Slytherin secrets.

Astronomy tower.

NOT RELATED TO THE BOOKS OR MOVIES.

The aftermath of the Quidditch match lingered like a dark cloud over the Slytherin common room for days. Losing to Gryffindor had stung everyone's pride, and Draco's quiet brooding only added to the tension. But amid the bitter loss, something unexpected started to shift—my connection with Blaise.

We had always been close, well for one month now, but there was something different about the way he acted around me now. Maybe it was the way he sat next to me in every class, brushing his arm against mine whenever he could. Or maybe it was the late-night conversations we'd started having, curled up on the couches by the fire in the common room when everyone else had gone to bed.

There was a softness in his voice when he spoke to me now, a teasing smile that lingered longer than it used to. And I found myself wanting to spend more time with him, drawn to the easy charm that seemed to flow effortlessly from him. Blaise had always been smooth—confident without being arrogant, mysterious without trying too hard. But now, there was something more... something magnetic. 

It started one afternoon after Herbology class, when we walked back to the Slytherin common room together. The chilly October wind nipped at our robes as we left the greenhouses behind, the earthy smell of soil and damp leaves still clinging to the air.

"So, what do you think Sprout's got against us Slytherins?" Blaise asked, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I swear she always gives us the toughest plants to work with."

I rolled my eyes, though I couldn't help but laugh. "Maybe she just knows we can handle it."

He smirked, glancing over at me. "You're getting better at this, Y/N. I saw you handle that Venomous Tentacula today like a pro."

"Oh, please," I scoffed, shaking my head. "I was one second away from losing a finger."

"Still," he said, stepping closer as we walked, "you didn't. That's what counts."

I smiled, feeling the warmth of his praise settle in my chest. There was something so effortless about being around Blaise—like he understood me in a way that made everything feel lighter, less serious. It was a welcome distraction from the strange tension I felt around Draco, and from the secrets I was starting to uncover. I just wanted to take a break from trying to figure out secrets around here and focus on the positive things like Blaise and the fact that Draco was no longer pestering me and the fact the I had friends now. I still wasn't sure if I could trust them, but I was starting to trust Blaise more and more day by day. 

We reached the entrance to the dungeons, the familiar cold stone walls greeting us as we descended into the depths of the castle. The common room was empty when we arrived, most students still at dinner or in the library. The fire in the hearth crackled softly, casting a golden glow over the dark green leather sofas.

Blaise dropped onto the couch and patted the seat next to him. "Come on, sit. We have the place to ourselves for once."

I hesitated for a second, then took a seat beside him, sinking into the cushions. He stretched his arm along the back of the couch, his fingers grazing my shoulder lightly. The touch sent a small shiver through me, though I wasn't sure if it was from the cold or the way his closeness made my heart beat a little faster.

"You know," he said, his voice low and casual, "it's nice spending time like this. Just the two of us."

I glanced at him, my pulse quickening. "Yeah, it is."

For a moment, we sat in silence, the crackling fire the only sound between us. I could feel the tension building in the air, the unspoken something hanging between us that neither of us was quite ready to address. It wasn't the sharp tension I felt around Draco—this was softer, warmer. But it was there, undeniable.