Two Sides of the Serpent // Draco Malfoy

Chapter Thirty-Three: Before the Fall

Draco and I blended seamlessly into the mass of students, wearing borrowed robes to help with our disguise. Moving toward the Great Hall, the air felt thicker than usual, carrying the weight of the inevitable battle. Footsteps in sync and soft murmurs reverberated off the unforgiving stone. With everything happening, my mind could not focus on what was to come. Instead, my thoughts were consumed with worry for Draco.

I reached for his hand, curling my fingers around his. Clenching his hand, I found strength and comfort in his touch, easing my troubled mind. We had survived more than we ever thought we could, and facing this was just another challenge we would face together.

He squeezed my hand in return, his expression stoic, yet the fear in his eyes mirrored my own. Yet, in that silent gesture, we found what we needed to go on. Together, we could face whatever was next.

As the sea of students flowed into the Great Hall, the atmosphere was thick with tension. The long tables were gone, replaced with rows of silent, anxious students from every house, standing shoulder to shoulder. There were no house divides anymore. We had all been united by one shared thing.

Survival.

Standing side by side, the nervous whispers from those around us reached my ears, piercing through the eerie silence encapsulating the hall. Once so full of life, it had now felt ominous and sinister. Dark clouds swirled up above, shielding the flickering candles normally filling the space. Suddenly, a heavy thud of footsteps came striding down the center aisle.

Severus Snape.

He walked unsettlingly calm, his robes flowing freely behind him. His cold and calculating expression was unreadable while he scanned the sea of students before him. My heart pounded in my chest, hoping to remain unseen. Draco's jaw tightened as he watched Snape stride past us toward the front of the Great Hall. Reaching the large, intricately designed stained glass at the front, Snape turned to the crowd. His hands remained in his pockets, and who I am assuming are the Carrows, flanked either side of him ready to take action.

Soon, he began to speak. His voice monotone and chilling. "Many of you are surely wondering why I have summoned you at this hour," He paused, then continued with his voice more boisterous now. "It has come to my attention that earlier this evening.. Harry Potter was sighted in Hogsmeade."

Whispers erupted from the students, some wondering if it could be true, and others claiming it was false. The murmurs echoed before Snape had demanded attention.

"Now! Should anyone, student or staff, attempt to aid Mr. Potter, they will be punished in a manner consistent with the severity of their transgression. Furthermore, any person to have found knowledge of these events who fails to come forward, will be treated as equally guilty."

His eyes continued to examine the crowd, both the facial expressions and body language of those present. He waited a moment in silence before continuing once more.

"Now then.." He stated as he walked down the center aisle slowly. "If anyone here has any knowledge of Mr. Potter's movements this evening.. I invite them to step forward.. Now."

Looking around the room, students were keeping their eyes forward or down at their feet. The anxiousness filled the air and the room seemed to hold its breath, awaiting the impending confrontation. After a moment of stillness, a collective gasp filled the space as Harry walked into the aisle, facing Snape head on.

Student's moved out of the way, shuffling their feet backwards, watching as Harry and Snape's eyes bore into each other. With a deep breath, he addressed Severus.

"It seems, despite your exhaustive defense strategies, you still have a bit of a security problem, headmaster." Harry spoke bitterly, as if acid were foaming in his mouth.