He had seen mass chaos once before in Hogwarts halls. Very close to where the current chaos was taking place, actually. Except that there had been more students, and one very nasty man. Now, here, there were only (thankfully) a handful of students and, less thankfully, three hairy, ugly beasts.

Or there had been. What they came upon, was not what he had been expecting. Truth, it could have been worse. It could have been a carnage of students, rather than acromantulas, but the sight of it was still unnerving. Or perhaps the knowledge of it.

The knowledge that students, children, were capable of such destruction. It was driven home, like a burning blade, right through him by the sight, and sounds, of the remaining acromantula.

He wasn't sure where his anger lay. With the spiders that had obviously provoked and scared the students to this point. Or with the students.

Sabel had slowed to a walk, quickly taking in the situation. It looked like everyone was alive and well, if not a bit battered. Everyone, that was, if one didn't count the acromantulas. Fuller-Thompson looked like he was. There was no doubt that Sophie would as well. What, in Merlin's tangled beard, had started all of this?

Seriously, it looked like CoMC meets DADA and Charms in one big, hairy apocalypse. Like a lesson gone terribly wrong.

Moving past Valke, Sabel shifted his wand to his other hand and withdrew his second. Without hesitation, he sent a combined severing charm straight at the flaming, flailing, half-joined, last-living (if you could call it that) acromantula. In his mind, it would be peace of mercy, as much as it would be protecting the student it was chasing after.

Only once the searing slice of the spells departing his wand had stopped echoing in his ears, did he hear it. The sound that drew dread through each and every joint.

His eyes caught on Javy's arrival, before slipping reluctantly turning towards the entrance of the school. Distance was calculated quickly, as were the bodies that were around him, and those that were coming towards them.

Sweet Circe.

"Brown, Hyland, Valke." Stay close. Get close. Get ready. All were implied as he covered the short distance to the other Professor, both wands in hand.

The gravity of the situation kept his voice low and mildly confidential as he stopped beside Professor Thompson. There wasn't really time for a debate or a discussion, but they did need a plan. "Great hall? We can close it off. Defend it."

Not here. Not where there were stairs and rafters and dead things. "We should...be able to make it." Even as he said it, he stepped forward. Some instinct, some habits were hard to kill.

Ilia felt pincers in her robes, scraping her leg as the spider exploded before her, coating her in the vile stench that was Acromantula chunks. She hissed a little with the pain but barely registered it, though she felt a warm wetness upon the pain.....she was also bleeding.

Which spell even did the job? She was hurling destruction at any spider in her line of sight, she wanted them all gone and dead. Something she had never felt before was coursing through her and she had no control over it....nor did she want to.

Did Mr. dummy on fire (Felixir)seriously just tell them to stop because they were going to kill the spiders? Did he seriously miss the fact, that it was her intention!? "That is the point Sherlock! Or have you not noticed that the gigantic eight legged vile murderers are trying to kill us!?" Yes, Ilia was fuming. These disgusting hulking squishy evil 'things' were trying to eat her best friends and this boy was concerned for them!? Were they okay!? She could have hurled more venomous words at the boy, but there were other pressing matters at hand......like a spider..........or way too many of them. "I don't think any of us are about to feel okay." She hissed as she heard the hoard coming. Thankfully, Professor Thompson had shown up for whatever reason.

Ilia took hold of Henric's right arm and tucked in closer to the professor as she was told. Her spare hand held her wand at the ready, as she was tempted to blast the remaining spider to guts as well. As fate would have it, Professor Dakest dispatched the vile creature first. She watched him as he moved past her, joining their other professor. She muttered a quick healing spell at her leg so that it wouldn't slow her down and took a fighting stance. Should be able to make it?....no they had to and she knew it.

Running down to the entrance hall close behind Dakest with her wand at the ready, she slowed to a walk when he did and took his side instead of trailing behind him now, eager to survey the area. Dead acromantulas and -- more dead acromantulas, thanks to Dakest's finishing one off, and that seemed to be the last of them. No one seemed to be dying and everyone had all their limbs, Adi wasn't wrapped up anymore, and everything seemed to be under control.

...Until it wasn't.

