Nathan soon realised his mistake when he threw the fire spell at the door, damaging their first line of defence. He almost cursed at himself for letting it happened. Merlin....he was in a panic okay! He didn’t mean to set the door on fire. Everyone was throwing spells at the door. It got confusing and chaotic. All he did is just trying to push the creature back. Guess the plan went bust and backfired. /Great/...what now?

While the others were trying to put the fire out, he cast a ventus charm to blow the smoke away to the direction of the windows above them. Nobody wanted to die from smoke inhalation if the creatures didn’t get to them first.

Urgh...he felt deeply dissapointed and fearful at the same time. Wasn’t those doors supposed to be strong and durable enough to keep unwanted intruders out? In his head, they should replace those doors if ever they managed to survive this terrible ordeal. Nathan needed to think fast. If they combined forces and use the shield charm, would it work? A wall of fire could certainly bring everything else ablaze again ...or not? Its up to the professors to do what’s next. He just follow suit this time.

As the Inferi continued to fight their way in, Maddie thought about just turning and running. That was just the fear inside of her trying to talk her out of being here, though. She wasn't going to listen to it either. No way could she ever show her face around here again if she didn't stay and protect the castle and the people inside of it. She thought about the upcoming summer vacation, her fourth year, and her family and friends. Would she ever see any of those people or things again?

Her heart soared with hope when a few of them backed away from the door and hurried off. Then the door, the whole frazzling door, caught on fire. Water spells were cast around her, and Maddie found herself wishing they were right back in Defense class with that simple and fun water fight they'd had. Nothing was simple and fun about this. Then Dorian spoke up, and Maddie started putting pieces into place. Ohh. Oops. "I think...I think that might have been what Marchand had wanted us to do in the first place," she said, her voice monotone and quiet. If she was right about that, they'd ruined the plan, and now Plan B, Plan C, Plan D, or whatever they were on now would have to be put into place.

She gave him a sympathetic look, though. He had really good ideas, and if they lived through this, she was going to tell him that. Between the way he'd acted at the lake and here at the entrance, she kind of thought he needed the encouragement. Then there was Chloe, who couldn't understand why they were now casting water instead of fire. Quite frankly, Maddie was trying to make sense of everything, too, but she knew why the water was being cast. "We accidentally created a new problem," she told her. "The castle...it's on fire. If it turns to ash, we don't have any protection. At all."

Maddie pointed her wand forward and sent an Extinguishing Spell toward the water. It was used to put out fires, but would it help save the whole castle before the fire took it over?

Running away from the inferi people would be imprinted in Sylvie's memory as one of the absolute worst experiences of her life. It was closely followed by the fear of not knowing where any of her friends were. Had Tayo been running around the lake too?? Had Faith been out taking photographs?? Was Zoryn on her broom, did Chris stay in the library, Linc by the computers?! She had no idea, all she could do was run, run, run into the castle and stay focused. Face as white as a sheet, dirt in her hair and covered in cuts and bruises from the mad dash, Sylvie turned away from everything and tried to think.

This was like Warcraft. The inferi were the Scourge and thankfully Arthas didn't exist here so that's good and she's SYLVANAS WINDRUNNER. Norcott. She's... she can do this. She CAN do this. She's even been studying for OWLs a little so she could join in with the fire spells and stuff. She's been in dueling club since forever. She was sixteen and one hundred percent an adult who CAN AND WILL defend this school. Yes. Definitely. Though she would have given anything to have her bow and arrow with her, but she had heard that only fire could kill the.. the Scourge, and her bow was made of wood.

Perhaps during the next scourge invasion she'll learn how to shoot fire arrows. Then she could hold them off entirely by herself.

Biting her lip, her wand tightly gripped in her hand, she stood right at the front and watched the door burn, tuning out all discussions about putting the fire out. It.. It was mesmerising, a huge wall of fire that separated them from actual, real, very very much real death. She could die. Tayo could die, they could all actually die. And not go home ever again.

