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Shadows of the past
Chapter 3:Something in the Air

Chapter 3:Something in the Air

Evelyn finally found Rosaline near the entrance to the Great Hall. Before she could say anything, Rosaline grabbed her arm and pulled her behind a nearby wall, out of sight from the bustling crowd of students.

"what's going on" Evelyn screeched ' you're going to pull my arm off" she snapped.

Rosaline put a finger to her lips, urging Evelyn to be silent. They huddled together, hidden in the shadows, and listened intently.

They suddenly spotted the trio emerging from the crowd, talking in hushed tones as they made their way toward the Gryffindor common rooms. They overhear a conversation between Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they draw closer.

The trio was deep in discussion, and Harry's words caught Evelyn's attention. "I have this feeling," Harry began in a hushed tone, "that Evelyn found the map but is reluctant to give it back."

Rosaline gave Evelyn a questioning look, her eyes wide with curiosity. Evelyn gestured for her friend to remain quiet and continue listening.

Harry continued, his voice tinged with concern, "You know how important that map is. But Evelyn... she's hesitant, and I don't know why."

Ron chimed in, his brow furrowed. "Maybe she can't trust you"

Hermione, ever the voice of reason, spoke up, "Or maybe she has her reasons, Harry. We should talk to her and find out what's going on." Harry nodded, his expression grave.

"I agree, but there's something else, something more important. I've been thinking about what we overheard from the professors. That Horcrux they spoke about... I don't think it's Voldemort's doing." Evelyn and Rosaline exchanged surprised glances. Harry's theory was unsettling. Harry continued, "I think there might be a new threat, one we haven't faced before. The professors are keeping something from us, and I need to find out what it is.."

Rosaline nudged Evelyn, her eyes wide with concern. Evelyn felt a shiver run down her spine. The mysteries of Hogwarts were deepening, and Harry's suspicions about a new threat left her with a sense of foreboding. Evelyn and Rosaline waited until Harry, Ron, and Hermione had moved farther down the corridor before cautiously stepping out from their hiding spot.

"Did you hear that, Rosie?" Evelyn asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Harry's convinced there's danger at Hogwarts, something the professors aren't telling us." Rosaline nodded, her expression reflecting the same concern.

"It's strange, isn't it? We thought our days of dealing with dark forces were over after Voldemort's defeat."

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Back in Evelyn's dormitory, she and Rosaline sat on Evelyn's bed, the dim light from a nearby lamp casting shadows across the room. The map, carefully spread out on the bedspread, lay before them after filling Rosie in on all her escapades.

Evelyn furrowed her brow as she traced her fingers over the intricate lines of the Marauder's Map. "This map is so confusing. How did the guys even figure out how to work it in the first place?"

Rosaline shrugged, her eyes fixed on the parchment. "I have no idea. But if we're going to do something, we've got to crack this thing open."

Evelyn sighed and closed her eyes, a determined look on her face. She had a unique ability – the power to access the memories of objects. She'd used it a few times before to retrieve information. She focused on the map, searching for any hidden clues or knowledge.

As Evelyn delved into the map's memories, she felt a rush of images and sensations flood her mind. She saw the map being created by the mischievous Marauders, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black, and James Potter. Their laughter echoed in her head as they charmed the map with their secrets and incantations.

Then, she witnessed James Potter placing his finger on the map, saying the phrase, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." The map responded, revealing the entire layout of Hogwarts and the moving dots representing everyone in the castle.

Evelyn snapped back to the present, her eyes wide with excitement. "Rosaline, I think I've got it! To activate the map, we need to tap it and say, 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.'"

Rosaline's face lit up with anticipation. "Let's give it a try!"

Together, they leaned over the map, tapped it with their wands, and in unison, whispered the incantation. Almost immediately, the once-blank parchment started to fill in with lines and names. The Marauder's Map was activated.

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Evelyn and Rosaline exchanged triumphant glances. They had not only deciphered the map's secret but also unlocked a powerful tool that could help them uncover the mysteries lurking within Hogwarts.

Just as Evelyn and Rosaline were celebrating their success with the Marauder's Map, the door to their dormitory swung open, and their roommates entered, chatting animatedly about their day. Evelyn and Rosaline quickly folded the map and stuffed it under a stack of books on Evelyn's desk, trying to act casual.

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As their roommates chatted and prepared for bed, Evelyn and Rosaline did their best to appear relaxed. The conversation around them flowed with excitement about the day's events and plans for the weekend.

One of their roommates, Sarah, turned to Evelyn and asked, "Hey, Evelyn, you seemed a bit distant today. Is everything alright?"

Evelyn offered a reassuring smile. "Oh, I'm fine, just a lot on my mind, you know?."

