Harry Potter and the Darker Path

Chapter 5: The Slytherin Way

As October passed, Harry felt more at home in Slytherin than ever. The common room had become his sanctuary, its dark green lights casting shadows that made it feel secretive, protected—just like Slytherin itself. He enjoyed the quiet whispers of ambition among his housemates, the sense that they were all working toward something greater, something powerful. Even his friendship with Draco Malfoy, prickly as it sometimes was, had grown stronger. 

But something gnawed at Harry’s mind—the door on the third-floor corridor. He hadn’t forgotten the mysterious door Draco had shown him weeks before, the one that was forbidden. It was a secret Harry was itching to uncover, but every time he mentioned it, Draco only smirked. 

“We’ll figure it out when the time’s right,” Draco would say. 

 Halloween Feast 

The atmosphere in the Great Hall on Halloween was buzzing with excitement. Pumpkins the size of cauldrons hung in the air, carved with glowing faces, and bats swooped lazily over the tables as students eagerly tucked into their feast. Harry sat with Draco, Pansy, and the rest of the Slytherins, listening to them talk about their families’ Halloween traditions and boasting about what they'd done over the summer. 

But Harry’s thoughts kept wandering. There was something about the magic at Hogwarts that made him restless. He had discovered so much already—flying, Quidditch, secret corridors—but he felt like there was still so much he didn’t understand. He noticed Draco glancing at him from time to time as if sensing his distraction. 

“What’s wrong, Potter?” Draco asked over the clatter of plates and chatter. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”  

Harry shook his head. “I’m fine. Just thinking.”  

Draco smirked. “Well, stop thinking. Eat something. You’ll need your energy for the Quidditch match next week. Gryffindor’s still fuming after we beat them. They’ll be out for revenge.” 

Harry grinned despite himself. The Quidditch victory had felt incredible, especially knowing that he had been the one to win it for Slytherin. But something else was bothering him, something he couldn’t quite shake. 

As the feast continued, Professor Quirrell suddenly burst into the hall, his turban askew, his face pale and frightened. He staggered to the staff table and gasped, “Troll—in the dungeons—thought you ought to know.” 

The Great Hall erupted into chaos. Students screamed, plates clattered to the floor, and some of the younger students began to cry. The teachers were instantly on their feet, hurrying to organize the students. 

“Troll? In the dungeons?” Draco exclaimed, looking horrified. “That’s where our common room is!” 

Harry's heart skipped a beat. What if the troll had gotten into the Slytherin common room? What if it was causing chaos down there right now? But before he could voice his concerns, Professor Dumbledore’s voice rang out across the hall, magically amplified. 

“Prefects, lead your houses back to the dormitories immediately! Teachers, come with me.” 

The students began to file out of the Great Hall, but Draco grabbed Harry’s arm. “Come on, Potter. Let’s go check it out.” 

“What? Are you mad?” Harry asked, though a part of him felt a rush of excitement at the idea. 

“Don’t be a coward,” Draco sneered, though his eyes gleamed with the same curiosity Harry was feeling. “We’re Slytherins. We don’t run from things—we figure them out.”