Sylvie felt her hands shaking and blinked away stupid tears. NO. She's SYLVANAS and Sylvanas does NOT cry, not ever. Today Sylvanas was going to be Sylvie the Fire Mage and she would do this FOR THE HORDE and FOR HOGWARTS and for her friends who were hopefully far far away and asleep or something. Please let them be asleep. Please please.

"They're gonna come in anyway," she pointed out to the group in general, jaw set in grim determination. She turned to the adults then. "Right? We'll have to fight them no matter what." It's what always happened in her games, so it obviously is gonna happen here to. She was sure of it. And so, with uncharacteristic stillness, Sylvie shifted into her dueling stance. Wand steady. Chin out. Breathe.

And wait.

Oh. Well. That had backfired spectacularly.

Biting her lip, Nettie realized with a sinking heart that they were right. They couldn't let the castle burn down. Sure, it was made of mostly old stone and stuff and had withstood a LOT in it's time, but THEY were currently INSIDE the castle. Meaning if it burned down, they were burning down with it. Not to mention all the poor innocent kids who were still in their common rooms, probably completely unaware of what was even happening.

"Aguamenti!" she cried, sending a small steady stream of water towards the flames. She wasn't sure it was really doing anything, honestly, but she was sick of standing here feeling like she wasn't doing anything to help.

They watched as smoke came out of the door, the flames coming through glistening in their grey, soulless eyes. Eagerly they waited outside, waiting for a move to be made that would put an end to the stalemate and give them the opportunity to move.

As the fire continued to eat at and blacken the door, the group was soon reunited with the Inferi that had jumped over the side of the cliff moments ago. Their bones were charred, some how without fingers, their anger fueled even more. But they also waited. Time was irrelevant to them. They would wait all night if they had to.

Sudden sounds of water hitting against the door, slowly but surely extinguishing the fire, caught their attention. All heads were focused on the door, their skeletal bodies getting ready to strike when it was least expected...

And then they all simultaneously lunged forward like a wrecking ball, bursting through the weakened door. They were in.

One by one, the Inferi began to spread out, threateningly slashing their claw-like hands at anyone who was within reach. Some where already twisting and contorting their bodies in anticipation of flames being sent their way. All eyes eerily looked around, at the humans, at the staircase up ahead, at the doors that were scattered around the hall. They were looking for something.

An Inferius, the one that led the troop to the boathouse, muttered something to one of its brethren. A single word was exchanged in one low, barely audible croak. "Treasure." They knew it was here somewhere. The castle was the only place they hadn't torn apart to find it.

"AHHHHHH!" Maddie yelled, not being able to help the natural reaction. The doors had suddenly burst open, and the piles of bones infiltrated the hall. Nevertheless, she had stopped yelling at this point and was just willing herself not to freeze up in fear. She'd encircled herself in a lasso of fire, and she hoped that would buy her some time while she figured out what to do next.

Then one of them croaked something that Maddie didn't understand, and it was then that she remembered that some Inferi had abilities to communicate. "Professor Marchand," she said, half-whispering to the professor beside her, "do you still think the idea I had at the lake is a good one?" You know, the one about returning the treasure?

She kind of thought they should offer it to the Inferi, but she didn't want to be so bold without running it past Marchand first.

Before he went to help and put out the fire with the use of aguamenti, Dorian realised that the Hufflepuff girl named Maddie was talking to him and with his wand still pointed at the door he looked at her as she spoke.

And then his face fell as realization dawned on him as well. Had his plan been Professor Marchand's plan all along but had they blew it earlier? Was that why he had looked dissapointed?

He turned to the Charms Professor again his tears came back in his eyes. Not because he was scared again. He was already scared so he couldn't get scared again. But because he felt like they had ruined everything. Hogwarts doom was really on their hands. But before he could apologize for his stupid behaviour and ignorance of the plan, Dorian heard a loud bang and looked at the door to see....

