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CLASSES were dismissed the following day. Teachers and students seemed to be shaken, and Athena herself was in shock. Turned out, the student who lay unmoving under the gruesome text was actually petrified.

Not dead, thankfully, but still petrified.

Nobody knew what caused it. Nobody even knew what happened.

"What chamber of secrets?" Lucinda asked the question in a whisper as they all sat down for breakfast that morning, having to do so on orders of Headmaster Dippet.

All students of every House and every year were told by their Head of Houses to be in the Great Hall at eight a.m. sharp. Now that it was eight in the morning, not one student was wearing their uniforms. Again, on orders of Headmaster Dippet, classes weren't taking place that day. Not after what happened last night.

It seemed like the Headmaster had words of his own to say, attempting to ease the tension as he stood up by the teachers' table and cleared his throat into his wand—the sound booming through the already-silent Great Hall. Students seemed too shaken up to even talk. Judging by the bags under their eyes, Athena knew they were too shaken to even fall asleep.

"As you all may know, classes are not going to take place today. I urge you all to stay in your common rooms and try your best to avoid wandering about." Headmaster Dippet's voice echoed in the Great Hall, his gaze sweeping over the four House tables, each brimming with students who were now hushed and alert.

Athena spotted a cluster of first-year Hufflepuffs, their faces streaked with tears. Some clung to each other, their small frames shaking with fear, while older Hufflepuffs, faces drawn with concern, wrapped comforting arms around them, whispering soothing words that barely broke through the weight of the atmosphere. Athena turned her gaze back to the Headmaster, focusing intently on his words.

"What happened last night is not something that was expected," he continued, his voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of urgency. "I am sorry to say that this poses a significant danger to Hogwarts and its students." His brow furrowed, and for a moment, Athena could see the burden of leadership etched on his features. "However, as your Headmaster, I will do everything it takes to keep you all safe."

A murmur rippled through the hall, students exchanging anxious glances.

The usual chatter was replaced by an unsettling silence, punctuated only by the soft sobs of the younger students.

Athena noticed a Gryffindor boy nervously fidgeting with his tie, his wide eyes betraying the uncertainty that hung heavy in the air.

"Rest assured, I have already taken measures to increase security around the castle. The staff will be on high alert, and I encourage you to confide in your prefects or professors if you feel frightened or need someone to talk to." Dippet's voice rose slightly, infused with a sense of authority. "We are a community, and together, we will navigate this troubling time."

As he sat down, breakfast appeared in front of everyone on the tables.

Athena herself knew she didn't have the appetite, but if she was going to die sooner or later, she wanted to at least have the energy to fight back.

On that thought, she took a muffin in front of her and bit into it.

For once, Lucinda did not do the same and rejected the offer of orange juice after Druella had poured her some into her goblet.

"Drink up," Druella's stern voice came out as she took the filled goblet and tried to make Lucinda take it. She sighed and gave her friend a pointed look. "Athena, tell Lucinda to drink this orange juice or I might just kill her myself."

"This isn't a good time for that kind of joke," huffed Lucinda. She took the goblet, though, and sipped from it.

Druella victoriously shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips.

Athena chewed on the muffin, her eyes stopping on the smile on Druella's face. Something did not seem right. While all other students were shaking with fear and crying, the Slytherins seemed less so.

Her gaze slid to the end of the Slytherin table, eyes finding Tom Riddle and his friends. They were talking in hushed whispers. Tom Riddle had leaned in, stabbing his finger profusely onto the wooden table as he replied harshly to something Cygnus Black had said.

Athena noticed the flinch coming from Cygnus Black.

Her gaze then slid onto the boy next to Tom Riddle—Abraxas Malfoy. Her brother, who seemed too intent on drinking his morning coffee rather than joining the heated discussion happening between his friends.

"Do I have to force you to eat too?" Druella's voice broke her out of her thoughts.

Athena looked away, forcing her attention onto her friend seated beside her, a frown creasing her forehead. She felt a wave of frustration rising within her, but she quickly shook it off, trying to dismiss the weight of the moment. The wrapper of the muffin she had just devoured crumpled in her hand as she set it down, the small act of tidiness a brief distraction from the turmoil around them.

She reached for another muffin wordlessly. Biting into it, the warmth of the chocolate chips melted in her mouth, filling her with a sweetness that made her feel better. It was as if the chocolate held a spark of joy.

Athena suddenly understood Lucinda's love for food.

