𝘋𝘈𝘕𝘊𝘐𝘕𝘎 𝘞𝘐𝘛𝘏 𝘖𝘜𝘙 𝘏𝘈𝘕𝘋𝘚 𝘛𝘐𝘌𝘋/𝘵𝘰𝘮 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 (English version)

Chapter 36

Hogwarts' library, normally seen as a refuge of peace and serenity, was enveloped in an atmosphere of mild frenzy.
Students bustled between shelves, desperately searching for textbooks and scrolls for their final assignments before the Christmas holidays.
Sarah sat down with a light sigh at a table as far away from everyone as possible, closely followed by Pansy, who was carrying more than three books.
The dim candlelight barely illuminated their tired faces.

"Are you really that sure you want to study even today? I mean, we've been blessed with a clear sky; we could always go for a walk," Pansy whispered, tucking a strand of her black hair behind her ear.
"The holidays are practically around the corner, and honestly, I can't fathom how they could give us more work to do!"
Sarah smiled faintly at her friend's words, though her mind had been elsewhere lately.
Harry had noticed Draco's strange movements, even during the later hours of the day, and had reported everything to her, leaving her unsettled.
Hermione and Ron seemed to waver more and more on their previous opinions, now confronted with evidence that something was indeed going on.

Sarah looked at Pansy.
The Slytherin girl was likely unaware of everything that was happening.
"Pansy, can I talk to you about something?"
She asked suddenly, causing her friend's head to snap toward her.
The girl nodded, straightening herself in her chair, ready to hear what the Gryffindor had to say.
"It's about Draco."

The two looked at each other, both fully aware that something wasn't right.
"You've noticed too?" Pansy asked.
Sarah nodded, "I saw him entering a room on the seventh floor, Pansy. He was alone, looking around as if he was scared. And then... I even talked about it with Harry."
"Potter? What did he say?"
"Draco's been moving around a lot, in increasingly strange parts of the castle, and at ridiculous hours."
"Blaise told me that lately, he's been coming back to the dorm so late that he only gets a few hours of sleep—odd..." Pansy said.
That was yet another confirmation for Sarah. What was he doing?

"Have you noticed how much he's changed?"
Pansy continued. "He doesn't talk to us anymore, isolates himself all the time, and then quitting his position on the Quidditch team? He loved playing."
"Exactly! I feel like something's happening, but none of my theories make any sense."
Pansy remained silent for a few moments.
Draco had always been a constant presence for her, but she had clearly noticed the changes in him, and Sarah's words, her suspicions, deeply unsettled her.
"I thought it was just a phase. You know how he sometimes likes to isolate himself and be alone, especially when he's under pressure," she said, almost as if talking more to herself than to Sarah.
They exchanged a silent look, both aware that there were secrets too big to be revealed.
The weight of the situation thickened the air between them, and Pansy decided to try lightening the mood, noticing just how worried Sarah seemed.

"By the way," she said with a nervous smile, "there's something I wanted to talk to you about."
Relieved that they had changed the subject, Sarah looked at her with curiosity.
Pansy's face turned slightly red,a rare occurrence for someone as confident as her.
She bit her lip before confessing, "Blaise Zabini."
Sarah raised an eyebrow. "What about Blaise?"
The Slytherin girl glanced around before speaking, moving to the chair beside her friend.
"Sarah, I don't know what's going on, but I feel like things between me and him have changed a bit over time. When we joke around, I don't feel like I'm in third year anymore, joking with someone I saw as a brother. I... I want Blaise to realize that maybe I can be something more, you know?"
The Gryffindor smiled and took Pansy's hands in hers.
"Three years... Do you know what that means to me? After three years, I'll finally get to ask Draco for 10 Galleons because I bet on this!"
Pansy laughed. "Seriously, Sarah, what should I do?"
"I'll talk to Blaise. I'll gather some important intel and report back to you, as always. At least, before doing anything reckless, let's figure out what he thinks of you in other ways too. What do you think?"
Pansy nodded happily. They smiled as they opened the books in front of them, beginning their study session together.
~~~~~