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

Chapter 43

Excerpt from Tom Riddle's diary
it is about to happen, I cannot stop it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Gryffindor common room was dimly lit, the room was empty, and only a few people were seated on the large sofa in front of the unlit fireplace: Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Sarah.

Potter held in his hands a vial containing a clear liquid that the group immediately recognized as Felix Felicis.
"Are you sure this is the right choice?" Hermione asked, not taking her eyes off the potion.
"Absolutely sure," Harry replied.
He uncorked the vial, drank the liquid in one gulp, and for a moment, it seemed like nothing had changed, he was still the same old Harry.

"Well?" Sarah asked, irritated.
She hadn't entirely forgiven her friend for the attack on Draco, but she had put all her resentment aside after hearing the full story about the Half-Blood Prince, which had been kept hidden from her.
At that moment, more important matters were at stake.
Suddenly, a wide grin spread across Harry's face, piquing the curiosity of the other three.
"Well, how do you feel?" Hermione asked.
"Extraordinary. Truly extraordinary," Harry replied, standing up under the confused gaze of his friends, who followed him as he approached the entrance door.
"Remember, Slughorn usually eats early, takes a walk, and then goes back to his office," Hermione said, listing the professor's habits on her fingers.
"Great!" Harry replied immediately, walking towards the common room door. "I'm going to Hagrid's."
"What? No, Harry, you have to go talk to Slughorn! We have a plan," Sarah followed him, trying to stop him.
"I know, but I have a really good feeling about Hagrid. I feel that's where I need to be tonight. Does that make sense?"
Ron, Hermione, and Sarah exchanged bewildered looks before replying in unison,
"No."
"Well, trust me, I know what I'm doing or... the Felix does," Harry said, and he walked out, leaving the three of them alone.
~~~~

Sarah was walking through the empty corridors following Black, her faithful cat.
Lately, she had noticed he was acting strange, and she didn't trust leaving him to wander around the school on his own. She decided to accompany him on his afternoon strolls.
"Don't run" the girl said, and the cat meowed in annoyance, slowing his pace to stay beside his owner.
Outside, it was getting darker, and there was no sign of Harry, he had completely disappeared.
The clouds were thickening, and a strange atmosphere hung over the school.
Sarah could feel it.
She also had a sense that she wasn't safe there, as if something was about to happen, though she couldn't tell what.

Suddenly, Black darted into a corridor on their left, and she had to run to catch up with him.
She found him standing at the feet of several figures with their backs turned. For a moment, she didn't recognize them.
"Damn it... what is he doing here?"
A platinum-blond head bent down, picking up the cat and stroking its sleek fur.
The girl took a few steps closer, finally recognizing a voice she hadn't heard in a long time.
"So, you're finally better, Malfoy."

The group turned around, and Sarah couldn't help but notice how all of them were dressed discreetly yet elegantly in black.
Only Tom and Pansy were missing; the rest of them were there in front of her.
"I just got out of the infirmary yesterday. I thought they would've told you," Draco said.
She shook her head, cautiously moving closer. The girl couldn't shake the feeling she was interrupting something.

She looked at them with a faint smile.
"Why are you all so dressed up? Did I forget about some party or...?"
No one answered. No one could meet her eyes.
Malfoy put the cat down and turned to face the large window to their right. The one who took a step toward her was Mattheo.
He placed his hands on her shoulders, and from the look in his eyes, it was clear something wasn't right.
"Go back to your room, Sarah," he said.
The Gryffindor girl looked at him, confused, shifting her gaze to the others.
But they all kept their eyes fixed on the ground.