Gemma didn't want to let go of her mother when she had hugged her. She was so scared that it would be the last time and she didn't want to go to this room, she wanted to stay with her, but she knew she needed to get Hope to safety and she wasn't old enough to go and fight. Moving to the spare room that they were all headed to Gemma kept hold of Hopes arm as she tried to act braver than she felt.

"Let me know if you see Jackson." She hoped her brother would be there soon so she knew he was okay, but for now she caught sight of someone else she hadn't seen in awhile, "Curtis! Curtis!!!" She moved closer to him and let go of Hope only long enough to give him a hug. "Mum went to fight, she wouldn't come here with me." Tears were coming even though she didn't want them to.

Voices… crying…. It all sounded far away. He didn’t move as arms wrapped around him in a hug. The old him would have fought back immediately but the new him was unconsciously leaning in to it. His expression had still not changed though. It was still blank and as his brown eyes looked vaguely up at Noah. He heard him talking, asking questions but it did not reach him. It was as if his body was in the present but his mind was still locked in the surrounding darkness.

The hand of professor Peralta on his shoulder was felt but he didn’t react to it. He felt Moose being lifted off of his back and when he stood alone the Hufflepuff swayed until another loud explosion caused him to flinch so badly again that his hands went to his ears to protect them from the LOUD NOISES. He still had not uttered a sound….until someone, was it Quinn? mentioned Nem’s name.

His breathing hitched all of the sudden and his hands began to tremble as his gaze looked around frantically for the Slytherin. If they were here …that meant that Rosier was close as well and ... A muttering of sorries came from his mouth as more tears seemed to build up in his eyes before they fell down and glided over his face.

Merlin, she felt like such an idiot. Of all the times to start blubbering...

Ivy just nodded her head at Noah's question, unable to actually form any words without crying even harder. Whether she was actually okay though...she had no idea. Everything... Everything was A Lot. It had been for the whole term, but now it'd been taken up to an eleven.

Because it felt like maybe there was finally a light at the end of the tunnel. They were finally out of that Room. The ones who had disappeared were alive. People were trying to rescue them. They were fighting.

But that was...that was part of the problem too. The Alliance was fighting too. And what if they won? What if this hope that she was clinging to, had been hanging on to by a thread for months...what if it was all for nothing?

Trying to wipe her eyes with the collar of her robes, she was only vaguely aware of everything going on around her. She heard Aboli trying to soothe her and felt her hand on her elbow, but all she could do still was nod again. She wanted to believe everything would be okay. She wanted to believe that was true.

But was it?

Sniffling, hiccuping, wiping at her face with her sleeves now, she moved to the edge of the room, back against a wall, not wanting to be in anyone's way. She just...she needed a moment. Or several.

Kinsay wasn't planning on letting go of Moose's hand, but when Professor Peralta lifted him into the room, she stood no chance. More tears made their way down her cheeks as his hand slipped out of hers. She stayed back in the corridor for a moment or two longer, trying to compose herself without any avail, before then slowly making her way inside.

Without even thinking, she made her way to where Moose and Professor Peralta were, kneeling beside them and again reaching for Moose's hand. It wasn't like she'd be able to help with spells anyway. The only one she was any good at wouldn't do them any good. So, instead, she'd stay here. Next to Moose. She wouldn't let anything happen to her friends ever again. It was a promise.

Giving his hand a gentle squeeze, she whispered, "Moose? Moose, it's Kinsay. Please wake up." Please wake up. Please wake up. Please.

Scampering in from the seventh floor like a rat fleeing a sinking ship (although kind of not since they were going DOWN instead of UP), Atlas tugged Aries along with him and was content to find himself a corner of this spare office to cower in...or maybe a window to peek through and fervent but unsuccessfully try to catch a glimpse of dad out there on the grounds. There were noises...entirely too many noises. People crying. Screaming. Explosions. Incantations. There had been a lot echoed through the corridors and rattling the windows from the seventh floor to here and Atlas, for one, was glad for the short trip.

And then he heard Quinn's voice and something in Atlas sort of snapped. He heard a little about puffapods and fight ... but mostly it was just his Ravenclaw's voice that had him essentially dragging his older brother through the crowd. "QUINN!"

The death grip on Aries' hand released, Atlas was flinging himself at his fellow first year for a hug. Okay, so maybe if he stopped to think about it he would have realized this was exactly what Auntie June had done to Professor Schmoe but people really should just stop expecting 12-year-olds to be completely reasonable. Especially newly 12-year-olds.

