The Cleanse (Basilisk Attack Thread. PG-13 for violence and death)

Daphne had been doing patrols when she had heard screams and shouts. She pulled out her wand, and ran to the Entrance Hall where the alarming sounds where coming from. She saw a group of kids and surrounding the area. Everything was happening all at once. What seemed like a quiet night, was turning out to be a disaster. A night they would never forget.

She hoped that everything would be under control and the professors could solve the situation and make sure nobody got hurt. But she was skeptical of the situation at hand. She had heard rumors about a group from her walks in Diagon Alley over the summer. She didn't know what they where, just that they were bad news. And Daphne hated bad news.

Every time she heard bad news, she flashed back to the day she learned her mother had passed, and she had to grow up rather fast. Daphne hated her childhood, and because of that, she vowed to have as much fun as she could when she was an adult. And the castle being put under attack was not having fun.

She listened to the headmaster's booming voice, about sending the children to the dorms, and the professors staying to sort out the attack. Well.. this was it. She saw Headmaster Jameson, and looked to him for instructions. She wasn't sure what to do, but she got out her wand ready for a fight.

It had been a particularly lazy day for Layla. She had went to her classes and finished her homework before settling in the music room for the night. She had only been in her skirt and her Gryffindor vest, her robe left behind in the common room as it was always comfortable that way, especially for her music. Ethan had been doing his own this, this she knew as they didn't always spend time together.

Sure, time together with him was great but she didn't need to be with him to love him. They had understandings to meet when no one was around and also, Layla told him that she'd like to have time for her to write and practice new and old songs, that of which he respected. She wouldn't lie, the past few months had been great and Ethan was great but she also loved time alone to be one with the piano.

In the middle of a new song, the Headmaster's voice sounded across the school. An attack? Layla was puzzled but at the sound of an explosion, she panicked. There was no way she could make it to the common room, she was far too scared. She found herself ducking under the piano, fear coursing through her body. Was it the group Ethan had told her about? The group that hunted Purebloods? She really hoped not because she loved Ethan ad she didn't want to have to attend a funeral for him. She couldn't imagine living without Ethan and she didn't want to. However, the thoughts were there, causing her to cry under the piano in the music room. She was not safe.

At the sound of feet pounding the corridor floor, Layla's heart practically stopped and when the door opened, she began to quietly sob. She was gone, she was dead, they;d show no mercy. Her hands gripped the leg of the piano and she shut her eyes, not wanting to see her murderer. Surely the person that called her name was just a figment of her imagination because Ethan was dead, just like she was. Dead. Forgotten. "Ethan," she cried, her voice soft, longing for her boyfriend who was dead.

Heart pounding with anticipation for a noise from the room, he couldn't hear anything. Cursing silently, he opened the door, wand raised in anticipation for some kind of threat to be there. He didn't see anything at first, and he guessed that was good for a second, but he was out of ideas of where the young Gryffindor might be.

He bit his tongue, holding back several swear words. He shouldn't have waited at that corner, he should have waited for her somewhere, it was his fault she was gone, but they wouldn't hurt her, wouold they? Not unless she stood in their way. He didn't know if Layla would have fought them. Probably though, the more Ethan thought about it.

As he turned to race the corridors once more, he heard it. Her voice calling out to him. He whipped around. his eyes raking across the room. He spotted her, finally. Under the piano, strangely, but at least she was safe. He crossed the room in a couple of strides and bent down on his knees, ducking under the piano and engulfing her in a hug as he let out a shaky breath of relief. Letting her go, he held on to her hand and backed out, completely letting go so she could crawl out. "Layla," he said as calmly as he could trying to hide what panic he was under at the moment. "We need to get out of the castle, now." His wand was raised and pointed at the door, his other hand extended to her. Eyes flicking anxiously between her and the door.

Venus had had enough. She was in the kitchens when the Headmaster's voice rang out. Surely he knew taht some of the braver students weren't going to hide in their dorms. Some of them would have stayed and fight. It would depend on who was fighting for Venus to choose, Her heart pounded as she made her way to the entrance hall.

She had arrived slightly before the Headmaster himself had, and in front of her was none other than Travis Brown who had declined the man's offer of joining him. She glanced quickly, her mind making split second decisions, There was Professor Moon, and the Headmaster himself there now. This was it. Either save her own skin, or die with them. To her, it was obvious.

"I'll join you." She said joining the group of people, turning to face the professors, her wand raised threateningly. There was no way she was going to die for them. All she had ever known from Purebloods was hate, so why help them? She hardened her expression as her eyes flicked between the headmaster and professor that were there at the moment.

