The Hollow Beneath Hogwarts

123. Where's Your Head At

The spiral staircase seemed endless.

Stone steps wound down and down into the darkness beneath Hogwarts, disappearing into shadows lit only by the occasional wand light.

Boots thundered against ancient stone. Robes swished. Wands remained tightly gripped.

Every single person in the rescue party was tense.

Focused.

Ready.

Or at least trying to appear ready.

Because the truth was that everyone was afraid. Some were simply better at hiding it than others.

Draco's heart hadn't stopped racing since he had seen Sloane lying motionless on that floor.

Every second that passed felt like an eternity. Every step felt too slow. Every breath felt wasted.

The bond between them had gone quiet again.

Not silent.

Never silent.

But distant. Muffled. Like trying to hear somebody shouting from the opposite side of a storm.

He could still feel she was alive. He clung to that. Desperately.

Then Blaise spoke. "Draco."

Draco didn't even look at him. "What?"

"You need to tell me what product you use on your hair."

The entire group groaned.

Harry immediately rolled his eyes.

Several Aurors exchanged confused looks.

Draco simply blinked. "Excuse me?"

Blaise gestured dramatically toward Draco's head. "Look at it."

Nobody looked.

Mostly because nobody cared.

Blaise carried on regardless. "It is shiny."

Draco sighed.

"It is smooth."

"Blaise..."

"It looks healthy."

"Blaise."

"It practically glistens."

"Blaise."

"And honestly?" Blaise shook his head. "You look way better now."

That finally got Draco's attention. "What?"

"The hair." Blaise pointed again. "The old slicked-back thing was tragic."

Harry barked out a laugh.

Ron snorted from somewhere further ahead.

"It wasn't tragic."

"It absolutely was."

"It was fashionable."

"It looked like you'd been attacked by a bucket of grease."

Several people laughed.

Even Kingsley.

Draco looked deeply offended. "It did not."

"It did."

"It didn't."

"It really did." Blaise grinned. "Honestly, mate, you looked like an angry ferret trying to impersonate a banker."

This time Harry doubled over laughing.

Even Bill had to turn away.

Draco glared. "I hate all of you."