He finished his dinner with several gobletfuls of water to quench his thirst from all the travelling he had done earlier.

Smiling apologetically to Sarah and Katia, he said, "I am very sorry, ladies, but I really must go to the Headmaster's office now to make arrangements about my status next term." He went to his feet and picked up his duffel bag. "I also have a lot of explaining to do about my unexpected arrival, so I better get a move on. Have a good evening."

He gave a small bow to each girl and walked out of the Great Hall, heading for the Headmaster's office.

Once the delightful Luis had left, there was no need for Sarah to hang about with Katia.

"Right, well I am off to study. I dare say you still have a busy evening of .... whatever it is you get up to ahead of you." She quickly exited the Great Hall and headed for the Ravenclaw Common Room where she expected to find her housemates busily engaged in study for their next round of exams.

Katia flounced off to the Slytherin common room. Still, she thought, mark one up for her. Luis was a Slytherin, too.

***********

With an enthusiastic Nimue preparing to depart with an even more enthusiastic Mahou for Gryffindor Tower, the Headmaster was aware that he had unfinished business in the Great Hall.

Luis Verga, the boy who had not returned to his Fourth Year and whom had turned up now without announcement. Thinking of Luis also reminded him of the matter of Andy Warden, whose own sudden disappearance had been resolved to some degree by the discovery of the pendant.

However, there were so many questions there about the nature of the link between Asriel and Andy. Asriel had claimed Andy was not real; Andy believed he was real.

Dumbledore was determined however that Andy Warden, a gentle and good boy that he had known for three years, would remain free and not be pounced upon by the WiBs from the Ministry.

He turned to the Amberstones, "If you will excuse me, there is a young man currently wandering the Halls in urgent need of speaking with me.

I may be a while but I believe Professor McGonagall is still in the Great Hall and can finalise any arrangements while you are here. Mahou may remain over night as we discussed and you collect her tomorrow afternoon, if that is convenient."

Paula and Weatherlite nodded, smiling. Mahou, however, looked downtrodden.. she didn't want to leave. But, she would be back come September, so that cheered her a little.

*********

Thus, having left the Amberstones the Headmaster went looking for Luis Verga. He had apparently elected to leave the Great Hall which indicated to the Headmaster that he was no doubt engaged upon a fruitless search for the Tower in which the Headmaster had his private office and quarters.

It had been noted that the magical architecture of Hogwarts did cause things to move about a little, but nothing was more perplexing that the whereabouts of that tower except of course where the staff slept.

Luis, of course, had some notion of where the Headmaster's office might be but would not have been aware that in recent years he had taken to concealing its direct entrance or rather 'moving' it. It saved the bother of inquisitive students seeking illegal access. Other Professors had requested a similar charm to be placed upon their offices but had to be content with their personal quarters remaining thus concealed as had been traditional at the school.

Locating Luis was not difficult and the Headmaster bade Luis follow him to his 'outer office' which did have a fixed location but nothing in it of particular interest.

Having sat behind the desk and indicated to Luis that he might take a seat across from him, the Headmaster looked at him with a level gaze.

Few students ever saw Dumbledore's power, his persona as the kindly, slightly daft Headmaster tended to lull their perceptions and appear quite at odds with his reputation. Still there were always those with keener sight. Thus, without ceremony Dumbledore went to the heart of the matter.

"Now, Mr. Verga it seems there is a problem you need to discuss..."

The look on Dumbledore's face told Luis that the older man knew something more important than just returning after three years of absence was up with Luis.

The Headmaster always knew when something was wrong.

Luis nodded, allowing his face to show the weariness that he really felt. "Thank you, Headmaster," he replied, taking a seat, "Yes, there is a problem."

***********

With the Headmaster left, Nimue said goodbye to the Amberstones and promised she would bring Mahou back down to see them before they departed for the evening.

Mahou nodded and followed Nimue, listening to her, hanging on her every word so she wouldn't forget.

