Whispers in the Shadows || Slytherin Boys

beneath the cloak of night

We fled the Slytherin common room, our hearts pounding as we moved quickly and quietly through the dimly lit corridors of Hogwarts. The echoes of laughter and music faded behind us, replaced by the silence of the castle at night. Avery’s face was pale, her eyes wide with lingering fear and regret.

“I’m so sorry, Cat,” she whispered, glancing over her shoulder to make sure we weren’t being followed. “I never should have made you go to that party. I had no idea things would get so... messed up.”

I shook my head, trying to shake off the lingering terror. “It’s not your fault, Avery. None of us could have predicted what happened. Those slytherins are on a different level of dangerous. And William...” My voice trailed off as the painful memory resurfaced.

Avery winced, guilt evident in her eyes. “I didn’t think about him, either. I was just excited about the party and didn’t consider how seeing him might affect you. I’m really sorry.”

“It’s okay,” I said, though the knot in my stomach told me otherwise. “I just want to get back to the dorm and forget about tonight.”

We navigated through the empty hallways, the ancient stone walls towering above us. Shadows danced in the flickering torchlight, making the castle feel even more labyrinthine. Every creak of the floorboards and distant murmur made us jump, our nerves on edge.

“I can’t believe Draco and his friends noticed us,” Avery murmured, more to herself than to me. “I mean, they’re practically royalty in this school. Why would they care about us?”

“I don’t know,” I replied, my thoughts racing. “But whatever their reasons, it can’t be good. Those guys are trouble, Avery. Real trouble.”

She nodded, her expression grim. “You’re right. We need to stay away from them.”

We turned a corner and saw a light flickering at the far end of the hall. My heart skipped a beat as the unmistakable silhouette of a teacher appeared, patrolling the halls. Professor Binns, the ghostly history teacher, was the last person we wanted to encounter right now. Avery and I exchanged panicked glances and immediately split up, diving into the nearest hiding spots. Avery slipped into an alcove to the left, while I ducked into the shadows on the right.

We held our breaths, peeking out from our hiding places as Professor Binns' ghostly form glided closer. My heart pounded in my chest and I could see Avery’s wide eyes across the hall, filled with the same fear. The teacher, a translucent figure with a distant, preoccupied expression, floated slowly past, his gaze sweeping over the corridor.

I silently prayed that he wouldn’t notice us. The tension was almost unbearable as Professor Binns paused, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the shadows. But after a moment that felt like an eternity, he continued on his way, his form disappearing through a wall.

I exhaled in relief and caught Avery’s eye. We exchanged silent gestures, agreeing to meet back in the dormitory. She pointed to the shorter route she could take, while I signaled that I would have to take a longer path to avoid being seen. Avery gave me a quick, reassuring nod before slipping away, moving swiftly and silently down the corridor.

Left alone, I took a deep breath and began my own journey through the castle’s maze-like passages. The air was cool and heavy, carrying the faint scent of old parchment and stone.

As I moved deeper into the castle, I tried to shake off the events of the night. The encounter with William had been terrifying and the attention from Draco and his friends was unsettling in a different way. They were dangerous, unpredictable, and far too interested in us for my comfort. Everything about that night was just confusing.