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HOGWARTS AFTER HOURS was a different place. the shadows grew longer, the walls seemed closer, and the silence held a thousand secrets. for most, the thought of being caught in those late-night corridors would send a chill down their spine, but for you, it was a thrill. rules weren't made for you. you'd come to hogwarts with a mind sharper than most, a personality sharper than the rest, and an animosity toward authority that had become almost legendary in slytherin.
there was something you enjoyed about testing the limits, sneaking out to roam the dimly lit hallways and catch the moonlight filtering through the tall, ancient windows. it was part rebellion, part curiosity, but mostly freedom, and tonight was no different - except for the fact that tonight, you were slipping out in a form no one would suspect. you closed your eyes, focused on the transformation, and felt the comforting sensation as fur replaced skin and you shrank down into a sleek, black cat.
the transformation was second nature by now. becoming your animagus form was like sliding on a well-worn coat. in cat form, your senses sharpened. every sound grew louder, every shadow more detailed, and the smell of hogwarts at night - a mingling of aged wood, cold stone, and a hint of the forbidden forest beyond the walls - came alive around you. silent and unseen, you padded softly along the stone floors, content to explore and breathe in the magic of the castle, unfettered by rules or obligations.
tonight felt like any other - until you saw him.
you turned a corner on the third floor, one paw instinctively raised mid-step as a shape took form in the dim light ahead. a figure sat slouched against the wall, his head buried in his hands. you narrowed your feline eyes, ears flicking forward as you took in his rumpled robes and disheveled hair. despite the shadows, you recognized him almost instantly. theodore nott - your housemate.
in slytherin, theodore had a reputation for being quiet, a little withdrawn, and hopelessly buried in books. he wasn't part of the loud crowd that made up most of your house; instead, he always kept to himself, disappearing behind the pages of spellbooks that most students wouldn't touch until they were preparing for their newts. he was smart - unbelievably so - but shy, the sort who would rather fade into the background than seek out attention. that he'd even been sorted into slytherin was something of a mystery, though, when you thought about it, you understood. he wasn't cruel or cunning in the usual sense; he was observant, patient, and devastatingly sharp.
but right now, he didn't look like any of those things. his shoulders shook, and as your eyes adjusted, you noticed the glimmer of tears trailing through his fingers, catching the moonlight in a way that sent a pang through you.
part of you wanted to turn back, leave him to whatever private pain had brought him to this empty corridor at such an hour. you weren't known for comforting people. you'd built walls around yourself so tall that anyone who even attempted to scale them was usually cut down by your sharp tongue or icy glare. attachment was weakness, in your eyes - a sentiment that had served you well. but something about seeing theodore like this, alone and vulnerable, stirred something you didn't quite understand.
