The Shadow of Slytherin

The man in the moon

Her hair tugged behind the ears, a yellow ribbon holding them from her face, the hand with the red stone held out, Poppy steps closer, inspecting the wolf statue that stands in a niche.

Now or never. Rushing forward, the disillusionment charm still on you, the eyes glimpsed at the dark red gem in her hand, you reach out and laugh as the stones merge, turning dark green. "You're mine now." The disillusionment lifts when you spin to see Alec in the corner, his jaw clenched.

"Oh, Salem!" Poppy yells out, the arm over your shoulder, "I am so glad it is you, although I hoped for Robert." Her heart racing, she chuckles and ruffles through your open hair, the Arctic blue strands falling into your face.

Bursting into laughter, you spin Poppy around, the hand still on hers as you hold the stone. "Robert, huh, A Ravenclaw, dear Poppy?" Giving her a critical side eye, you lean closer, then laugh. "Now let's go." With Poppy by your side, you return to Alec, who holds the glowing heart in hand, and smile. "Oh, and cheer up, will you? We have got a game to win."

"You know what?" Alec starts, the mouth open to say something else as well, but instead, he scoffs, pulling back as he lifts the heart from its cavity and gestures for you to walk through the door.

Rolling your eyes, you rush after Alec, through the door and down the stairs where you find Akira, held by a Gryffindor first year, the body trembling. "I-, I caught him," the small boy whispers, his head tugged between the shoulders as he stares up to you.

Your face hidden behind Poppy, you fight the urge to burst into laughter, but when Garreth comes around the corner, Atticus held by the hand, the green gemstone glowing, his face pale, the freckles washed out, you cannot help, but chuckle. "Oh, I am so yours, Weasley," you spit out, patting Garreth on the shoulder as Atticus drags him up the stairs, mumbling about another riddle.

"Oh-okay. Ehm, we have to- have to go this way," the young boy says, pointing towards the lower level, the evil stare of Akira on him as they walk past you, their fingers interlaced, the boy's arm reaching up to even be able to hold onto Akira.

His arm leant against the wall, the head tilted at the scene, Alec laughs as the small boy jogs along while Akira walks. "Is it take your child to work day, Foxtrot? You make a great mum."

At the bottom of the stairs, you follow the path to find Ominis past the alchemy classroom, near the entrance of the map chamber, focussed on a snake sculpture, the hand held tight with a third year Hufflepuff student.

The torches dim, leaving a gloomy atmosphere, their flames hissing, with embers shooting through the air, Ominis is occupied with inspecting the teeth of the snake, mumbling of a riddle, you have not heard so far. As his fingers stretch out to pull on one tooth, the statue hisses and spins, the tail moving, much like the statues in the scriptorium did. The entire snake turns, loosening its body from the socle before tilting over and bursting on the ground, a small object wrapped in linen clackers as it rolls across the tiles.

At once the girl picks it up and places it in her pocket, excited to have found another clue. Cheering, she tugs on Ominis's sleeve, the busted stone cracking under her jumps, some debris shooting in your direction, clicking as it scratches over the ground.

"Will you look at that?" Alec giggles, "Gaunt caught himself a Hufflepuff as well."

The eyes on you and Poppy, the young girl continues to cheer and waves, but when Alec approaches, her eyes fall onto the dark stone in his hand. "Oh no."

"Frost," Alec sighs, "-alone in a dark corner? Did you want to get caught by a Slytherin?"

Alternating glances between Alec and the girl, you and Poppy rush over to Ominis, hugging him as he mumbles something about a crescent moon.