Hopefully Quinn was, er, sort of paying attention (or at least had good reflexes) because this Gryffindor was throwing his entire body at the Ravenclaw right now.

Who was shaking her awake? And why? She knew from experience that it wasn't a paramedic. Definitely not. And it wasn't her best friend either, because he knew proper first aid. She opened one unfocusing eye, still mostly out of it. "You can stop shaking me," She groaned. "Gonna mix up my brain like that." She rolled onto her back. "Can I go back to sleep? Or are all of you gonna do the STaY wITh mE AsH dOnT DIe thing..." She hated the stay with me thing. She wanted to sleep, injured or not. But she made an effort to keep both her eyes open, even if they weren't in focus. When you found an injured person awake, you weren't supposed to let them sleep, right? Or something like that. And Ash wasn't planning on dying today. "You know what would be funny? If I was stuck in a mirror for all this time, evading certain death, just to die today. Right here." She laughed, not really mentally aware at all about how creepy that sounded. The joke wasn't funny. But you know what, nothing was funny. So there.

No, Phoebe was right. Morgan knew this before she even said the words. Kale was not okay. He could see that in his face and his vacant eyes and the way he didn’t even seem to recognize him. What had they done to him? He was so relieved that he was alive… and he was, wasn’t he? But seeing him as a shell of a person was downright scary.

He appreciated the comfort of her hand and he gave it a squeeze back as he turned his eyes from the disassociating Kale to look at Phoebe. “But, he’ll be okay, won’t he?” He did look to her to reassure him, but he wasn’t so sure himself.

“Yeah, okay, I can do that. That’s a good idea,” he nodded at her suggestion before kneeling down next to Kale, leaving Phoebe to go tend to Cece, who did not look that great either. He understood the shock and confusion. This all had been a lot and he still wasn’t sure he believed they were really in the clear as far as safety went.

"Kale?" Morgan softened his voice as he took off his robe. "Kale, it's me, Morgan. MF." He draped it around the boy's fetal form, propping it up with a bit of magic as a sort of tented barrier from the lights and sounds of the room. "It's gonna be okay." It had to be. The sight of those he thought were gone forever returned to him the tiniest spark of hope.

There was so much going on, everything that went from zero to sixty in a flash as soon as more students poured in. Some were... not all that there from Curtis' perspective. Not that he was in a perfect condition either. He was lef inside the room once many more students entered in.. then he recognized the familiar voices.

Gemma collided with him. Curtis heard the words but it sounded far away. His godmother was out there to fight. He wondered, would his dad come too? Or.. Papa? He hoped that Papa was safe and not nearby, because he was a target for being muggleborn. But Dad, however, he was skilled in charms and... his godparents were also skilled.

Curtis slowly pat Gemma's back in an effort to comfort. He really wasn't a softie unless it came to family. What could he say? It's okay? No, because things weren't okay, but he couldn't admit that. "...She'll be alright... Mum knows alot and will take care of things." Not only did Curtis say it reassure her, but himself as well. "Is Jackson here yet?" He surveyed the crowd to see if they could be spotted.

Alexandre followed the group heading from the seventh floor corridor to the spare room. The supposed safe room. He wasn't exactly sure how much safer it would be than their common room. Probably because it wasn't in a tower and less susceptible to explosions? He did appreciate that. Alexandre would prefer to avoid explosions if at all possible.

He looked toward Valencia. Not surprised by her answer but still not happy with it. He frowned, and then after a moment he nodded. "Be careful." Please, please, please be careful. "I'm going to stay here. With the younger ones. In case they need to be defended." That's what he was telling himself. That he was still being useful and not just a coward. But Alexandre was not a fighter. He would probably just end up getting himself killed. The biggest factor was that nothing could make him leave his sister right now. She was going to stay safe and sound in this room, and he would do whatever he had to to protect her and the rest of the younger years.

There was already a bit of a crowd in the office. Alexandre made his way in, looking around and trying to process everything. He saw the kids who had disappeared in that potions lesson. Huh. He didn't really know any of them but he was glad they were okay. Or, well, here. And then his eyes landed on Aboli and he quickly made his way over to her. "Aboli!" He wanted to hug her but didn't, because he wasn't sure if she would want that. But he was relieved to see that she was here and she was okay.

