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As we left I noticed that the stairwell from earlier was gone and in its place rested simple stonework. I shook my head, "That's crazy."

"It's all the extra power Hogwarts is drawing from the ley lines. Most of it is going towards the wards but there's a lot of bleed off, and that energy has to be put to use, otherwise the magic will find a way to express itself." Hermione said with a faint frown.

"And that's bad?" I asked as we made our way downstairs.

"Very," Hermione said. "About five hundred years ago—five hundred twenty seven to be precise—during the fourth goblin war, the Headmaster of the time activated the siege wards but got tired of the constantly shifting architecture and commanded Hogwarts to stop. The first few days were fine, there were a few hallways where you would be heavier than usual and some where you had to swim through the air. One room got so big you could taste grapes."

"So big you could taste grapes?" I asked. "What does that mean?"

"I don't know," Hermione shook her head. "But that's how Hogwarts: A History described it."

"I don't remember that," I said. I'd read most of Hogwarts: A History and skimmed the rest but what Hermione was describing didn't sound even vaguely familiar.

"You've only read the edition from Flourish and Blotts. Bathilda Bagshot had to cut a lot from the original manuscript before the Ministry would let her publish." Hermione shook her head. "Anyway, the magic kept expressing itself until, on the third day while the school was having breakfast, the air turned into poison and everyone in the Great Hall dropped dead."

"That's," I paused unable to find a word that adequately described my feelings.

"Horrible," Hermione said.

"Yeah," I said.

The rest of our walk to Defense was made in silence.

New Day, New Life, Chapter 34