A New Chapter at Hogwarts [Drarry]

Chapter 33: Into the Forest

The night was unnervingly still, the cold breeze weaving through the towering spires of Hogwarts, carrying with it an eerie quiet. Draco sat at his desk, the dim light of a single flickering candle casting long shadows across the room. His quill moved in deliberate strokes across the parchment before him, yet his mind was only half-occupied with the lesson plan he was trying to finish. The castle around him seemed to hum with silence, a stillness that echoed his own attempts to keep his thoughts at bay—thoughts that inevitably led back to Harry.

It had been days since their last awkward and tense conversation, and Draco had made it a point to avoid Harry at every opportunity since. He buried himself in his work, made a point to dodge Harry's gaze during meals, and made his exits before any casual encounters could occur in the corridors. But none of it worked. Thoughts of Harry lingered persistently, always lurking in the corners of his mind. It was maddening—the tension that had grown between them, the memory of Harry's concerned eyes searching his own, and worse, the way Draco's pulse had quickened in response.

He tried, once again, to shake the thought away as he dipped his quill into the inkpot and focused on the parchment in front of him. But it was a futile effort. Harry's presence lingered even in the silence of the empty castle, filling the spaces Draco had carefully built to avoid thinking about him. Each minute felt like a battle to keep his emotions contained, to keep Harry out of his head. But it was no use. Draco let out a quiet sigh, irritated at his own weakness.

Just as he was about to push aside the lesson plan, there came a sharp knock at the door, breaking the stillness like a crack of lightning. The sound startled him, and for a brief moment, his heart leapt in his chest. Draco composed himself, setting down the quill and standing up with deliberate slowness. It was well past curfew—too late for students to be roaming the halls. With a flick of his wand, the door opened, revealing a Ravenclaw prefect standing nervously in the dimly lit corridor. Her eyes betrayed the anxiety that radiated from her small frame.

"Professor Malfoy," she began, her voice quiet but laced with urgency. "Professor McGonagall has called an emergency meeting in the staffroom. She asked me to fetch you immediately."

Draco's frown deepened, unease creeping up his spine. An emergency meeting at this hour? His mind raced with questions as he nodded curtly, grabbing his wand from the desk before following the prefect down the cold stone corridors of the castle. The chill of the walls seemed to seep through his robes, matching the growing tension in his chest. What could have possibly gone wrong so late into the night?

When Draco entered the staffroom, the tension was palpable. Professors had already gathered, their faces cast in the flickering light of the fireplace, their expressions heavy with unease. McGonagall stood at the center, her sharp gaze sweeping over the assembled staff. Her usual stern composure was present, but there was a strain in her features that told Draco something serious was amiss.

"Thank you all for coming on such short notice," McGonagall began, her voice brisk and efficient, though an unmistakable undercurrent of worry threaded through her words. "We have a situation that requires immediate attention. A sixth-year student, Timothy Greaves, has been reported missing."

A ripple of concern swept through the room, and Draco's frown deepened. Timothy Greaves, a quiet Slytherin who rarely called attention to himself, had never struck Draco as the type to get into trouble. The very idea that he had gone missing was deeply unsettling.

"According to his friends," McGonagall continued, her expression hardening, "he was part of a foolish dare to explore the Forbidden Forest tonight. His friends returned safely, but Greaves did not."

The gravity of the situation settled over the room like a heavy shroud, and Draco felt his chest tighten. The Forbidden Forest at night was dangerous, even for the most skilled wizards. The creatures that roamed those woods were unpredictable, and the thought of a student lost in its depths sent a chill through him.