She thus led Mahou back through the Great Hall, into the entranceway and up the seven flights of stairs to the portrait, which concealed the entrance to Gryffindor Common Room pointing out a few things along the way. The portrait of the Fat Lady duly challenged them and Nimue said <classified> and the portrait obligingly swung open.

"Each of the Common Rooms are password protected to ensure that only students of that House have access." she explained, "It's changed regularly for security reasons but there is usually quite a lot of students coming and going so if you forget someone is sure to let you in."

Waving to a few of the other students who were studying individually and in little groups throughout the well-lit comfortable Common Room, some at tables and others curled up in the comfy over-stuffed chairs. "It's a very busy time for us with exam week. Usually there is quite a lot of work that is done outside the classroom - homework if you will and so we are kept pretty busy in term time."

She pointed out the large shield on the wall, which bore the crest of the House. "That's the House Crest - the Lion was the symbol chosen by Godfric Gryffindor for the House and our colours are red and gold which also indicate the solar and martial nature of this House. We each wear a small House crest on our robes to distinguish our Houses."

She pointed to the one on her own school robe. It was obvious that Nimue was very proud of being a Gryffindor.

"Shall we go up and see the Girl's Dorm now?"

Once inside the Common Room, Mahou turned to Nim....

"This be very nice," she said, her thick Irish accent echoing in her ears. On her back was a pack, and out of her pack leapt a small rust-coloured furball. "Blackfoot!" she cried, giggling. Picking up the small bundle, Mahou revealed it to be a small red fox.

"Nimue," Mahou said, "this be Blackfoot, me pet tha' I was allowed ta bring ta Hogwarts." She held up the little thing and it barked once.

"D'ye think we could sneak inta th' forest?" Mahou whispered to Nimue, leaning in. "I really wanna talk ta th' spirits.. really badly." She smiled.

"Hello Blackfoot, very pleased to meet you." Nimue gave a little laugh at Mahou's suggestion, "You don't mean now do you? Despite what Professor Dumbledore said there are some of us that are quite comfortable slipping into the Forest but it can also be a pretty dangerous place.

Twice now this year, it has provided refuge for Dark Wizards and although it is filled with many spirits that are benign and friendly there are also those with dark hearts."

She smiled, "However, we could get up early in the morning and go out to it if you want. I often do. Before you have the 'Grand Tour' after breakfast while the rest of us sweat through Potions exam!

At least I have my Alchemy examination out of the way now so I should have some free time after lunch. We can even watch them practice Quidditch in the afternoon if you like."

She looked up the room towards the doors behind which were spiral stairs- "that one leads to the Boy's Dorm and the other to the Girl's Dorms. Come on. Let's go up - maybe some of the other girls are up there and you can meet them!"

*********

Branwen had wandered out to the Forbidden Forest, still feeling a little miserable at the loss of her pretty trinket and more miserable that Randal hadn't bothered to find her to cheer her up. Besides, she had Ravens to see and questions to ask.

Her time proved usefully spent, discovering a great deal had been going on in her absence and she made a mental note to pay more attention to the important things...her birds.

Before she realised it, she had missed dinner and ambled back to the Castle rather hungry and hoping she could find an amenable House Elf...but then they were all quite keen on her since she had been given Arcadia's potion, they loved a child that could eat...

***********

In the Three Broomsticks time marched on. Food was consumed and more wine was opened. By the time the desserts were on the table, Anders was more drunk than he'd ever been in his life and was giggling insanely at every little thing Marcus said.

"D'you think we should be goin' back up to the *hic* school when we've eaten this?" He giggled again and ate a mouthful of the extraordinarily rich chocolate mousse that he'd picked for his dessert. "Chocolate," he said, in awed reverence. "Food of the gods and somewhat drunken wizards."

Marcus wasn't actually sure if he was more drunk than he'd ever been in his life but he was quite drunk.

"I quite agree. This has to be the best chocolate mouse I've ever had." then he dissolved in giggles himself at the idea of mice in general. Luckily the subject of bunnies didn't come up again or more chocolate may have ended up on the table than in their stomachs.