That the Inferi had come inside!

He didn't care anymore. He let out an eardeafening scream and he had already turned around and ran up the stairways and was halfway when his logical side of his brain told him to stay with the group if he wanted to have a slightly smaller chance of survival.

And so he came back running again.. "WHAT DO I DO?!" he shouted in panic.

"No!"

She'd sensed it even before the inferi came pouring into the entrance hall, that they were going to get in. The sound of the door giving way to them sent a shiver down Junia's spine and she shrieked, looking around at the others. Nothing she'd read about or practiced could've prepared her for this. For the experience of being up close to the undead. They'd been people, these corpses, and now they were...

Her thoughts were interrupted as the inferi lashed out and the seventh year jumped back, nearly stumbling over the bottom step of the staircase. Her siblings were hiding up there. She had to protect them. It was her job. She had to do her job...

"Focalia." The bundle of firewood appeared at her feet and she thanked merlin that she'd remembered the spell. "Incendio." As the heavy pieces of wood caught fire, the seventh year looked up, making sure she had a clear path in front of her to do what she needed to do.

One by one she used her wand to launch the pieces of burning firewood at the inferi closest to her and the staircase, hoping to burn them, break their bones, do damage. She felt so angry that this was happening again. That again people she loved were in danger in a place where they were supposed to be safe. It sparked a fire in her that fueled her need to fight and that might've been the only thing keeping her from falling apart because Merlin knew she wanted to.

Looking around for the nearest professor, the slytherin hoped for guidance. She was one of the oldest students in the entrance hall and she'd help however she could, but she didn't have a plan. Please let someone have a plan.

Gaston watched in horror as the door caught fire; this was exactly what he was afraid might happen. See, kids? This was why he didn't want everyone shooting off spells willy-nilly! He had to fight the urge to roll his eyes as he overheard Junia's words. Thank you for pointing out the obvious, Miss Botros, he thought. They probably wouldn't have this problem right now if it hadn't been for someone's impulsivity! He clenched his teeth to stop himself from voicing his harsh thoughts. Every moment spent arguing was time that could be better used coming up with a new plan of attack, and this time he happened to agree with the Slytherin.

Somewhere deep down, Gaston was surprised and horrified by his anger, but for now, his kind compassionate nature lay dormant, overtaken by the primal instincts of a father fighting to survive for his child. He was getting back to Desiree one way or another, and no loose cannon student or glorified Frnakenstein monster was going to stop him! Coughing on the smoke from the burning door, he turned back to the group, his eyes flashing warningly, as if daring them to argue with him. "Flame freezing charms around yourselves, NOW!" They needed to protect themselves in case the fire spread, or in case anything else was set aflame in the impending battle!
"Older students, help the younger ones."

His eyes softened for half a second as he looked back at Chloe, but he shook his head. "Even if we contain the fire, the door will eventually burn down and let them in," he said. They needed to buy themselves as much time as possible!

It looked as if Kalen, Daisy, and Nettie already had things under control putting out the fire, but Gaston sent a nonverbal Extinguo at the door, just in case their water spells failed. Finally the door was out, thank Merlin! He breathed a sigh of relief. It was only then that he registered the students talking amongst themselves, and a sudden pang of guilt cut through the fog of his rage as he overheard Maddie and Dorian. His anger at the life-threatening situation turned to anger at himself. He nodded in reply, his throat too tight to speak. He hated himself for reacting as he had, especially as he saw the tears in Dorian's eyes! "Shh... try not to cry. You'll be alright," he whispered, putting a comforting arm around the young Ravenclaw.

Bright blue eyes darted back to the charred door. It was only a matter of time before the Inferi got inside! "We're outnumbered; our best chance is to try and take them by surprise and hit them with all we've got!" Gaston addressed the group. Now they just had to come up with another way to do that, since his original fire wall plan was now kaput. He considered Dorian's idea. "That could work. Let's try-" he began, but before he could direct the students to put the plan in action, the Inferi barged into the castle.
"No time! GET BEHIND ME! fire lassos out! If they come at you, hit them with every fire spell you have!"

