as night fell over the castle, i made my way toward my common room. the corridors were dim, the torches flickering weakly like they were struggling to stay alive. when i pushed open the door to the gryffindor common room, a cold chill ran down my spine.
it was empty.
completely empty.
not a single sound, no crackling fireplace, no chatter, not even the faint rustle of blankets. it felt wrong—too quiet for a room that was always full of life. i walked into the girls' dormitory, expecting hermione or ginny to be there.
but there was no one.
"okay, this is weird..." i whispered to myself.
then—a loud thud echoed behind me.
i spun around, heart hammering, wandless and confused. "hello?" i whispered. silence. "hello!" i called louder, but the room swallowed my voice.
✦
– draco's pov –
we were all in the great hall with our sleeping bags, apparently because sirius black was roaming the castle again. the professors forced everyone to sleep in one place for safety. it was loud at first, but now the hall was settling into an uneasy quiet.
"draco." a voice whispered sharply.
i turned around, annoyed. "what?"
hermione glared at me. "can you stop being rude? your girlfriend is missing."
my blood froze. i shot upright, heart sinking. "where is she?"
"earlier...you two had an argument, right?" she asked.
my stomach twisted as the memory hit me—my harsh words, the look on her face right before she walked away. "yeah." i said quietly, guilt flooding my chest.
"she came into the common room crying. i comforted her for a little bit. then she walked out... and never came back." hermione said, voice trembling.
i stood up instantly. "i'm going to find her."
"you can't leave!" she hissed. "we have to stay together."
"my girlfriend is out there and could be in danger, hermione." i said, pushing past her.
before i reached the doors, a hand gripped my arm tightly.
"what are you doing, draco?" snape asked quietly.
"y/n is out there. she's alone." my voice cracked despite my effort to stay calm.
"it's too dangerous," he warned.
"please, professor," i begged, something i never do. "please."
he held my stare for a long moment—cold, unreadable—then dropped his hand from my arm.
that was enough.
i turned and pushed the doors open, slipping into the dark corridor. i still couldn't believe he let me go.
"lumos," i whispered, and my wand glowed softly as i started searching every hallway, every shadow.
✦
– y/n's pov –
panic surged through me as i ran out of the gryffindor common room. the moving staircases creaked under my feet as i sprinted down them, nearly tripping as my breath came out uneven and shaky.
i clutched my wand, trying to steady my trembling hands.
"lumos," i whispered.
the tip lit up, casting long shadows down the walls. the castle felt bigger than ever—empty, echoing, terrifying.
"i need draco..." i mumbled to myself, voice breaking.
i heard footsteps behind me—slow, heavy. i picked up my pace, practically sprinting now.
when i turned the corner, i stopped dead in my tracks.
a familiar figure stood in front of me, wand raised.
i pointed mine instinctively. "stop!"
the light revealed his face—silver hair, sharp jaw, those stormy grey eyes.
"draco!" i breathed in relief, my entire body unraveling.
he ran to me instantly, wrapping his arms around me. i buried my face into his chest, shaking.
"are you okay?" he asked, pulling back to cup my cheek. his thumb stroked my skin, grounding me.
"i'm okay. i just...i heard something in the common room and panicked," i said, still gasping for breath.
"come on. we have to go," he said, grabbing my hand tightly as we ran together.
✦
draco pushed open the large doors to the great hall. everyone inside looked up—students zipped in sleeping bags, teachers patrolling the aisles.
"y/n!" hermione ran toward me instantly, wrapping me in a hug.
"you're okay," she said, her voice cracking like she'd been holding her breath.
i laughed softly. "i'm fine. really."
"miss y/n," snape said, approaching with that slow, intimidating stride.
i swallowed. "i'm sorry, professor." i rubbed my forehead awkwardly.
he simply nodded once and turned away, cloak billowing behind him. i exhaled in relief.
draco tugged me toward his sleeping bag and sat down, pulling me with him. we lay down facing each other, the tiny blanket barely covering us as people whispered around us.
"i'm sorry for earlier." he whispered.
"it's okay, draco. i was being dumb." i whispered back.
"no you weren't," he said softly. "i said harsh things. i'm sorry, love." his fingers slid under the blanket, intertwining with mine.
i smiled at him, cheeks warming.
he pulled me closer, pressing his lips gently onto mine—soft, slow, full of emotion and apology. i kissed him back, melting into him.
when we pulled away, he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against his chest. i rested my head under his chin, draco's heartbeat steady beneath me.
we fell asleep like that—wrapped up in each other's arms, safe for the first time all night.
