Twenty minutes later, Chloe was hiding behind a statue of a witch with a hump and listening. The teachers were going to enter their room across the hall any minute, and they were ready. They were armed with Sonorus charms, their faces were hidden, and Draco's pockets were full of pastries that he had swiped from the food tray.

The thump of footsteps signified the arrival of at least three teachers. Chloe peeped out from the statue to see Professors Snape, McGonagall, Flitwick, Sprout, and Dumbledore all walking down the hall. She pointed her wand at them

"Sonorus," she whispered, and heard their amplified voices bouncing off of the corridor walls.

"I don't know what we're going to do." Professor Flitwick's squeaky voice sounded tearful. "First that cat, then the Creevey boy, and now Justin?"

Professor Sprout hiccuped. "One of my best students," she whimpered, followed by the sound of her wringing out a handkerchief.

"What are we going to do about Nick?" Professor McGonagall sounded curt as usual.

"I'll see if I have a proper potion," said Snape. Chloe felt almost comforted by the sound of his voice.

"The Mandrakes are almost ready for repotting," said Professor Sprout eagerly. "You need only the freshest for the potion which reverses the effects of the Petrification."

Dumbledore said, "I believe that these incidents are being caused by someone inside the school. I cannot say whom. Has anyone been behaving strangely?"

McGonagall sounded almost derisive. "They're all behaving strangely, Albus. They're scared out of their wits, and they're all teenagers with hormones. Strange behavior is to be expected."

Draco snorted almost imperceptibly, but it was enough.

"Who's there?" shouted Snape, whirling in the direction of the statue.

"RUN!" Chloe hissed, and the two scampered out from behind the statue and down the corridor as fast as lightning.