The students were not the only ones in the Castle watching the battle, of course. Quite a few staff members and professors were watching it too.
But with Dumbledore absent, the four Heads of House were the most accomplished in magic at the school. Since they had not fallen into a completely disadvantageous position, the other professors and staff remained in the Castle.
They protected the students, just in case.
Compared with the other professors and staff, one figure seemed somewhat out of place.
Atop the Astronomy Tower, the tallest building at the school, a slender, tall figure stood behind an easel, holding a palette and paintbrush as she depicted the situation on the Quidditch pitch.
It was the beautiful professor Harry had once paid attention to, though he had been paying less attention to her lately after discovering another pretty young woman: Bathsheba Babbling.
Her painting was very spare, capturing the essence of the scene with just a few strokes. But she did not finish it. After sketching a rough outline, she set it aside without adding any colour.
Then, with a tap of her wand, she swiftly laid out another canvas and continued painting.
Dozens of such half-finished canvases already lay beside her.
"Is it really all right to just watch the show?" a voice suddenly rang out.
Immediately afterward, a figure appeared soundlessly atop the Astronomy Tower.
Perhaps "figure" was not quite the right word.
What had appeared atop the Astronomy Tower was a translucent apparition, much like the ghosts that wandered through the Castle.
And this apparition was none other than the school's Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, who was currently huddled in the staff stands at the Quidditch Pitch.
Professor Babbling turned, her breathtakingly beautiful face directed toward the ghostlike Lockhart before