The announcement broke through the silence of the lesson period. Echoing throughout the empty corridors. It reaches far and wide, interrupting all lessons.

Quote:

Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, stop and head to the duelling arena. This is not a drill and it is not to be taken lightly. Professors, kindly bring yours lessons to a halt and escort the students to the duelling arena. Prefects, please assist your professors in getting your school mates there. No time to waste.

They were finally getting out of here, and not a moment too soon. It had been months locked away in the castle, on constant alert in the event the mist rose any higher. The Headmaster wasn't sure how much more of it he could take.

So far, they'd managed to keep it on the lower floors but he'd already lost his own office. This floor held one of the only remaining exits and it was time to get the students out now that the preparations over in Hogsmeade had been finished.

Malachi stood by the entrance to the tunnel. He'd already gone through it to ensure no breaches and was relieved to find the way still clear. No telling how much longer it would remain that way so there was no time like the present.

Having already eaten his own meal, he stood with his hands hanging loosely in his pockets and waited for the students to begin arriving. No doubt they'd be as eager to be getting out of here.

One of the first ones to show up? Sterling Archer Calrissian, which probably wouldn't be a good look for the prefect, if she wasn't herding a big group of not only Hufflepuffs but also Ravenclaws and anyone else the group had come across along the way. What? She was more than ready to be out of here and away from the mist slowly creeping its way up the castle. Of course, her usual good humor was making a comeback, as she was leading the group in a chant of "Na, na, na, heeeeyyyy, goodbye!" Did we mention how ready she was to get out of here?

Daisy could hear Archer's little chorus but she didn't particularly feel like joining in as she was much too worried about the series of events. She maintained a brave facade in order to keep her mind clear. Undoubtedly that would be vital when it came to following any instructions. Daisy began to fiddle with her bracelet as she waited for more students to arrive.

Simran had considered herself lucky to have kept her office, and her tea supply. What she did not enjoy, however, was the complete inability to see the grounds from the tower and the fact that she no longer was able to take walks on the grounds. Even the Room of Requirement wasn't quite the repose one would expect, considering that it was nearly always in use now.

So you could say that she was pretty desperate to get out.

Dinner over, she made her way down to the statue, along with a small sprinkling of random students that she'd picked up along the way. Everyone seemed ready to go.

"Headmaster," she said with a nod of greeting, and rubbed the small bag of amethyst and lavender that a friend had enchanted with a Calming Charm for her. She could foresee need for it, especially in new quarters that she was unused to. Conceal, don't feel.

Now, just to wait for the students, and hope that the Mist didn't come any further than it already had.

Being the Ravenclaw Head of House, Kaysha had over the few terms made it her business to check on her Convocation. It was on that particular evening after her own dinner that she found herself in the Common Room. It was for this reason she arrived at the Floor with a group of Claws. Noble would be taking care of his Hufflepuffs. She was yet to forget the time when she showed concern for a few Hufflepuffs had been met with iciness by the other Head. Still, she was keeping am eye on them if she could help it.

"Headmaster,'' Kay said. "Simran.'' Without much more to say, Kaysha turned her attention to observe just how many students had arrived already. Her eyes caught Sterling, whom she stood almost close to, and nodded in gratitude for the Prefect's assistance with the Ravenclaws.

It was really happening wasn't it? They really had to evacuate the school. In his six years at Hogwarts he had never had to evacuate before and they had been through a few crazy things. Which meant that the mist situation was a very very serious matter.

He followed his housemates and Professor Stewart to the third floor having left behind everything he owned expect for Ammonite his purple toad who was perched on top of his head, asleep. . He was NOT leaving his pet behind.

The teenager said nothing, except he did give the adults a nod before he leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. He was so ready to leave this place until the situation was handled with.

Lucas had a lot of mixed feelings about this. Sure, they were going home. They were going OUTSIDE - not in the mist, mind you - after what felt like YEARS of being stuck indoors. He was looking forward to some safety and not this constantly uncomfortable feeling that had permanently settled in the pits of his stomach.

But? But. This only told him one thing: that the issue hadn’t been solved. That they couldn’t solve it and this was the last straw. Did that mean it got worse? Or was Trent slowly going mad as well and he really wanted to go to the beach? Whatever the reason, it just didn’t sound good. Not at all.

Maybe that just made him even more eager to leave. Run away from the situation, that’s what he liked to do.

The notice said to be on the lookout, but Lucas wasn’t doing that. He had bigger things on his mind: like how he was going to explain this to his parents and when they were going to get their things back. And, most importantly, where, where, where was Emma??! The notice said that people will get left behind if they don’t come and he wasn’t going to let her get left behind. He wasn’t. No way.

