The way to Restricted Area

  Losing house points hurt more than any scolding. Daniel, Tom and Scarlett walked through the corridor with heavy faces, still unable to understand what had happened the night before—or what that strange shadow truly was.

  Before they could discuss it, a whispering parchment bird fluttered toward them and landed on Daniel’s shoulder.

  “Headmaster wants to see you,” Daniel read quietly.

  Scarlett sighed. “Here we go…”

  Tom muttered, “He’s going to kill us with lectures before any curse does.”

  Headmaster’s Office

  The three entered the office carefully. Headmaster Albus Christ looked calm but serious, fingers folded over an ancient, silver-edged book.

  “Sit,” he said gently. “Now tell me… what exactly happened last night?”

  His tone wasn’t angry—but it was the kind that made lying impossible.

  Scarlett gulped, then spoke honestly.

  “We… went to the library to look for clues about the moon, the curse mark, and the voice Daniel heard. We thought we could help.”

  Tom added, “We didn’t mean to cause trouble, sir.”

  Headmaster leaned back, studying their faces one by one.

  “So,” he said slowly, “no fights? No mischief? No rule-breaking?”

  All three quickly shook their heads.

  “No, sir!”

  He nodded, unconvinced but thoughtful.

  “I will investigate it myself. For now, I want you three to leave these matters alone for a few days. Your first exams are coming, and I expect good results. Understood?”

  Daniel, Tom and Scarlett nodded reluctantly.

  “Good,” Headmaster said. “Now go—and try to sleep like normal students for once.”

  The Deal They Forgot

  Once they stepped out of the office, all three exchanged the same expression.

  “Oh no…” Tom whispered.

  Scarlett pressed her palm on her forehead. “Light. We forgot the plan.”

  Daniel groaned. “He’s going to roast us alive.”

  They separated to drop their bags—Scarlett toward Nihlaira’s common room and Daniel, Tom toward Dracorus.

  The walk was torture.

  Dracorus students glared at Daniel and Tom as they entered.

  “Thanks for losing us two points,” someone hissed.

  “We didn’t do anything,” Tom muttered, but no one listened.

  Meanwhile, Scarlett faced her own trial in Nihlaira.

  A girl from her dorm crossed her arms.

  “Nice job, Watson. One point gone because of you.”

  Scarlett didn’t reply. She just walked past with a hard swallow. It hurt—but she told herself she could handle it.

  The Meeting Point

  After surviving dozens of complaints, mutters and nasty comments, the trio finally arrived at the abandoned practice hall where they had agreed to meet Light.

  The moment they stepped inside—

  “About time!” a voice snapped.

  Light Parker stood there with his gang, irritation written all over his face.

  “You three take this long to show up?” he barked. “I was waiting so long even the wall spiders fell asleep!”

  Tom rolled his eyes. “Calm down. We had… issues.”

  Light smirked. “What? Crying because you lost house points?”

  Scarlett crossed her arms. “At least we’re not the ones who always get caught cheating in Potions.”

  Light’s jaw dropped. “Hey! That was one time!”

  Daniel stepped forward before another argument exploded.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  “Look—we’re here now. Let’s talk about the plan.”

  Light grinned, instantly forgetting the insults.

  “Good. Because tonight… the Restricted Section is ours.”

  His friends laughed quietly behind him, already excited.

  What the trio didn’t know was that something else had followed them into the hall…

  A thin, shifting shape clung to the far wall, listening.

  Watching.

  Waiting.

  The morning

  Light kept talking, but Daniel, Tom and Scarlett weren’t listening fully. Their eyes kept flicking to the corners of the room…

  Because they knew.

  The shadow was still following them.

  Only the trio knew what had chased them the night before. They hadn’t told Light. They hadn’t told the Headmaster. And they definitely weren’t going to tell anyone else.

  Scarlett leaned slightly toward her friends and whispered, “It’s here…”

  Tom didn’t look. He just nodded slowly.

  “I felt it the moment we entered.”

  Daniel stayed still, trying not to glance at the far wall where something dark clung like smoke.

  Light didn’t notice any of it.

  He was too busy explaining his “genius” plan.

  Light’s Plan

  “So listen,” Light said, puffing his chest. “My brother—the Seventh-year—knows a guard pattern near the Restricted Section. Two-minute gap every time Mrs. Malfoy switches floors. We’ll slip in then.”

  Tom muttered, “Two minutes? That’s nothing.”

  Light glared. “Do you want my help or not?”

  Daniel lifted a hand calmly.

  “Fine. Continue.”

  Light smirked and leaned closer.

  “One problem… there’s a new protection spell. Something like a presence detector. Don’t make noise, don’t talk, don’t breathe loudly.”

  Scarlett’s stomach twisted—because the shadow behind them seemed to tremble when Light said “presence.”

  Daniel felt a cold touch on his back, like invisible fingers brushing by.

  The Shadow Moves

  Suddenly, the candles flickered.

  Light’s friends stopped laughing.

  Scarlett’s heartbeat echoed in her ears. She whispered, “Daniel… it moved.”

  He swallowed. “I know.”

  Tom’s eyes narrowed. “It’s closer. I can feel it behind us.”

  But when Light turned around, he saw nothing.

  “What are you three staring at?” Light asked, annoyed.

  Daniel forced a smile. “Nothing. Continue.”

