Magic and Mystery Coil by Allegory_for_Hatred

Good Old Fashion Detective Work

When Dazai woke up the following morning, Egg had been sprawled across his chest. Her claws were digging pointy little holes in Dazai's cloak and her tail loudly thwapped against the couch.

Egg hadn't touched his skin during the night and died, then.

"Good job," he had groggily congratulated.

In response, Egg merely curled into a tighter ball. A second later, smoky snores filled the room again.

Seeing as they had successfully survived one night of not killing one another, Dazai had decided to full-time move into the gang office.

Sleep had never come quicker.

And sleep was wonderful.

How he had gone so long without collapsing on the floor was beyond him. For the first time since starting his second school year at Hogwarts, Dazai had woken up well rested. That very same day, Dazai had grabbed all his belongings from the common room and dragged it up to the office. His books were now locked in the desk and a freshly-fluffed pillow adorned the sofa.

And it wasn't only Dazai taking full advantage of his new sleeping arrangement—he got the feeling every other Slytherin was glad not to have to share a room with their resident demon. Egg seemed to be enjoying her new pillow, too.

The only objection was a raised brow from Blaise and the observation made over breakfast, "I didn't see you this morning."

"The Slytherin rooms were getting a little stuffy for me," Dazai had told him smilingly.

All around, it was a good arrangement.

Dazai was feeling well-rested, and a well-rested Dazai could get down to business.

First order of said business being...

A pair of third-year Ravenclaw students were giggling amongst themselves just outside the library doors. Upon spotting them, Dazai pushed off the wall and headed straight at them, a pep in his step.

These two would be as good a start as any (moreover, they were the only students around that hadn't immediately sighted Dazai and run off). Most importantly, Dazai didn't recognize them from Pansy's gang.

Dazai raised a hand in cheery greeting.

"Hello, fellow students! You wouldn't happen to know where Theodore Nott is, would you?"

They shrieked.

"Ah..." Wincing, Dazai brought a hand to cup his now-ringing ear. "You screamed."

They stared at him, visibly shaking. The girl's mouth opened and closed, but only weak, breathy squeaks came out. Dazai quirked a brow. He didn't feel particularly terrifying today. But these two clearly thought otherwise. Though everyone at Hogwarts seemed to be thinking the same, these days.

At last, the girl's friend managed to shake a few words loose from their own quivering lips. "Theodore... um, Nott? Is—isn't he a Slytherin?"

Dazai nodded. "He is!"

They jumped at Dazai's blatant enthusiasm.

When they didn't say anymore, Dazai gestured to the library.

"He's not in the library or the Slytherin common rooms," he explained slowly. Those were the only places Dazai had checked. And, more accurately, the only places Dazai could reliably find well enough to check. "I won't find him at this rate. One of you must have seen him around."

The Ravenclaws shared a wide-eyed looked, then frantically shook their heads.

"N-no, we haven't."

"We wouldn't run into a Slytherin..."