Valencia nodded. She understood the expression on Alexandre's face and she understood why he was staying. She nodded once more, hoping to silently convey everything on her mind.

"Watch out for my cousins?" she said before looking over everyone gathered.

She then left without another word.

Oh dear Merlin, these kids. "Mr. Kingsley, you can't." She could see how badly he wanted to fight, and she felt for him, but she would never agree to send a first year out into the middle of a war zone. Miracles happened every day, but the chances of him making it to the greenhouses and back in one piece were next to none. "Who knows how far the fighting has spread onto the grounds, how many neo-alliance members are lining the halls leading outside. It's not safe. While your intentions are noble, I can't help you." She was sorry, truly she was. "I need you here. Put that Ravenclaw brain to use and figure out how to keep your classmates in this room safe. That's how you can help us." And suddenly one of the Flamsteed boys was launching himself towards the little hero boy and Neva was happy to let the Gryffindor be a distraction while she checked on some of the others.

Little James was a good friend and while she held Moose's hand, Neva offered her a reassuring smile. "He'll be okay. He's breathing, he's just had quite a shock. I think it'll be good if you're with him when he wakes. I'm sure he's going to need a friend."

----

Cece turned into Phoebe, hiding her tear stained cheeks from the rest of the room. She supposed tears were good. Tears meant she still had a heart that could feel something underneath all the numb. "L-look at them, Feebs. Those aren't the same kids who disappeared on u-us." Rosier had broken them without a second thought and he deserved to be eaten by a dragon to pay for it. Worse. He deserved worse.

Pulling back a little, the blonde wiped at her face stubbornly. "What do we do? I need to do s-something." She needed a job. She needed to move. She couldn't look at Kale right now and see the emptiness there. Phoebe was smart. Phoebe could give her something to do.

Finneas followed behind the group of Ravenclaws and Gryffindors, hurrying them along and not letting his shield falter for even a second as they made their way down the flight of stairs and towards the safe room. It was only a matter of time before the Neo-Alliance came running through this corridor.

Still recovering from the previous sprint that his body could not manage, Schmoe stepped into the room, only to immediately stop in his tracks.

I-It couldn't be. He blinked in disbelief. Was his mind playing tricks? No, it couldn't be. They were- Mr. Stover, Mr. Yoon, Mr. Trent, Ms. Fox. They were all here. The suddenness with which the revelation struck him, brought the noodley man to tears, ones which had been reserved for the privacy of his own office all year. He couldn't help it. He was just feeling schmoe much.

Heartbreak was a pain worse than crucio. And crucio was REAL bad, people!!! FOR THE RECORD!!! He would know!!!!1!11!!1

He looked from Kale, to Minjae, to Ashley, to Moose, before tightening the grip on his wand. They were going to protect these kids. They didn't do a good job at it before, but by golly, he wasn't going to let anything happen to them ever again!!!

"Errrrr - Students!" Uh, hello, it is Schmoe. The man with 0 authority. And a, uh, rogue tear making its way down his face, but DETAILS SCHMETAILS. "We d-don't have much time. We need p-protective barriers, everyone, whoever can, p-please," it wasn't a demand so much as it was begging, but he was sad too, ok? It has been a YEAR.

AnYwAy. Taking a deep breath (one that hurt his RIBS), he turned, and began getting to work. "Salvio hexia........ Salvio hexia..... Salvio hexia."

As Quinn got his response from the Professor, he could feel his throat starting to tighten. She didn't understand! He had to do something to help! If he didn't do anything now... when would he? When would he be able to stand up for himself? How long would he be weak? "B-but Professor, I—"

But he was interrupted by a familiar voice shouting his name. He turned towards the voice in surprise. "Atla—UFF!" was all he managed to get out before Atlas slammed into him—and he was completely unprepared, meaning that Atlas was taking him on a one-way trip to the ground. He landed on his back, which gave him more of a shock than anything, and after a moment to readjust to floor life he wrapped Atlas in a tight hug. Atlas was honestly one of the only people keeping him grounded this term, and their sparse meetings since his time in The Room™ had definitely worn on him. That combined with his current lack of agency and taking a moment to really let things sink in unleashed the floodgates, and he started sobbing into Atlas's shoulder; softly, at first, but it escalated until he was a whimpering puddle of a boy.

