Harry Potter and the Order Of the Phoenix [125]
“So what do you think?” asked Harry to the group at the table. “Should we call it a night, or what?”
“I think you’re right,” said Hermione, yawning and stretching.
“I would have to concur as well,” said Ron.
“Oh sure, you sound elegant NOW,” said Hermione. “Ron, you really need to take some dancing lessons.” Just as they were laughing over how Ron had tripped and fallen on Hermione during a song, an giant explosion rang out in the hall. Blowing everything into the air.
CHAPTER 22- The Aftermath
Harry instinctively covered his ears from the sound of it; it was incredibly loud, it sounded as though the explosion was coming from right next to him. He looked around him. People, chairs, table, decorations, everything was flying through the air, crashing into walls and the ceiling.
As the sound of the explosion died down, Harry let go of his ears, and looked up, and saw that the explosion had occurred right next to him. Right in the middle of the dance floor, there was a massive abyss. Several students were inside it, groaning. Harry ran over, covering his mouth from the smoke, about to help, when several more, smaller explosions rang out, all over the Great Hall. Harry didn’t have time to look where each of them were exactly coming from, but he heard several coming from the walls, from the ceiling, and more from the floor. Harry collapsed onto the floor from the force of the explosions.
The air was now filled with sounds of screaming and coughing. Harry looked up, but his glasses fell off. Suddenly, he felt the presence of someone before him. Harry looked up slowly, expecting to see Voldemort himself standing right in front of him, ready to recruit him into his army of darkness. But instead, he saw Dumbledore. Even with his glasses off, Harry could tell who it was. There was no twinkle in his eye, however, he had a stern look to him.
He pointed his wand at Harry, and said something. Harry felt renewed strength flow through his body, and his glasses come back onto his face.
“What happened, professor?” asked Harry, getting himself up.
“I don’t know, Harry,” said Dumbledore. He started walking over to the other students, waking them up, just like he did to Harry.
“There’s more over here, Dumbledore!” came a voice from far in a corner. Harry looked over to see who it was, and saw that it was Mr. Malfoy, trying to look as though he had nothing to do with this incident. Harry knew this was all his fault, this was the thing he didn’t want his son to warn Ginny about. Harry clenched his fists, filled with rage. But, he had more pressing matters than revenge: he had to find his friends.
Harry ran back to the table, which was covered in ash and smoke. He looked all over for any sign of Cho, Ron, or Hermione, but couldn’t find anything. He then had an idea to look under the table, and saw each of them under there, huddled together.
“Are you okay!?” yelled Harry, crawling towards them.
“Yeah,” coughed each of them.
“What happened?” asked Ron. He had ash all over his face.
“We don’t know,” said Harry.
“We?” said Hermione. She had black marks all over her face, smearing her makeup everywhere; she looked like a disaster.
“I talked to Dumbledore,” said Harry quickly. “But I know what happened. This is just another one of Voldemort’s plans to get me! We’ve got to get out of this room, and fast, before he gets here!”
He got them all up, and propped Cho on his shoulder, who looked extremely pale, and felt weak. They walked their way passed the bodies on the floor, and the overturned tables, and the food that lay rotten on the floor.
They got to the door, and Harry kicked it open. To his surprise, Draco Malfoy stood before them, with a shocked expression on his face.
“What?” yelled Harry. “Are you amazed that I’m not dead or with Voldemort