Without so much as a second thought, he stood between the walking corpses and his students, wand drawn. The sight of their grotesque bodies made his blood run cold, but he remained rooted to the spot, glaring back at them with a determined fire in his eyes. He was halfway through casting a Firestorm charm when a claw-like hand collided with one side of his face, and he yelped in pain. He could already feel the wounds bleeding, even before he gently fingered the slashes. Bllinking against the pain and blood threatening to blind him, he aimed a fireball at the Inferi nearest him, his anger once again flaring. He was NOT going down that easily!

Wait, did one of them just say...? The moment he heard Maddie speak, he knew he hadn't imagined it. "Yes," he replied, though he was too busy aiming fire at the creatures to look back at her. "Everyone, get the treasure and bring it back here NOW! I'll hold them off..." He glanced back at Kalen and mouthed, GO! They would need his help to break the charms.

As his eyes darted back to the horde, an idea dawned on him. "We'll return your treasure!" he said, hoping against hope that they would understand him and call off their attack. He had to be mad trying to reason with them, but anything was worth a try! "Just give us time!"

Maddie's eyes darted back and forth between Marchand and the Inferi. There was so much going on at once that she couldn't manage to keep her focus on one thing for too long. Thoughts of Chloe, Gunnar, Nettie, and the other first years briefly crossed her mind, but she couldn't even tell where they were right now in the midst of things.

The Inferi were closing in on them, though, so if Marchand thought they should go get the treasure, they should probably go get it now.

...and he DID think they should get it! For once, in the last---how much time had passed?---, Maddie saw a tiny ray of sunshine peeking through their doom. She ended the fire lasso surrounding her and dashed toward the treasure. Hopefully the others had heard Marchand's orders and were close behind her.

As soon as the door was out, Kalen hurriedly had backed up and was making sure the other students who had helped him came with him. He made sure that his body was between the students and the incoming Inferi, if they wanted the kids, they would need to go through him!

Once he made sure Daisy and Nettie were safe behind Gaston and himself he turned towards the incoming Inferi, seeing them come in to the school made his blood run cold and he could feel his wand hand shaking, but he still kept sending fire spells at whatever Inferi he could see! There were so many of them and at the moment his spells were a bit random, but he was fairly sure he was hitting things!

And that’s when he heard the word that was croaked out.

Treasure? He looked at Maddie and then again at Gaston as he mouthed for him to go.

He nodded and looked around, he wasn’t keen to leave his friend alone to face a horde of Inferi, but he nodded. “ A few of you, stay behind with Professor Marchand, back him up, he will keep you safe. The rest of you, follow Maddie, lets go get the treasure.” He said as he rapidly backed up, preparing to follow the kids.

Sylvie had known it was coming, she'd even said as much to the group like five seconds ago, but nothing could have prepared her for the horrible noise of wood giving way and hordes of inferi suddenly pouring through the castle doorway. With a YELP and a jump backwards, she wished she had a friend with her, someone she could trust, to help her fight the invasion.

Perhaps they weren't like the Scourge, these inferi. Perhaps they were more like the Legion. And this was.. like the raid. A real life RAID.

"NO YOU DON'T!" she SCREAMED at the hands that were suddenly coming towards her, wand pointed RIGHT at them. "INCENDIO! INCENDIO INCENDIO INCENDIO," the sixteen year old bellowed, good old fashioned fire much preferred over any fancy lassos as she aimed her wand at the incoming inferi. She wasn't that good at magic tricks anyways, but her aim was always dead on. Archery practice and dueling club had at least taught her that.