Reaching the Headmaster and some other people - he still wasn’t really paying attention - he continued looking around for his big sister.

Hanna had almost wept in relief as the news of evacuation came. She'd eaten a small portion of dinner and magically packed her trunk, which sat neatly at the end of her bed ready to be collected. But with her, in her deep robe pocket - that might have been charmed a little, was her cat. She was not leaving her dear Gigi behind.

She'd helped with making sure all of the Ravenclaws, as well as the Hufflepuffs, were with the group. Leave nobody behind. Everyone was to be evacuated, Merlin forbid they forget anyone accidentally.

"I think I've searched all the obvious spots in the common room, and there wasn't anyone else," she said to her Head of House. She honestly could not wait to get home, and had made sure Lena was right by her side at every step. Her mother and father would tear her limbs off if they thought she wasn't taking care of her sister. "Is there anything else that needs doing?" she asked, some measure of calmness in her voice - now that she knew it was coming to an end.

Patrick made sure he was bringing up the rear of his housemates. He had to contain his pure excitement that they were getting out of Hogwarts. So he walked the common room until the last gryffindor and snake left the common room. He made sure to look around for signs of potential mist. He was nervous. This whole thing gave him an off situation.

Although, he supposed he was waiting for a letter saying not to return next term because the mist hadn’t subsided. But wouldn’t the ministry be on something like unknown mist? He walked toward the beginnings of a crowd. He nodded at everyone not extremely sure what he should say because he wanted out of Hogwarts.

She was here, but she wasn't happy. Chloe had been quieter than she had ever been at Hogwarts. She felt defeated and her emotions had finally gotten the best of her. The usually peppy and trying to make sure everyone stay positive girl was frowning and was visibly upset. They were being evacuated and no one had found Tad yet and worse she was worried sick about Fin and he had gotten upset with her.

Where was her brother?

In all her confusing and upset thoughts that was the one person she kept looking for. They were in groups and she hated groups, groups every term meant her and her brother weren't together. She wanted to be near Gunnar and that was why she was hanging back even as she got to the area to evacuate. She wasn't going without Gunnar.

Sebastian stood close to Archer and Daisy, trying his best not to roll his eyes at the former. Her insensitivity astounded him at the moment. But she was his Prefect and he had to listen to her...for now. He understood that everyone was ready to go home to safety, but the song wasn't necessary. Daisy was being her usual sweet self at least.

He leaned against a window sill in the corridor, crossing his arms and looking out onto the grounds at the swirling mist below. Somewhere out there...his best friend was...

He couldn't even think it. He couldn't even think her name. If he did he would burst out crying in front of everyone and a fifteen year old shouldn't do that. Instead he looked back into the corridor at the rest of the students milling about waiting to be evacuated, clinching his jaw to stop the tears threatening to betray him.

Had he not backed off and given her space...maybe she would be standing next to him right now. The guilt almost swallowed him whole. He bit the inside of his cheek and looked up at the ceiling. 'I will not cry in front of my peers,' he thought, as a solitary tear escaped its confinement.

He quickly wiped it away before anyone saw, and stared down at his boots. Where did that happy-go-lucky boy go? Maybe the mist took him too.

Avalon didn't know whether to laugh, scream, or cry as she approached the third-floor corridor, bleary-eyed from the day's lessons. They were actually being evacuated from Hogwarts. And it was because of a mist, for Merlin's sake. She was half terrified and half relieved. For one, this mist was not messing around. It was clearly dangerous. But they were getting out. They would be safe.

The first year made her way over to the group of Ravenclaws, led by Hanna. She nodded in greeting, not sure of how else to say hello. What was she to say? Hey everyone! Isn't this fun? Running away from some horrible mist? It just didn't seem like the right thing to say at the moment, so Avalon kept quiet, poised to follow any more directions. She did not want to miss anything important.

Daisy watched as Sebastian looked out the window. She saw his troubled expression on his face. Daisy knew that Sebastian was deeply upset with what had happened to Kam since they were best friends.

She reached out a hand to him silently telling him that she is there for him.

This was like a little ray of hope, wasn't it? Drewett tried to condition himself into this train of thought, that they would no longer be stuck inside the castle knowing well that the mist was rising. A part of him was genuinely relieved that they could finally leave. He had even packed his things and placed them in a convenient place near his bed. Less hassle for the elves in that case. The only things he did bring with him, however, were his wand and his two-way mirror. He felt that he would need that one in order to communicate with his mum and dad. His Rubik's Cube, however, he had considered bringing but one could only fit so much in their pocket. He had to half-heartedly leave that one behind with the rest of his belongings in his luggage.