  But the shadow stretched across the floor now—like a spilled puddle of darkness.

  Thin. Silent. Crawling.

  Light Explains the Job

  “Anyway,” Light continued, oblivious, “I just need your cards after we enter. That’s the deal. I distract my brother, you get the book.”

  Tom snorted. “You mean we risk our lives and you just stand there?”

  Light shrugged. “I’m the mastermind.”

  Scarlett rolled her eyes so hard it almost hurt.

  Daniel tried to focus on Light’s words, but the shadow suddenly slid closer, wrapping around the legs of a chair behind Tom before melting away again.

  Daniel stepped forward quickly.

  “Okay, Light. We’ll follow the plan. Let’s meet at midnight.”

  Light snapped his fingers. “Perfect. Bring the cards. Don’t be late.”

  He and his friends left, pushing the door open loudly.

  They Are Not Alone

  The moment the hall was empty, silence fell like a blanket.

  Scarlett grabbed Daniel’s arm. “It was behind you. I saw it grow taller.”

  Tom checked the corners. “It’s still here. Watching.”

  Daniel lowered his voice.

  “It followed us from the Restricted Section last night… and now it knows we’re going back.”

  Scarlett whispered, “What if it’s not a creature? What if it’s… a warning?”

  Tom paused. “Or a curse reacting to Daniel’s mark.”

  Daniel didn’t speak.

  His curse mark had burned on the way here… and now he knew why.

  The shadow slid across the far wall again—not rushing, not attacking, but observing with unnatural patience.

  Scarlett stepped back.

  “It’s waiting for midnight.”

  Daniel whispered, “Then tonight… we’re not just breaking rules.”

  Tom finished the sentence in a low, tense voice.

  “We’re walking straight into something that already knows we’re coming.”

  The candles suddenly blew out.

  The hall dropped into darkness.

  And the shadow moved.

  For the rest of the day, Daniel, Tom and Scarlett could barely focus in their classes. Every little sound made them jump. Even during meals, they hardly spoke. The deal with Light, the shadow in the library, the risk of expulsion—it all pressed heavily on their minds.

  Tom muttered at dinner, “Tonight is going to be chaos. I can feel it.”

  Daniel didn’t reply. His curse mark had been itching all day.

  Scarlett tried to calm herself, but even she couldn’t shake the fear.

  “What if the shadow shows up again?” she whispered.

  Daniel and Tom exchanged a worried glance.

  “We’ll handle it,” Daniel said quietly, though he didn’t sound confident.

  Midnight – The Meeting Point

  At midnight, the trio reached the fixed spot, a narrow corner near the Restricted Section where the torches were dim and the portraits slept with half-open eyes.

  Light was already there with his two friends. The moment they arrived, Light stretched out his hand.

  “Cards,” he demanded.

  Tom crossed his arms. “Not now. First we get the book. Then we get out alive. After that, you’ll get the cards.”

  Light scowled. “That’s not what we—”

  But before he could finish, the sound of footsteps echoed through the corridor.

  Tap… tap… tap…

  Everyone froze.

  Scarlett hissed, “Hide!”

  They all slipped into the shadows behind a tall stone pillar. Light nearly tripped over Tom’s foot, but Tom grabbed his shirt and yanked him still.

  The footsteps grew closer.

  Daniel held his breath, feeling the cold pulse of his curse mark.

  A tall figure walked past the pillar.

  Scarlett peeked carefully—her heart almost stopped.

  “It’s not Mrs. Malfoy…” she mouthed silently.

  It was Headmaster Albus Christ.

  His robes whispered against the floor. His wand glowed faintly blue. And his face looked tense, like he was searching for something.

  Or someone.

  Light’s eyes widened. He silently mouthed, We are dead.

  Daniel pressed a finger to his lips. No one dared breathe.

  They waited until the headmaster’s footsteps slowly faded toward the central castle staircase.

  Only then did anyone move.

  Tom exhaled shakily. “That… was close.”

  Light wiped sweat from his forehead. “We should cancel this whole thing. He’s awake. He’s patrolling. We’ll get caught for sure.”

  Scarlett shook her head. “If we go back now, all of this will be for nothing. And if he catches us, we’re expelled. So we wait until he leaves completely. That’s the only way.”

  Daniel looked at her and nodded. “She’s right.”

  Light and his friends reluctantly agreed.

  2:00 a.m. – The Last Chance

  They waited. Every second felt like an hour.

  Finally, when the castle clocks chimed 2:00 a.m., Light checked the corridor again and whispered:

  “Two minutes until the guard shift. This is our only window. Move.”

  Daniel, Tom and Scarlett’s nerves snapped into focus.

  They ran—not loudly, but fast—toward the side window that Light’s brother had told them about.

  Tom pushed the window up with a soft creak.

  “Quick, go!”

  Scarlett slipped through first, landing silently.

  Daniel followed.

  Tom climbed through next.

  Light and his two friends squeezed in last.

  For a brief moment, all six of them crouched in the narrow passage inside—the air heavy with dust, old books, and a strange chill.

  Then Scarlett whispered:

  “We’re in.”

  Daniel felt a cold shiver on his neck.

  The shadow was somewhere behind them.

  Watching.

  And the Restricted Section stretched ahead, silent and suffocatingly dark.

  What they didn’t know was that something inside was already awake.

  And it knew they were coming.