The Dragon in The Ice Fortress- Draco Malfoy

8

The corridors of Hogwarts have become a web of whispered rumors and anxious glances. The latest attacks have left the school on edge, and the fear of what might happen next hangs heavily in the air. It feels as though an unsettling shadow has fallen over the castle, and no one knows when or where it might strike next.

It's late in the evening, and the common room is filled with a quiet tension. I'm buried in a large, dusty book about magical creatures, trying to distract myself from the constant worry that's been gnawing at me. Across from me, Blaise is engrossed in an ancient manuscript about Hogwarts' history. Our usual banter is absent, replaced by a mutual understanding that something dire is brewing.

"Do you think the Chamber of Secrets is real?" I ask, breaking the silence. The question has been on my mind, and I need to voice it.

Blaise looks up, his brow furrowed. "Of course it's real. The stories and legends about it have been around for centuries. But the question is whether it's been opened or not."

"And if it has?" I press, my anxiety evident in my voice.

Blaise's eyes narrow. "Then we're dealing with something very dangerous. We need to figure out who or what is behind this."

Before he can say more, the common room door bursts open. Pansy rushes in, her face pale and eyes wide with fear. She clutches her wand as if it's a lifeline, her breath coming in short, panicked bursts.

"Pansy!" I exclaim, rising to meet her. "What's wrong?"

Pansy's voice trembles as she speaks. "I—I saw something in the library. A shadow moving on its own. It felt... wrong. Like something bad was about to happen."

My heart races. "A shadow? And then what happened?"

Pansy shakes her head, clearly shaken. "I heard a hissing sound, and I just knew something terrible was about to happen. I didn't stick around to find out."

As if on cue, a loud, piercing scream echoes through the corridors. The commotion in the common room escalates into a frenzy as students rush to see what's happening. Blaise and I exchange worried glances, understanding that we need to investigate.

We follow the sounds of panic and turn a corner to find a horrifying sight: Daphne's body, petrified and cold, lies near a statue of a troll. Her eyes are wide open, staring blankly, and her body is as rigid as stone.

"No!" I cry out, kneeling beside her. "Daphne, no..."

Blaise places a comforting hand on my shoulder, though his own face is ashen. "We need to get help. Quickly."

Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, and several other teachers arrive at the scene, their faces grave as they examine Daphne's petrified form.

"Who found her?" Professor McGonagall demands, her tone sharp with worry.

"I don't know. We were in the common room when she came in, and then..."

The professors exchange glances. "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened," Professor McGonagall says solemnly. "We need to inform the headmaster immediately."

As the professors take Daphne away, I feel a deep sense of dread settle over me. I exchange a worried look with Blaise. We both know that the situation is dire and that we need to get to the bottom of it.

Later that evening, Blaise and I sit together in the common room, the atmosphere thick with unease. Our earlier conversations have been replaced by a tense silence, punctuated only by the crackling of the fire.

"I don't understand how this could be happening," I say, trying to make sense of everything. "Why now? Why is the Chamber being opened again?"

Blaise's gaze is intense. "It's as if someone wants to draw attention to it. But who?"