The silence had unnerved Rula too, and she was relieved when Professor Hirsch suggested the plan to call to the boys. Sure, it could draw the monster to them sooner than expected, but it was the best chance of giving Abey and Simon hope and of finding them. She didn't trust herself to speak or shout at that moment, but she stayed alert, relighting her wand when her previous Lumos went out, looking around for any sign of the monster - and felt a wave of relief when she heard Abey shouting back, not sounding all that far away too. Thank Merlin.

The monster...possibly waiting for them now wasn't good, and maybe threw off their original plans a bit, but as long as it meant Abey and Simon were safe, that was okay.

And the Headmistress had come up with a new strategy quickly, which Rula appreciated. It was good to be flexible, and all that mattered was that they got everyone back to Hogwarts safely, no matter how many different plans they had to use.

She opened her mouth to volunteer to go grab Abey and Simon, but a few others had already beat her to it. Chewing her lip nervously for a moment, she debated whether to still offer, but finally decided it was worth a try. Taking a deep breath to steady her voice, she asked, "Please, could I...could I help get the boys too? Abey's..." She trailed off, not trusting herself to speak further about him without her voice betraying her worry. This wasn't the time for it. "But if not, I can help with the barrier."

She wouldn't argue if they decided to go with the first people who had volunteered, her dormmate and Professor Stewart and another boy. By coming through here she'd agreed to obey whatever the professors decided, and she would follow that agreement. It didn't really matter, in the end, who grabbed Abey and Simon, so long as they all made it back safe and sound after all.

Considering the fact that the plan probably wasn't the best one they could've used to try and see if the boys were alive, Hirsch was momentarily surprised when it worked. The sound of the boys screaming out to them, from not too far away at that, was quite uplifting and made the man release a sigh of relief.

That is, until the words 'it's waiting' reached his ears.

Eyes wide, he glanced over in the direction of Regina and then back towards the direction in which the sounds were coming from. It's waiting. That didn't sound uplifting. In fact, coupled with the sounds of the whimpering and sobbing, it was probably the most heartbreaking thing he had heard during this entire journey. But the silver lining? At least they were close by rather than clueless as to where to go.....

When Regina started talking, Hirsch looked towards her again. A shield charm to block the monster and rescue the boys and run off with them? It sounded risky, sure, but it was probably the best plan they had at the moment. And, coupled with Charlotte's runes, there was a chance that it could very well work. They just needed to work together on this, that was for sure.

He knew where he was needed for this and so, the Defence Professor didn't bother telling Regina that he was helping with the shield charms. Miss Holmes and Camilla could get the job done, with runes helping them along the way. He didn't say anything to them either but, instead, turned to Charlotte when she started talking about light. "There should be some light from the Shield Charms but a little extra never hurts, especially for the people freeing the two boys. If you can get a light going and get it to last, do it. When we're going back, the people at the front might need some extra light to lead the way back to the portal." Because the people at the back will probably be too busy casting spells at the monster.

The man was almost about to open his mouth to answer the question about shield spells when the sound of Miss Botros's voice reached his ears. It was probably lucky that she had decided to stick close to him from the moment they entered this universe otherwise he wouldn't have heard it. "Go and free Abey, Rula," he said, quietly. She, too, was an exceptional dueller and had been near the top of his list of students to duel against Aurors but....... Botros. Enough said.

Now. Shield spells. "Use the strongest shield spell at your arsenal, whether it's Protego, Loricatus or Armanto. The function is, more or less, the same: to provide protection, a shield, if you will. If it can work together for Hogwarts, it can work here." Though, not in the same strength but it should do. "Rescuers: be ready to grab the boys as quickly as you can. Defenders: get your wands out and have your chosen spell at the ready. Everyone, stay calm, be ready to fight and go in there with the mindset to rescue the boys and kick some monster behind."

He looked around at them all to make sure that they understood and then nodded at Regina. His chosen spell? Protego Totalum. It was only when the shield from his wand joined onto Regina's that he started making his way into the room......


OOC: I have a list of shield spells/defensive spells here if you guys want more options. Just ignore the maths there ^^

Christopher Jensen say what? She clutched his wrist and held it tightly. He was staying with the barriers if she had something to do with it. Getting into place with the other's she casted the same as Professor Hirsch. She still felt one specific shield would do better than all different, but she was the professor so she would follow his orders. When Rula said she would help rescue as well she waited for the Professors to say no, because personal emotions were involved with a family member being the one captured, but Hirsch said yes and Nat blinked a few times.

