We started toward the doors again and moved the tables out of our way. Nothing tried to stop us.

The doors opened on their own, shoving the tables aside, and there stood Headmistress Millington, a furious twist to her barely there lips. Her lantern glowed upon the hair frizzed around her head like a halo and reflected in her glare. More professors pushed in behind her.

"What was all that racket? Why are the tables shoved in front of the door?" she demanded, her ...