adored by him | *under editing*

second year × 21

Conversations and laughter flooded through the ambient Great Hall like a tsunami. Ashton and Sam were deep in chat about the muggle world whilst Nadia was tucking into a delectable slice of fudge cake. However, her attention was snagged as a small fragment of parchment floated onto her lap. She took it with knitted brows and read:

The Beech tree by the Black Lake, curfew.

- DM

Nadia sighed, pocketing the note. She snuck a glance at the Slytherin table, faltering slightly as Draco's curious eyes were already on her. He averted his gaze quickly, involving himself in the surrounding conversations, a faint pink dusting his pale cheeks. She watched him a few seconds longer before her attention was snagged again. 

"Oh my Merlin! That is so cool!" Ashton exclaimed happily, hitting her goblet and spilling the contents everywhere, earning very displeased groans from her fellow Ravenclaws. "Oops..."

***

"Harry, Harry, Harry. Can you possibly think of a better way to serve detention than helping me sign my fan mail?" Lockhart flashed him a bright grin as the bespectacled boy groaned internally, his hand aching as he finished another signature.

"Fame's a fickle friend, Harry. Celebrity is as celebrity does. Remember that." The man winked whilst Harry looked over to large pile of fan mail still in need of signing. He sighed quietly, re-dipping his quill before something unsettling pricked his eardrums.

Come, come to me...

"What?" Harry blurted out. Lockhart's eyes met his, his smile faltering slightly.

"I was saying, six solid months at the top of the bestseller list! Broke all records!"

"No, not you." Harry dismissed warily. "That voice..." He trailed off, emerald eyes darting about the room.

"Voice?" Lockhart questioned with a tremble, his usual obnoxious demeanour fading.

"Yeah, didn't you hear it?"

"What are you talking about, Harry? You're probably getting drowsy." His nervous eyes flitted to the clock. "Great Scott! No wonder. We've been at this for almost four hours! Spooky how fast time flies when you're having fun, eh?"

"Spooky..." Harry was ushered from Lockhart's office and began to make his way down the corridor. However, the lengthening shadows creeping behind him caused an ever-growing pit to ensue in his stomach.

Blood...I smell blood...

Harry stopped cold.

Let me rip you...let me kill you...

He pressed his ear to the wall with urgency, running his fingers along the cold stone. A faint hissing sounded behind it, moving gradually so Harry followed it, almost breaking into a run when he barrelled into his three best friends.

"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, worried at the boy's behaviour.

"Did you hear it?"

Their faces slowly morphed into one's of pure confusion. "Hear what?"

"That voice."