Phoebe didn't really have the right words to tell Cece that she understood and that it was okay to be sad and scared and numb, because they were fifteen and this was a LOT, ok? She didn't know how to say all that, even though she hoped that those things were on her face. She just rubbed shoulders with her friend and gave her quiet comfort. What could they do? What was the THING they could do?

Thankfully, Schmoe happened, and Phoebe grabbed Cece's face and kissed both cheeks. "Here's something for us to do, best friend Cecilia. We're going to make sure this room is totally impenetrable to those jerks who have been hurting us all term. We're going to save the day. Okay?"

If the professors were there, then where was her mum? Why wasn't her mum in the room with them? Were they all coming or just a few. She left the side of Hope and Curtis and headed towards the professors that were there. "I can try to help with the protective spells, but Professor Peralta, Professor Schmoe is my mum coming to help here? Do you know where she is?"


She was getting worried with all the loud sounds coming from outside and she wondered if her dad was out there or who else could be fighting. Turning back to the professors she looked at them with question and also with her wand to help with the protective spells if she was able to.

The relief of being proximally close to his sisters, cousin, and chosen family (Stark kids) in the midst of a wizarding world war was powerful, but not powerful enough to allow Teddy's tender heart even the briefest moment to rest. He had never been so weary, so worn down in his entire life, and the fear of every danger that currently lurked outside this office was suffocating him despite his outward stoic appearance. It felt like they were sitting ducks, waiting for the Neo-Alliance members to find them and decide their lives weren't worth sparing. Helpless. He wanted to be hopeful and optimistic and encourage those around him, but... his well of hope was all but drained.

Schmoe's urgent call to action made him look up, and it was the fear in the professor's voice that made Teddy's legs move without thought. Protect, defend, shield... keep them safe. Keep his friends and family safe, as far as he could control, right? That's what his mum would want him to do, and the hope of seeing her again was a renewed driving force for him - she was bound to be out there somewhere, which was a horrifying thought that instantly triggered the pooling of tears in his eyes, but it also brought upon a distant echo of comfort. There was going to be resolution soon, wasn't there? If they had Genevieve James out there defending them, they'd be okay, right? He'd finally get to see his mother again after all this time?

After giving each of his sisters an encouraging squeeze on the shoulder, Teddy began mirroring Schmoe and casting the charm to offer them additional protection, looking to those nearby with wands to help them get the spell right if they needed it.

Aboli’s words made him pause. He assumed she was going to fight. It made logical sense. Once a student leader, always a student leader. You didn’t need a badge for that honour- Aboli carried it flawlessly with or without it in his mind by her presence. However, hearing her say it made him feel utterly nervous. They had just escaped confinement to battle for their lives.... if she died...? He didn’t want to acknowledge the very likely possibility that either one of them could die. He paused for a moment, letting the chaos happen, before reaching for her hand.

“Im fighting too. I’ll watch your back. You watch mine. I think we have a better chance together than apart,” he smiled, trying to be upbeat in this moment. A few days ago in the room, he would have been bouncing off the walls to fight or the idea of fighting... Now that the fight was in front of him.... he was eerily calm as if he was ready to accept whatever fate that laid before him. “What’s the if we die speech?” He wanted to hear it and then again he didn’t want to hear it. Hearing such a speech meant that death was almost inevitable. “Y’know I love you, right?” If this was the last moment of somewhat quiet admits the panicking and fighting for their lives, then he wanted her to know how he FELT.

When Minjae didn’t push him away, Noah was glad but also a little sad too. He had half expecting a slight shove paired with a chuckle but he received the opposite. His mate leaned in for the hug and that made Noah feel a small twinge of pain in his heart. He found himself subconsciously hugging his mate a little more before stepping back. “You gonna rest here?” he asked, hoping that Minjae would. Whatever his mate went through.... he had no idea what it could have been.... However, all the students who had returned to them seemed lost or were simply unconscious. He bit his lip before glancing at Ivy. He reached over giving the younger girl a gentle squeeze of the arm out of comfort as he looked away to hide the tears forming in his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he got his emotions under control once more before Schmoe bumbled in.

Right. The show must go on.... turning back to Minjae, he nudged his friend. “I’m fighting. I’ll see you on the other side for a butterbeer, right?” he grinned. Next round was on him, yeah?

