For the Professors of Hogwarts, this Halloween was unlike previous years.
Because after the feast, they were all summoned by Headmaster Dumbledore to the staff room.
Even Sybill Trelawney, the Divination Class Professor who preferred to stay in her office and rarely interacted with other colleagues, had come.
However, it was somewhat strange that Lockhart, who loved to join in the fun and show off, was not here.
Professor McGonagall approached Dumbledore in confusion, "Albus, is there something important to announce?"
"Hmm—it's quite important."
Dumbledore seemed to be waiting for something, "In fact, an exercise is about to begin, its name should be—Anti-Terrorism and Riot Control?"
Professor McGonagall: (—_—)
It seemed he was indeed getting old, forgetting the name of an exercise he himself arranged.
However, this exercise must be related to the monster attacks that had been happening recently.
Besides the Weasley from Gryffindor, students from the other three houses had also fainted from fright.
But since no one was actually harmed, although the young Wizards were somewhat anxious, it hadn't reached the point of being terrified.
No wonder she had repeatedly asked to search the Castle, but Dumbledore had always stopped her.
Alright, alright! He was indeed hiding things from me again!
"Did you invite members of the Order of the Phoenix, or Aurors from the Ministry of Magic to participate?"
Dumbledore's gaze flickered, and his hand kept stroking his beard, "Neither."
"Ah?"
Professor McGonagall looked back at the Professors; Pomona, Filius, and Severus were all there.
Could it be... Professor McGonagall, having thought of a possibility, lowered her voice, "You wouldn't have let Grindelwald attack the students, would you?"
Although he was indeed professionally suited, the problem was he was too professional; she was already starting to worry about the safety of the young Wizards.
"Cough! Of course not!"
Dumbledore's expression was a bit strange, "I believe that only young Wizards understand young Wizards best, so the overall commander of this exercise is Karl, and the reason I haven't told you about this is that he strongly insisted on it."
Professor McGonagall: (,one)
"What did you say?"
Dumbledore avoided Professor McGonagall's gaze, "Karl is not only the overall commander but also the big villain of this exercise. Although I tried my best to dissuade him, he wouldn't listen, so this is how it is."
This is all the Kitten's fault; please don't blame me, a poor old man over a hundred years old.
Professor McGonagall sighed speechlessly, then was surprised to find that her heart was completely calm.
It seems that the more things one experiences, the more one's psychological resilience improves.
Oh, is that all? I thought he had torn down Hogwarts Castle.
"Minerva? Are you alright?"
Meeting Dumbledore's concerned gaze, Professor McGonagall calmly nodded, "I'm fine."
Dumbledore: (⊙_⊙)
That's not right, is it? Are you this calm now? You're not angry at all!
"Albus, the content of this exercise... well, what kind of trouble is Karl planning to cause?"
"It's said to be a night parade of a hundred ghosts—"
Before Dumbledore finished speaking, a high-pitched scream came from a distant place.
Then, screams rose and fell, continuously, like a tide surrounding the staff room from all directions of the Castle.
Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore exchanged glances, understanding that the Kitten had begun.
In the Hufflepuff common room, the young Badgers held another feast, fully demonstrating the geographical advantage of being close to the kitchen.
Judy, Cedric, Hannah, and others gathered together, playing the Wizard card game Karl had taught them.
"That's strange, where did Karl go again?"
"Who knows? He's been secretive lately, maybe he's just avoiding me."
Judy snorted unhappily. She had already received the manuscript, what was that boy still afraid of?
Just as everyone was speculating, a sudden commotion interrupted their discussion.
"Oh my goodness! Friar, what's wrong with you?"
All the young Badgers looked in shock at The Fat Friar, the ghost who appeared in the middle of the common room; he looked terrible.
His originally pearly-white translucent figure was now stained dark red with blood, and his usually kind and gentle face bore an expression of pain and despair.
"Children! Quick—run!"
After struggling to say these words, The Fat Friar fell down, sinking into the ground and disappearing.
"What happened?"
Just as the young Badgers were bewildered and uneasy, the lights in the common room suddenly dimmed.
"Ah!"
Accompanied by a few shrill screams, several young Badgers who had already returned to their dormitories ran out in terror.
And behind them was a group of terrifying, grinning ghost shadows.
Crying ghosts with disheveled hair, holding sharp daggers dripping with blood.
Headless ghost knights, with black blood still continuously gushing from their severed necks.
Ghosts with tattered masks, revealing terrifying fangs from their torn mouths.
And also—
"Ah!" × N
There was no need to look closely anymore; the young ones, screaming heartbreakingly, scrambled and knelt as they ran out of the common room.
The only ones who could remain calm were the students who had previously stood their ground against the Acromantula.
However, two years had passed, and now only the students who were fifth-years then and are seventh-years now remained. Due to their small numbers, they simply couldn't calm down their terrified and numerous younger schoolmates.
"Sonorous!"
Judy pulled out her wand and pointed it at her throat, then gave orders to the young Wizards.
"Everyone calm down! Upperclassmen maintain order! Let the lower-grade students go first! Seventh-years, follow me and block these ghosts!"
Soon, a group of graduating students gathered around her, wands in hand, confronting the ghosts.
Although they didn't know if spells could deal with ghosts, wands were their only weapons.
Young Badgers:.
Why aren't they moving?
Ghosts:.
Why aren't they attacking?
"Oh no! Outside—there are many ghosts in the corridor outside too!"
Just then, Gabriel Truman brought bad news.
Judy couldn't help but frown, "Are there more outside or here?"
"The common room!"
"Then the sixth-years lead, the fifth-years bring up the rear, the third and fourth-years protect the first and second-years, and charge straight through in one go! When the feast ended, I saw the Professors all went to the staff room!"
"Understood!"
Gabriel immediately followed Judy's command and led the young Badgers rushing towards the corridor.
At this time, the same scene was also happening in the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor common rooms.
Terrified young Eagles and young Lions, chased by horrifying ghosts, screamed hysterically as they fled in panic.
The entire Hogwarts Castle became noisy, and the atmosphere perfectly matched the theme of Halloween.
And at the entrance of the Slytherin common room, Karl revealed a malicious, grinning sneer.
Noble pure-blood young Wizards! Your nightmare has arrived!
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