"Anders, you know we can't fly back to the school, be good if we could then we could just go zoom - back to our rooms. No, we have to walk and get sober. Maybe swim the lake that would do it! Mustn't be seen or heard - we must approach with stealth and vigilance like, like.. "

He just couldn't think of anything at the moment that was stealthy. Certainly he and Anders were not likely to be!

"Like something that's stigilant and vealthy..." agreed Anders, then went quiet, trying to figure out what he'd said wrong.

He shook his head, polished off his last drink and picked up the broomstick, holding it aloft. "Lay on, MacDuff," he declared, grandly, then paused. "Is he half-Russian half-Scottish, d'you think? Leon MacDuff?"

He began to giggle again.

"Let's get back...I have papers to mark and more 'zams to prepare, an' I guess I should try to get a li'l sleep in...an'...an'..."

He belched quietly, and began to giggle again. "Oh dear," he said, softly. "I do believe m'drunk."

"McDuff!" said Marcus, "That reminds me for a joke but the punch line alludes me so I wont...even begin."

He seemed slightly more sober than Anders. Seemed being the operative word. Marcus began looking around where they'd been sitting, "Oh no, someone must have taken my broomstick. What dastardly knave would remove the stick of a gentle knight..."

Very slowly and very carefully, Anders waggled his finger in front of Marcus. "Y'flew y'rself," he said, slowly, his words punctuated by the odd hiccup. "Bird. Wings. Foosh!"

He flapped his arms.

"Oh yeah." said Marcus rather sheepishly when reminded of his mode of transport.

"L's'go."

The two men finally manage to extract themselves from the warmth of the Three Broomsticks and began walking back in the direction that Anders loudly and extremely vociferously announced that Hogwarts was.

Only it wasn't.

Marcus was not certain, his sense of direction was totally askew.

However, after some time walking by which time they *should* have been nearing the gates, they were by a lake (that area of the country dotted with lakes) but no gates and no castle except at some distance a genuine ruin. And in their condition..

"It's..gone..Hogwarts..where is it - should be there..." Marcus waved at lake. Eaten maybe squid do'ya think. Wizards..taken spells.."

Somehow it made sense to him.

Anders nodded solemnly, awe-struck by the sheer magnitude of the heinous crime they were witness to.

"Hogwarts," he said, soberly. "Foosh. Gone. Ping! All gone." He shook his head sadly. "RIP."

There was a long pause during which the young Professor's face screwed up with the sheer effort of thought. Finally, one eye cracked open and he spoke. And it was profound. Oh, yes. When you're THAT drunk, 'burble' is profound.

"D'you think...an' this is jus' a guess, isn't it...we might've gon' th' wrong *hic* way?"

After his own few seconds of being struck by the fiendishness of the plot that had snatched Hogwarts and its hundreds of students from the face of the planet while they were in the pub, Marcus allowed

Anders words to sink in.

"Wrong way?" he gazed around the topography of the hills and tried - tired very hard to look as though he knew what he was doing, he said. "Yeah, I emmm think we umm *hic* have."

They had a long walk ahead of them.

Some while later, the fresh air had rendered the drunken Anders almost paralytic. He was slouching along, the grin on his face almost splitting his face in two. He had lead a rousing sing-song, which only he had participated in as he'd been singing in Welsh. Marcus had conducted, though.

Now he was through to the near-sobriety stage of drunkenness when everything seemed to be totally intense.

"I r'lly love Nimue," he said, softly. "When I thought Da...when I thought that man'd killed her an' there was nothin' I c'd do 'bout it...I thought...boom! M'life was over with hers...the trees helped, though. Thank you, trees..." He dipped a low bow to an innocent bystanding ash.

"Love her. Lots 'n' lots," he finished, lamely. "Will be good t'her, Marcus, y'know that, right? But still dunno what to do with m'life...I know Dumbleumbleumbedore won't want me t'teach 'nymore..." His expression became one of infinite sadness. "Gonna miss Hogwarts. Like Hogwarts. S'my home now..."

