Headmaster Severus Snape summoned all students and staff to a spontaneous assembly after Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger were sighted in Hogsmeade on 1 May, 1998. During the meeting, all attendees were warned that any attempt to aid Harry Potter into the Castle would result in serious punishment. After both student and staff were threatened with severe punishment if they did not come forward with any information regarding Harry Potter's movements, the meeting was interrupted by Harry and the members of the Order of the Phoenix's arrival, thus setting the stage for the duel between Snape and Professor McGonagall.