The color drained from her face as a silence fell over everyone present, the room's occupants experiencing simultaneous dread at the noise in the distance growing steadily louder and closer. There were... more. Many more, by the sound of it, and Sophie's heart rate quickened, her gaze quickly shooting from one person to the next - from Dakest to Yoongi to Javy to Ilia to Tobes, where her alert expression lingered on the Hufflepuff who seemed paralyzed with fear and appeared... defenseless. Because creatures, right? They were dealing with creatures. Creatures that wanted to harm them, and Tobes never thought anything ever wanted to harm anyone - and he especially didn't like spiders, but he also would've never even hurt a fly. This was... not a good place for him. No. But there was no time for him to run, they needed him here - they needed the numbers. They needed people to defend and protect.

Her voice thick with emotion, she ordered back at her best friend, "Tobes, your wand, get out your wand! Protect the younger students. Defend them. They need you. Shields. Defensive spells. Teamwork. We're right here with you." She was trying to get his brain working, even though it was taking great effort to stay calm as the clicking of pincers grew louder and louder.

At Dakest speaking her name, her attention snapped back up to him, and she nodded solemnly in understanding. Yes, she was ready, prepared to fight on the front line beside the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and gripped her wand tighter, back to running through defensive spells in her head-- and suddenly she was relaying Dakest's advice to the group at large, "Use fire against them, it works best against acromantulas. Incendio." Even the youngest in the group had to take potions, so they undoubtedly already knew the spell. Everyone could contribute.

The seventeen-year old swallowed down any ounce of terror that was rising in her throat and forced herself to stand a little taller. This was her school - her home - and she was going to protect it at any cost.

Time to make her Gryffindor parents proud.

O__O

How rude? HOW RUDE? "I JUST SAID WHAT COULD BE THE TRUTH!'' Adi yelled at the spider. It probably wasn't the wisest thing to do because he would just irritate it more buuuuut the spells from the others managed to blast it away. He quickly raised his wand to cast a Shield Charm to protect himself from the rubble raining down on him though he was slightly late so some actually caught him in the upper body area. Serves ya right, Spider! How dare THEY come attack Hogwarts?
.....................

Adi turned to Tobias upon hearing his suggestion. There was no disbelief in the sixth year's eyes or anything of the sort. Just plain... understanding. Toby was such a gentle soul. The arachnids were thirsty for their blood but here was a dude who wanted to reason with them. "I don't think that would work. They're too much wrapped up on attacking us.''

Wha-! Uh oh! Adi heard THAT sound. "We had better get out of here.'' He seized Tobias, who looked so sick by now, to pull him away from the Entrance Hall. "Ilia, Henric... come on.'' He was very uneasy. If they didn't get help soon... Oh! Thank the Hippogriffs! Professor Thompson! AND Professor Dakest! The Hufflepuff, still holding Toby's arm, led him over to Sophie. She would be able to make him feel better, yeah? "Take care of him, Sophie.'' Poor Toby.

Hey, Adi was right. Sophie was on the job! He smiled slightly as he went to stand with Ilia and Henric. "Guys, you okay? You heard that sound just now, right?" He looked nervously towards the great doors of the Entrance. They had to be prepared.

Urgh. His left arm hurts like h-...he shouldn't swear but he really wanted to. Gritting his teeth, he took another step towards the group but stopped when the same young spider came and grabbed him again, flailing him around as if he was toss salad."AAARGHH! GET OFF!!" He heard a loud explosion and the next thing he knew, he was flying off and dropped on the floor like a sack of potatoes again. Fortunately, he was quick to shield his arm from further damage.

------------

Finally! His spell managed to hit the young giant critter and watched as it crashed onto the floor. Thank merlin! He had no idea why they considered giant spiders as misunderstood creatures...no seriously why? Nope...those things knew what they were doing and had no regards of feelings whatsoever.Wait...maybe he was contradicting himself...he ate meat too...why were they any different to humans? Urgh... No! They were horrible! They took away Princess! Why would he sympathise with those creatures?!

He looked around for the others and was shocked to find llia's leg had a bloody gash on it. Something in him growled,he never felt like it before. He rose onto his feet and limped towards her. A sound was heard in the distance and it was coming closer and closer to them. SERIOUSLY?! There were more of them! The professors had finally arrived and they were told to stick behind them. As much as he loved to get rid of the young spider, he did what he was told.Henric nodded to Adi,"Yeah I'm fine..." Hiding his injury from them. He should put a cast on his left arm soon...really...it looked like it starting to swell. Henric turned to llia when he felt her hand closed around his right arm, pulling him closer,"How is your leg,llia? "his voice etched with worry, trying not to look like he was in pain as well. "Professors, what are we going to do? They're coming!" His voice trembled. They really need to get out of here...could they really stand a chance against those creatures?

