94 Diagon Alley

The milky white figures of the ghosts in the school flashed. Whether it is dead or living, every pair of eyes is fixed on Professor McGonagall. She is standing on the high podium in front of the auditorium, speaking to everyone. Behind her are the remaining teachers, including the silver-maned horseman Firenze. And members of the Order of the Phoenix who rose up to fight.

"...the evacuation was supervised by Mr. Filch and Mrs. Pomfrey. The prefect, upon hearing my order, organizes the students of your house and is responsible for sending them to the evacuation in an orderly manner Place."

Many students looked stunned. However, as Harry moved against the wall, looking for Ron and Hermione at the Gryffindor table, Ernie McMillan stood up from the Hufflepuff table and shouted, "If we want to stay and participate What about fighting?"

His words won some applause.

“If you are old enough, you can stay.” Professor McGonagall said.

"Where's our stuff?" a girl at the Ravenclaw table asked loudly, "Our trunk, and the owl?"

"It's too late to pack up," Professor McGonagall said. "The most important thing is to get you out of here safely."

"Where's Professor Snape?" shouted a girl at the Slytherin table.

"In a colloquial phrase, he ran away," Professor McGonagall said, and cheers erupted from the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw tables.

Harry walked down the Gryffindor table, still looking for Ron and Hermione. As he moved, many people turned their faces in his direction, and there was a murmur behind him.

"We have put up a defense around the castle," said Professor McGonagall, "but it cannot be held for long unless we continue to strengthen this defense. Therefore, I ask that you must quickly and calmly Move, listen to the prefect—"

Suddenly, another voice resounded through the auditorium, drowning out her words. The voice was high-pitched, cold, and clear, and it was unclear where it came from, but it seemed to come from the wall itself. It sounded like the basilisk it had commanded, as if it had slept there for centuries.

"I know you are preparing for resistance."

Screams were heard among the students, some huddled together, looking around in horror for the source of the sound.

"Your efforts are in vain. You are not my opponent. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want wizards to bleed."

There was silence in the auditorium, the silence pressed against the eardrums, the silence was so great that it seemed that the auditorium could not contain it.

"Hand over Harry Potter," said Voldemort's voice, "none of you will be hurt. Hand over Harry Potter and I'll keep the school safe. Porter hand it over, and you'll be rewarded."

"I'll wait until midnight."

The silence swallowed them all again. Everyone turned their heads, every eye seemed to find Harry, and a thousand eyes stared at him so hard that he couldn't move. Then a figure stood up at the Slytherin table, whom Harry recognized as Pansy Parkinson, and she screamed with her trembling arms raised: "He's there! Potter's there! Catch him! !"

Before Harry could speak, the students had already taken action. The Gryffindor student in front of him stood up, not facing Harry but Slytherin. Then the Hufflepuff students rose to their feet, and the Ravenclaw students did the same at about the same time. They all turned their backs to Harry, and they all faced Pansy. A few Slytherin students also hesitated, and although they did not stand up to defend Harry, they stayed away from Pansy and seemed ready to stay and fight. Harry had mixed feelings, both in awe and in awe. He saw the wand being drawn in all directions, from under the cloak, from the inside of the sleeve.

"Thank you, Miss Parkinson," Professor McGonagall said clearly and simply. "You and Mr. Filch leave the auditorium first. The rest of your house may follow."

Harry heard the clatter of the benches, and most of the Slytherins on the other side of the hall left.

"Ravenclaw, keep up!" exclaimed Professor McGonagall.

The four tables were gradually empty. There were a few people around the Slytherin table, and Harry was not surprised to find Malfoy there; some of the older classmates sat still as Ravenclaw filed out; Hufflepuff stayed behind more; half of Gryffindor's classmates were in their seats. Professor McGonagall had to get off the podium and forcibly drive out the underage students.

"Absolutely not, Creevey, go! And you, Perks!"

Harry hurried to the Weasleys sitting at the Gryffindor table.

"Where are Ron and Hermione?"

"You haven't found—?" Mr. Weasley asked worriedly.