Not focusing on that and hoping that emotions wouldn't get the best of anyone she put her eyes where the sounds were coming from. With her shield up she kept in step with the headmistress and Professor Hirsch to make sure the barrier was connected.

So they had a plan now. They would be doing a shield charm to help defend against the monster and hopefully stop it from going after the few who were going to rescue the boys. Olly had been practicing his shield charm all year because it had been a week spot for him. He was glad of that practice because he felt confident on his ability to perform it now. Though he was going to stick with proteo. It might not be the strongest option but it was the one he knew he could cast so it was probably his best bet.

"Protego." In such a tense situation he could barely focus on anything but the spell at hand, which helped with his ability to cast it. He stood with the others to strengthen the shield with all of their magic as they stepped into the room and whatever awaited them there.

One of the spells that Noelle had been working on in her training had been Protego Horribilis. She'd only just gotten the hang of it. The spell automatically sprang to her mind when Professor Hirsch directed them as they stood outside the door.

Noelle's eyes darted around their circle. She glanced down at Char as she did something with Runes. She would tuck away to ask Char to be her tutor at another date. Right now, she was concentrating on Olly's hand in hers and the spell. Plus the fact that they were about to head into the room.

Words weren't happening at the moment and wouldn't be happening. When Noelle got nervous, she got quiet. Her eyes were locked on the door. She lifted her wand as they started to step in.

"Protego Horribilis" She said as confidently as she could.

Come on boys, make some noise.

Of all the defensive spells she knew, protego was the one she'd had the most experience successfully casting - so that looked like it would be her spell of choice. Nearby her, Oliver had cast a protego, and Noelle had cast Protego Horribilis, which was the most powerful form of protego a fifth year could cast.

"Protego Horribilis!" she shouted, following Noelle's lead, and again her voice was much louder than she'd expected.

She moved to stand closer to Oliver, Natalia, and Noelle so their shields could reinforce each other.

Goosebumps formed on her the parts of her pale arms where she'd rolled up her sleeves. For a moment she wondered what her mother would think if she knew what she was doing, but then her mind snapped back to the present.

And in through the doorway you go!

Though individual magic in this world is practically a waste, the combined forces of the professors and students was not. Piece by piece, the protective barrier grew stronger and stronger. Some bits of the barrier faded, but it remained in tack nonetheless. With more will power, the barrier will surely stick long enough to free the boys and make a run for it.

Speaking of the boys, tendrils still died them up. Some rapid Severing Charms, casted by two or at most three people, would be enough to break them free.

Unless something were to go wrong ... STAY POSITIVE! CONSTANT VIGILANCE!

OOC: With the term quickly coming to an end, please feel free to move things along at a quicker pace. Remember the plan: set up a barrier, free the boys, escape. :)

It was listening ever so intently as the humans stepped closer and closer to its eating hall. As the creature waiting for the right moment to pounce, it began to regret not digging its sharp teeth into the young scared boys sooner. Though it soon distracted itself with more pleasant thoughts. Soon its meal would be even larger.

The very moment the humans made their appearance, the beast dropped from the ceiling with every intent of severely harming whomever made contact with its teeth and claws. It wanted them to bleed, to make its senses drive it mad and let its natural instincts escalate. A loud roar left its mouth as it fell...

A loud hiss filled the room the moment it smacked into the invisible barrier and was knocked back against the wall. The monster didn't let that stop it, oh no. Rather rapidly, it was latched onto the wall, swiping at pairs of feet below that annoying obstacle of theirs in an effort to knock down those closest to it.

If it was a fight they wanted, it was a fight they were going to get. And it was determined to win the feast of a lifetime.

Chris looked at Nat as he felt her hand on his wrist. "I'll be okay..." he whispered to her and quickly started forward to be with the other two who were going to help rescue them. Looking around he saw the tendrils and spotted the boys. Just as he was about to do something he saw the monster try and land on them and instinctively ducked but watched as the shield seemed to work. They could do this. It would work.

He glanced around for the two girls and the professor. "They're over there." He said pointing and seeing the tendrils around them. "We need to sever them." His eyes quickly went up to the monster on the ceiling and then the professor. "If we hit the same ones maybe it'll work like the shield did. If we do it together."