Although the Professor’s words were comforting, that he did good by running for his help but Yoongi was still having his doubts. He hoped that he wouldn’t enter a scene of dead students lying everywhere. That would have mean it was his fault. No…he could not think like that, not now. Yoongi ran behind Professor Dakest after getting him as reinforcement. That sounded a lot better than “the help”…


His side was killing him, he was sweating both from fear and the exercise of running up and down the stairs and he had trouble breathing. He wasn’t an athletic person just slim build. As they arrived at the Great Hall, Yoongi gasped for air and held his side while leaning against the wall, too busy with himself at the moment until he looked past the Professor and what he saw was chaos.

The Great Hall was in ruins but he did not care about that. He looked at the students battling down the small staircase and he was relieved that no one had died…yet. And that more people had hit the scene to help out. He heard Adi yelling something about truths to a spider. Which struck him as odd… but the fact he could hear the Prefect’s voice made him laugh silently. The last time he saw him he was struck by a spider, its pincers clawing at him. But he was fine, injured perhaps, but fine.

And there was Professor Thompson and Yoongi became even more happy. A creature professor and a defence professor were two he had hoped for and he hoped someone was getting the headmistress. They had a chance , he knew it!

Hearing Professor Dakest say his name, Yoongi knew immediately what he meant before he ran the short distance with him to Thompson. Wand at the ready, the Gryffindor listened in on what the two were talking about. So, going to the Great Hall it was? He liked the idea of defending themselves over attacking the spiders. Yoongi looked around as Sophie was suddenly yelling at one of the Hufflepuff students. Toby was his name right? To use defensive spells.

As he heard the sudden downpour outside , thinking that it was raining, he was glad to be inside of the castle because it would have been difficult to even see in the rain. But he soon realised that what he thought was rain was actually pincers snapping together and his face drained with the last bit of color it had.

“Professors?” he said, his voice was a high pitched but he was standing his ground. Fear in his eyes yet determination in his stance of battle. “I don’t think that’s rain outside…” he looked at the still closed door of the entrance hall. “We should barricade it first before going to the Great Hall?” he asked uncertainly. He had no idea what he was supposed to be doing.

Toby ALMOST went all wibbly when the girl (Ilia) went ahead and all but shouted at him. Not because it hurt his feelings or anything but because apparently killing the spiders was the point. And Adi didn't see the point of talking to the giant, man-eating, vicious spiders, so... so now what?

...

He barely noticed as Adi grabbed his arm and tugged him away, but he DID notice the arrival of four more people. Javy (Toby felt relief surge through him), Dakest (more relief, but that quickly turned to horror when the man sent the severing spell at that one spider), a Gryffindor boy (Yoongi) he knew only by sight, and Sophie.

There wasn't a whole lot Toby could do without talking over someone else. He automatically drew a little closer to Javy, quickly surveying the damage in the Hall again (and immediately wishing he hadn't), while the others talked and the clicking sound filled his ears and and the seconds ticked down to their arrival.

Wait, what? Toby blinked and looked at Soph. What was she... his wand? He stared vacantly at her until she said it: Protect. Younger students. Defend. She was right... Toby didn't want to hurt anything, but there were a lot of kids in this school... a lot of YOUNG kids, and there was no doubt about it, these acromantula were attacking - there wasn't really time to get conflicted over anything when there was protecting to be done, so Toby nodded at Sophie, and finally drew his wand. "Okay... right, yeah. Okay." He took a small step away from Javy again so that he wouldn't end up getting under his feet.

Defensive spells, he could do that. Non-deadly ones. There were plenty of spells in Toby's arsenal that could be used for subduing or containing, so that later they might talk to the creatures. Charms and other spells could be used creatively, too. Soph was saying something about fire, but... no. Fire was one of Toby's specialties - he'd managed to set things on fire without even using a wand in the past - but he had no intentions of casting to hurt or kill. No intentions. Of course, when it came to protecting, it was usually a matter of react first, be consumed by guilt later. He already felt bad about the textbook.

