Well obviously Skylar didn't need or want her help since she fully ignored Nat's question. So Natalia stood straight up and moved back to the professors. "Alright Ma'am if you think we should wait." Though the students could be dead by that time, but she was going to be alive so she guessed it was fine.

Hearing Noelle say she'd help Nat was really serious about possibly going in there. She rather maybe shove a younger student in first though, but there were already enough missing. Just as she was going to say maybe they needed to just take action someone came back through. Brent and then the rest of them. "ACE"She jumped and hugged the boy, "What the bloody hell. You were right with me with that mop and then you were gone." She looked him over to make sure he was alright before looking at the rest of them.


"Is everyone alright? Does anyone need the healer?" She could escort them if need. Looking at the first year who said about going back, "No, we need to stay out of there." She agreed with Liv that they needed to keep it in there. Though the mop sitting on the floor made her thoughts go again, "Was the caretaker in there by chance?" Her and Ace were wondering why he left his mop and bucket just out randomly on this floor.

Leon stood up and looked at the Head girl with a bit of a raised eyebrow..

"About the caretaker.. I need to speak with the Headmistress.. it's not a subject for everyone around here to know. " He said softly as he crossed his arms over his chest. What had happened in there.. needed to be discussed with her first before speaking to the whole world about it..

He turned to Liv and nodded.

"That would work perfectly! We need to make sure no one gets in there.. "

It was dangerous! And they had just barely escaped!

Within split seconds (though it seemed much longer) Leon had heroically dragged the others through the portal and back to safety. They were safe. All of them. Feeling weak with relief, Kitty allowed herself to drop to the floor. It took all she had to not vomit right there on the spot. "We're okay Professor Stewart," she replied to the professor. "Wh-what was that place?"

She heard them mention the caretaker. "Did he go in there too?!" she asked in alarm, feeling tension rise within her again.

There's cacophony of sounds-- voices raised in the relief of being alive and found and urgent inquiry and important commands, feet scuffling and jumping, birds chirping, someone asking for a jar-- such a stark contrast to the deafening silence of where they came from, that weird Hogwarts... a STRANGER HOGWARTS

And then suddenly he was being pulled up into a hug. It was the Head Girl! Man now he feels the full weight of regretting leaving her side because asfsadfsadf where the heck did he end up afterwards "Nat!" he croaked as he wrapped his arms around the Slytherin upperclassman. He was alive! And for a second he thought he wouldnt be! Alive and warm and breathing and--

-- Caretaker. She asked about the Caretaker....

"FLYNN!!!" he exclaimed as he gripped her robes, his blue-green eyes wide and frantic "FLYNN!!!" he couldnt say anything else beyond that, as the repercussions of seeing the Caretaker's lost shoe and torn shirt then the pile of bones finally hit him head on. "Bucket.... mop.... spray bottle...." he started babbling out. Now he knows why the Caretaker's stuff was just left where they found it, he saw the rest of it... whats left of it.

The barrier had disappeared! Or something. It was confusing, but Carl was glad they could get out. He motioned for everybody to step out first... before he was pushed through the Portal by Leon.

"Woah!" He said as he landed. He was in good ol' normal Hogwarts again. He looked around and grinned at the crowd, momentarily forgetting what he saw at the other side of the Portal. He was very glad to be back. He had never appreciated how warm and bright the school was. Everybody was okay too, except maybe the small Slytherin boy who was trying to convince people they had to go back. Oh well.

His smile faltered as he heard what they were talking about. "Flynn! Yeah also the scrap of shirt... and the..." bones. He couldn't say the word out loud. The bones, they couldn't be Flynn's, they just couldn't be.

This entire situation was a serious one. Nothing but her utmost care and professional abilities would be put into play right about now. Things needed to be done but done correctly. "Closing this area off will happen." This much she could assure. "What I need to know is, is everyone out first?" Just say yes so that she could block the entrance and make sure whatever was on the other side stayed on the other side! Her wand was still in her hand ready to start putting up more protective spells at a moments notice.

Camilla's gaze moved onto young Carlton and she offered the boy a soft smile. "I'm sure whatever it is isn't being harmed. Chances are it likes the darkness otherwise it wouldn't be there to begin with." This was said in a calm hopefully soothing manner so that he would understand that no one would be entering that portal again for any reason. Not without the Headmistress' word. Speaking of her the professor looked at Leon when he spoke. "She's on her way I've already sent for her." So whatever had happened inside there he could tell the women when she arrived.