Her fingers dug into the wood causing splinters to enter her skin, however her body was numb from fear and she couldn't feel a thing. She could hear him turn to leave and she cried harder, knowing he'd leave he alone, that she'd be left to die or worse, tortured. She was only thirteen, she shouldn't be living a life like this. She was far too young to die.

The girl wanted nothing more than to be with her parents right now, a Muggle, a musician, It'd be nice to have never been a wizard but she would've also never known Ethan and she didn't know if that was a life she wanted to face. Ethan had given her a new viewpoint of life, even if he didn't know. He was the reason she continued to pursue her dreams.

Suddenly, she heard a shuffling, he had turned back, she was going to be saved. She shouldn't know that Ethan, whether alive or not, would never let harm come to her. Before long, he was under the piano with her, his arms wrapped around her and she was crying harder now. "You're alive," she managed to say before he began to back up her hand lingering in hers for a bit before dropping it. He was coaxing her out and she was abiding. Was she sure it was Ethan and not someone under the Polyjuice Potion? No she wasn't, but she trusted Ethan. She shook her head, "I'm scared." He was already waiting to leave, his arm extended to her and she knew she needed to go. At least if they died, they'd be together. Grabbing his hand, she looked him in the eye, "I trust you."

Today was one of his most hated days. Valentines day... He never understood it. What was so amazing about loving someone that it had to have its own stupid day... And why was it so important to say you liked someone on this day? Honestly, if someone ever came up to him and told him they liked him just because it's this day, he'd probably ignore that person. Not that someone would really like him, from all people. But he was content with that. It's better that way, less people to annoy you with useless small talks, like what was the weather tonight or what type of pasta he liked. He had enough from both types to hate small talks to an end.

However, he wasn't going to stay inside on this day. Mostly because he was sure the library would be infested with people kissing each other, because of 'privacy’ and staying in his room all day wasn't the best idea if his room mates decided to make fun of him. No, he went outside on a walk. Though the lake would be full of kissing things, other places outside would hardly have anyone. So, after deciding to actually wear something more normal for his age then his usual wear nowadays (he put on some trousers, a long sleeved shirt and a vast sweater), he went outside.

After a while of walking, he went more nearer to the forest, more correctly the green house. He was just about turn around when he noticed someone in a cloak exit from the forest. He was sure that guy wasn't a teacher... Eyes widening slightly, he stepped back before turning around to run, not knowing of what happened behind him. Not that he was near enough to help, anyways, plus he wasn't a fast runner. All he hoped that he wasn't noticed and that they didn't run fast, which was regrettable. His heart beat fast, not knowing what to do, for once in his life. After a while he hid behind a rock casually standing in the ground and watched as other cloaked figures entered Hogwarts. What was going on...

After he guessed it was safe, he stood up and wondered what to do. He definitely wasn't good enough to fight, neither alethic wise, neither magic wise. All he could do was take his wand out and use it as defence, at least he knew of Protego... He reached into his pocket to find... Nothing. He breathed in quickly, fear filling him. It couldn't... But he did. He left it on his drawer, not thinking it would be needed. How wrong he thought... Now the question was what to do. Even if he went in the forest to hid, there were creatures there and most creatures seemed to hate him as much as he hated them back. On the other hand there were these cloaked... People attacking Hogwarts and he doubted they'd care more or less to kill him, expecially without a wand. So he did the best he could do and began to pick up rocks he could throw, at least that would keep him relatively safe.

Kenneth shook his head. "Such a shame. Really, you should know how to be more welcoming to your guests." He nodded to a woman who moved up to join the professor, searching his mind for her name.

"Professor Moon," he greeted, once he remembered. He adopted his smooth, persuasive tone, the one that usually got him anything he wanted. "It would be such a pity to injure you. You're not a part of this fight. Why don't you just return to your rooms, keep yourself safe? Surely there are people who depend on you, people who need you to remain living and well? Stay safe, for them."

About to respond to the Headmaster's challenge, Ken was interrupted by a student, Hufflepuff from her tie, emerging from the shadows, turning her wand on her professors and declaring her allegiance. "We'll be glad to have you," he told her, turning his face in her direction, though he didn't dare move his eyes away from the Headmaster. "Welcome to your new family. We'll protect you and we won't let any of these scum make fools of us any longer. Remember your anger, because that's what makes you strong."

Returning his full attention to Jameson, he narrowed his eyes. "I've already made it so far. It's quite rude to ask us to leave so soon after arriving. Why not invite us to-" instead of continuing his sentence, Ken whipped his wand into position, firing off a killing curse in the direction of the headmaster and a stupefy towards his companion.