Then he heard what Dakest said - or rather, he heard the Gryffindor boy repeat it. The Great Hall? Toby wasn't sure how he felt about getting cornered in there. "How do we protect people from in there?" the boy blurted out. Because yeah... if they left here that just opened up the Entrance Hall as a sort of spider expressway, didn't it? Toby didn't mind staying right here while the others moved to the safer Great Hall. It wasn't like he'd get hurt; look at him, not a scratch on the kid. He wanted to PROTECT, he could do it.

And not kill or maim. Just B.T. Dubs.

Anyway, NO TIME. Because of the IMPENDING HOARD. Like Henric had said, they were coming, practically here by the sound of it. But Toby was ready. To go where he needed to go and to do what needed to be done.

He had finally let go of Chris and let him run at his own pace out of the dungeons and was out of breath by the time he reached the entrance hall. Spiders...spiders in the dungeon. He was shaking by the time he got to the hall and ready to drop but he had to find a professor or so...NONONONONONONO! MORE SPIDERS! BIGGER SPIDERS! His eyes were wide with fear now as he saw them plainly in the lighted entrance hall, his wand still out as he hadn't put it away. He would never admit it but now he wanted mum and dad! His eyes were huge and staring at what was happening in the entrance hall. Was no where safe here? They were coming in from outside now! They had reinforcements and they were down in the dungeons too. Someone else was down there, had they escaped? Someone had sent a spell though he hadn't seen them he'd certainly heard them!

"Merlin" he squeaked as he backed against the wall watching.

Toby's question was a good one. HOW were we going to protect people from in there? It felt like cornering the spiders but also ourselves. He looked around him and saw a little kid (Torie) standing against the wall in fear. Yoongi waved his arm at the kid, gesturing for him to stand with them. They couldn't protect the younger ones if they weren't close by you know.

He looked around in all corners of the hall he had his vision on. He was scared. Actually, he was nearly wetting his pants as he thought of what would happen...and what would surely happen, if the spiders outside barged in. "Professors?" he said, voice still unnatural highpitched. "what if the spiders aren't here to attack us?" His cheeks flushed a bit as he did not look at any of them but his voice sounded less scared for some reason. I-i mean, what if they are just defending themselves...just-just like we are doing now?" there had to be some kind of reason why they were here!

Anyways, they needed to decide what to do..now.

Chris was being half dragged by Torie into the Entrance Hall. He couldn't get his head around what was going on but he did know a big spider when he saw it and he squeaked. "Torie...I'm scared," he said trying to stay as close to him as he could." He saw the older kid waving them over and he grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the group.

"There's spiders in the dungeon!!! There was someone...." Oh no did she make it out? He felt his lower lip start to tremble a bit. He wasn't going to cry...Not know at least. He had no idea what he needed to do but did realize they were probably going to get eaten. He squirmed his way to try and get in the middle of the group in case something did happen that way he'd hopefully be better protected and pulled Torie with him by his hand.

Seemingly pouring in from all directions, the acromantulas began filling the space and swiping at anyone they could get near enough to. Some caught on fire from a stray spell and some blasted back.

The youngest lay on the ground still, forgotten in the fray. One of its long spider legs reached out for the whole roast turkey and pulled it close. At least it had its turkey during these tough times.

"ATTACK! GET THEM! GET THEM ALL!" thundered one of the new arrivals.

He didn't frighten easily but this was beyond frightening! First they'd been chased from the dungeons and a voice used a spell down there and he'd never seen whoever had cast it reappear and now acromantula's were flooding the entrance hall. He saw the older student wave him to come and stood there still frightened thinking, move closer to the spiders??? "Me too" he whispered back to Chris. Okay that was an admission, yes he was scared! He took a deep breath and moved with Chris as he pulled him to the group. "Yes....a voice called out down there and we ran...but they...I think they're still down there!" he managed to add to Chris's words.

His eyes went to the spiders as one of the new arrivals yelled to get them all. OH MERLIN! He held his wand out his eyes wide as he stared at them. No turning his back, he knew that much! He kept his eyes towards them, watching wide-eyed as they poured in. Okay that was it, if they got out of there he was going to beg mum to teach him how to kill spiders AND how to do a shield charm...

