Andy: I Saw It in a Book

After sitting in the corridor for only a short while, Andy saw Sirius hurrying toward the Great Hall.

Sirius froze when he saw Andy and Hermione. "Why are you sitting here?"

Andy glanced toward the Great Hall, then spread his hands. "We're waiting for Professor McGonagall."

Sirius relaxed at that.

Since Professor McGonagall had already arrived, there was no need for him to rush over.

"Andy, where did you go yesterday?" Sirius asked.

"Uh..."

Andy blinked. "I was at school! What's wrong?"

"I mean where at school."

Sirius explained, "You heard about Diagon Alley, right? We looked everywhere for you yesterday, but we couldn't even find a trace of you."

Andy and Hermione exchanged a glance before Andy said, "I was probably in the Room of Requirement... I often go there to practice magic."

After a pause, Andy asked, "You were looking for me yesterday?"

"Of course!"

Sirius said, "You're important Combat Power! Other than Dumbledore, you're the only one who can hold off the Mysterious Man."

"What a shame!" Andy put on a helpless expression.

Andy had been wondering about that earlier.

A lot of people knew Dumbledore was away, yet when Voldemort led the Death Eaters in an attack on Diagon Alley, no one had come to ask him for help.

Were they looking down on Andy Collins that much?

Now he understood.

They simply hadn't been able to find him! "Professor Black, how is the Ministry of Magic doing?" Hermione hurriedly asked.

"Not well..."

Sirius said helplessly, "We received word when the Death Eaters attacked, but we couldn't reach Dumbledore, and Andy was... sigh!"

With a sigh, Sirius continued, "By the time we arrived at Diagon Alley, the Ministry of Magic had already lost. We could only help evacuate some people and retreat with them back to