???????? - M.R

The day felt like a shadow of the chaos from the night before. The storm had calmed, but the cold still hung in the air, biting through every crack in the stone walls of the castle. The wind howled faintly outside, a low, mournful sound that rattled the windows and sent a chill through the corridors. Snow had piled high against the windowsills, the world outside now a blur of white, heavy and unyielding.

The sun, pale and reluctant, barely peeked through the overcast sky. Its feeble light seemed to do little to warm the cold that had seeped into the very bones of the castle. Inside, the warmth of the fires in the common rooms and halls fought against the frost creeping in through the cracks, but it was an uphill battle. The chill wasn’t just from the weather—it was something more profound, something that came with the uncertainty, the fear that gripped the school after Gabby’s disappearance.

Sierra couldn’t shake the heaviness in the air, the silent tension that hung like a thick fog over everything. Classes had been cancelled for the day, and the hallways were quieter than usual. No one spoke much, their voices hushed, their eyes darting nervously to the corners of rooms, as if expecting shadows to move.

The thick snow that had blanketed the grounds made everything seem so still, so hauntingly quiet. Even the usually bustling students kept to themselves, gathered in small, quiet groups, or retreating to their rooms. Sierra had noticed how the weight of the past few hours had pressed heavily on the school, making even the bravest of students look over their shoulders, as if expecting something else—something worse—to happen.

The cold morning light filtered softly through the windows of Dumbledore's office, casting long shadows across the room. Sierra’s eyes were puffy and raw, the tears from last night still clinging to her skin like an unwanted memory. Her heart felt heavy, a weight she couldn’t shake off. She sat in one of the armchairs near the fireplace, staring blankly at the flames flickering weakly in the hearth, but it was hard to concentrate. All she could think about was Gabby, gone in the blink of an eye, vanished without a trace.

Emma sat beside her, her face no better. The two of them had barely spoken a word to each other since the previous night. They sat in silence, their hearts mourning the absence of their best friend, the one who had always been there for them. The one who was supposed to be with them now. But she wasn’t. She was gone, taken in the middle of the night, just as quickly as the shadows had come.

The room was filled with a soft hum of hushed voices, none of them loud enough to break the painful stillness. Sierra glanced around, her eyes unfocused as she tried to make sense of everything that had happened. The Headmaster’s office had never seemed so cold, so impersonal, as it did now.

Dumbledore was standing near the desk, his eyes somber behind his half-moon glasses. Beside him stood Professor McGonagall, her face etched with lines of worry, though she was doing her best to stay composed. But neither of them could hold back the helplessness in their eyes. The room felt too small, too close, as if it were closing in on her.

Then, there was Gabby’s family.

Her parents, who had always seemed so strong, were now mere shadows of themselves. Gabby’s father stood by the window, staring out at the snowy grounds with a troubled expression, his hand gripping the back of a chair as if it were the only thing keeping him grounded. Her mother, usually so poised and composed, was a mess of tears, sitting near Leonie, Gabby’s younger sister, who was clinging to her mother, sobbing uncontrollably.

Leonie’s cries were raw and desperate. She was far too young to understand the gravity of what was happening, to comprehend the loss of her sister, her protector. She was too small, too innocent to be faced with such a cruel reality. Her small hands gripped Emma’s arm as she buried her face in her shoulder, crying harder now that she had the comfort of another.

Sierra felt a lump rise in her throat as she watched Leonie’s tears fall, mixing with the pain in Emma’s eyes. Gabby’s sister was so young, so fragile. She shouldn’t have to feel the sharp sting of loss. None of them should. But it was real. It was happening. Gabby was gone, and they couldn’t stop it.

"I don’t understand," Leonie sobbed, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Why her? Why Gabby? She was... she was so kind to me. She... she was the only one who understood me."

Emma pulled Leonie closer, holding her tight as both of them cried in each other's arms. Sierra wanted to comfort them, but the words stuck in her throat. How could she explain this? How could she make sense of something so senseless?

Gabby had always been the glue that held them all together, the one who made sure everyone was okay, who could make them laugh even when the world seemed to be falling apart. Sierra couldn’t comprehend how her best friend, the girl who had been with her through thick and thin, was suddenly gone.

Sierra turned to Emma, her heart aching. "I don’t know what to do, Emma. I’m so scared. Gabby is gone, and I... I don't know how to fix this. I don’t know how to help Leonie, or her parents. I don’t even know if I can help myself."

Emma wiped her nose with the sleeve of her robes, her voice trembling. "We’re all scared, Sierra. We have to stick together. We have to find her. Gabby’s not... she's not gone forever. She can’t be."

But the truth sat heavy between them. Gabby was gone, and they didn’t know where she was, or if they could bring her back. The reality of it was starting to sink in, and the hopelessness was suffocating.

"Miss Rosier, Miss Montgomery," Dumbledore’s voice broke through the quiet, gentle yet firm. He had stepped closer to them, his presence a calming force in the storm of emotions. "I know this is difficult, but we must remain composed. We must find strength, not only for your friends, but for Gabby’s family. They need you now, more than ever."

Sierra nodded slowly, but the weight of his words settled heavily on her chest. He was right. They needed to stay strong. For Leonie. For Gabby’s parents. But how could she? How could they? How could anyone survive in a world where things like this could happen?

Dumbledore turned towards Gabby’s family, offering a few soft words, but Sierra couldn’t focus on them anymore. Her mind was swirling with thoughts—of Gabby, of the shadows in the hall, of everything that had gone wrong. She could barely breathe, and her stomach twisted with the thought that something far darker was at play.

She reached for Emma’s hand, squeezing it tightly. She would keep searching. She would never stop. Gabby had always been there for them, and now it was their turn to be there for her.

Sierra stood, her legs unsteady, but determined. "We’ll find her," she said, her voice quiet but fierce. "I promise you, we will."

As she looked at the faces around her—Gabby’s devastated parents, her little sister clinging to Emma—Sierra knew that the fight had only just begun. They would find Gabby. She couldn’t leave her like this. Not without a fight.

The room fell into an uneasy silence, the kind that settles in when there’s nothing left to say. But Sierra’s heart wasn’t heavy anymore, not entirely. She had a purpose now. And she wasn’t about to let anyone—anything—stop her from bringing her friend back home.