Through the Darkness | Draco Malfoy

Four

The castle was huge, and it was filled with students and teachers. Navigating through the bustling halls was challenging for Aries, but she managed to weave her way through eventually.

She waited until everyone had gone to their dormitories, giving her the freedom to search for the rat. When her plan seemed to work, she headed upstairs, struggling with the moving staircases.

"Stupid stairs," she muttered, glaring at them before continuing on her way.

"Who's there?!" A sudden shout echoed in the corridor, causing her to flinch and freeze on the spot. She looked around slowly, but saw no one.

"I see you, little black creature!"

Aries wanted to jump out of the nearest window. She could see no one around her, but the voice seemed so close.

Deciding to change back into her human form, she grabbed her wand firmly. "Where are you?" she called out, trying not to sound as nervous as she felt.

"Over here, young lady."

And there he was, inside a painting—a knight.

"Oh, there you are," she whispered as she stepped forward. She felt something under her foot and realized it was a piece of paper with strange words written on it.

"I am Sir Cadogan, a sworn knight of the round table, at your service! And you are?" the knight declared as she read the paper.

"I'm... I'm just passing through. Um, hey Sir Cadogan, do you know where the Gryffindors' common room is?"

"Why, yes! It is behind the painting I inhabit! And how disrespectful that is, my name is Sir Cadogan, not Sir Corgan!" he exclaimed indignantly.

"Uh huh, okay, sorry." Aries smiled awkwardly. "May I enter, Sir Cadogan?"

"Password?" he asked warily.

"Umm..." Aries tried to think of something, but drew a blank. She checked the piece of paper again and raised her eyebrows. "Fl... Flib... F-Flib..."

Sir Cadogan raised his eyebrows and waited patiently. "Take your time," he said in a quiet tone with a reassuring nod.

"Flibberti... Flibbertigib... gibbet," she stammered.

"Wrong."

She raised her eyebrows in shock. "What do you mean, wrong? I almost sacrificed my tongue to read it!"

"Wrong again."

"Umm," she looked at the paper again. "For... Fortuna... Major."

"Wrong!"

She glared at him, then looked back at the paper. "I hope your round table burns," she mumbled. "Sc... Scurvy cur."

"That is correct! You may enter, my lady." He bowed politely as the painting moved aside.

"Idiot," she muttered, rolling her eyes as she walked into the Gryffindor common room. It was warm and cozy, with books on shelves and a crackling fireplace. The fire's warmth and pleasant smell were comforting, but she had no time to enjoy it.

She headed toward the boys' dormitories, where there were many doors in the hall. She opened the nearest door and peeked inside. Four boys were lying on their beds, asleep.

Using her keen sense of smell, Aries took one sniff and immediately recognized the scent of a rat in the room.

"Come out, you rodent, or I'll eat you alive and then make you suffer in hell," she whispered, walking toward the bed where the smell was strongest. She slowly took out her knife.