"Do you think it's that serious?" Athena finally asked, her eyes subtly on Druella as she chewed slowly.

Druella seemed nonchalant as she shrugged and piled some scrambled eggs onto the plate in front of her. "How should I know?" She asked instead of answering.

A person who answered a question with another question.

Definitely not suspicious at all.

Athena hummed softly, savoring another bite of her muffin, and then turned her gaze to Lucinda. Poor Lucinda looked just as shaken as the rest of them, her usually bright eyes clouded with worry. Though she was nibbling on her own muffin, Athena caught her staring off into space multiple times, lost in her thoughts.

Athena's heart ached for her friend. She wished she could do something to alleviate the fear that seemed to grip them all.

Shaking off the concern for a moment, she turned her focus to the steaming cup of black coffee now resting in front of her. "Thanks," she mumbled to Druella, who sat across the table and beside Lucinda.

Druella nodded, her expression calm despite the tension surrounding them. She poured herself a cup of coffee, the rich aroma wafting through the air.

The Slytherin common room was calm and welcoming. Athena and her friends sat on the couches by the lit fireplace, the fire comforting them in the midst of the cold they felt being in the dungeons.

Edmund joined them a minute later and sat beside his sister, slinging an arm over her shoulder and pulling her into his side. "Stay here with your friends, Luci. It's dangerous."

Athena pretended to be engrossed in her book, while Druella was going to do the same before Cygnus Black also joined them and sat beside his betrothed. He muttered something into Druella's ear, who nodded and whispered something to him.

Athena was fine pretending she didn't notice. But when Abraxas sat next to her as well, she could not stop the sigh from escaping her lips.

"What's going on?" Lucinda asked her brother, while looking at Cygnus Black and Abraxas as well. "What's happening in Hogwarts?"

"We don't know," replied Edmund smoothly, his voice gentle and reassuring, before pressing a gentle kiss to his little sister's forehead.

Athena froze, while Abraxas tensed. The twins shared a look, their expressions a mix of disbelief and confusion directed at the affectionate sibling display.

They had always been reserved with one another, and this display of affection between Edmund and Lucinda felt foreign in their world.

Athena's brows furrowed, and Abraxas's jaw clenched, both of them feeling a deep, unacknowledged longing in their hearts.

They exchanged one last fleeting glance, a moment of understanding passing between them, but neither would ever admit it.

The weight of their unspoken emotions hung in the air as they looked away from one another, both wishing for the warmth and connection that seemed so easily shared between Edmund and Lucinda.

"—Dolohov! I will murder you–! Oh, hello, everyone." Dorian Nott froze in a mixture of shock and confusion as he noticed his friends with the three girls for once. He scowled when Antonin Dolohov gave him a smirk before joining them on the couches.

Even Cygnus Black could not stop the chuckle that fell out of his lips. "What makes you want to murder Dolohov this time, Nott?" asked Cygnus with a raised brow, amusement written all over his features.

Athena closed the book in her hands, knowing there was no way she could focus on it anymore.

Instead, she focused on the unfamiliar fact that her brother and his friends had joined them for the first—and hopefully—last time.

Dorian Nott scowled again, his light green eyes narrowing at the bored-looking Antonin Dolohov. "He took my wand. Said I was too reliant on it."

"Maybe you are," Cygnus replied with a shrug, the picture of mock sympathy on his face. His lips curled into a smirk as he caught Dolohov's mischievous grin out of the corner of his eye.

Dorian's mouth dropped open in protest. "I'm a wizard! It's literally my job to rely on it!" He threw his hands up dramatically. "What do you expect me to do, wave my arms around like a Muggle?!"

Abraxas sneered at the word 'Muggle' and rolled his eyes at his friend's dramatics. "Nott, stop acting like a dramatic Black and learn wandless magic."

Dorian's gaze slid to him, the glare now directed at the blond boy.

Even Cygnus Black was now glaring at Abraxas.

"Not even you, with all your private lessons and your endless parade of tutors, not to mention your own father, know wandless magic, Abraxas," Dorian shot back, his grin widening when Athena snorted and tried to cover it up by a cough.

Abraxas's glare was cold, directed at both Dorian and his own sister.

"Where's Riddle?" Lucinda merely asked in confusion, the boy not being with his friends for once.

"Prefect duties," replied Edmund simply.

Athena stood up after a moment with the book in her hand.

Ignoring Abraxas's question about where she was going, she headed up the stairs to the girls' dormitories and wanted nothing more than to spend the day reading in her bed.