Simon couldn't see but Simon could hear, mostly past his own fast irregular raspy breathing. Someone, or someones had entered and the second they did he was sure the monster had pounced on them. He heard it roar, then he heard something hit the wall and a loud hiss from the direction of that something that hit it. Please let that be the Monster!

Please no one die! Simon could feel his heart beating in his chest. The Tendrils tight around him as he struggled again to get out. His head turned when he heard the Monster hiss. It wasn't down yet!? "Help! Help Please!" the First Year tried to cry for help in a terribly hoarse voice! Please save Abey and Him!

Simon didn't want to be here any longer. His tear stained cheeks continued to covered in more and more salty tears crying for help

No!

She was not happy he was going over there, but her focus had to be with the barrier. She focused on her spell though she knew with this other Hogwarts that their spells were weaker. She just hoped it would hold. Impressed with the younger students abilities with their shield charms she thought it would possibly go well.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

She couldn't help the scream that left her when she got sight of the monster coming down at them. That thing was what nightmares were made of. A breath of relief was the next to leave her when the barrier worked. Though it had worked it seemed to have arms that were super long. It was above them on the ceiling but was reaching their legs to swat. "Watch your step everyone."


She hoped the rescuers could work quick enough.

Stepping through the door had been a sort of slow motion moment.

Noelle was expecting the monster to jump out at them... from the front. She was not expecting the monster to jump from above. Her heart hammered and a silent scream formed on her lips.... the monster was worse than she remembered briefly from her encounter with it.

Except... the barrier was holding.

Hope entered into Noelle more as she kept her wand pointed. She was tucked in a few others. "Protego Horriblis!!" She said with more confidence and will. They could do this!! Her heart was still hammering in her chest and her palms were sweaty as she took another step into the room.

She heard Nat say watch your feet and she gasped at the monster. Then Chris had a good idea. "Cast the severing charm with me and Fianto Duri!! Keep the barrier strong! " Her eyes were locked on Simon at this point. His quiet plea for help seemed to push her will forward.

"Diffindo!" Noelle cast quickly pointing her wand at the tendrils surrounding the boys, along with a quick but confident "Fianto duri" to keep the barrier in place. Thank Merlin for Professor Hirsch.

Come on rescuers!!

#ConstantVigilance

"AHHHH!!!" She screamed in fright as the monster jumped down at them, not from the front or the side, but from the ceiling. Just like when it had tried to ambush Skylar back at Hogwarts.

Thankfully none of them dropped their wand from shock, and the shield held. The monster had retreated back to the wall to watch them. Kitty felt a surge of fear and revulsion towards it, she wished that someone would come in and burn it to ashes. She hated this monster, hated it for all the pain it had caused to her friends and to her, and she wanted to lash out.

Instead she cast, "Protego Horriblis!" again, followed by a "Fianto Duri!" reinforcing Noelle's shield, keeping her eyes locked on the monster at all times.

"I've got the shield, just please hurry!" she shouted, her eyes never leaving the monster. "FIANTO DURI!"

When the rescuers - those that had been yelling for Abey and Simon - came into view, Abey felt a mixture of relief and dread. The monster was still waiting, as he had warned; waiting to attack them when they came to help. From what he could tell, though, the group was keeping the monster more or less at bay.

Also actually at least Abey no longer had to focus on calming down enough to call for help. Even now, he continued to repeat those same words over and over, "It's waiting... it's waiting..." in a panic-stricken whimper, despite no longer needing to give such a warning. He couldn't stop, and he couldn't find any other words.

All he wanted now was to get out of here. To be cut free and to be taken back to the normal Hogwarts and be with his friends and family and to be safe. Suddenly it looked like being free of this place might be possible again. Suddenly it looked like he wouldn't actually end up eaten today. But what if someone else got hurt or killed or eaten while trying to rescue him and Simon? Just the thought made Abey break down into a fresh wave of tears as the situation overwhelmed him. He wanted it to be over, he needed it to be over.

"It's w-waiting... it's waiting... i-it's waiting..."

Would he even be able to move when they were cut down? Would he be able to run? Right now Abey felt frozen to the wall by fear as much as he was secured there by tendrils, but perhaps when the moment came, he would have enough fight left in him to flee.

A small bit of relief washed over her when Professor Hirsch gave her permission to join the rescuer group. "Thank you, professor," she replied. And now it was time to focus on carrying out the plan.

