Shattered Bonds

21| The Gathering Storm

The days that followed Snape's ominous warning felt like the calm before a storm. Faith couldn't shake the feeling that something dark and powerful was brewing, just beyond the walls of Hogwarts. Her nights were plagued with restless sleep, the journal's cryptic contents replaying in her mind. She could see her mother's face, blurred by time, her voice a whisper warning her of the dangers that lay ahead.

One evening, while the common room was unusually quiet, Faith gathered Draco, Tom, and Mattheo in their usual corner. The firelight flickered in their eyes, casting long shadows across their faces. They were waiting for the others—Pansy, Theo, and Blaise—who had promised to meet them. It was time to unite the students of Slytherin and beyond, as Snape had advised.

Draco leaned back in his chair, his expression serious. "Snape wouldn't have come to us if he didn't believe this was real. We need to be prepared for whatever's coming."

Faith nodded, glancing at the journal, which lay on the table between them like a ticking time bomb. "We can't just sit and wait for something to happen. We need to act, to protect ourselves—and the rest of the school."

Mattheo, ever the skeptic, crossed his arms. "How do we even know who to trust? Not everyone's going to be as willing to join forces with us."

"Especially after everything with the showcase," Tom added, his tone laced with sarcasm. "People might still think we're just trying to prove a point."

Faith looked at him, her voice soft but determined. "We have to try. We're stronger together. If dark forces are gathering, we need to stand united—not just as Slytherins, but as Hogwarts students."

Just then, the door creaked open, and Pansy, Theo, and Blaise slipped inside. They looked tense but resolved, having heard whispers of the dark rumors that had begun to swirl around the castle. Faith rose from her seat, meeting them with a steady gaze.

"Thank you for coming," she said, her voice carrying a weight of urgency. "There's something we need to discuss. Something dangerous."

Theo, always sharp-eyed, noticed the journal on the table and pointed to it. "Is this about that?"

Faith nodded. "It's worse than we thought. Snape told us that it might be linked to dark forces, and that our families—my family—might be a target."

Pansy crossed her arms, her expression hardening. "What do you want from us?"

"I want you to join us," Faith said, her gaze sweeping over the group. "We need to be ready for whatever's coming. We don't know who or what it is, but we can't afford to be caught off guard."

Blaise, who had been quiet up until now, spoke in a low voice. "If this is real, if something's coming... We're in more danger than we've ever been. The Dark Lord may be gone, but his followers aren't. If they're trying to bring him back—"

Faith cut him off, her voice steady. "Then we stop them. Together."

For a moment, there was silence. The crackling of the fire was the only sound in the room, and Faith felt the weight of the decision they all had to make. She knew that if they didn't act now, it might be too late.

Finally, Pansy stepped forward. "I'm in. I've made my choice. I'm not letting anyone control my life, my future—not anymore."

Theo and Blaise exchanged a glance, then nodded. "We're with you," Theo said.

Mattheo leaned forward, a smirk playing at his lips. "Well then, it looks like we've got ourselves a revolution."

---

**The Next Morning**

Faith woke early, her heart still racing from the intensity of the night before. She knew they had made the right choice, but the weight of what was to come hung heavy in the air. As she dressed for the day, she glanced at her reflection in the mirror. The girl staring back at her seemed older, more determined. This was no longer about houses or school rivalries. This was about survival.

Draco was waiting for her in the common room, already dressed in his school robes. His expression softened as he saw her, and for a moment, the weight of the situation lifted.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

Faith nodded, trying to suppress the fear that lurked beneath the surface. "We don't have a choice."

They headed to the Great Hall together, where whispers of dark rumors filled the air. Students from all houses huddled in small groups, their faces etched with concern. The usual chatter and laughter had been replaced with anxious murmurs, and Faith could feel the tension building with every step she took.

As they entered the hall, she spotted Harry, Hermione, and Ron at the Gryffindor table. Their expressions were grim, and it was clear that they, too, had heard the rumors. Faith caught Harry's eye, and for a brief moment, they shared a silent understanding. Whatever was coming, they would face it together—Slytherin and Gryffindor, united against the darkness.

---

**That Afternoon**

Classes seemed to drag on endlessly, the air thick with anticipation. Faith couldn't concentrate, her mind constantly drifting back to the journal, the dark magic it contained, and the ominous warnings from Snape. She knew that time was running out.

After her last class, she made her way to the library, where Draco, Tom, and Mattheo were waiting for her. They had gathered in a secluded corner, far from prying eyes, and were poring over old texts and magical tomes, searching for any clue that might help them.

"I found something," Tom said, his voice barely above a whisper as Faith joined them. He slid a dusty old book across the table. "There's a mention of a ritual, something that could be connected to what's in the journal."

Faith's heart skipped a beat as she glanced at the page. The words were ancient and cryptic, but there was no mistaking the dark magic they described.

"We need to take this to McGonagall," she said, her voice trembling with urgency.

Draco nodded. "And we need to be ready for whatever's coming next."

As they left the library, the weight of the dark forces gathering around them seemed to press down on Faith's shoulders. But she knew, deep down, that they were not alone. Together, they would face the storm—and whatever darkness awaited them.