He went introvert and silent as the huge castle finally loomed on the edge of his vision. He looked up at it. "Home."

After the joyful walk home, with Marcus in charge of the imaginary band to Anders' strong Welsh voice, Anders' remarks cut through Marcus bringing him semi-back to the here and now.

He was deeply fond of the other young man. They hadn't been friends while they were at school and yet they were now. He would hate to lose that connection even if long-term they'd remain close.

Marcus gazed up at the school.

"It makes me feel that way as well. Jus' lookin' a' it 'mebering all those years..." he shook his head slightly trying to clear it. "Glad wasn't spirited away 'gain."

The question of Anders' leaving and the loss he felt was something though that Marcus had no solution for - he wished he had but he hadn't.

"I know you love 'er 'y'll be good for 'er and she you as well. Perfect t'gether. To' obvious ya know for people not see. Sure that Dumblbbbledore" he was having a very hard time with the Headmasters' name "would have yo' stay if he coul' but he can't."

That seemed to make sense, still presented no solution. "Ho' we gonna get back in withou' ya kno' makin' a fus'"

"Through th' kitchen," asserted Anders, confidently. "Noone there this time o' day but th' House Elves, an' they don' care."

So saying, he marched boldly around the castle, tripping over several blades of grass on the way. They reached the huge door that served as the entrance to the kitchens, and Anders raised his hand to knock politely.

Almost before he'd completed the action, the door opened, and a long, quivering nose poked out.

"Masters must use front entrance," said the House Elf firmly.

"We jus' wanna..." began Anders, putting his foot in the door.

"FRONT Entrance, Master," repeated the Elf, slamming the door shut with an astonishing display of strength, leaving Anders hopping about on one foot, uttering most un-Anders like expletives that turned the air around him an interesting shade of blue.

He turned to Marcus.

"Any ideas?"

"Ideas?" Marcus shook his head which wasn't a wise thing to do as it make him slightly giddy, "Not able to transform or could fly in and then 'et you in a side door."

He tried to think of alternatives, "Wha' 'bout the Owlery Tower or shall we jus' be bold an' go thru front entrance? Couldn't be that man' 'bout now."

The cool of the night and the long walk was starting to sober him up though more than anything he wanted to find his bed and sleep for hours.

"is tha' or bike shed or we cou' ask Hagrid to put us up." He didn't relish the thought of encountering Professor McGonagall or worse in their current condition and Hagrid, bless him, would not turn them away.

Anders nodded firmly. "Front door," he said. "We got nothin' to hide, have we? We jus' been out enjoyin' ourselves."

Without waiting for a response, the young DADA Professor marched boldly up to the main entrance of the castle and pushed open the door, which was still unlocked at this time of night.

"Piece o' cake," he beamed back at his friend before sliding ungracefully down the door to end up sitting on the floor looking decidedly unwell. "Think...I might've y'know. Too much. To drink..."

Marcus beamed - that was right. After all they weren't schoolboys anymore sneaking back into the Hogwarts after a covert trip to Hogsmeade! They were staff coming back into the school after an evening off campus for a meal and rather a lot to drink.

After Anders had slumped to the floor, Marcus extended a hand to help him up and the dizziness that came over him suggested he was also in a somewhat precarious state.

"Da' think 'nders? I thought I'd might 'ave hours ago. Come on. I'll 'elp you to your rooms and then you ca' help me to mine."

This appeared to make some sense to the befuddled mind of Marcus Falconer.

There was no hope of Anders helping Marcus do anything. The young man was virtually comatose by the time Marcus had returned him to the small suite of rooms that the Professor had called 'home' for the past few months. He collapsed gratefully onto the bed, snoring softly, a faint smile of drunken contentment on his face.

He would sleep well that night, that was for sure. Let tomorrow bring what it may. He would deal with it then.

After depositing Anders back in his rooms, Marcus very slowly made his way to his own, happy that students and teachers alike must by now in their Common Rooms and own rooms! He too headed straight for bed and a peaceful night's sleep.