Whispers in the Shadows || Slytherin Boys

the weight of nightfall

I burst into our dorm room, the heavy oak door slamming against the wall behind it. My breath came in short ragged gasps, my heart still pounding in my chest. Avery looked up from her bed, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion and concern.

"Cat, what took you so long?" she asked, sitting up and putting her book aside. "I thought we were supposed to meet here right after we split up."

I closed the door after glancing back one more time, leaning against it as I tried to steady my breathing. The reality of what had just happened began to sink in, the adrenaline wearing off and leaving behind a raw, gnawing fear. Avery's eyes widened as she took in my disheveled appearance.

"Avery," I began, my voice shaking. "Something happened. I... I ran into Mattheo Riddle."

Avery's expression shifted from confusion to shock, then to a mixture of fear and anger. She sprang off her bed and crossed the room to me, her hands gripping my shoulders tightly, searching for any damage I may have suffered.

"Mattheo Riddle? Are you okay? What did he do?" she commanded softly, her voice brittle. You could see her guilty conscience as she moved her hands from my shoulders to my cheeks to give me comfort and check again for my well-being.

I took a deep breath, trying to find the words to explain the encounter, while her gesture calmed me down. She knew that. "He... he cornered me in a dark corridor. He was so close, Avery. He trapped me against the wall and I just couldn't escape. He said such horrible things. He... he made me feel so small, like I was nothing."

Avery's grip on my cheeks tightened slightly, her face contorted with worry. "He did what?! That bastard. What did he say to you?"

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of Mattheo's words pressing down on me again. "He called me fucking stupid, said I was just like every other girl who falls for their games. He... he touched me, Avery. He made it clear that he thought I should have just gone along with their plans at the party. It was so degrading."

You could see hate flashing in her eyes. "He did what, please? How did he touch yo... you're fucking with me right now, aren't you?" When she saw that I was slumping more and more, her expression softened again. "I swear to Merlin that I'll touch him where no sunlight can reach. Except that the sole of my foot will do it. What a hypocrite."

I smile weakly at her attempt to cheer me up. "Fortunately, it wasn't what you think. He... he didn't touch me intimately anywhere, but I can still feel his fingertips grazing my skin. He did it to humiliate me, Av. He did it simply because he could." Speaking these thoughts scared me. I hadn't yet realized the extent of the whole thing. What kind of sick shit was this.

Avery's eyes blazed with anger. "Those boys are absolute assholes. They're dangerous, Cat. They're not just playing games - they're out to ruin lives."

I nodded, my eyes filling with tears. "I know. I just... I didn't realize how intense and dangerous it really was until this happened."

Avery finally pulled me into a tight hug, her warmth and strength giving me another small measure of comfort. "I'm so sorry. I never should have pushed you to go to that party. I had no idea things would get this bad."

I clung to her, my tears soaking into her shirt. "It's not your fault, Avery. We both wanted to see what it was like in the end. But now we know what the reality of the glorious slytherin parties really looks like."

We stayed like that for a while, holding each other as the gravity of the situation settled over us. When we finally pulled apart, Avery carefully led me to my bed and we sat down, our legs crossed beneath us.

"Tell me everything," Avery said softly. "I need to know what we're dealing with."

I took a deep breath, my hands trembling as I recounted the events of the night. "After we split up, I was trying to find my way back here. I ended up taking a longer route to avoid being seen by Professor Binns. That's when Mattheo appeared out of nowhere."

Avery nodded, her eyes never leaving mine. "Go on."

"He was so arrogant, so confident," I continued, my voice barely above a whisper. "He acted like he owned me, like I was just another toy for him to play with. He kept saying how stupid I was for thinking I was different, for thinking I could escape them."

Avery's jaw clenched, her hands balled into fists. "Those boys... they just enjoy making people suffer."

I nodded, feeling a fresh wave of anger and humiliation wash over me. "I felt so helpless, Av. I didn't know what to do. I just wanted to get away from him." Avery reached out and squeezed my hand. "You did the right thing by getting out of there in the end. But we need to be smart about this. We can't let them see us, see you, as an easy target."

We began getting ready for bed in the bathroom next door, our conversation continuing as we changed into our pajamas and brushed our teeth. The room was filled with the soft rustling of fabric and the quiet murmur of our voices.

"Avery, why do you think they're like this?" I asked, my voice barely audible over the sound of running water.

Avery sighed, her eyes reflecting a deep sadness what was irritating. "I think it's only about power. They come from families that are obsessed with status and control. For them, it's all about showing dominance, proving they're superior. Showing where they are from. And they do that by breaking people down, by making them feel worthless."

I nodded, the pieces of the puzzle slowly falling into place. "But why me? Why now?"

Avery turned to face me, her expression serious. "Because we were there. Because you caught their attention. And I believe, once they see someone as a potential victim, they won't stop until they've had their fun. It's a twisted game for them, just remember those other girls who also were there at the party." I just nodded, didn't know how to react.

We finished our bedtime routines and climbed into our respective beds. The room was dimly lit by the moonlight filtering through the window. I pulled the covers up to my chin, feeling a shiver run down my spine.

"Avery," I said softly, "what do I do now?"

She turned to look at me, I could just make out through the darkness how her eyes filled with determination. "We stick together. We don't let them intimidate us. And we stay vigilant. You can't let them think they've won."

I nodded, feeling a flicker of hope amidst the overall fear. "You're right. We have to be strong."

Avery smiled, her strength a beacon of comfort in the darkness. "We'll get through this, Cat. Together."

As I closed my eyes, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. The road ahead was very uncertain and filled with danger, but with Avery by my side, I knew I could face whatever lays ahead.