Nearing evacuation time, though, Drewett had started feeling a bit more nervous than relieved. Perhaps the concept of leaving was great but, now that he had thought about it, there were risks. What if the mist came for them? What if their evacuation route was sealed? What if? What if? His spiralling thoughts had led to his slight loss of appetite. The Ravenclaw had to force himself to eat at least half of his usual serving. It was yet another uneasy feeling he couldn't shake off.

The first person he recognized was Hanna, and so Drewett made his way towards her. "Hi," he said. He'd be sticking close to her for now, until he was able to find Mark or Xaria or anyone else. He bit his lower lip as he looked around for his siblings, Hudson, Evan, the Stemp House residents, and his friends.

Could they tell he was nervous? Drewett was basically a ball of nervous energy right now.

Anna was only partially happy with what was happening. To be honest, she was more uncomfortable than happy, because Kam hadn't been found, there seemed to be no news of anything related to either her or the Ravenclaw kid and the adults were not giving any information she deemed useful.

The Gryffindor prefect stayed behind with Patrick and waited for all of the Slytherins and Gryffindors to leave the lion's Common Room before she followed the group. She would either verbally coax stragglers or physically push them if necessary, because she wasn't going to have any more of this rubbish situation. Probably a very different approach than her Slytherin friend took. She didn't care, she was going to make sure all of the kids under her responsibility were where they were supposed to be. No one was going to be left behind. No one.

The thought made her feel sick once again, because since Kam and the other kid hadn't been found yet... it meant they were actually being left behind. Anna shook her head and a look of disappointment mixed with disgust took over her features. She had to keep telling herself the adults knew what they were doing. They weren't going to leave two kids behind.

Only they were.

Rylee wasn't sure what to feel anymore. This entire term had been nothing but a whirlwind of emotions and exhaustion. More and more the usual smile that was on her face was no longer there. What was there to smile about when she couldn't go outside at all and lessons had to be held in different rooms and they couldn't even get to the Great Hall for meals? Even the common room was overcrowded and being around people was something she loved.

This was it though. They were being evacuated. Finally the Headmaster and Professors have come to the conclusion that enough was enough and it was time to get out of here. Only it was a bit to late when students were already missing. A younger Ravenclaw boy who she didn't know all that and Kam, who was friends with Cain. Speaking of Cain, where was he? Where was Collin, Casey, Cassie and Isla?! Where was Stefan and his cousin?! She needed to find them all!

With each step the ginger haired lioness took towards the third floor corridor, the more anxious she became. Her head hurt badly and there was a nauseousness threatening to quickly overcome her that she kept trying to force away. Blue-gray eyes swept every which way as she attempted to locate her family and friends. Slung over her shoulder and clutched to her chest was her bag that held all the things she would never ever leave behind. And yes, both Lamb and Cosmos were inside it, little furry heads occasionally peeking out curiously.

Rather than walk over and join the few friends she spotted right away, Rylee choose to remain right where she was near Anna.

Chloe... well, Chloe just didn't seem very Chloe. Hanna wasn't stupid, this year had been very upsetting. And evacuating when they still had classmates left behind was not a good feeling at all. Hanna went over to Chloe and placed a hand gently on her shoulder. "Are you okay?" she asked quietly. Was there anything she could do?

Hanna absolutely had made sure the first years had been taken care of, and hoped they were together in some sort of grouping. She spotted Avalon, and turned to the first year. "It won't be long now and we will all be out. And hopefully you'll be able to send a letter home." No doubt all of their parents were worried sick.

"Hi Drewett," Hanna greeted her fellow fifth year classmate. "Do you know what the difference between alpacas and llamas are?" she asked. She knew, but did he!? Hanna was anxious, sure, but she was full of anticipation on seeing her family. And being high on the anxiety ladder, Hanna could also sense others similarly minded. Drewett, no mistake, was hanging on possibly by a nanometre of a nail. She wanted to tell him it would all be okay - of course she did. But truly? She didn't know if it would be. And sometimes a nervous person didn't need to be given false promises. Sometimes distraction was what helped. And that was what she was trying to do.

"Keep moving, no pushing, we're all going to the same place.."

