𝒏𝒐 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆 | 𝑻.𝑹.

𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏: 𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏

As Evelyn and her friends walked toward the Great Hall, she couldn't shake the disquieting feeling that the air had shifted. It was as though invisible eyes were scrutinizing her every move. Her gaze darted from face to face, but whenever she made eye contact, people quickly averted their eyes or engaged in hurried, hushed conversations.

"Is it just me, or does it seem like we're attracting more than our fair share of attention?" Evelyn asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Lyssandra, walking beside her, glanced around with a thoughtful expression. "I hadn't noticed anything unusual, but it's not uncommon for the student body to be abuzz about something. Maybe there is a scandalous occurrence."

Miriam and Cressida exchanged a knowing glance as the group turned and was about to reach the entrance of the Great Hall. The murmur of voices and the occasional sidelong glance from the student body made it clear that Evelyn and her friends were the focus of much scrutiny.

Miriam, her voice low and deliberate, said, "You two go on ahead and take your seats. Cressida and I will hang back a moment. We've got a mind to sort out what's truly stirring the pot."

Cressida nodded in agreement, adding with a determined tone, "We'll catch up with you shortly. There's more to this than mere speculation. Let's see if we can uncover the source of all this chatter."

Evelyn, though still troubled by the situation, appreciated their support. "Thanks. Be quick about it. I don't want to sit here feeling like I'm under a magnifying glass."

With a reassuring nod, Miriam and Cressida lingered near the entrance, their eyes scanning the room with a mixture of curiosity and resolve. As Evelyn and Lyssandra made their way to the Great Hall, Miriam and Cressida set off to unravel the threads of gossip that had so suddenly enveloped them.

Miriam and Cressida, having just left Evelyn and Lyssandra, made their way over to a pair of Ravenclaw girls known for their gossiping tendencies, huddled together near the Great Hall. The chatter was thick with speculation and intrigue, and the two friends were keen to find out more.

As Miriam and Cressida were approaching the pair of Ravenclaw girls, the murmur of their conversation grew louder. The girls glanced up, curiosity sparkling in their eyes as the two friends joined them.

"Oh, look who's here!" Penelope Green, a girl with bright eyes and an animated expression exclaimed with a mischievous glint in her eye. "We happened to just be talking about your Potions class. Was it really as dramatic as it sounded?"

Cressida, slipping into the circle, nodded. "Oh yes, it was quite a scene. Riddle was well- you know, his usual self, and Slughorn was beaming with pride."

Dorothy Marshall, another fourth year Ravenclaw leaned forward eagerly. "Well of course, but we also heard there was some sort of row with Evelyn? Is that true?"

Miriam smiled wryly. "Indeed, there was a bit of a showdown. Evelyn didn't exactly take kindly to Riddle's jabs. You know how he can be, but it's not always well received."

Penelope's eyes widened. "Really? Riddle's always been the golden boy around here. I wonder how Evelyn did it?"

Cressida sighed, a mix of admiration and concern in her tone. "Well, Evelyn has always had the courage to call him out. But it isn't anything worth talking about, especially not like this!"

Dorothy nodded thoughtfully. "I suppose so, but honestly, no one—quite literally no one—goes up against Riddle. And why would they? He's perfect."

Miriam chuckled softly. "It's true. Riddle is almost untouchable. But, I suppose Evelyn's got a different perspective. Besides, she's always been unafraid to speak her mind."