Kay felt rather relieved and reassured at Tristan's words that Emmalyn was right there with them. Indeed, she did catch glimpses of the girl running beside them. "Thank you, Tristan,'' she said gratefully and smiling at him. The stinging in her face increased when her muscles worked so the smile was cut rather abruptly. With Emmalyn beside her, Kaysha took a closer look at those that had remained. Ignatius was out of breath while others bore souvenirs of the battle.

Hearing the movements from beside her, the professor looked down to see that Emmalyn had moved closer to her; to see that Emmalyn was looking horrified. Without a word, she put an arm around Lyn's shoulders. "You fought bravely. You should be proud. But, Lyn, don't worry about anything. This will be sorted out before you know it.''

And as if to back up her words...

The Inferi all began to suddenly reappear but they didn't seem to be looking to attack. No... they were returning to the water. Thank goodness! The glint of gold made Kay realise... the creatures had been after the treasure. Her head turned when she heard Gaston's voice. One student on the brink of death... Oh no! Which student was it? She hoped the kiddo would be alright and quickly.

"We should get you to the hospital wing. Your arm needs to be looked at.'' Kay slowly rose to her feet, grimacing in pain with each movement. "Any other injured students, please head to the hospital wing. Come on, I'll escort you.'' She was pretty sure Healer MacMillan would be there soon if she wasn't back at the Wing already from the Greenhouses.

Maybe heading to the Greenhouses would make sense but who needed to see more carnage? Definitely not the kiddos who were with her. She waited for any of them to join her.

The humans were a good distance away from the Lake and the Inferius number was dwindling. Bartholomew managed to pack some more punches until there was no more to pack. The Inferius (much to Bartholomew's surprise) were going in his direction. Inferius that that been at the Hogwarts School. Bartholomew braced himself for the attack. It never came. Bartholomew's tentacles rested in the Black Lake while the Inferius took their places back into the waters. It was all over. From the gold coming he had seen the Inferius pick up it became evident this was all about the treasure discovered months ago. It was all over.

One utterly exhausted Squid was relieved. One utterly exhausted Squid cast one last look at the humans. One utterly exhausted Squid slowly sank beneath the waters. This utterly exhausted Squid was going to take a long sleep. This could be done now that Hogwarts was saved.

No longer paying any attention to what was going on around her, Emmalyn simply let herself be hugged by Professor Stewart. Her eyes momentarily closing, picturing what it would be like over the summer. A warm and comfortable bed to sleep in, no fear of dying, and lots of laughs were in her near future. She wanted nothing more than to be in her new home at that very moment.

She felt the professor start to get to her feet, so she followed her movements. “Yes. We should get looked at.” Her her voice was no more than a whisper and her eyes never left the ground. She didn’t hear or see the patronus informing them of the student close to death. She only held on to Kay, trying to support the professor as much as she also needed the support, as they slowly made their way towards the hospital wing.

There were still so many unanswered questions. What happened to the Merpeople? Did they survive the attack? Who sent the Inferi and why didn’t they simply ask for the treasure back? The questions were swirling around in the back of her mind, unable to be focused on enough to make heads or tails at the moment. Once she was physically healed, the hard work would begin.

Several minutes after the Inferi had descended deep into the lake, there was a ripple on the water again, thankfully what came up was not a terrifying undead creature.

It was in fact the Merchefianess Arethusa once more. She had had her bodyguards monitoring the Inferi after they had come back to the lake.

Thankfully she had some good news to relay to the humans, she hoped they would appreciate the effort she was making at the moment for them.

She shook her head, her lank hair falling around her shoulders as she moved towards the shore and then in a loud voice, spoke.

“They are gone! They have returned to their cave and are unmoving. Rest easy.” And with that, she turned and dove back under the water, heading back down to see the own damage to her village.

"Anytime, Kaysha." Tristan gave her a somber smile and a gentle pat on the shoulder. Her injuries were bad but not deadly, so he knew she would be okay with Emmalyn standing guard.

Tristan gave Ignatius a small sad smile, "Not to worry, friend. I am sure everyone is well tended. We do need to help Roderik with the fire wall however. He is probably getting tired." Just as Tristan was turning to go help the Defense teacher, all of the Inferi that were up at the castle and around the grounds began descending towards the lake. He quickly jumped into dueling stance, but they all just passed by.

'Of course...the treasure.' He thought to himself as he saw golden pieces reflecting back at them from the fire light. He watched and waited as the monsters wadded back into the water and disappeared. "They're gone." He said more to himself than to anyone.