What did happen inside there though? Most of the students looked panicked and Tenacius was babbling. "Mr. Salander, take a few slow breaths please." Calm down so that you can speak and get out whatever it was he was trying to tell them all! She was sure whatever it was though wasn't any good!

Oh thank Merlin.

Was everyone out? Were there anyone else in there? Why did they all come jumping out like that.....
Oh no.....
Was it her fault??? Did her barrier keep them in there!!??

Noelle's cheeks flushed and her prediction was confirmed when Liv eyed her not too nicely. She'd only been trying to help and may have almost gotten the lot of them killed. Bloody hell.

Noelle was quiet but taking everything in. Trying to see where she was needed, but her best bet was to stay put. She was glad to see Nat and Ace hugging. The lot looked stricken though. Except Little Z and Carlton. Why did they want to save a monster??? Well shadow thing. Maybe the CoMC professor would know what it was?

Noelle would want to kill it if it was as terrible as some of the other students said. Noelle listened to Leon and Brent. Ideas were forming in her head.

Firstly though, Liv had a good idea about locking the monster in. They didn't need it coming out of whatever that was into the school. Noelle would let the Professors handle that spell. She went over to Kitty to make sure she was alright. She also checked on Carl before making her way over to Kitty.

.............He? In love with her?

Mason snorted. He could not help it even in the current situation. You save a girls life twice and she automatically thinks you're in love with her? Was that how brains of girls worked? Cause it didn't make a lot of sense.

"Griffel" he said her last name to make absolutely sure that he was NOT in love with her. Seriously, what even? "I didn't save you. I just pulled you back before you hit that barrier" he pointed towards Sky "That could have been you, and before you say it again. No, i am not in love with you just because i stopped you from making a fool out of yourself" he had said all this in a hushed tone. Not everyone needed to know what they were talking about.

He turned to look at the portal again and saw the first student whom he did not know return. He looked absolutely terrified... more students arrived back through the portal and Mason raised his eyebrow at Carlton. Of course he would have tried to befriend the monster that had been hidden in the....hold up.

"Monster?" he asked, sounding both scared and fascinated. That was brilliant! An actual monster at Hogwarts? Could they study it? Hmm??

Flynn was the caretaker wasn't he? Had he gone in to the portal as well? If he had to judge by the looks on the faces of the ones who had entered through the portal, something really bad had happened. Was he....killed by this so called shadow monster? He instantly felt bad for a second but then he wasn't anymore. What kind of creature was it? Looks like his sixth year was going to interesting.

More students were coming through the portal. Kay continued to feel a little more light hearted as each of them came out. Seeing Tenacius's reaction left her with little doubt that he too felt the same.

“Cami, shouldn’t we just keep them at a safe distance from that thing? I have a feeling Regina would want to speak to them sometime. But once everyone is out we should but a barrier to keep that creature trapped in there.’’ She was distracted again. “Mr. Kennedy! Is everyone out?’’ Please tell her that there were no more students in there now!

Kaysha refused to believe that Carlton was alright. Poor boy. The should of seeing something so scary had apparently hit him really hard. “Don’t you worry, Mr Lewis. We won’t let you be hauled off by anyone, monster or not.’’ The woman finally released him and turned to Zoryn. “Ms Spinnet, you and Mr Lewis are not to go anywhere close to that portal… or any other if they appear,’’ she said sternly. Merlin, kids don’t listen these days.

“I’m so relieved you and the others were able to get out safely, Ms Valentine.’’ She shook her head. “As of now, we’re not sure what it is exactly beyond the fact of it being a portal. What was it like in there?’’ Hearing the Gryffindor prefect and Carl, she frowned. “What about the caretaker, Mr Salander, Mr Leonard?’’

Rula definitely agreed with Liv's assessment of the thing. Portal? Whatever it was. It DID feel dangerous - and yet there was a small part of Rula that still wanted to go in, even though she also knew that wasn't a good idea. Who knew what was behind it? Though there was also the clear fact that other students had already gone in, and what if they needed help getting out?

