A thousand bats flew and circled around the walls and ceiling, causing the dle fmes ihe pumpkins to flicker.

  To make toffee apples, you i a stito an apple, then dip it into a pot of toffee syrup, sometimes coating it with nuts. This was the food that had piqued Eda's curiosity, reminding her of oriental died hawthorn sticks.

  Golden trays also held pumpkin pies and roasted pumpkin seeds, while the drink options included chilled pumpkin juid hot apple cider.

  At the teacher's table, the professors were also enjoying the feast. Dumbledore was happily chatting with Professonagall. It was shaping up to be a perfect Halloween ba, at least until Filch showed up.

  The school caretaker, Filch, burst into the Great Hall with a look of sheer terror on his face. Eda was sipping on hot apple cider, a popur fruit wine she found quite delightful.

  Filch, panting heavily, made his way to Dumbledore and said, "There's a student lying in the underground ... he's been attacked!"

  After speaking, Filch bent over, hands on his knees, clearly exhausted from running all the way from the underground to the Great Hall.

  With his words, the previously noisy hall fell silent. Some students wondered if this was a Halloween prank, but it wasn't April Fools' Day, and Filch wouldn't joke about something like this. The brief silence was quickly followed by terrified screams and a chaotic uproar, the noise seeming capable of shaking the ented ceiling of the Great Hall.

  The professors at the staff table stood up, trying to calm the anxious students, but the panic didn't subside.

  Professor Dumbledore shouted, "Silehe headmaster's interventiht a temporary calm, though fear and unease tio spread among the students.

  "All students return to your on rooms uhe guidance of your prefects. Upper-year students, make sure to look after the younger ones," Dumbledore announced.

  Charlie Weasley stood up, raising his wand, which emitted a bright light. He shouted, "Everyone, follow me! Stay together and look after your neighbors. First-years, don't be scared, stick close to me!"

  Charlie methodically ahe Gryffindor students, ensuring they left in an orderly fashion. Sixth- ah-year students positiohemselves around the youudents, providing prote.

  Students from other houses also began to leave the Great Hall uhe guidance of their prefects, returning to their respective on rooms.

  Several teachers, following Dumbledore's instrus, apahe student groups to ehey safely reached their dormitories.

  As the students gradually exited the Great Hall, Dumbledore, along with the remaining professors, followed Filch to the se of the i.

  Dumbledore did not bme Filch for his earlier reckless behavior, even though it had caused panic among the students. He followed Filch, realizing that a student being attacked was an ihat hadn't occurred at Hogwarts for many years.

  The eyes hidden behind the half-mooacles were filled with anger. Dumbledore was very angry, but he couldn't afford to show it. He o remain rational at all times because he was the headmaster of Hogwarts. He was Dumbledore.

  Filch led the professors to the se of the i, which was in an abandoned underground . It was Mrs. Norris who had initially discovered the student. When Filch arrived, he saw the student lying on the ground, his mi bnk, and he rushed to the Great Hall to report the situation.

  The group arrived at the underground , which hadn't been used in a long time and was located in a secluded area. Normally, very few people passed by here, especially on a day like today.

  The attacked student y on the cold floor of the empty . With a wave of Dumbledore's hand, the torches in the ignited, illuminating the room that had been shrouded in darkness.

  The boy lying on the floor ale, his eyes closed, but there were no visible injuries. Professor Sprout, the head of Hufflepuff House, immediately reized the student as one of her own.

  She rushed to his side, gently calling, "Daniel, Daniel..."

  The student on the ground did not respond to her call, but Dumbledore, who was cheg oudent, reassured her, "Pomona, he's fine. He's just unscious."

  After speaking, Dumbledore took out his wand and cast a spell on Daniel. Uhe effect of the spell, the student named Daniel slowly regained sciousness.

  When he woke up, Daniel's face was filled with fear and unease. He broke free from Professor Sprout, crawling backward on his hands a, as if terrified of being hurt agaireated all the way to the er of the room, curled up, hugging his knees.