As calm as Javier, the Creatures Professor appeared to be, there were many calculations going on through his head at the situation. Mess from all the dead Acromantulas. Students still in danger despite them managing to handle the situation prior to his arrival. More were coming. Now where to go, was the real question.

Hm? Even more students.. and.. more Acromantulas. Goodness, they were coming everywhere! Bless some of his students for showing sympathy for magical creatures, but these were the ones that did not find the feeling mutual. "Well Mr. Hyland, it looks like they've changed into offensive mode." That was it though, they were into the castle. They had been building up in numbers. Well, two group can play that game. He then motioned to the youngest students that had just arrived. "Over here. Now let's stick together everyone, we'll cover all directions while heading towards the Great Hall." That was the closest area from where they were, and there's no telling how much more were outside compared to indoors.

"Incendio, Stupefy, Rictusempra, use what you've all learned if you're attacking. Hogwarts is at stake!" Along with their lives, but he didn't need to point that obvious bit out. His students had brains, after all. There were other students, but right now they were going to have to survive the next hour if they had any chance on getting to rescuing them. Javier then made eye contact with Sabel again. He knew what they needed to do.

Sabel's mouth twisted a little bit at some of the chatter behind him. Why the great hall? Why not the great hall? Why not talk to the spiders? Probably because they were currently yelling the most heart-stopping battle cry, as lacking in creativity as it was, he had ever heard. And what were they going to do?

That was answered simply enough.

He let Javy do the majority of the talking, meeting the man's gaze for a split second before he was moving. "Seventh years, look to the young students. Keep each other safe." He hadn't missed the first years that had joined them, or their panicked news about the dungeons. "Once in the hall, focus on creating a bottleneck at the doors!"

They...knew what that was, right? One could only hope. There was little time for explanations.

Taking another step forward, Sabel began moving both his wands in a series of fast patterns that could have looked like a dance, had not the lethal light continually burst from the ends of them. Stunning spells. Fire spells. Severing spells. Paralyzing spells. A shield here and there. Whatever came first to the forefront of his mind was shot off, in quick succession, at those spiders that dared to come near enough to the student group, or cast a dangerous web their way.

His concern no longer lay in the humanity of it. There was no such thing. The spiders had forfeited their lives the moment they had announced their intentions. The more sensitive students could cry later. They would be alive to cry later. To curse at those that killed the spiders later. To hate, if they really felt inclined. But that was all that mattered. That they were alive. They would be alive.

On that thought, his barrage of spells halted long enough for a silvery light to burst forth and into the mob of acromantulas. The patronus solidified, slipping across the floor. It scampered this way and that, weaving through hairy pillars of legs before coming to a dead halt before the spider cradling the turkey. For a moment it stared, back hunched and ears flat. And then, like a startled cat, it puffed up like a silver cotton ball, all four legs hopping an inch off the floor with a spat-like noise. Then, the patronus was using all non-existent friction on the floor to try and scamper away towards the stairs.

Adi was trying to bring Tobes over to her, but Tobes was gravitating toward Javy, and frankly, Sophie couldn't blame him. She was sticking by Dakest's side as it was, and when the two professors joined together to quickly make a plan, Sophie nodded her sympathy and approval for Tobes getting his wand out, but then she couldn't contain herself - without even giving it thought, she engulfed her best friend in a bear hug, lasting only a few moments before she pulled back, kissed his cheek, and murmured, "I've got your back." The sentiment was as comforting to her as she was hoping it would be to him - they had each other in this. They didn't have to fight alone. They were gonna do this together.

Not a moment later, though, they were being attacked from all sides, and the Ravenclaw dropped any prior sentimental emotions and replaced them with pure anger and determination to defend as she shot off on spell after another at the acromantulas coming too close in quick succession, her wand moving rhythmically and fluidly, much like a music conductor's baton waving. "IMPEDIMENTA! Stupefy! STUPEFY! BOMBARDA! Immobulus! INCENDIO!" Her wand shifted and pointed downward at the floor underneath a group of approaching acromantulas as she cast "Glacius!" in an attempt to slow them down further and buy the humans additional time to attack. She didn't have time to hurry over and protect anyone in particular - she just tried to gradually navigate toward the Great Hall and fire spells at one acromantula who got too close to them after another.

Showing no mercy and rejecting any ounce of fear that threatened to compromise her focus.