Briefly listening to the exchange about the treasure, it was obvious to Sylvie that she would be staying right here to defend the school with Marchand. Let the others run off to do their quest, she had her castle to save. But in the time she was distracted she had forgotten about creating more fire, and screamed as an inferius tore through her robes and left a deep, bleeding gash on her shoulder and down her arm.

It HURT and she wanted to cry but it also gave her this weird sort of clarity and she knew EXACTLY what she needed to do. Sylvie jumped away with a cry and spun quickly to face the inferius with a spell already on her lips, eyes alight and wand out. "INCENDIO DUA! YOU SACK OF DRAGON POOP."

OK

Théo heard some noises coming down the stairs. He was looking for Sylvie after um having some time with Marisol and well he got sidetracked with all the noise he was hearing if that made sense. He arrived just in time to hear Marchand yelling at them. Fire spells and not letting the inferi zombie things through. You know the end of the world type things. But seemed like Sylvie was here good and Junia, Nathan, and a bunch of younger kids. Good. No time to talk to any of them. He was following Marchand's instructions with his wand out and only fire spells on his mind. Really just trying to be of help and well mostly just find Sylvie.

He would have been fine sleeping through all this and find out in the morning what happened.

Treasure???

Marchand wants us to go to find the treasure and now Kennedy wanted some of us to stay back here. Well, he was staying here then so no running off to the treasure. Unless Marchand yelled to make them all go. Which he wouldn't put past him.

Anyway, he was staying being the dumb gryffindor he is and well already casting incendio at the closest one to him. Yep.

"INCENDIO DUA"

Nathan’s heart was beating wildly against his chest. He wanted to run down the stairs to summon his broom and just fly out of there. But he knew that was the most cowardly thing to do. And some of them already thinking of leaving to get whatever treasure these creatures want. There was no way they could fight a hoard of creatures with only a small number of students who knew little about fire-defensive spells.

Annoyed and frustrated at the lack of information this one was given. “What treasure?”he almost shouted at the professor. Unfortunately, he couldn’t wait to hear his answers. He quickly cast the flame-freezing charm on himself before helping the younger ones too.

Once done, Nathan returned to help Professor Marchand with the fire-lasso spell. “Get back!” He aimed his wand at one of the inferi and fired at it. Don’t you dare get hurt, professor! If he dies, they would too. No time to think about death. First they fight! “INCENDIO! VENTUS! STUPEFY!” He cast as much as he knew how, making sure their line of defence was not broken.

Treasure?

Of course!

They wanted the treasure back!

Despite the fact that a small part of Nettie's brain still wished she could have had a chance to keep a bit of the treasure - she HAD found it with her classmates after all, finders keepers! - the Inferi were clearly on a rampage for it. She was pretty sure the Inferi themselves weren't looking for the treasure, but whoever was controlling them certainly was. She knew enough about the undead to know they couldn't truly be lucid enough to think that way.

She nodded at the professors and turned to run off and help Maddie. She was helping to end this once and for all!

Daisy had to focus but it was proving very difficult since the Inferi were now through the door. She had barely said, "Ignisio Funem," before one of the Inferi had badly slashed her lower left leg with its claw-like hands. Gritting her teeth as the pain increased, along with the bleeding, Daisy fired an "Incendio Trio," before collapsing in pain.

The comforting arm of professor Marchand did not comfort him. Because he wasn't stupid, he knew how much in trouble they all were. And it was all their own fault.

But he nodded his head again. Pretending to be brave because he knew that the moment he would break down crying he could get attacked by surprise.

During all the confusion that was happening, Dorian had not heard that one of the inferi had mentioned a treasure. It was only after both professors had told them to get it when he realised what was going on.

"No, we can't leave you alone..." he said but before he could say that a few of them needed to stay and help here. Preferably the older students because they knew what they were doing, Professor Kennedy spoke his thoughts he couldn't say. "Yes! Ok like he said!"

A chance to run away from here without getting dissaproving looks? Count him in!