Before she could do anything though, others were arriving one after the other, and it was all happening so fast. A few others suddenly went into the portal without a second glance, and a couple prefects showed up as well, and a barrier was put up and kids STILL tried to get through, and even more were gathering around, and there were professors there now too - that part was good at least.

The sixth year kept off to the side, not wanting to interfere with what the others were doing to get a handle on the situation, and then, finally, people were coming back out of the portal. Quite a few, even, more than she would have expected to have gone through. But soon it appeared all of them were back, and they were all safe, even though two of the first years apparently wanted to go back in for some reason?

And some of them were talking about a monster chasing them. Oh Merlin, yeah, the sooner that portal was blocked off, the better.

Thank Merlin everyone else seemed alright. Except for the caretaker...? Had he gone through too?

It was moments like these when Regina wished that Hogwarts wasn't so uptight about allowing people to apparate within the castle walls. Yes, she could easily have removed the complex Anti-Disapparation Charm that had been casted on the school, though that was a can of worms that she did not want to open. So she briskly made her way down the stairs from her office, past the gargoyle, and up the moving staircase to the sixth floor. The urgency of the kangaroo Patronus made her heels click-clack at a rapid speed.

When she made her appearance, shock was written on her face. She was shocked to see so many students huddled together in the middle of a corridor. She was shocked to see a hole in the wall that gave her goosebumps and an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She was shocked to overhear some of the things that the extra loud students were shouting.

Flynn? ... A monster? ... Go back?!

"The only place you will be going at this rate, Mr. Lewis, is the dungeons for detention," her voice sounded with authority. "As will be the rest of you who decide to go anywhere near this ... this thing again." She eyed up the portal, inching toward it to inspect it properly. Even though it repulsed her, curiosity started to take over. But the woman resisted. The energy it was producing, the darkness, it was definitely something she had never witnessed before.

Turning on her heel, she then faced the students and the two adult cousins. The woman had a million questions whizzing through her head, though only two came out of her mouth: "Will someone please tell me exactly what happened?" and "Is everyone who was foolish enough to go through whatever that is here, safe and accounted for?"

Finally the Headmistress arrived and Leon could understand her anger about what had been happening.

The seventh year faced her respectfully and started to respond to her questions. Well the last one first. "As far as I know Headmistress, everyone is out. At least everyone that was in the group I was taking care of. " Yes, he had made sure they had all gotten out and had hauled the ones who didn't want to with him. He only hoped that no one had been left behind. If they had.. he hadn't seen or interacted with them.

"As for what happened.." The seventh year looked around at all the kids and the teachers.. "I can tell you everything about what happened in there, but would it be possible to do it in private?" He asked as he glanced back up at the Headmistress..

"Some things that I need to tell you are a little.. sensitive. " Perhaps the whole school shouldn't know about the bones and the scary shadow monster, yeah?

He was being respectful and courteous as he faced her, though concern showed on his features.

The seventh year had been shaken to his core in there and while all he wanted was a hug, he felt like he needed to be strong for everyone right now.

Carlton's mouth formed a big 'O' when the Headmistress arrived, she walked in an air of authority and had a way of getting everyone's respect as soon as she entered a room. This time however, Carlton was horrified when she mentioned the dungeons and that HE might be sent there.

GULP.

He didn't want to go there, nope not at all. Too spooky. After professor Stewart had put him down on the floor again he bowed his head in shame and decided to hide behind professor Stewart's legs. Only peeking out from behind her to glance at the Headmistress every once in a while.

He was too afraid to be hauled off to the dungeons to say anything. So he kept his mouth closed and decided that it was best, and safest to have the older students explaining things. Especially Leon, the older Ravenclaw who was very much like the superheroes he liked to watch in movies.

She was still hugging Ace when the others started to talk about different things in there and the caretaker. Wait! What? She was just blinking at them all because no way in hell was she going anywhere near that portal and neither was anyone else. Just "You are safe that's all that matters right now." She was looking at Ace, but turned and looked at the rest of them.

Finally standing up as the headmistress came to join them. She looked irritated and her words of detention Nat just looked at her, because of excuse her she hadn't gone in and gone and got a professor thank you very much. She couldn't help but look at the new kid that said he was taking care of people. If the headmistress wasn't there she would have snorted. They had a prefect in there and by the looks of the way they came out it seemed like every person for themselves, but she kept quiet on this thought. He could have his moment if he thought he needed it.

