Of Constellations → 𝘥. 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘧𝘰𝘺

xxviii. less gryffindor, more slytherin

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chapter twenty eight

less gryffindor, more slytherin 

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After dinner, we followed our Heads of House back to our common rooms. Prefects were instructed to stay in the back and ensure no one got left behind. And then, once everyone was safely in Ravenclaw Tower, Flitwick took the prefects to the meeting room.

It was on the third floor with no decorations, a grimy window, wooden chairs that lined the perimeter of the wall, and a single desk in the center. The Slytherins and Hufflepuffs were already there when Ravenclaw arrived, and the Gryffindors joined us moments after.

Draco and Pansy, as Head Boy and Girl, were standing at the front. Pansy was studying everyone carefully as they came in, as though we were all going to be questioned and she was preemptively looking for someone who seemed guilty. On the other hand, Draco was standing, holding his arms stiffly by his side, and directing his stare at the door. He looked dead behind the eyes.

Snape came into the meeting room less than a minute later, his long black cloak billowing behind him like he was some kind of gothic vampire.

He stood in front of Draco and Pansy and held his hands behind his back. "Prefects, you are no longer required to patrol the corridors near your common rooms in the evenings. There will be several staff members patrolling the castle at all times. Your job, for now, is simply to keep the students in your houses in check while unsupervised in your respective common rooms. The rule concerning sticking by a chaperon at all times applies to you as well."

"Yeah, the only students who may still roam the castle are the Head Boy and Head Girl who will be patrolling with the rest of us," said Alecto, who grinned conspiratorially at Draco who either chose to ignore her or didn't notice.

Amycus looked up at Snape as if asking permission to speak. Snape nodded at him curtly. "Your new duties will include assistance in serving detentions. Each week, you'll come to prefect meetings like normal. After the meetings, you'll be helping us give out punishment."

Ernie Macmillan rose his hand and I glanced worriedly at Anthony and Padma. Was he about to anger the Carrows and Snape?

"What exactly will we be doing during those detentions?" he asked.

"You'll just have to find out, won't ya?" Alecto said, sneering.

We were dismissed shortly after. Snape left the room so abruptly, it was like he was late for something. The Carrows followed closely after him. Our Heads of House stood up, as did the rest of the prefects. 

While I was standing, waiting for Ravenclaw's turn at the door, I felt someone press a bit of parchment into my hand. It shocked me, but I knew that I couldn't react, so I closed my hand and quickly put the paper in my pocket.

It was Draco. It had to be.

Flitwick took us to our common room and then left for his quarters, looking even more dejected now than I'd seen him all day. In fact, his eyes were a bit red and I wondered if he walked away so quickly because he didn't want us to see him cry.

I went up to my dorm to see that only Luna was there. Two of our roommates were down in the common room, and the third was Muggle-born.

Exhausted and miserable, I went to my bed and moved my pillow up so I could rest against it. My hand stilled when I saw that there was a little bottle beneath it wrapped in parchment. I frowned and picked it up, pulling off the little note. The liquid inside was bright red and I recognized it immediately as Pepperup potion.