Adi squinted at Henric. His own head still throbbed a bit where he had hit it when he had been dropped. What he didn't realise was the small trickle of blood that was mixed with his perspiration on his forehead. Some of the rubble from earlier had cut the side of his forehead. But Henric... he could be injured and not be saying anything. "I'll take your word for it.''

HOLY HIPPOGRIFFS!

TORIE! What was he doing here? Adi's protective instinct shot up just as ANOTHER younger student joined them. Merlin! They sure knew the right time when to make an entrance. But no time do anything else for MORE arachnids were arriving Thompson was right. They just needed to protect the younger ones.

Sophie was already casting spells and was Dakest. Adi wasted no more time. "INCENDIO! INCENDIO! ARANIA EXUMAI! ARANIA EXUMAI!'' The latter spell was his favourite and were cast as he tried to push Torie and the Ravenclaw (Chris) towards the Great Hall, ahead of him.

''INCENDIO!'' No mercy for the evil creatures!

When Toby saw those two first years run into the Entrance Hall, he felt his head spin. First years. Eleven year olds. Twelve, at the most. Little kids. And they'd come out of nowhere. And THAT was why Toby DIDN'T think they should move from here. Supposing MORE first years showed up, ones that didn't know any spells that could fight these things off? How would they be able to reach them and shield them if the group was at the Great Hall with a bunch of big giant spiders blocking them off?

"But what if-" Toby began, about to voice this concern, but then he was cut off by the hug from Soph, followed by the orders from Javy and Dakest. Automatically, his arms went around his best friend and he hugged her tight. Toby nodded when she kissed his cheek and spoke, and managed to whissper back, "Okay. Love you," before she let go again.

And then they were here. Spiders. Acromantulas, pouring into the Entrance Hall, like the stuff out of nightmares. In fact, Toby was pretty sure he'd HAD a nightmare about this before. Which was, y'know, brilliant.

To the Great Hall, then. No arguments about it. No time. Not even time to ask what the heck a bottleneck was supposed to be. Dakest had told the seventh years to protect the younger kids, those first years, but Toby didn't even need to process the order because he was already moving instinctively towards Torie and his friend (Chris). Hardly thinking about it, even as they all moved, Toby put himself between the boys and the Acromantulas closest.

The spells... the spells that everyone was shooting out at the spiders, and then the spiders themselves, and then the CARNAGE... it made Toby feel sick to his stomach, it honestly did.

"Impedimenta!" Toby yelled, throwing the spell out at the advancing spiders. Maybe slowing down even just one or two could make all the difference. "Impedimenta! Stupefy!" He pointed his wand at the floor. "Glisseo!" Were spiders ever bothered by slippery slidey surfaces? Time to find out.

Toby took his concentration off the spiders for a moment. Probably not wise, but his concern for the first year boys (Torie and Chris) was his main priority for the moment. He raised his wand again and used a few precious moments to conjure a couple of huge, shining silver shields with the Silver Shield Spell. "Armanto! Armanto!" The best he'd ever managed to conjure, actually, not that he noticed at the moment. Toby shoved the shields towards the boys. "Use these, hide behind them. Shield the webs with them, and IF the spiders try to get you, and you can't magic them off-" Remembering his own spellwork at that age, Toby thought that might be likely. "-yell, whack them 'til they leave you alone, then run." Toby nodded into the Great Hall. He left it unsaid that everyone was here to protect them, and that he would still be stood right here in front of them, because that had been clarified. But Toby couldn't bear to leave them potentially defenceless, save maybe a few first year level spells, and at least this way they could protect themselves from the webs when everyone else was too busy to throw up a shield charm.

He'd turned his back on the big spiders for long enough, and could only hope that none of the others had noticed, particularly Javy or Dakest. Or Soph. But yeah, time to get back to it. Toby took a bracing breath, trying to prepare himself for the sight of all those poor dead spiders that had met a grizzly end, and turned back to face them, raising his wand.

Great Hall..they needed to get to the Great Hall. Chris looked around trying to figure out where that was in relation to where they were and spotted the door as he looked in between the legs of some of the taller people around them. "Torie we need to go!" Like...now!. What was he doing?