"OMG, just bloody say it. The majority of you were in there and saw what happened and the rest of us have a right to know what is going on." Seriously this boy was new here and didn't realize crap happened. "Ma'am I was with Prefect Salander here. We found the caretaker's mop and bucket just sitting, which isn't like him. As we walked down the corridor Ace disappeared and I watched Brent vanish as well." She looked around the group. "I asked Prefect Noelle to stand here and make sure no one else went near it and I went to retrieve a professor." She looked at both professors and continued, "When the group came out of the thing I asked if the caretaker was in there since his stuff was found on this floor. One said about a piece of shirt and they all seemed stressed." Her thought was he was still in there or they saw something they weren't say so her eyes narrowed on the Ravenclaw again. He needed to speak up.

"Ma'am do you think we should have them checked by the healer just to make sure they are all okay." They all seemed pretty shaken.

Sinead emerged into a confusion of people, voices and questions. There was an empty ring around the portal- clearly, nobody wanted to get too close- but in a wild glance around the room, she could see other students in her year and older, professors... Even the Headmistress.

A strange fear settled over her. Was she in trouble now, as well, for going through there? She hadn't imagine it could be dangerous; she'd just thought of it as... well, another interesting piece of the school's magic to explore. In truth, she couldn't remember her thought process now. She only remembered that inexorable pull to enter.

After a moment of standing like a rabbit in the headlights, she came to her senses and practically leaped away from the portal, afraid it would try to suck her back in again. Unfortunately, this move landed her right next to the Headmistress, whom she regarded with a mixture of fear and awe, not sure of the exact cause of the stress on the woman's face but knowing it was something to do with the portal. And, of course it was, because with those bones...
"Did somebody die there, Professor?" she blurted in horror before she could consider the question any further.

Brent was still pale white and in a state of shock, but he could feel himself calming down as the seconds ticked on. Plus, there were a pair of girl's arms around his neck now, and he looked up to see that Olivia had made it out and was hugging him in relief. He hugged her back, but also looked toward the portal as the others began making their way out, too. Finally, they were all safe, and the shadowy THING hadn't crawled out with them, so Brent was breathing normally now.

He looked toward the two professors who were making sure he was okay. He nodded. He didn't need to answer their second question, since the others that were inside with him were now out and safe. He tried to follow along with all the conversation around him, but there was so much going on at once. He did pick up on something Zoryn and Carlton said, though. "Zoryn. Carlton. You can't go back in there," he told them. Not just because they were being warned to stay away from here on out, but also because... "We could have died. That shadowy thing was not wanting to just chill with us." It was coming to eat them.

Then there was another pair of arms around him, and he realized Kane was here, too. Duuuuude. His little bro could have been in there, too, had he arrived just a few minutes earlier. "I'm alright, man. I'm alright," he said. Then the headmistress arrived and pretty much laid down the hammer. "Headmistress," he said. "You know, I don't think I had control over it. I don't even remember making the decision to go in. I just wonder if we were in some sort of daze when we went in..."

Tenacius looked at everyone around him as they spoke, taking this moment to be blessedly quiet and process what just happened, because gosh it was a lot to process for the usually jubilant 14 and a half year old who spent most of the time on that other place in a completely different mindset.

But now the Headmistress is here and she just has this arresting visage thats more than just skin deep. He rose slowly to his feet when the Head Girl went to explain what they were both doing finding Flynn's stuff right before he careened into the Portal. He listened to Leon and then Brent....and well, it looks like everyone was tiptoeing around the white elephant in the room... or the missing caretaker of the castle.

His heart was still pounding hard in his chest, but he took a deep breath and finally spoke "Headmistress, Professors.... We were in another Hogwarts." Yes Leon, he's accepting that fact now "It looked so much like this one-- but dark and filthy and cold and.... upside down-- I mean the other way around.... I mean like....like how things are when you look at a mirror." Yeah he finally understood that reference. "Also uhm..... we found a lot of Flynn's stuff--" he glanced at the Head Girl, he was about to complete her half of the story ".... like the rest of his cleaning gear.... and his shoe.... and his shirt...." He glanced at Leon with a look that says he's gonna say it--but in context "Headmistress, we also found some remains in there, not far from Flynn's shirt." was he still in denial that those were Flynn's remains? Maybe, or maybe he didnt want to jump to conclusions "There's something down there! Something that growls and can see and can give chase really fast." his voice quivered slightly at the end. He's not scared ok?

