𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐲 [𝐉𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐮𝐬]

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐

The room was full of empty bottles and trash. I stepped over a few Slytherins lying on the ground, fast asleep among the trash. I couldn't sleep. I walked over to the window, which opened onto a stretch of roof with an endless view of the ocean beyond. I just stared at the dark landscape and thought. The sun hasn't risen yet. The moon was the only thing that lit up the starry sky and the rippling waves of the ocean crashing closer and closer to me. In this semi-darkness I caught sight of some dementors who were restlessly patrolling around the castle.

"Something's out of the ordinary. It's like everyone's more worried than usual." I said in a quiet, somewhat hoarse voice. I hadn't spoken in the last few hours, but now I felt a gaze on my back. It must have been Barty who fell asleep on the couch within the first ten minutes of the party.

"You're always so ominous, Reg." he said, sitting next to me on the windowsill.

"That's.. not true. This is the first time I've felt this." I replied, glancing at him and he smiled..

"Your whole look... it's ominous. That raven-black hair, with those melancholic eyes." he chuckled amused, before falling silent. The sudden silence was very noticeable. "Yesterday, on the train," he began, and I looked back at the waves. "I know you saw the article in the Daily Prophet. I overheard Mulciber and the others talking about it in the other train compartment." He paused briefly before continuing. "Lord Voldemort..."

"Don't say his name" I muttered, and Barty looked back.

"You could set off a bomb here, and they still wouldn't wake up." he said, making me sigh.

"Dark Lord" I corrected Barty. "That's what my parents always call him. In fact, saying it any other way might even be disrespectful." I explained, defending my reasoning, to which Barty just rolled his eyes.

"Jeez, Reg... though, there's something to it... if I think about it hard enough... never mind." he shrugged. "Anyway, Mulciber and Avery know about it too. If you ask me, we should keep an eye on them. I couldn't care less about Gryffindor theories, but I have to admit, they're right. Mulciber and Avery have completely different ideas about values." Barty explained.

"Are you worried they'll do something stupid?" I asked as I hugged my knees tightly.

"Yes, or... I'm worried about you, Reg. I have no idea what's going on between you and those two idiots, but if they drag you into anything foolish, know that you can count on me." he said uncertainly. I smiled faintly. Such friendly words were unusual for Barty.

"Thank you, Barty. And I'll hold you to it." I replied, though my voice betrayed how much I was smiling.

"Go on, laugh. Do you know how hard it is to come up with such beautiful words? Then say them out loud. This year is really going to be different." - he said in disbelief, then stood up next to me and headed back to the bedroom. He might have been mumbling something, but I think it was just to himself. I still found it hard to believe that he could do such sentimental things.

I took the small slip of paper held between my fingers into my palm, and it immediately unfolded into a larger letter in my hand. Taking out my wand, I illuminated it.

"Tap the fire three times to show the direction to your goal in the realm of infinite knowledge. -M and A"

I closed the paper between my fingers again, and it shrank back into a small slip.

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