!

Adi's brown eyes found Torie and Chris. Was Chris crying? Awwh. "Torie, if Chris doesn't want to go to the Ravenclaws, he can stay with us.'' Chris didn't seem to want to go with his House because he was still standing there and the sixth year didn't mind him staying with the Hufflepuffs since Torie probably could use his buddy by his side and vice versa. Speaking of Torie... there was James! Adi couldn't help but crack a smile. Look at the brotherly love!

That familiar accented voice that was Yoongi. Puck and Zander weren't there yet? Where the heck were they? GOSH! Adi hoped nothing had happened to them. "Sure, Yoongi. I'm sure those two will be here any second. They are probably ensuring the rest of Gryffindor gets here safely." Yesss, that had to be it. Before he could say anymore, he caught sight of a small figure running the short distance to him. Adi looked down to see Marsha clinging to him. She must be so scared. Instinctively, Adi reached down to lift her up. She was sooooo little that it was super easy to do. "Hey, don't be scared, okay?" The Hufflepuff hugged his friend to his chest, giving her a squish. Squishes/hugs were the best!

”This whole thing is crazy” he said the the Hufflepuff Prefect and looked at the still closed doors of the Great Hall. He could already imagine the spiders crawling through it. He shivered at the thought. ”Is this normal here or something?” serious question that one was.

His eyes were wider with fear and he was breathing heavier than normal. He was still battling the instinct to run and hide in a corner or stay. He chose to stay though because he felt more comfortable in a group. ”I hope no one dies…” he mumbled. ”Especially not Professor Dakest…if he does…it would be my fault won’t it? I ran to him for his help. I know he would have fought anyways but if something happens to him I’ll forever feel like I’m responsible and …”He threw his worries out and when he was done the Gryffindor shrieked when he felt a tuck on his robe.

THE SPIDER GOT HIM!! Why had Adi not said a warning? WAS HE IN LEAGUE WITH THEM!?

But it turned out that the *spider* was just a little first year. A Gryffindor judging by her clothes and he vaguely remembered seeing her sorting. What was her name again? Eh..he couldn’t remember. But she wanted to stay with him? Really? Him? He was freaking out over here. Of course he would do his best to protect her but …”Hey, sure you can. If anything happens just stay close “ This wasn’t his job even. Where were the Prefects? They weren’t….no …no they weren’t. Silly Yoongi.

He watched the young Gryffindor he seriously needed to remember her name as she clinged to Adi. Yoongi smiled at the sight and then when Adi lifted her up he raised an eyebrow. Prefect is stronger than he looks apparently.

Sophia dropped the last of the straggling first years into the Great Hall. There was no way another student was going to die while she was at this disaster prone institution. Did no one stop to think that Hogwarts was indeed very much cursed?

She looked around for the snakes, knowing full well that Cece would probably be stuck in the infirmary with her work cut out for her.

She noted that Leobald had entered the Greathall before swiftly passing by him and his eagles, wand in hand in search of her snakes.

"Slytherins!!"

WHOA. Talk about an awesome attack on some spiders. Too bad they couldn't hold their own. She was still trying to understand how they had managed to lose two people in their ranks. Really it made sense though. They had taken out way more spiders than the spiders had snatched humans. AJ just hoped they would be okay. Too bad Quigley wouldn't let them march after them.

As she made her way into the great hall she noticed several students and professors already gathered, but where was everybody at? Where were all the Gryffindor's? If they went on a spider mission without her she was going to be SO mad.

Yoongi was there, and that was literally the only lion she saw, so she went over to him. "Did I miss something?" Because Zander wasn't even here, and something seemed off. Oh, there was another lion. Hey, guys.

Marsha nodded to Yoongi. ”Thank you… I just don’t know what to do.” She had told him before she moved to Adi. She knew Adi, knew he would try his best to protect her. As always, he was a good one to be with… right? And his girlfriend AJ was a Gryffindor… so she would likely join them right? Actually - where was Angel? Angel would surely come join them if Angel was here too… right?

Where were all of her friends?!?!

OH! Good. Adi didn’t seem angry at the hug, in fact he was making it better. She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck and CLUNG to him as if her life depended on it. Heck, it might as well. She was under half the height of those spiders and she didn’t think that that meant they couldn’t see her… just that it would be easier for them to get to her.

”I’ll try… I’m a Gryffindor, I should be being brave right now.” She said into his neck, not looking around any more - it was too depressing to see so many missing faces… Oh… that was AJ.. AJ’s voice she was sure of it. She turned her face slightly to see AJ standing by Yoongi. ”Hi… is Angel okay? I can’t see her.” She frowned again, still clinging to the muuuuch taller Adi.