Well ok maybe he was.

Shiver

The Headmistress' appearance made Noelle feel a hush and like she was able to handle everything with a pinch. She seemed so strong. Able to handle everything, even monsters.

Noelle nodded with what Head Girl Nat was saying. I put a barrier up to keep everyone from going inside the portal. Professor Stewart, the Transfiguration Professor, set up another barrier and when she did that, I took mine down and then all the students came back through. " Noelle took a brief look at Ace and gave him an apologetic look because she think she knows what happened but she wasn't sure.

She listened to him and what they found. Her face whitened. That was dreadful. They needed to save him! ... Or maybe what was left of him....

Kane let go of his brother and blushed. "Ok, ok...good," he said. He hadn't meant to just hug him like that, in PUBLIC and all, but he could have lost his big bro! NOT cool, man. He stepped back and listened to the stories the others started to tell of...whatever that place was they all had just been.

SOOOOOOOO if Kane was hearing all of this correctly - and he was pretty sure he was - the caretaker had gone in there? And they'd found...bones? And pieces of his clothing? And there was a MONSTER?

Please, you didn't have to be a Ravenclaw to put two and two together on this one.

"Are you saying he was EATEN by a MONSTER?" Kane asked bluntly, directing his question to any of the students who'd just come from there. He could tell some of the older students were trying to be...well, tactful, but if there was a monster EATING people, tact was the last thing they should be concerned about, in Kane's opinion!

The Headmistress's threat to throw them in the dungeon (if they went near the portal again) was very upsetting to the Ravenclaw prefect (what would her mom think?) but she could understand why she said it. Come to think of it, going into the portal was a very dumb move and they could have all died.

"I'm very sorry, Headmistress," she said solemnly, trying to show the contrition she felt. "We should have come back for a teacher right away, it's just that we were too curious." She had always been curious, but with this portal that curiosity flew wildly out of control.

Leon didn't seem to want to tell them about the dangerous things they had experienced, but Kitty thought it was wise to get the information out to as many people as possible. She took out her camera and held it out for the headmistress to see. "We found bones in there, but I don't know what from. I think there's a monster, or more likely a group of monsters that attack humans in there. I'm afraid the bones could have easily been human bones." She gulped nervously before turning to glare at Kane for making her even more nervous.Then back to the Headmistress, she said, "I took pictures, you can look through them all to see if they might be helpful."

And she did want her camera back, but if the Headmistress decided to take the photos of the other Hogwarts away, then she'd understand.

Um... Olivia's suggestion hadn't been one that she thought they would explore right away. And besides, it was only a suggestion. For a stronger barrier. After all, it had been used to protect the castle during the Battle of Hogwarts. Stray trivia the Gryffindor had picked up from History of Magic, is all.

Grateful to Leon and Miss Nat, Liv offered the best smile she could muster. There were too many people and she wasn't comfortable... But she also felt a responsibility to learn everything she could. So that afterward, she could then relate the more important, life-threatening information to her boyfriend person and friends. So that they'd know to be vigilant.

Friends over comfort. There you go.

Of course, when the Headmistress arrived, the blonde Gryffindor shuffled back a few spaces, pushing her body into the wall. Authority figures made her anxious.... and Miss Nat was getting fired up about those that had been in the vortex skirting the truth. Liv had to agree with that. Everyone did have the right to know. And actually, it wasn't that surprising. Had everyone not HEARD that growling? Where did they think that would be coming from? Fairyland?

So, don't mind her. Just absorbing all the details. Nothing to see here.

While the students shared their account of what had happened, the headmistress couldn't help but glance back at the hole. It gave her the heebie-jeebies, which spoke volumes when considering the fact she had encountered a lot of unnerving things as a curse-breaker and Defence professor. This was something else entirely, whatever it was.