Chris looked up as he was handed a shield and looked at the older boy so grateful he had tears in his eyes. He nodded and smacked Torie in the arm trying to get him to focus. Wasn't he the one who was supposed to freak out? Holding up the shield which seemed bigger than him he tried to head to the Great Hall carefully but quickly hoping that the spiders would focus on the bigger people rather than him. He pulled out his wand which had been forgotten though he had no idea what spell he should use.

Ilia couldn't help but be even more enraged now that she saw Henric limp a bit towards her. He said that he was fine, but she knew that he was not. Adi came over to them and it seemed that he was a little worse for wear as well. "I'm fine, lets stick together." Her spell had stopped the bleeding on her leg and she refused to be concerned with her own problems at the moment. More students came, little ones, and it only served to make her more determined. The kids were drawn in, tighter into the group and it was time. Spiders were rushing for them, screaming in their disgusting , creepily pitched voices. They may have been able to 'speak' but all of their 'words' only served to show how vile and unintelligent that they were.

She understood the concern and sympathy that the other students had, until today she had never hurt any living thing. She had never wanted to and believed everything had a right to exist. Right now though, these particular things, had taken her amphibious child from her, injured her boys, and threatened everyone else in the castle with being eaten essentially. She felt it was them or everyone in her school and she did want revenge though she might not like that she did later. She didn't feel bad about this and she wouldn't. Perhaps her years at Durmstrang had instilled more into her than she'd realized.

Use all the spells you he learned , Professor Thompson just gave them the okay....She certainly would not being using Rictumsempra, the tickling charm though. Time to protect everyone, as best she could and try to ensure survival of everything non arachnid. Deep breath, full focus, intent and rage, here it goes.

Even the boy she had shouted at for attempting to defend the creatures was at least casting shields, they would all fight back and would survive together, she was sure of it. They were few and small, but mighty.

"INCENDIO! INCENDIO! INCENDIO!" She barely had the focus for anything but her targets as she followed her professors instructions.......but Professor Dakest and his dual wielding wands were not short of inspiring to her. "BOMBARDA! EXPULSO! CONFRINGO!" She successively and repeatedly cast explosive charms, almost as if it were a chant.....and a mix of intermittent fire spells.There was a spell that she had read about awhile back and her curiosity had taken hold. She learned it, but had never tried to use it.....now seemed like that time. "SECTUM SEMPRA!"

Henric noticed the blood trickled down Adi's head, oh nooo..he fumbled into his pockets with his good hand and quickly hand him his handkerchief."Here Adi use this for your head, we're going to make it out alive, we will!"he said. Suddenly something grabbed hold of his leg and he was dragged down. What bloody merlin is this! With a swift turn of his body he used the severing charm against the spider.Seriously, this spider thought he was Christmas turkey or something?! Can you not. He was getting tired of its games. With a repelling charm, Henric pushed with his leg away from the spider. He cast another stunning spell at the young arachnid,"You little punk,just stay where you are!" He practically screamed at it. Henric crawled towards his group again, staying close with llia once more.

He saw two younger students joined their group and he had the sudden urge to keep them safe as well. He was only a few years older, but he knew defensive spells that they did not know yet.It could be very dangerous for them so he stood in front with the rest, forming a barrier-like structure.And when the spiders came charging,Henric used the fire-making spell on them,"INCENDIO MAXIMA!"He and the rest backed slowly towards the great hall as they cast all sorts of spells."IMPEDIMENTA! BOMBARDA MAXIMA,DIFFINDO! REDUCTO! STUPEFY! ARANIA EXUMAI! STUPEFY!"

Henric used the shield charm too as they neared the Great Hall, nothing would ever get past them.He swore to protect and he will! Hogwarts was his second home and he would not let them take that away from him.

He kept his wand out and his eyes attentive at what was happening. As the professor...who he was sure taught CoMC spoke, Torie's eyes looked around for where the entrance to the Great Hall was, okay heading that way...right. He stuck with the group though, not running for it, though everything in him was telling him to bolt and run for the Great Hall. He could only hope that was free of spiders, but there was no promise! He'd thought he'd be safe going to the entrance hall! He looked towards the DADA professor and looked confused. Bottleneck? Yes, protect the younger students. Or hey, teach him a good spell to kill the spiders! He'd kill them! He still was worried about the voice in the dungeons and really hoped they had gotten out!