Sarah laughed as she asked, "Does it have anything to do with your group work in Potions or maybe your partner, Malfoy?" Rosaline joined in with Sarah's giggles, both girls teasing Evelyn as they continued their playful banter.

Evelyn threw her pillow at Sarah, cutting off her laughter as she declared she was done with the teasing.

Their roommates nodded in agreement, and the conversation naturally shifted as they all began getting ready for bed. After a while, Rosaline came over to give Evelyn a quick goodnight hug—a nightly routine for these two best friends during the school year. Leaning in closer, Rosaline whispered, "Evelyn, I'm not really up for sneaking around after curfew this early in the year. Let's wait until tomorrow; curfew is approaching."

Evelyn reluctantly agreed, realizing that it might not be the best idea to sneak around the castle in the dead of night. She settled into bed, waiting for their roommates to fall asleep.

Later that night, as everyone was in a deep slumber, Evelyn couldn't shake her curiosity. She turned to the Marauder's Map once more, her wand silently casting a Lumos spell to reveal the parchment under her blanket. The tiny dots representing students and staff moved sporadically.

But what caught her eye were Draco Malfoy's footsteps, clearly visible on the map as he made his way through the dimly lit corridors. Evelyn watched intently as Draco's path led him towards the library.

Her heart raced with curiosity. What could Draco possibly be doing in the library at this hour? The library wasn’t known for late-night gatherings or study sessions; in fact, they were strictly prohibited. It was a mystery Evelyn couldn’t resist unravelling, even if it meant breaking curfew.

Evelyn quietly shed her pajamas, slipping into her regular sweats and throwing her Ravenclaw robe over her thin tank top. The fabric clung lightly to her skin, a reminder of how little she had on beneath. She grabbed her wand, tucked the Marauder's Map into her pocket, and tiptoed carefully toward the dormitory door, making sure not to disturb her sleeping roommates.

As she made her way down the corridor, the enchanted paintings on the walls came to life, grumbling about the light from her wand. One particularly annoyed portrait of a lady in a bonnet exclaimed, "Young lady, do you mind turning that thing down? Some of us are trying to sleep!"

Evelyn muttered an apology and dimmed her wand, not wanting to attract any more attention than necessary. She continued on her journey, her heart pounding with excitement.

As she approached the library, she noticed Argus Filch, the caretaker, engaged in a heated argument with Peeves, the mischievous poltergeist. Peeves was cackling and throwing inkwells at Filch, who was trying in vain to shoo him away.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Evelyn slipped past the bickering duo and reached the library entrance. The door was slightly ajar, and she eased it open just enough to slip inside without making a sound.

The library was dimly lit, with the soft glow of the moon filtering through the windows. Evelyn pulled out the Marauder's Map and checked its latest updates. Draco's footsteps led deeper into the library's labyrinthine aisles.

She followed the map's directions, her wand at the ready, illuminating her path just enough to see where she was going. As she ventured further into the library's stacks, her curiosity grew stronger. What could Draco be doing in the library at this late hour?

As Evelyn stealthily moved deeper into the library, following the footprints on the Marauder's Map that matched Draco's, she couldn't help but wonder why he was heading to the restricted section. Her curiosity had brought her to the heart of the library's mysteries.

Just as she reached the entrance to the restricted section, her footsteps unexpectedly matched Draco's on the map. Before she could react, a strong hand clamped over her mouth, and she was swiftly pulled behind a bookshelf, her back pressed against the dusty tomes. Her heart raced as she squirmed, but the grip on her mouth was firm.

In a low, hushed voice, Draco whispered in her ear, "Shh, quiet now. We don't want to draw any unwanted attention."

Evelyn's eyes widened in surprise as she recognized Draco's voice. She turned her head to see him standing there, his gray eyes locking onto hers. They were a striking shade, like storm clouds swirling with intensity, shadowed yet piercing in their depth. Flecks of silver seemed to catch the dim light, giving his gaze a sharp, almost hypnotic quality. Their faces were just inches apart, and she could feel his warm breath on her skin, suddenly acutely aware of how exposed she was in her light clothing. Her initial fear faded, slowly replaced by intrigue.

"What are you doing here?" she whispered, her voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of playfulness.

Draco smirked, his fingers slowly slipping away from her mouth. "I could ask you the same question, Blackwood. Late-night escapades in the restricted section don't exactly seem like your usual thing."

Evelyn tilted her head, a playful glint in her eyes. "Well, you know what they say—curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back."

Draco chuckled softly, amusement flickering in his expression before his tone shifted. "Maybe so. But in this case, I'd like to know why you're really here," he added, his voice a little sharper.