Astor lay with his back against the tree, trying to regroup his strength and will for the next stage of his journey. He looked upon the large massing of old stone that was Hogwarts Castle, he was about to carve a new legend into its storied history, but first, he needed some water and to find some food somehow. Hogsmeade, the nearest village, was nearly a day's walk away, maybe a few hours on house, but he did not have a horse or a saddle and was not a good enough rider anyway. Certainly, he would not survive a day's walk, depleted as he was by his underground adventures. Also, that way led through the forest, which was now replete with giant flesh-eating spiders. There was only one way: to return to Hogwarts Castle. Unfortunately, his spear could not join him, but he sensed that it held great importance in events to come. Wisely dug up the earth to hide it next to the blackened willow. A gust of wind caught him as he finished patting the last mound of dirt, and he felt an awful chill creep along his spine. For some reason, he knew with clarity and conviction that he was being watched by someone in the castle. He stared back at the stone towers trying to find the window from which someone was peering back at him, but there were too many, and he could not find it. Then the feeling passed.