He felt Adi's push towards the Great Hall and heard Chris's yell about needing to go. Of course they all had to, but he wasn't going to be stupid and run for the entrance to the hall! He moved with the group as they kept going towards the hall. When Toby conjured some shields and pushed one into his hand his eyes went wide but nodded "Okay" he said in agreement. Hit them over and over til they left him alone and run. Run...to the hall, abandoning the group? Yeah what was he going to do? Levitate the spider? He knew some spells like the gravitation spell but what good would that do? He didn't want the spider following him!

He looked towards Chris again, now with a shield as well. He didn't like the idea of running towards the doors without the group though! That put him and Chris out in the open even with the shields! Keep to the group, right? "Group or run?" he whispered holding his shield up to hide behind.

Attack! Get them all! >__________<

Just when Yoongi had thought they spiders were innocent and just defending themselves because the humans were attacking , he heard that. He looked sad at the thought when professor Thompson spoke to him and fear came back when he realised that the spiders WERE going to attack them. What was this? An invasion? Were the spiders tired of living in the forest? Tired of having to eat animals? What was so great about human flesh? Ewww…

“What the heck is a bottleneck?!” he shrieked in panic as the other professor told them to get in that formation. Forget the polite way of asking, this was a live or die situation! More and more spiders entered the scene and Yoongi looked at Sophie swishing her wand as if she was a musical conductor. It looked cool to be honest…but he did not have time to watch now because the two little kids were most likely unable to use all these types of spells yet. Luckily Toby was nearby and shielded the two and Adi was already pushing them in side of the Great Hall.

….But what if the Great Hall had even MORE spiders? What if they were waiting there? He shook the thought away, he had to think positive now. No one was going to die. They weren’t lured in to a trap made by the spiders. And they were going to defeat them. YUSH! “Stupefy!”he yelled at a couple of advancing spiders but he did not wait to see if the spell had hit its targets and stepped sideway, directed his wand above him and shouted. “Immobulus!” Hoping that the spell could slow the spiders who were hanging on the web , down. He didn’t risk using incendio above their heads… “Stupefy!..Arania Exumai! Arania Exumai!” Were they near the door yet?

Oh.....wow.

*_____________________*

If they hadn't been for the fact that they were in danger of being attacked and eaten alive any moment, Maggie would've stopped to just stare at Culloden. Something had changed within him. He looked a lot more....in control. Confident. She could think of a lot more adjectives but pulled herself together.

Because of the whole giant spiders threat, you know.

Maggie had just nodded when he'd suggested they go to the Great Hall. He looked like he knew what he was doing so who was she to question him. Staying close to Culloden (obviously!!!!), she'd started heading downstairs.

When they'd finally reached the ground floor, Maggie stepped off the staircase, wand in hand and was about to walk over and into the great hall when....seriously????? Could they maybe go around that? Ignore the commotion and get themselves to safety??

"Professor?"

Soooooo the other girl had left to... somewhere else apparently, but Cosgrach wasn't about to go after her. He had a Maggie and himself to save, thank youu very much. He was glad Maggie didn't question much but just followed him. He was worried that they were late though, but - uh oh. He didn't climb down the last few steps to take in the scene before him, but raised his wand and noted the people already there quickly, then stood close by Maggie because he felt responsible for her now. "Stand behind me," he said, and although he was about to faint from fear, his determination to live was stronger. He started shooting the spells he knew: shield charm, stunning spell, Impedimenta, Bombarda... He didn't stop to think or aim (although of course he could of course differentiate between a human and an acromantula).

What was the plan, colleagues????

She wasn't sure what she'd expected to see when she'd fled the staff room but it certainly wasn't something of this magnitude and the brunette felt a very strong sense of dread wash over her because there were so. many. acromantulas. She hated spiders, had she mentioned that to anyone? At least she didn't have time to overthink these things. She needed to act. To help. Her Gryffindor baby faces students needed her! And well-the other professors, too, but STILL!

...MOXINATOR TO THE RESCUE.

Wand at the ready and alternating between shielding the ickles and stunning any spiders that came her way, Moxley neared the crowd.

"Great hall. That's the plan," She said to Culloden, fear in her eyes. Or well, that had been the emergency plan before, yeah? Get everyone into a safe zone or something?

And so tossing the first ickle she came across over her shoulder in a fireperson's carry, she continued casting spells and made towards the great hall.