Chapter 23 - Avada Kedavra

                                        

                                              
Avada Kedavra
                              
The sun was setting, but there was still light enough to see. However, still nothing appeared. Hagrid was bewildered and flung his arm up again. He checked the time and tried for a third time to flag down the magical bus. Some of the other students were trying as well. Harry, however, was preparing himself for the worst. Something was out there, he thought.
                              
Harry pulled out his wand and threw a glance at Ron and Hermione, who pulled out their wands, too. Harry looked apprehensively at the woods outside of the gates, and felt something was in there. Other students were starting to moan and panic. They did not want to stay in Romania any longer. 
                              
That however, was the least of Harry's worries, because he figured that the Knight Bus's lack of appearance was no accident. It seemed his intuition was proved correct when a loud crack appeared in front of the group, but it was no Death Eater. It was Dumbledore. 
                              
He did not say hello, but immediately said, in a slightly worried voice, "Please return to the building."
                              
The students, though initially surprised by Dumbledore's sudden appearance, hurried into the dragon control center without protest. Everyone was now strangely quiet, as they finally realized what was happening. Harry hesitantly backed toward the building, staring into the nearby woods. He was sure that there was something out there, but Dumbledore was here. If the Death Eaters were afraid of their own master, they certainly would not stand up to Dumbledore. Harry then looked at Dumbledore's ancient face, and knew it was safe to go into the building. He turned and went inside, followed by Ron and Hermione.
                              
When they all were safely in the building, Dumbledore turned and gave one last look to the woods before following them in. However, as soon as the door closed, pandemonium broke out. The panic had struck fear into the hearts of all the students.
                              
"Are they out there!?!"
                              
"Is You-Know-Who coming to get us!?!"
                              
"Are we going to stay here!?!"
                              
"Are the dragons attacking!?!" 
                              
"ENOUGH!!!" 
                              
The chaos was subdued immediately. It was not Dumbledore who silenced them, but Hagrid, who was just as worried as the rest of the class. He glanced nervously at the door and then walked over to Dumbledore, who whispered something to him.
                              
"Everyone, please stay calm," Dumbledore said, grimly. "The Knight Bus has had an accident, but I assure you, you are all safe." 
                              
Dumbledore's announcement did curb some of their fears, but many still had many questions hovering through their heads. Charlie and Master Romurck walked over to Dumbledore and quietly asked a few questions, but Dumbledore shook his head.
                              
"We are going to take a Portkey back," Dumbledore announced, pulling out his wand and pointing it at a table that was against the wall. The students who were close to it backed away.
                              
"Portus," he said softly and the table glowed and returned to its original color. 
                              
"Everyone touch the table and do not let go until you are back at Hogwarts. Does everybody understand?" he said confidently, without any anxiety in his voice.
                              
When nobody raised an objection, he motioned to the table. They pulled it out from the wall and everyone including Hagrid stood around it. Dumbledore made sure they were ready and then he sent them back to Hogwarts. 
                              
Harry felt the familiar jerk around his naval and they sped miles in seconds. It was the longest time he had taken a Portkey, as minutes passed. He felt nauseous. He managed to look up at the rest of the class, who were not faring much better. Finally, his feet hit the soft, damp ground in front of the dark gates of Hogwarts and the Portkey spilt half the class to the ground.