Vita had been so proud when she'd received her prefect badge, but it weighed on her in ways she couldn't explain. She'd been snappier these last few weeks, less understanding of those breaking curfew or straying too far from the group. The fact that two students still hadn't been found made her stomach turn and she was doing anything she could to ensure none of the slytherins were added to that short, but horrible list of kids being left behind. It was just...this was not something she'd ever have imagined happening at a school. This wasn't how she'd imagined her seventh year would be...

Coming to a stop by Patrick and Anna, the seventh year ran a hand through her hair. "I don't know how I feel about all this," She admitted.

Sebastian was so distracted by his thoughts he hadn't seen Daisy reach out to him until a few seconds longer than he should have. He looked over to her, and with a very small sad smile, reached out and took her hand. It was a big move for him. He hadn't really spoken to anyone and had been keeping to himself since the mist took her. So having Daisy reach out to him...no words...just her hand...meant more to him than she could ever imagine.

"This sucks...so bad, Daisy." He said quietly to the older Puff, tears welling in his eyes. It was all he could muster to say. But he held tight to her hand like it was his life line.

He wasn't really paying attention to what was going on around him. Sebastian knew that everyone was upset about Kam and Tad being taken by the mist, but no one had the friendship that they had. He was a broken boy and he wasn't sure if he would ever be whole again.

For once in his life, Professor Barlow wasn't running late. He didn't fancy being left behind, no sir, and made his way promptly down from the sixth-floor, checking empty classrooms and ushering along any stragglers he came across on the way.

Merlin, was he looking forward to some fresh air.

He clumsily navigated his way through the crowd of gathering students until he reached the Headmaster. He offered Simran a nod before clearing his throat. "The sixth floor is clear, boss. Checked and double checked."

When Sebastian took her hand, Daisy's heart broke for him. She silently listened to him as he expressed his feelings on this ordeal. "I wish there was something I could do. All I can offer you is my support and a hug if you want one but it is your choice," she said softly.

Daisy really wished she could do more and it was frustrating her slightly but she wasn't going to let that show.

Of all the things Holly wanted right now, none of them could be given to her at Hogwarts. She wanted hugs from Cameron. She wanted to sit outside and have a proper date with Avery. She wanted to practice her gymnastics with Alis. The sea in Kilcreggan was calling to her, telling her to come swam deep, fast, hard. The sky and her broom were calling her, telling her to be free of this prison-like-building.

Holly very much, in every sense, wanted to leave the castle.

With their movements having become so limited, there was nothing that they were doing at school that they couldn't do outwith the building - even though, normally, that wasn't the case. Really, she just wanted to know that when she woke up she wouldn't be faced with fog. Even though she was now sleeping in Gryffindor Tower... It was still a thought that plagued her dreams.

Moving through the corridors, she kept an eye out for her best friends - they all needed to leave the tower together... They couldn't be left behind. And as they got closer to their destination, she started to keep an eye out for the Ravenclaw's - Avery especially.

Her heart was hammering in her throat, her mouth was dry and she was pretty sure she felt like her head was swimming... but she could do this. She would do this.

She had to. She definitely wasn't staying here...

Despite his certainty the Heads of Houses, Prefects and other Professors had been head counting the entire way down to the third floor corridor, Malachi tried for his own head count. With how crowded the corridor would eventually get, he knew he'd only be able to track so many but it gave the man some amount of reassurance. Seeing them was a relief.

"Thank you all for being prompt." He'd been half worried there would be some hold up or the other that would drag this evacuation out but it seemed that despite whatever fear and angst the students may have been experiencing, they were still capable of following instructions. Even more, they were just as ready to be gone.

"The plan is very simple and as stated, your things will be along with the elves in a bit. We're be finishing up the term in Hogsmeade. The shopkeeper at the Three Broomsticks has graciously agreed to aid the ministry in making accommodations for us all. It will be......different, but under the circumstances, quite welcomed. Before we go, I need you all on your best behaviour. Let's not have the man regret his decision to help. Classes will continue," They still had exams afterall, "albeit differently than we're accustomed to but they will continue until the school term comes to its end. This is not an invitation to go gallivanting all over the village. You will not disappear to shops without permission. Anyone caught wandering off will be confined to their room. Curfews will be in effect. This isn't an early vacation." Merlin knew they didn't need MORE disappearance scares.

"Now if we're all on the same page," Here, the Headmaster paused to utter the password to the statue. Seconds later, the entrance revealed itself. "Let's get a quick move on, watch your step. Wands lit. Professors will be spread throughout the line. If an issue arises, try to find one. The tunnel has already been checked but let's not waste time all the same."

Malachi stepped into the dark, his wand chasing it away. He expected to be followed.