The days at Hogwarts continued as they always did—lessons, homework, the ever-present hum of whispered conversations in the corridors—but Lilith felt the shift. It was subtle, nearly imperceptible, but it was there. Draco's words had stayed with her, clinging to the edges of her mind like stubborn shadows. Was she really the only one who wanted out? The thought unsettled her more than she cared to admit. It had always seemed like she was the outlier, the one questioning, the one doubting. But now she realized that maybe they all felt it in their own way, chained to expectations they had never agreed to. Still, the days passed, and Lilith played her part. But something in her had changed.

It was late when Lilith made her way down the darkened corridor leading to the Slytherin common room, the sound of her own footsteps muffled by the stone walls. She was returning from another restless evening in the Astronomy Tower, attempting to untangle the mess in her mind, when a small figure caught her eye. Slumped against the cold stone just outside the entrance, arms wrapped tightly around his knees, was Leo Wilkes.

Lilith frowned, stepping closer. The young first-year was usually full of quiet determination, but now, his normally bright eyes were dimmed, his expression vacant. He didn't even look up as she approached.

"What are you doing out here?" Lilith asked, her voice softer than usual.

Leo flinched slightly at the sound of her voice but didn't lift his head. "Couldn't sleep."

Lilith sighed and moved to sit beside him, leaning against the wall. "It's not safe to wander around at night, you know."

Leo gave a small shrug. "Didn't really feel like staying in the dorm."

Lilith studied him for a moment before tilting her head slightly. "Something happen?"

He was silent for a long moment, staring down at the floor. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter, more hesitant. "It's just... I don't fit in. Everyone else is already making friends, but I feel like I'm just there. Like they only tolerate me because they have to."

Lilith's jaw tightened slightly. She knew that feeling all too well—the weight of trying to belong in a space that never quite felt like it was meant for you. For the briefest moment, she considered telling him that she understood more than he realized. But instead, she chose her words carefully.

"You don't have to force yourself to fit into something that doesn't feel right," she said eventually. "It's exhausting trying to be what people expect."

Leo looked up at her then, curiosity flickering across his face. "Is that what you do?"

Lilith exhaled, tipping her head back against the stone. "I used to think it was the only way."

Silence stretched between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Lilith wasn't sure why she had even stopped to talk to Leo, why she had sat down beside him instead of sending him back to bed. But looking at the lost expression on his face, she knew why. She recognized it.

After a long moment, she nudged him lightly with her shoulder. "You'll be fine, Wilkes."

Leo blinked, startled. "You think so?"

Lilith smirked faintly. "You've got me looking out for you, don't you?"

For the first time that night, Leo smiled. It was small, hesitant, but real. "Yeah. I guess I do."

Lilith stood, holding out a hand. "Come on. Let's get back before someone gives us detention."

Leo hesitated before taking her hand, letting her pull him to his feet. As they walked back toward the common room, Lilith found herself thinking that maybe—just maybe—she wasn't as alone in this as she thought.

For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt a sense of purpose beyond expectation, beyond duty—something real, something her own. And as they stepped through the entrance into the warmth of the common room, Lilith realized that perhaps change didn't have to happen in grand, dramatic moments. Sometimes, it was in the quiet ones, the ones that no one else noticed, where the true shift began.