The teachers were spread throughout the school, each with a pocket watch in hand, nervously awaiting the stroke of midnight.

Word had been sent to a few Alumni and they wandered throughout the school, waiting for whatever Albion had spoken of.

Minerva wiped the sweat off her brow, pacing the Gryffindor common room, wand in hand.

15 minutes.

“There are some of the best wizards in Britain in this castle.” The Auror Amira said. “Breathe Professor. All will be well. Take a seat and have some tea.”

She waved her wand, a twisted hawthorn with dragon heartstring, a cup of tea appearing on a table.

Minerva sighed and checked the watch.

10 minutes.

Minerva stopped and sat down. Picking up the tea and taking a sip. St. John's wort. Good for the nerves.

5 minutes.

She was still checking the time as Amira paced the room, checking the wardings.

All were well.

“Any idea on what's going to happen?” Amira asked. She had graduated from hogwarts about ten years ago and Minerva could see she had achieved much.

“I just pray it isn't an attack.

3 minutes.

“If they wanted us dead that Albion bloke would have been the one to do it in Dumbledore’s office. No. Its something else.”

1 minute.

Both stood, senses strained, listening for the slightest noise.

Midnight.

A soft melody started to play, a soothing and uplifting song.

Come now. Sweet children. Come here, please, for me. So many things to show you.

“What is that?”

“Some sort of spell, perhaps?”

Then they heard students moving around upstairs.

They split up, Minerva went to the boys and Amira to the girls.

To find every student awake in their beds, getting dressed in casual clothes.

“What's going on. Back to bed immediately.” Minerva ordered.

Let none stop you. Take all that you need. Down in the courtyard I wait.

A few gave her confused looks but continued to get ready for the day, a dazed look in their eyes.

Minerva reached for a first year only for her hand to pass through him completely.

He ignored or didn't notice her, picking up his school bag and filling it with spare clothes and a few books.

Almost as if he was packing for a trip.

Minerva looked up and saw every other boy also preparing to leave.

Terrified, she ran to the next few dorms, seeing boys packing up their belongings.

But when she reached fourth year some were still asleep, but most were packing.

She climbed higher, seeing less and less packing for a trip until she reached sixth year, where only Fred, and George Weasley, along with Lee Jordan were getting ready to leave. No other six years or any of the seventh were packing.

She ran back down stairs, firing a body bind at a 4th year.

It passed right through him and hit the wall.

Let nothing stop you or stand in your way. Come and be with me.

Slowly, they started to file out of the common room, down the stairs towards the main gates.

All the while, the eerie and beautiful song played.

It's the song. She realized. That's what's doing this. Its hypnotized the students and made them intangible to people unaffected or spells.

She raced ahead, throwing up shield spells and every non dangerous spell she could think of in their path as Amira did the same to the girls, who were also on an unwavering mission.

The Gryffindors joined with the Ravenclaws near the front entrance, Hufflepuff and Slytherin close behind as they melded into one huge group, not caring if they stayed with their houses.

They most definitely were being controlled.

Only the children must come with me, although your friends do love thee. To you, the loyal, I say, come with me. Although the choice is yours.

A few older students had woken up and were trying to help but no matter what the 40 plus adults and seventh years did, nothing could stopped the lowerclassmen.

In a spell of desperation, the adults sealed the front gate.

Nothing shall stop you, you and your kin. Nothing shall stand in the way.

And to their horror, the students simply passed through like it wasn't even there.

Out in the courtyard a swirling green portal had appeared, nestled between the trunks of two trees like a hammock.

A girl sat in the branches of the leftmost oak, her hair blue.

And on fire.

She looked to be about 16, in punk rocker clothes, softly strumming a guitar, and glowing a faint blue.

She smiled as the students appeared, and beckoned them forward, continuing her haunting melody.

My King needs thee, so he invites you to stay. Far away in the Keep. Great fun, youll find there. A promise from me. You and your kin may enter

One by one, grins appeared on their faces, their glazed over eyes lighting up with excitement, as if going to a muggle amusement park.

They started to speed up.

“No.” Minerva cried, throwing spell after spell at the fiery girl.

Another person appeared, a figure in a red cloak, floating just above the ground.

A green shield appeared as the spells struck, dissolving the magic.

“If they block we can hurt them.” an auror cried.

He shot lightning at the pair but it too disolved.

Almost all the adults were firing spells at the pair now.

Just as the students reached the portal.

They vanished in a haze of green mist as more and more followed.

A few students desperately tried to stop their younger siblings from going through.

Instead they started going through with them, heads held high, but expressions scared.  

But only a few adults noticed and none were close enough to stop them.

The shield was seemingly impenetrable as as almost all the students as vanished.

Colin creevey, a young third year was the last to reach the portal.

He turned, eyes still glazed as he grinned at the teachers, waved and vanished, his camera in his hand.

The last is now gone. And safe shall they stay nut only for a few days. Hurry now. Aurors, do as we bade. And with  you the children may stay.

The pair of creatures grinned at a job well done, the song continuing as the rocker vanished into the portal.

“Bring us he who has pulled a soul from the beyond and he who has ripped his soul 7 times. Bring us the 6 shards and the broken vessel. Bring them to the Castle Gates and all shall be well.” The cloaked creature declared, before diving into the portal.

The green swirling mass flickered and faded, leaving the despairing adults in silence.