The Noctis Codex | DRARRY

THIRTY-TWO

A loud, insistent banging jolted Harry from sleep. His name echoed through the door, cutting through the haze of his dreams. Groaning, he fumbled for his glasses on the nightstand, barely managing to slide them onto his face before stumbling to the door. Cracking it open, he blinked at the sight of Hermione and Ron, their faces pale and tense.

Relief washed over him momentarily at seeing his friends, but that feeling was short-lived. The terror etched into their expressions sent a chill down his spine. Without waiting for an invitation, they squeezed past him into the room. Hermione's eyes darted nervously, and Ron's jaw was tight.

"What's going on?" Harry asked, his voice still thick with sleep.

The girl hesitated, her mouth opening and closing like she was struggling to find the right words. Finally, she spoke, her tone quiet but loaded with gravity. "There's... a rumor going around. About you and Draco."

Harry's heart lurched. "What kind of rumor?"

"That you two are... dating. Or something like that." Ron cleared his throat awkwardly.

"What?" The Gryffindor's eyes widened in disbelief. His mind raced, each thought louder and more chaotic than the last. "How? Who said that?"

"Someone apparently saw you two kissing yesterday. That's what we heard in the common room this morning."

The world tilted. Harry's thoughts spiraled into panic. Merlin's beard. This was bad. Really bad. He had promised Draco that no one would see them, that it was safe. Now the whole school seemed to know.

"Do you know who saw?" he asked, his voice rising in urgency, but Hermione shook her head. "No, just what people were saying. But it's spread fast."

Harry didn't waste another second. He grabbed his robes, threw them on hastily, and bolted out of the room. His feet barely touched the ground as he sprinted down the corridor to Draco's room. His fists hammered on the door just as his friends had done to him moments ago.

When the blond opened it swiftly, he was already dressed and seemingly prepared for the day. The moment he saw Harry's face, though, he knew something was wrong.

"What is it?" Draco's voice was sharp, cutting through the other's panting.

"There's a rumor going around. People are saying someone saw us kissing."

Draco's face instantly drained of color, going from shock to anger in a heartbeat. His jaw clenched tightly, his eyes flashing with fury. "Who started it?" he hissed.

"We don't know. Hermione and Ron just heard it in the common room."

"I'll deal with it," the Slytherin muttered, venom in every word. "Whoever started this... they're going to regret it."

"But—"

"I know it's not just a rumor," Draco snapped, his voice low but dangerous. "But no one was supposed to know. No one. If my father hears about this..." His voice faltered for a second, then he pushed forward. "I won't let that happen."

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air. Harry nodded, understanding the stakes without needing further explanation. Together, they stepped out into the corridor, tension crackling between them.

As they walked through the halls, it became painfully clear how widespread the rumor had become. Students whispered behind their hands, eyes darting toward them only to quickly look away. The wave of speculation followed them everywhere, a cloud that seemed to grow heavier with each step.

Draco's jaw was set in stone, his face a mask of cold fury while Harry could feel his own heart pounding in his chest. This wasn't just bad—it was catastrophic.