She took a deep breath as Professor Hirsch spoke, and then the defenders were casting their shields, Char was using her runes...and they were through the doorway.

And the monster was dropping down on them?!

But the barrier held so far - thank Merlin.

Rula had glanced up as the creature hit the barrier - and even just that glimpse was enough to see what a walking nightmare it was - but she tore her eyes away and darted after the Ravenclaw boy.

There were Abey and Simon - unharmed, thankfully, though it was absolutely heart-wrenching to see them both looking so terrified and worn out. "We're getting you both out of here," she assured them.

She nodded when the Ravenclaw suggested severing the tendrils together. "We need to do it quickly." Normally counting to three would be a good way to make sure they started casting at the same moment, but they didn't have that kind of time. Who knew how long the shields would keep the monster at bay?

Noelle appeared to be joining in with her own Severing Charm too, so Rula did the same, aiming her wand in the same area. "Diffindo!" Was it working? "Diffindo!" Please say this was working.

Zelena joined the other rescuers in performing a Severing Charm, as that seemed like the best option. "Diffindo!" she said firmly and loudly three times. She turned to her fellow rescuers. "This monster isn't going to let us escape with Abey and Simon easily. Someone needs to get the boys to safety but someone needs to fight the monster." Zelena was volunteering to fight this monster.

Diffindo! Chris yelled several times making sure to point his wands at the tendrils. Hearing Zelena he took a deep breath trying to figure out which he would be best at. He was strong so if they couldn't walk he could carry one easily...maybe both if he had to. His attention went up to the monster and his resolve hardened. Taking a deep breath he nodded. This was going to happen. Alright. "I'll go get the boys. Stealing the monsters prize seemed like a far more dangerous task.

He glanced back at Nat one more time as she held up the barrier before turning his attention to the two girls and the professor. "Ready? We should get them and attack the monster together."

The barrier remained strong, each individual spell combining together to form a great invisible wall. It flickered on occasion when focus was turned to the boys, but it remained in place. Overall, the collective efforts of everyone's magic was keeping the monster at bay in spite of its ferocious attacks.

Though there was a weak spot in the barrier when Noelle Summers started casting the Severing Charm rather than focusing on the task she began with. Hopefully the monster didn't notice. Otherwise there would be a price to pay for not focusing on one thing. In order for magic to work in this world, much focus and willpower was needed in addition to working with others to strengthen it.

As for the boys that needed rescuing, the tendrils slowly but surely started to break away thanks to Christopher Jensen, Rula Botros, and Zelena Holmes. Simon Rockefeller was the first to be released. The tendrils keeping Abraham Botros Jr. tied up still had a way to go.

Best hurry and get out! Merlin knows how long this plan will last...

The monster from where it was on the wall continued swiping its hands beneath the barrier, hoping to latch its long fingers onto someone's feet to drag them down. On occasion, it was stop its swiping to bang itself against the barrier, hissing and roaring when its efforts were unsuccessful. The beast had not expected this. Normally its prey were more gullible and easier to subdue.

But there was a moment when, while it was banging on the barrier, that its hand did in fact go through. It had found a weak spot. The beast was not going to let that opportunity slip by.

It quickly put its other hand through the pocket in the barrier and clamped its hands against the wall, beginning to pull its way through and stretching a hole in it. Gradually the beast's head came through, its mouth snapping violently ... then its shoulders ... it was only a matter of time now before its entire body was completely through...

Zelena was relieved that Simon had been released from the tendrils' clutches but Abey still needed to be released. She was performing the severing charm on the tendrils that were tying up Abey when she saw the monster coming through the barrier.

"The monster is coming! We need to release Abey and get everyone to safety!" Zelena yelled at the others.

Would Zelena need to use a curse to defeat this monster? She looked at Professor Stewart, pleading for help.

Camilla had all her focus on helping Zelena, Rula and Chris free the two younger boys. She could hear the noise of the Monster behind them trying to break it's way through the barrier. It was a slow going process trying to break through the thick tendrils that held both Abey and Simon in place.

"Diffindo!" she cast again and again at the same spots on the tendrils. It wasn't to long before one of the boys was free. "One of you please take Mr Rockefeller away from here, get him to the barrier and stay there. Help re-enforce it's strength," she spoke to the three students she was helping. Her voice was shaky from all the emotions running through her but getting Simon away from the Monster needed to happen now while the others continued to free Abey. Maybe even two of them should go back to the barrier. Her and the remaining student could handle this.