Fiona needed to defend the school against the Neo-Alliance and she didn't care if this caused friction within her family. She was old enough to make her own decisions. She had made her way into the spare office and was feeling mixed emotions at seeing the students that had vanished now having returned. She was relieved that they were back but seeing them in the state they were in did break her heart.

At the urgent and desperate request of Professor Schmoe, Fiona nodded and began her spellwork. "Fianto Duri! Armanto!" the Snakette cast as she moved her wand in the correct manner with each spell.

Aries wouldn't say he was jealous of Quinn. But he definitely was jealous of Quinn. The moment Atlas let his hand go, Aries felt outraged enough to pull him back but RESISTED and instead stood there .... watching the two hug.

<.<

It was fine. All was fine.

He needed to go hug his girlfriend anyway. And maybe then they could HOLD hands too.

Spotting her right away, he moved toward her with the most gryffindor determination possible - and tapped on her shoulder, and asked in the most polite way possible "Kinsay? Can I please hug you?"

June couldn't explain what she felt the moment she stepped inside and her eyes fell on the kids that she had thought ...... were gone. She knew she felt absolutely emotionally compromised. And if they survived this, she knew she would need YEARS of therapy to get over it all.

Thankfully Schmoe's words brought her back and refrained her from contemplating the trauma they were all sharing now.

However, before retrieving her wand to do the same as Schmoe, she turned to look at Mr. Stover, Mr. Yoon, Mr. Trent, Ms. Fox and couldn't help but say, "it's really good to see you all"

And you thought you were saved.

Barking mad, and wands drawn, a large number of the followers of the Neo-Alliance soon found their way to the spare room. Determined as they were, the shield charm wouldn’t hold long as one after the other shot spells it’s way to take it down.

Laughing maniacally, one of them shouted, “come out, come out, children! Lets play!”

For the record, Whitney wasn't entirely sure about this plan. There had to be another way. Didn't that book about the school she'd only half-read say something about the kids escaping through the Room of Requirement during the Second Wizarding War? Why couldn't they just do that? She didn't say anything about it, though, assuming there was some reason unknown to her, but known to all that had been here their whole education.

She could hear the sounds of battle all the way down to the sixth floor. It was not a sound she enjoyed.

They finally reached the room that was to be their hidey-hole for next however long it would be, but the Ravenclaw didn't let down her shield even after entering. There was just a feeling. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something was telling her not to.

Ah, there it was! The alliance had somehow found them out! Now what?!

Apollo was shaking with anxiousness the whole way to the spare office that Schmoe and Flamsteed led them to. He wished he had someone's hand to hold like the way Aries and Atlas clung together. Like the way the James siblings had each other. Someone. Anyone. If Aria or Narcissa were here, he could have held their hand, but they weren't at hogwarts for another year or so.... if there even was a Hogwarts to go by the time they turned of age. He had Isabella, of course, but she was down in Slytherin and he held onto a faint hope that she would be joining them in this office too.

Only, his eyes searched the room to see if he could spot her familiar dark head of hair and he frowned in concern. There were thankfully all the older gryffindor kids whom he hadn't seen in awhile after they had been locked away in the room and relief swept over him briefly, taking in Morgan and Phoebe and Kinsay and Cecelia and everyone else whom he'd only been seeing in lessons really. Oh and there was Mamie whom he'd met officially at the treehouse. Perhaps they could discuss more about quidditch and why he hadn't been allowed to learn the sport earlier. And Ashley who had disappeared in potions class ... she was OKAY!!!!! His heart leaped and he was going to go chat with her, even though he still hadn't seen where Isabella was located, when he heard the shouting outside the door. Without thinking, he reached to grab the hand of the nearest person and grip his wand in his other hand, even if he doubted it would be much help.

It took a while for the Hufflepuff to realize that when Quinn had mentioned Nem’s name that they weren’t in the room and that Rosier wasn’t here either. He took a calming breath to control his tears from falling because it was embarrassing really before taking a shaky breath as he slowly began to understand what was happening around him.

And it was too much. Spending what felt like an eternity in complete darkness and feeling nothing. No pain, no need for food, nothing. These feelings of fatigue, hunger, pain he was sure that his nose was broken and LOUD sounds with BRIGHT lights made him wish that he was back in the void. And that thought terrified him the most. Because he knew that it was not right.

