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sleepovers, quidditch and page 394
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The Gryffindors were sent to the Great Hall by Dumbledore. They were joined by the other houses 10 minutes later, all looking extremely confused.

''The Hogwarts staff and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle,'' Dumbledore said as Professors McGonagall and Flitwick closed all door to the Great Hall.

''I'm afraid that, for your own safety, you will have to spend the night here. I want the prefects to stand guard over the entrances to the hall and I am leaving the Head Boy and Girl in charge. Any disturbance should be reported to me immediately.'' He added to Percy, who was looking very proud and important, ''send word with one of the ghosts.''

Dumbledore paused, about to leave the hall, and said, ''Oh, yes, you'll be needing these.''

He waved his wand and the long tables were lined up against the walls, in their place was hundreds of purple sleeping bags.

''Sleep well,'' he said, closing the door behind him.

The hall immediately filled with chatter; the Gryffindors telling everyone what had happened.

''Everyone into their sleeping bags!'' shouted Percy. ''Come on now, no more talking! Lights out in 10 minutes!''

The quartet took off towards four sleeping bags in the corner. Once they layed down, Hermione whispered anxiously, ''Do you think Black's still in the castle?''

''Dumbledore obviously thinks he might be,'' said Ron.

''It's very lucky he picked tonight, you know,'' said Hermione, as they propped themselves onto their elbows to talk.

''Why?'' said Y/N.

''It's the one night we weren't in the tower,'' Hermione replied.

"I reckon he's lost track of time, being on the run," said Ron. "Didn't realise it was Halloween. Otherwise he'd have come bursting in here."

"Well, at least we've got a new Halloween story to tell," said Y/N, putting her hands up as if she were reading an imaginary sign. " 'A mass murderer breaks into a school, most likely trying to kill the most famous kid there.' That sounds nice. And we're at a sleepover. It's perfect!"

"Y/N, you're my best friend, you really are- nothing personal, Ron- but sometimes it's better to keep quiet."

---

After a while, the whole hall suddenly became conspiracy theorists- or something. They were all asking the same question;
'How did he get in?'

"Maybe he knows how to apparate," said a Ravenclaw a few feet away. "Just appear out of thin air, you know."

"Disguised himself, probably," said a Hufflepuff fifth-year.

"He could've flown in," suggested Dean Thomas.

"Honestly, am I the only person who's ever bothered to read Hogwarts, A History?" said Hermione crossly.

"Probably," said Ron. "Why?"

"Because the castle's protected by more than walls, you know," said Hermione.

"Yeah," said Y/N. "We've got nightmarish Sesame Street puppets outside."

A few people laughed, while Hermione continued on like nothing was said by Y/N.

"There are all sorts of enchantments on it, to stop people entering by stealth. You can't just apparate in here. And I'd like to see the disguise that could fool those Dementors."

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