"... Early romances are bad for studying."
"?"
"I'm not interested in that Mary or whatever, you go by yourself this time."
"Ah, alright, alright." Cedric quickly nodded, and after speaking, he quickened his pace, squeezing into the middle of the crowd.
Ah, youth...
Watching the two figures squeezed together in the crowd, William sighed softly—ever since that trip to Hogsmeade, the relationship between Cedric and that Ravenclaw girl had progressed rapidly, hanging out together at every opportunity.
Tonight was no exception, that fool planned to escort the girl back to her dormitory, claiming the castle wasn't safe at night...
... Teenage lovebirds really are blind.
But William didn't mind; tonight's Halloween feast was as lavish as the "Last Supper," especially those puddings at the end—his mood was quite good after ingesting enough sweets, so accompanying Cedric upstairs for two rounds was fine, after all, he knew the way.
"... Give it back to him."
Feeling the sudden extra weight on his shoulder, William slightly turned his head and saw the Niffler that had just climbed onto him. Before Kabuda could greet him with its tiny short hands, William pinched its head and lifted it up.
"Whimper..."
"That was a gift from me to him—" Luna protested softly, clearly unhappy with William's "assault" on the Niffler.
"He doesn't need sickles, you should keep it and buy yourself some candy." William didn't stop his actions and continued to rummage in Kabuda's belly, pulling out two shiny silver coins—which he then tossed back to the girl. "Swapping for some glass beads or something, he likes those, I recall you have lots..."
He turned to look at Luna, noticing the necklace on her neck... oh, today it was made of butterbeer corks.
"Alright, maybe I can use it to buy a few more copies of The Quibbler—" Luna said in her usual airy tone as she accepted the sickles.
"The Quibbler? Isn't that your family's magazine?"
"Yeah—do you want one? I can give you a set."
"... Better not."
William had browsed that magazine once, how to say... well, Luna wanting to boost her family's magazine sales wasn't a bad thing.
"Okay then."
The refused girl wasn't upset; she simply nodded lightly.
They walked side by side at the back of the crowd, slowly making their way up the castle's stone steps.
"... What's wrong with you tonight?" William's gaze shifted beyond Luna, looking at the girl on the other side—Ginny's behavior was unusual tonight, her quiet demeanor not like her usual self.
"I don't know... but I have this bad premonition..." Upon hearing the voice, Ginny was momentarily stunned, only realizing afterward that William was addressing her—she shook her head, her shoulders trembling involuntarily. "Something bad has happened."
"Something bad?"
William slightly furrowed his brow. Ginny's appearance did not seem baseless, and since she had once been influenced by a diary contaminated with Dark Arts, perhaps...
The people ahead suddenly stopped.
"Those who stand against the heir, that means you, Mudblood!"
A shrill voice sounded at the front of the crowd, instantly silencing the bustling conversations. The burning candle flames flickered along the dim corridor's sides, and an inexplicable fear began to spread among the crowd.
"... What happened?" Luna tiptoed, but her first-year height was clearly insufficient to see the scene behind the crowd.
"It's true..." Ginny's voice trembled slightly as she curled up her body, her eyes filled with fear, staring at William. "My premonition was correct; that was Malfoy just now—definitely something's happened!"
"... Yes, your premonition was right."
William's already furrowed brow tightened further. Although separated by dozens of people, he could still make out what was happening at the very front of the crowd—a red-haired Ron Weasley was grappling with the caretaker Filch, but the pose unchanged from start to finish suggested this was more serious than a young wizard caught by the caretaker causing trouble in the castle.
The phrase "The Secret Chamber has been opened. Enemies of the heir, beware..." was clearly visible in scarlet letters on the side wall of the corridor, though the final word remained unfinished.
"Meow!"
A shrill cat's cry sounded behind William. The next moment, a gray shadow flashed past William—but he managed to scoop it up with one hand; Mrs. Loris tried to wriggle, but upon seeing William, instinctively ceased her struggles.
"Make way."
William gently waved, creating a gap in the crowd before him, holding Mrs. Loris as he made his way through.
"... Is that your brother?"
Luna peered through the gap and witnessed the scene at the corridor's center. She promptly patted Ginny beside her, hesitantly asking.
Ginny didn't answer but followed closely behind William.
"Meow—"
The moment Mrs. Loris spotted Mr. Filch, she struggled to break free from William's grasp to run to the man's side—but to avoid disturbing the "crime scene," William did not release his grip on Mrs. Loris. Upon seeing the two people standing motionless, he turned to the two sole suspects at the scene.
"No..."
Meeting William's eyes, Harry shook his head hopelessly.
"Argus—"
Dumbledore appeared at the scene in the next instant, accompanied by many teachers; his gaze paused momentarily on everyone present, the flickering firelight dancing on his glasses perched atop the bridge of his nose. Finally, his eyes rested on the motionless Filch and Ron.
"Professor..." Hermione seemed about to speak, but Dumbledore shook his head, interrupting her.
"Come with me, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said. "Minerva, please take Mr. Weasley and Argus—"
"Headmaster, my office is closest!" Lockhart briskly stepped forward, "It's right upstairs—you can—"
"Thank you, Gilderoy," Dumbledore said.
Quietly, the crowd split open to allow them passage. Lockhart appeared uncommonly excited, looking rather full of himself, and he hurriedly tailed Dumbledore. Professor McGonagall and Snape followed, while Ron and Filch floated gently ahead of them.
"A Squib, and a Weasley, the disgrace of the Pure-Bloods—" Malfoy drawled, dramatically turning to the crowd behind him. "Who'll be next? Do I even need to say? Mudb—"
"Shut up!" Ginny screamed, cutting off Malfoy's "sermon."
"Oh, Weasley, does your brother frighten you, or—"
"Shut up, Malfoy," Percy stepped out from the crowd.
"Another Weasley—"
"Five points from Slytherin," Percy's voice was unusually cold.
"... Hmph."
Malfoy fell silent, evidently somewhat intimidated by the authority of the Prefect.
"That's it, everyone return to your dorms—" Percy loudly announced from the center of the crowd. Then, he glanced at Ginny, "You too, Ronnie won't be in any trouble—wait, where's that transfer student?"
Seeing Ginny and Luna standing together, Percy was momentarily taken aback; he clearly remembered that someone else was just there.