He heard Aboli and Noah talking near him but he did not register any word they were saying to each other. Instead, he turned to look at Moose still on the floor and he hoped he would be alright. Same for Kale and Ashley as well. Everyone here had to be alright…

With the arrival of Professor Flamsteed and Professor Schmoe a new emotion woke up inside him. And this time it was shame. He had promised to keep a low-profile to the latter. To not seek out situations that would make himself a target and he had broken that promise. Was he mad at him? Disappointed maybe? Minjae lowered his gaze and stared at the floor before snapping his head back up so fast it almost gave him a whiplash .

”No” he said as his gaze went from his Noah and then to Aboli who he now realized had been discussing that they were going to fight. ”NO, You can’t!” Both of them! ”AND DON’T JOKE ABOUT THAT!” he shouted, his voice hoarse and he coughed. He took the ‘other side’ as the afterlife. ”we are safe here—“

Maniacal laughter could be heard from behind him. No one in their right mind would laugh in this situation which meant… His eyes widened in fear as he heard one of the Neo-Alliance followers shouting at them to ‘come out and play’ before the blasts against the shield charm began and for the first time since he had ‘woken up’ Minjae took out his wand with a trembling hand and nearly dropped it.

”A way out? There is one right?!” he asked no one in particular.

Violet had finally arrived in the spare office, late and trailing behind the others because she'd hung behind and tried to go with Professor Recard and Claudine. She was still rankled that the professor had ignored Violet's offer of help--probably Recard considered her "too young," as obviously Claudine did (and that also irritated Violet--she was probably only several months younger than the other girl). But the middle of a battle was no place to start an argument, so Violet had given up and run after the other students, up what seemed to be endless flights of stairs, to the designated place.

Once there, the room was crowded with other students, with more coming by the minute, from all parts of the castle--ugh! Violet hated crowds, she'd been relatively alone for so much of her pre-Hogwarts life that she still had trouble being around a lot of people. Grumbling inwardly, she edged around one of the walls to make room for the others, but there was not much room to move by that point. Looking around, she was surprised and pleased to see the students that had so suddenly "vanished" from class--Ashley, Moose, Minjae, and Kale Trent--alive and well (well, not exactly well, but still in one piece). People were already crowded around them, using various healing techniques. Violet wished she still had some of her strengthening solution, but Professor Williamson had downed the entire vial back in the dungeon room.

Violet turned back to the front of the room as she heard the voice of Professor Schmoe, calling on students to help set up shield charms--what was he saying? "Salvio hexia?" She didn't know that one, was unfamiliar with the wand movements. She tried to watch and listen, hoping to catch on, but on second thought, realized that trying out a new spell in such circumstances wasn't the best idea. If she made a mistake, she might undo what the others had already set up. She had never regretted missing her second year more--she had missed so much! And for what? To meet her Muggle father, who had turned out to be a vast disappointment. And now she was nearly useless.

Suddenly there was the noise of thundering feet outside the office, and shouts--the Neo-Alliance! Of course they were here. Oafish cowards, didn't they have anything better to do in a battle than to attack a bunch of children? But from what Violet had seen of them during the year, that was the kind of cowardly behavior that you might expect--they put on a good show, but she'd never seen them actually dare very much for their cause.

And now they were here! Would the shield charms hold up? Violet hoped they would, but seeing how few people in the office were setting them up and imagining how many attackers were outside the door, Violet rather doubted it. She could do a pretty good "Protego," but that was probably small potatoes against this crowd. Well, she might not be able to defend herself against a whole group of adult wizards, but if they came at her and there was no way out, she would do her best to inflict some damage on some of them. And she was still pretty effective with that fire charm...

Somehow, Claudine winded up bringing up the rear while she, Recard and the other Slytherins trekked it to the Spare Room to meet up with the others. It was quite a relief to make it to the latter safely and she took a moment to savour that relief by hanging out by a patch of the wall near the door but in the room. Her back and head braced the wall, and her eyes were closed. She was tired of all the anxiety that had welled up in her head.

She tried to focus on some of the voices in the room in an attempt to ignore the said anxiety. There was Schmoe asking them to help with protective charms. Right. That was something she could help wit-

Holy…

Claudine scrambled away from the door, putting some distance between her and it. Her wand was drawn and pointing towards it, her heart thumping in her chest.Her eyes darted to the professors because she was awaiting their instructions. The girl didn’t want to do her own thing only to end up screwing it all up. Too many lives were at stake here.