It seemed that Maddie knew what the Professors had been talking about as she sped out in to the great hall and the Ravenclaw followed.

Gaston continued sending balls of fire from his Firestorm charm at the Inferi nearest him. Somewhere in the chaos, he registered Dorian's voice, but he dared not look back, lest the Inferi swarm him while he wasn't looking. But you have to... he thought sadly. This was the only way. Nobody else had to die...

Gaston watched, breathing a silent sigh of relief as Maddie, Nettie & Dorian took off toward the chamber, and - Wait, what? No! He gaped at Kalen in horror as he directed some of the students to stay behind with him. That wasn't supposed to happen! He couldn't have anyone die because of him! The blood running into his eye - or out of it, he couldn't tell - on the injured side of his face was making it nearly impossible to see anything to his right, but he could tell by the voices shouting spells around him who was staying. His heart swelled with pride for his brave students, touched that they cared about him enough not to let him die alone. Then as quickly as it came, the feeling vanished, and he waa gripped with fear, fear that someone was going to die backing him up. "Please... save yourselves," he begged. If he could've taken his eyes off the Inferi long enough to look at his students, they would've seen a sad, pleading look in them.

His blood ran cold as he heard Sylvie scream. He instantly knew she was injured, but before he could help her, he saw Daisy collapse out if the corner if his good eye. "No..." he gasped. "DAISY!" Panic threatened to overwhelm him. The Inferi were going to swarm her while she was down... unless he got to her first. He rushed to her side as fast as his legs could carry him, ignoring the fire spells flying as he placed himself between her and the Inferi. "Daisy, it'll be okay... You're not going to die! I won't let you die..." He felt something trickle down his face; his hand cane away wet as he wiped it away, though this t8me not with blood.

"NOT TODAY, YOU MINDLESS FLESH PUPPET!!!" He set his jaw, lips curling into a frightening snarl, as he rounded on the Inferi, wand pointed directly at the nearest one. His overprotective dad!professor instinct blocked out any rational thought. Now he was going to make them pay for hurting his students! "Incendio tria!"

Gold pendant and several miscellaneous coin-looking things in her arms, Maddie came rushing back into the Great Hall. It hadn't occurred to her that in doing this, she'd likely make herself an immediate target for the Inferi. Maybe she should just start throwing it at them? Sounded legit.

"I'VE GOT THE TREASURE!" she yelled out. AND THEY COULD HAVE IT ALL BACK! All of it. Every last bit of it. JUST GO AWAY. She hurried up alongside Marchand, unsure what she should do. If anybody thought she was just going to stroll on up there and hang a necklace on one of them, then they better think again. "What do I do?" she whispered to him. "Just lay it down or something?"

The others were hopefully coming along with more of the treasure soon. Really soon. Any second now hopefully.

"ME TOO , ME TOO!" he yelled as he ran behind Maddie a few steps behind with his pockets and arms full with coins. Merlin's Beard he was tired! "Should we throw it at them cause i'd do it with pleasu-----WHAT HAPPENED TO DAISY?!" Stupid question, of course she had been clawed by one of the inferi. What did that mean? Was she going to turn like those zombies in muggle movies?!

...........Dorian stayed away from Daisy's reach....just in case... No offence, Daisy.

He looked around again and saw that more students had come to help. A Slytherin (Nathan) and a Gryffindor....eh...what was his name again? He knew he was in his fifth year.....LEO! Yes! And two other Slytherin girls. Why did that make him feel fuzzy inside? Anyway, Dorian looked over at Professor marchand, he knew what they had to do with the treasure right?

The Inferi weren’t stopping. Fire spells flew through the air alongside the burning wood thrown in their direction. Some caught the skeletal figures of the Inferi, igniting them immediately. Some were not so lucky: flames caught onto the bottoms of the lower portraits, setting them on fire and causing the frantic occupants to run for cover.