When Leon mentioned something about wanting to speak to her in private, her head quickly moved to face him. What he had to say was ... sensitive? She ignored the fact that Carlton was now hiding behind a professor's legs and took a few steps toward the Ravenclaw to pull him aside so he could say whatever it was he had to say.

But she stopped moving when Natalia revealed the white elephant in the room, informing her of her account and what the other's had said. Noelle confirmed everything that was said and added how she had created a barrier to keep more students from going through. Then her co-prefect started blubbering on about being in another Hogwarts, finding Flynn's belongings, and something chasing after them. All of this was confirmed when the Ravenclaw prefect spoke up, mentioning bones and a monster.

And then Sinead and Kane happened... She wasn't going to answer their questions. They all knew what had happened.

Regina, trying to remain collected, then inched her way toward Kitty. "I would like to see these photos, Miss Valentine," she said, holding out her hand. "Your camera will be returned to you after I've examined them." Whether or not the photos would be returned ... well, that was a no-brainer.

The words that came out of Brent's mouth concerned her. He, and the rest of them, had no control? The woman didn't doubt him; she too had felt something pulling at her. But had she gone through? No. "Mr. Westwood, surely my years of teaching you Defence have not gone to waste? Always stay vigilant."

She paused to let that sink in, and then she addressed everyone else who had been to this alternate Hogwarts. "And that goes for all of you. You are lucky to still be standing here. Many of your actions, whether you could control them or not, were absolutely ludicrous. Under no circumstances are you to go anywhere near this portal again."

Her eyes then registered Olivia Phillips standing there, absorbing everything, and then turned toward the two professors and then to everyone else. "Until this portal is gone, this section of the sixth floor is forbidden. Professors and prefects," -- the responsible ones at least -- "will be heavily patrolling the area. If any student is found attempting to get by, there will be very serious consequences."

There was a long pause so her words sunk in everyone's mind.

"Now, Miss Franks-Mundie and Miss Summers, please escort everyone who went through the portal and back to the hospital wing and have Healer Reed check that they are alright and give them Calming Draughts. Everyone else, I suggest you return to your common rooms immediately."

As for the two professors, she gave them a look that said they would be staying there a while, for she was sending out alligator Patronuses to everyone. "Emergency staff meeting. Sixth floor. Attendance is urgent."

"Sinead are you alright?" She wanted to make sure all the students were alright and by the question, she just asked maybe shock was something they needed to worry about. She was happy when Ace seemed to be alright and now was continuing from where she had left off, but his words made her stomach flip. So the caretaker was in there wasn't he and most likely.... dead. That really didn't make her feel comfortable being near that.

She listened to the headmistress as she spoke about what to do. Nat was nodding until she said prefects would patrol this area more. Umm that could be a job for the head boy, right? If he got eaten it wouldn't be that big of a loss or anything. She had singing to thinking about, look at how many fans would be upset if she died here. Okay so she might not have any fans, yet, but she would... someday.


Anyway, "Yes, headmistress." She looked to Noelle and then to the student who had come out of the portal. "Alright, does anyone need help walking or are we all alright to walk?" She didn't think anyone was injury , but if they were just scared she could have them walk close to her or Noelle. "Let's head to see the healer now." To be honest she was really glad to be as far away from that portal as possible.

Turning on a heel she headed down the corridor with the group.

....And she'd been spotted by the Headmistress. Frozen in place by the appraising look she'd been given, Olivia quickly decided that she'd learned all she could from this group of..... Let's just call them what they were: Survivors.

And downright lucky, it sounded like.

It was a good job she'd come to this conclusion herself, as in the next moment, the Headmaster was effectively dismissing the lot of them to their respective dormitories and the Infirmary. If things had been different, maybe the blonde would've been gutsy enough to follow them... and gain more information... but...

Instead of waiting for her House Prefect, Liv was going to pull the disappearing act and see herself out. She had a boyfriend to find.

Leon had his head in his hands prettt much the entire time everyone spoke to the Headmistress! For Merlins sake! He didn't want to start a school wide panic! Which was why he was trying to inconspicuously mention that the caretaker had been eaten but a terrible shadow monster!

Whom they had all escaped from..

But no..

He remained quiet until the Headmistress dismissed them all. He wanted to help patrol the corridor but he wasn't a prefect so instead he took his place behind the head girl and made his way to the Hospital Wing.