Soon after the monsters were gone, a silver platypus floated it's way towards the headmistress, but everyone within hearing distance listened to the message. He put his hand over his mouth at the idea of a student gravely injured. Though with how terrible the attack had been he was surprised there was only one. He pushed that thought back, staying hopeful that whichever student it was would be healed.

A few moments later, Merchefianess Arethusa came to the surface of the lake and let them know that the Inferi had gone back to their cave and were no longer moving, entering into their eternal sleep. They would have to put some signs up down there to make sure, generations from now, that no one would enter and take that treasure ever again.

As he looked around the scene, the anxiety that had been slowly creeping up his spin was trying to break through. But he knew he couldn't have a break down in front of his students and colleagues, so he immediately got to work putting out fires. It would be a good enough distraction until he was alone in the confines of his hut. With a quick flick of his wand and a silent Aguamenti, he put began to put out a fire in a large tree.

Hirsch couldn't help but raise his eyebrows at Ignatius's response. For now, he was putting this grumpiness down on the Inferi but it didn't stop him from exchanging a look with Tristan. "You're hurt." Simple. And they weren't going to leave him behind.

As for their plan, the man was about to open his mouth when something else caught his attention, distracting him completely. He turned his head in the direction of the movement, dropping his arm to his side as he watched the..... Inferi?! Walking BACK?!

He almost raised his wand arm again, about ready to cast another onslaught of fire-based spells but it didn't look like they were moving towards them. No. They were walking past them, as though they didn't exist to them. It was weird, and it didn't leave a good feeling inside of him.

Green eyes watched as they jumped straight back into the lake, mounds of treasure with them. He exchanged a look with those near him, hoping that someone felt as confused as him about what had just happened. Nothing was said because in that moment, a Patronus appeared and the familiar voice of Gaston rang out in the Lake.

Er. Someone was on the brink of DEATH?!

Hirsch swore under his breath, not caring who heard him because frankly, the situation called for it. He wanted to say something, maybe some up with some kind of plan, but there was another voice ringing out at them, delivering another message. So, eyes found the Lake once again and the sight of the Merchefianess who had arrived once again. When it was all over.

.......

Relief. Pure and utter relief.

It felt as though a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. No sooner had he heard those words than he let out a long, deep sigh of relief. The adrenalin, the rush of the past.... however long it had been mounted and left him feeling a lot more tired than he did before. It was as if the pain from before had been masked and they were now coming back him again. It had been a stressful, emotional roller-coaster of a ride and it was starting to show.

But they had gotten rid of the Inferi and that was what mattered.

It was because of this that he turned to the rest of the crowd, students and professors alike, with a small dimpled!smile on his face. "We did it! We," No swear words this time, Roderik. "did it! We beat the Inferi!" If that wasn't something to be happy about, he didn't know what was. "Very, very well done, everyone! As Professor Stewart said, let's head up to the castle and anyone who's injured, please make your way to the Hospital Wing. If you need a stretcher, let us know and we'll conjure one and levitate you there." Pause. "In fact, even if you're not that injured, please go to the Hospital Wing as well to get looked at or get some Calming Draught or some chocolate. And then you can go back to your common rooms, okay?"

The Defence Professor glanced over at Regina before making a split decision. He raised his wand arm and, this time, directed it straight towards the castle. A silvery fennec fox burst from his wand and ran forwards and off towards the distant castle. Another one appeared and headed in the direction of the grounds in general, both looking incredibly bright in the darkness.

There was a slight pause as he just looked at them go before he turned to Kaysha and Emmalyn. He didn't say anything at first but he did conjure up a levitating stretcher. "It might be easier to get on a stretcher. Don't want to make it worse."

As for him? He was going to help Tristan put out the fires and sort out the damage here. Merlin knows, they didn't need another problem at this school.

The duo had only taken a few steps with Kay being supported by a little Hufflepuff when the sound of a sort of splashing from the Great Lake caught Kay's attention. She looked over her shoulder to see the Mer- Chieftainess. She brought good and happier news this time, fortunately, and Kay looked happily around at Emmalyn. "See? Everything is surely falling into place already.'' She sincerely hoped this would raise Lyn's spirit.

There was suddenly a stretcher floating beside them. Kaysha looked from it to Roderick. "Really,'' she began in protest. "I'm fine. I have Emmalyn helping me here.'' But the gesture was thoroughly appreciated. "Thank you, Roderick.'' Really, these were the best colleagues to work alongside with. "Shall we, Lyn?''

With a slight smile in Roderick's direction, she continued to make way to the Hospital Wing.