But still they searched. Exposed flesh was scratched, pockets were ripped, humans were pushed aside. They were determined to find what they needed... to find what they were here to get.

Luckily, they didn’t need to wait long. Every single Inferi stopped simultaneously at the appearance of the treasure. There was a moment of peace as every pair of cloudy eyes focused in on the gold before them. This peace was disrupted by the same low, barely audible croak they had heard earlier.

"The rest."

It was then that chaos erupted once more.

Trailing behind Maddie and Dorian, Nettie had two handfuls full of the treasure - mostly coins - and stopped before she ran into them. She heard Maddie asking what to do, and she felt a second of relief after the Inferi stopped at the sight of the treasure.

And then...things got crazy. Again. It was never ending!

Letting out a little shriek, whatever courage Nettie had vanished immediately as she realized she was basically an open target right now. So she THREW the coins she had in her hands right at the Inferi, and then backed up quite a few feet towards the staircase. She fumbled with her wand, grabbing it and aiming it at the Inferi, trying to calm down and remember what she could do if one started to come at her.

...and then everything was still. Eerily still.

Was this her waking up from her nightmare? So it had been a--..."OH, DEAR MERLIN!" she couldn't help but say, as the Inferi spoke. Nevermind waiting on Marchand for instructions. As soon as the Inferi charged forward again, Maddie yelled out in surprised and dropped all the treasure she was holding. Whatever happened to exercising a little patience, hmm?

"Come on, Dorian!" she said, and she grabbed her fellow third year by the tail of his shirt and jerked him along behind her. If she was going to keep running headfirst into a battle scene, she was at least going to start keeping Dorian beside her!

Their attempts to stop the inferi only seemed to succeed in making the undead more persistent, more aggressive, more desperate in their attempts to get what it was they came for. She was aware of some of the group running off, disappearing from view on a mission to put a stop to all this, but she didn't have to think about her decision to stay. She was rooted to the spot, scared, and firing whatever spells she could think of to hold them off even as panicked voices around her cried out about a wounded Daisy. This couldn't be happening.

The seventh year had made the mistake of turning her attention to the younger girl, concern clouding her judgement, and it was only seconds before she was being shoved backwards on to the steps behind her, the violent fall causing her to smack her head on the edge of a step, the pain sharp and white hot right behind her eyelids. She could feel hands on her, register the strong and sharp nails slicing through her clothing, cutting skin, searching for something she did not possess. It was all she could do to cast a knockback jinx, hoping to get some distance between herself and the one coming at her, hoping to buy herself enough time to sit up....and then everything stopped.

It was like everyone was moving in slow motion..

Junia felt dizzy as she pushed herself upright and the Slytherin put her free hand out to steady herself, the pounding pain in her head making it hard to focus on what was happening around her. She was disoriented, confused, unaware of the blood staining the back of her head. Something was very wrong.

Her gaze fell on the burning portraits and she numbly stumbled towards them, someone needing to put them out. Why wasn't anyone putting them out? Why wasn't anyone mov--

Then chaos.

The others who stayed and fought were suddenly injured! "NO! GET AWAY FROM THEM! INCENDIO!" He aimed at the creatures who were charging an attack towards the professor and Daisy. As more inferis came closer and quicker, Nathan had no choice but to run back towards the staircase. The numbers were so overwhelming, he couldn't hold them back much longer. He cast as much fire spells he knew at the creatures, hopefully preventing them from reaching the stairs.

"VENTUS DU-" But one of the inferis suddenly jumped at him, knocking him back on the floor with a loud THUMP. He grunted in pain as he tried to stagger back up onto his feet. The creature tried to reach into his pants pocket, but they were nothing there.

"AHHH!! DON'T TOUCH ME!!" he shouted, as he kicked his way to safety. Thankfully, the others came back again in time with the treasure. "Take your stupid treasure already! The rest of us don't have it!" Nathan's temper running high as he aimed more fire spells at them.