He did not finish his words, for Kingsley had already walked to the podium to address those who remained.

"It's only half an hour to midnight and we need to act fast! Hogwarts teachers and members of the Order of the Phoenix have come up with a battle plan. Cedric will assist Flitwick, Sprouse Professor T and McGonagall, respectively, lead the battle party to the three tallest towers - Ravenclaw Tower, Astronomy Tower and Gryffindor Tower - where the view is good and the location is convenient for magic. Mad-Eye will be there The castle gate, the attack is the best barrier to keep the Death Eaters from breaking into the castle. Remus," he pointed to Lupin, "Arthur," he pointed to Mr. Weasley at the Gryffindor table , "and I lead the team into the playground. We need someone to organize and guard the entrances to the school-"

"Sounds like our job." Fred exclaimed, pointing to himself and George, and Gwen hurried to stand with them and take a stand. Kingsley nodded in agreement.

"Okay, the leader of the team comes up, let's divide the team!"

"Put on those vests." Mad-Eye pointed to the hill-like bat skin on the ground and said to all the wizards who were to stay, "It doesn't matter how useful it is, it's better than nothing. Be strong on the battlefield."

"Hey!" Fred and George were not convinced, "Weasley's merchandise is the best."

"Students wear first." Mad-Eye ignored them and continued to command.

"I'll check with you, Professor." Neville asked incredulously, following behind the fast-paced Professor McGonagall, "Do you really allow us to do this?"

"That's right, Longbottom."

"Blow up the bridge? Bang?"

"Boom! Bang!" Professor McGonagall said in a somewhat shocking voice.

"Too exciting, but how are we going to fry it?"

"Why don't you talk to Mr. Finnigan? I remember he has a lot of research on explosions." Professor McGonagall said without looking back.

"I can blow it up." Seamus came out from behind, very excited.

"Good, let's go."

"Okay—Shizhu is dispatched!" Professor McGonagall shouted.

It was too late, the statues and armors all over the corridor jumped off the brackets, Harry heard the rumbling sound of the upstairs and downstairs, and knew that they were all over the castle mates took the same action.

"Hogwarts is under threat!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed, "Build defenses, defend us, and do your duty for the school!"

A swarm of moving statues swarmed past Harry, some smaller, some larger than life, and some animals. Those clanging armors wielded swords and chained wolves.

"I've always wanted to use this spell." Professor McGonagall whispered to the stunned Mrs. Weasley. The serious dean showed a rare girlish look - like opening a long-awaited Christmas present.

"Everyone, we need a strong shield for Hogwarts." Mad-Eye put his wand to his throat, his voice echoing in the empty playground and in front of the castle .

"Superior armor and body protection. It's impregnable. Destroys the enemy."

Professors and members of the Order of the Phoenix raised their wands high to the sky, and powerful spells formed a giant, silvery shield on the magic school.

"Potter," said Professor McGonagall, hurried toward him, "are you not looking for something?"

"What? Oh," said Harry, "Oh, yes!"

He almost forgot the Horcrux, almost forgot that the purpose of the battle was so that he could find the Horcrux. The bizarre disappearance of Ron and Hermione had temporarily driven all other thoughts out of his mind.

"Then go, Potter, go!"

"OK-OK-"

He ran out of the auditorium and felt many eyes following him behind him. The foyer is still crowded with evacuated students. Harry was carried up the marble staircase by them, and at the top he immediately ran down an empty corridor. Panic and nervousness clouded his mind. He tried to calm down and concentrate on how to find the Horcrux, but his mind buzzed wildly and aimlessly like a wasp in a glass cover. Without the help of Ron and Hermione, he couldn't seem to make up his mind. He slowed his pace, stopped in the middle of the empty aisle, sat on the pedestal left by a statue after it had left, and pulled out a Marauder's Map from the leather pocket around his neck. He couldn't find Ron and Hermione's names on the map, but they were probably hidden in the dense dots that led to the Room of Requirement. He put the map away, covered his face with both hands, closed his eyes, and tried to concentrate...

Voldemort thought I was going to Ravenclaw Tower.

Yes,