  "Daniel, Daniel Bell, it's me..." Professor Sprout forted her frighteudent.

  Seeing Dumbledore and Sprout, Daniel Bell calmed down slightly, but tears started to flow. In front of the teachers, he cried like a child.

  At Dumbledore's gesture, Sepped forward and handed a potion to Professor Sprout. She quickly administered it to Daniel, and after drinking the potion, his dition improved.

  "Thank you, Severus," Sprout said gratefully.

  Snape waved off her thanks and stepped back to joiher professors.

  "Child, tell me, how did you end up here?" Dumbledore crouched down to maintain eye tact with Daniel and asked gently.

  "I don't know... I don't remember..." Daniel's eyes were filled with fear as he tried to recall how he ended up in the . The more he tried, the more terrified he became.

  " you tell me what you did today?" Dumbledore tinued, his haly rubbing Daniel's back to soothe him.

  "I don't remember... I don't remember anything..." Daniel responded, his voice being more panicked. He had no recolle of his activities that day.

  Daniel's memory was clearly promised, and tinuing to question him wouldn't yield as. Dumbledore waved his hand in front of Daniel, causing him to slump into Professor Sprout's arms.

  Dumbledore exged gnces with Magall and Snape before asking Sprout, "Pomona, he's from your house. Has he exhibited any strange behavior retly?"

  Sprout frowhinking carefully. "No, Daniel is usually a quiet child who doesn't seek attention. Nothing unusual tely. I'll ask some of his closer friends in the on room ter."

  "Pomona, you and Poppy should take Dao the hospital wing. He needs rest and treatment now," Dumbledore instructed. He g the gathered professors and tinued, "Everyone, please return and calm the students."

  Professor Sprout and Madam Pomfrey left first, carrying the sleeping Daniel Bell. The other professors began to leave as well.

  Snape lingered, exging a look with Dumbledore before heading not to the Slytherin on room, but towards Be Foley's office.

  Professonagall remained. "Albus, that child..."

  "His physical injuries aren't severe. I believe the greater damage is psychological aal. The most evident issue is his memory," Dumbledore answered, while iing the .

  "This is a serious attack. If Filch hadn't found him by ce, who knows how long Daniel would have in in this cold underground !" Magall excimed angrily.

  Professonagall remembered Daniel Bell well. He wasn't remarkable, but he never caused any trouble. Daniel was one of the most ordinary students at Hogwarts.

  "Yes, that's likely why the attacker chose this pce. It's secluded and not easily discovered. The ter he was found, the less likely the attacker would be caught," Dumbledore said, finishing his examination of the and leading the way out.

  "Do you think this was done by one of the professors, or did someone from outside the school get in?" Magall asked, following Dumbledore. She didn't suspect the students, believing they wouldn't and couldn't it su act.

  "It's unclear for now. I have my suspis, but nothing firmed," Dumbledore replied, his eyes gleaming with wisdom. "Minerva, what do you think?"

  "All the teachers were at the ba, and si was Halloween, everyone arrived early. I lean towards someone 'invading' Hogwarts..."

  "Minerva, remember, the attack might have happened long before the ba," Dumbledore said. "I know you don't want to believe a fellow professor could be responsible."

  "If it truly was..." Magall trailed off, not wanting to think it was someohin the school. "Albus, if it was, I will personally see to it that they are caught!"

  "I don't want it to be true either," Dumbledore said. "Now, Minerva, you should return to Gryffindor. I've heard that Gryffindor has three very unruly first-year students tely."

  The three students in Dumbledore's words naturally refer to the trio of dedug points headed by Eda and supplemented by Fred and Gee. Professonagall is helpless with these three students, and loves and hates them at the same time.

  "I hope the three of them behave themselves today and stop causing more trouble." Professonagall said helplessly.

  ______

  Joireon to support and read many chapters ahead of SH!