Camilla knew they had to work faster. She could hear all the noise the Monster was making behind them and knew deep down the barrier wouldn't hold much longer. "Diffindo!" All she could do was keep putting all her energy and focus into the spell she was using hoping for the best.

You know who had her wand free though? This girl right here. Blood-fueled runes still lighting up the immediate area and clenched in one fist, Char saw the monster breaking through and brought her wand up, desperate to push it back.

"Flipendo Duo!" She hollered, casting the knockback jinx with all her might. Was it enough? Would it be enough? The blood invoked runes in her other hand, especially the raidho one, invoked for being in another place, this other place, maybe it would help? Hopefully? If all her experience in dueling culminated in anything, Char would rather it be pushing back that monster and doing her part to help than any medal in all the world.

But was it enough?

Simon felt himself drop. After hearing all the shouting of 'Diffindo' coming from the opposite end of the room, and feeling their work rip at his tendril bindings. He landed on his knees, and his knees they landed on his glasses. Which was good in some small sliver of goodness that was left in this terrible situation. He found, but broke his glasses.

Then he tried breathing again and that was no good, why did he even try?!

His hands dropped forward but not before grabbing his broken glasses from under his knees and sliding them back on his face. His Vision was back, but now it felt like he was seeing triple. Seeing triple the monster attacking now his rescuers did not boost his morale after being freed. He felt more fear now then before. his short quick breaths felt like someone had dumped gravel down his throat. He couldn't bare this pain any longer, nor the sight of the monster baring down on the one place he wanted to be right this moment!

Was Abey down with him? Looking to his sides hesaw no Gryffindor.The Hufflepuff looked back up to where he was also shortly before now stuck to the wall. He slid his wand back in it's holster on his handbag and attempted to stand. Doing so successfully, but his knees wobbling and shaking from fright. He grabbed at the side of his Friends tendrils and tried to pull them off Abey falling back on his rear when the shortness of his breath caught up to him again and he started wheezing hard once more.

Thank Merlin for Kitty. She reinforced Noelle's shield while Noelle was trying to help the boys and the rescuers. Her thought process being that the runners needed to focus on getting to the boys, grabbing them, and going while avoiding the monster. Using fianto duri should have helped that... only... they were in the Alternate Universe.

And it seemed it wasn't enough.

The monster found a hole in the barrier. Her hole...that she had accidentally made.

Noelle growled... literally growled in frustration at the monster. She'd had enough of the beast. Her wand was pointed at the monster but thank merlin for Char. She sent a spell at the monster. Noelle could feel the will that Char put towards that spell. So the next instant, she yelled, "Protego Horribilis!!"

Sorry team.

If the situation had been different and Henry was in a better state of mind, he would have paused to watch Char in her element as she invoked her runes. His girlfriend was really smart, especially with runic magic, and he found runes to be somewhat mysterious and interesting. But no time or focus for that. Nope, he planned on being very focused on this shield so the rescue volunteers could grab the boys and they could all get out of there. The sooner, the better. He never wanted to see this place again.

And that was exactly what he did as he made his way into the room with the others. Protego Maxima was his spell of choice as it was the strongest shield charm he was confident he could cast. It seemed to be working with the other spells too as his eyes first landed on the boys tied up in the tendrils and then... the monster. Henry felt his heart leap into his throat as the enhanced lighting from Char's rune brought the monster into view for him. But he was not about to let his focus on the shield waver while the others rescued the boys and he held his protego maxima firmly, keeping his eyes on the monster and staying vigilant.

But what was Noelle doing? His eyes wavered from the monster to her as she left to join the rescuers? Did she not understand that she was not in a dueling arena? That magic did not work properly here? Surely, she realized that when her disillusionment charm wore off. "No, we need to keep our focus!" You know, just in case anyone else thought Fianto Duri was a good substitute for being focused on a strong shield charm. Hopefully they wouldn't all perish now that the monster found a weak spot in their shield.

But he started to panic when the monster started to pull himself through the shield. Oh no.. it wasn't working. Charlotte's verbalized knockback jinx snapped him out of his panic-induced trance though and he quickly followed it with a Stupefy of his own before recasting his shield, hoping to reinforce that weak spot again. That particular spell worked well enough for him before so maybe his experience would count for something, even if he had to let his own focus on the shield waver for the sake of getting the monster away from them. Did they have these boys free yet so they could get the heck out of here??