Once again, I fell into a routine. I would wake up and eat breakfast with Draco and Star, go to my classes, and then do homework in the common room. We ate dinner in the evening and slept afterwards.

Each day was similar to the others, varying only in the topic discussed in class or what happened after dinner. Most of the time I was stuck in the common room, working on extra assignments I hadn't finished or helping Draco study. Sometimes, though, he would go to Professor Snape to work on Defense Against the Dark Arts spells and I would hang out with Star.

There was one evening, a cold Thursday night in September, where Draco was going to Snape's office to practise. I came to a decision that I could use assistance as well, and asked if I could come with him.

Expecting a quick, "Of course," as an answer, I was surprised when Draco simply shook his head to say no and left the common room.

Instead of sulking about his response, I set off to find Star and ask if she had an interest in studying with me. I looked everywhere: our dormitory, the common room, even all of our professor's classrooms and offices. When I couldn't find her anywhere, worry began to settle in my gut, clenching itself around my thoughts. I made my way back to the Slytherin area once again, returning to my starting point with nothing but wasted time and sore feet.

I sat myself on the couch, thinking about her possible location. Maybe she was with Draco, I thought quietly. No, I checked Snape's office. She wasn't in there.

My thoughts paused for a moment. Hadn't Draco told me that he was going to practise spells with Snape in his office?

I began to panic. Had they lied to me? Were they okay? What if they just didn't want to be around me? What did I do?

My head jerked toward the entrance as the painting-covered door swung open to let a few Slytherins into the common room. I watched their eyes go wide in shock as a group of merfolk swam past the window, but in that second, an idea came to me and I shoved past the students, still standing in the doorway.

Once I was out in the hall, I put my feeble plan into motion, starting by walking to Professor Snape's new office on the third floor. Upon arrival, I gathered up the courage to knock and walked in at his approval.

"Professor, have you, by any chance, seen Star or Draco?"

"The Malfoy twins?" Snape said, confusion flashing onto his face. A short moment passed and his bafflement was gone as quickly as it had arrived.

"Yes, Sir. Draco said that he was coming to you to study. Star didn't say anything, but I haven't seen her, so I assumed that she was with her brother."

Standing tall in front of his desk, I waited quietly as Snape thought.

"Yes, Miss Potter. The Malfoy twins were here not too long ago. In fact, they left shortly before your arrival," Snape said calmly.

"Thank you, Sir." I exited the office and began making my way back to the Slytherin Housing area, head swirling in thoughts. Had I just not seen them when I walked around the first time? Why did Snape have to think for so long before answering, almost like he didn't remember?

I shook off my thoughts and slowed down, walking at less of a pace so I didn't appear to be in a rush. I touched my robes, feeling for the small emblem that announced that I was a Prefect. I at least had something to keep me from serious trouble for being out at night.

Noticing a stairwell coming up in the wide hallway, I slowed, almost stoping completely to think. Should I go up the stairs? There was no point to it, but I would be walking the school and doing my Prefect duties, so I decided that there was no point in not.

Then again, I could go down the stairs and return to the common room, but that would mean that I would have to study once again, and I felt a break was necessary.

I picked up my feet and walked up the staircase, skipping steps to reach the top faster. Even though I was just going from the third floor to the fourth, I felt like I had risen a great height and looked around at my new surroundings. They were similar to that if the other hallways: flickering orange torches, large windows, stone walls covered in tapestries and art. I began walking, looking for any students out of their beds at this hour.

Hearing footsteps, I made my way over to the source of the sound. When I turned a corner, I saw Draco and Star, walking quickly, looking around anxiously like they didn't want to be followed.

When they noticed me, they both jumped.

"Y/n," Star said slowly, testing the word. "What are you doing in this hallway?"

"I'm just doing my Prefect duties," I answered. "Why are you up here?"

"We, uh, we went on a little mission for Professor Snape," Draco responded. "It's nothing to worry your head over."

Hesitantly, I agreed. "Alright. Let's get to bed, shall we? It's nearly half-past ten already."

Draco and Star nodded a yes, following me as we walked through the halls, down the stairs, and into the Slytherin common room.

As we parted ways to go to our dormitories and then to sleep, a nearly-overwhelming feeling slipped over me: Star and Draco had lied to me.

~~~

I walked into the common room, homework tucked between pages of the books in my arms. A frown formed upon my face even though I wasn't necessarily happy or upset, simply distracted.

My thoughts ran as fast as the merfolk in the Black Lake could disappear from sight—with each passing second, an entirely new path emerged from my mind, leading me to think up new ideas. I continuously switched from stressing about my homework and upcoming quizzes to conspiring about Draco and Star's lie from last night. What had they been doing?

Of course, I repeatedly came back to the idea that maybe, just maybe, they were telling the truth. While I wanted that to be correct with every fibre of my being, I knew that I couldn't always get what I wanted. Something had to be going on.

"Y/n, are you alright?"

I jumped, startled out of my inner monologue by the voice I so deeply enjoyed hearing.

"You've been standing here for the past few minutes, staring at the wall."

Brushing away my rapidly-reproducing thoughts with a quick glance around the Slytherin common room, I stood up a bit taller and looked up, eyes meeting Draco's.

"Is everything okay?"

Finally coming back to reality, I nodded, giving him a brief half-smile. "I just have some things on my mind."

Draco gently grabbed my hand and led me to the couch. "You look tired," he said, sitting down. "Do you have a lot of homework?"

I sat next to him, pulling the assignments from my book as I ignored the questions I wanted to ask Draco. "The professors are making such a big deal out of this year's work that I'm terrified for next year's exams," I said, forcing a quick laugh. "I have Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts work tonight."

"Both tough subjects," Draco responded. "Do you want me to help you?"

"That would be great," I said, grateful. "Don't you have work that you need to do, though?"

Draco smiled, shaking his head happily. "I already did it. Let me help you."

And that's what happened. Draco and I sat together for the next hour or so, looking over my papers and searching up sentences in the textbook, testing small spells when needed, even brewing a mini potion.

As we were finishing up, the door to the common room slammed open as Professor Snape stormed in. He shot a glare at Draco and told him to follow him into his office. Star was following close, anxiety showing in her eyes and the way her hands trembled.

I stood up without thinking, curious, but Snape yelled at me to sit, and I did, picking up my quill again to continue my homework. As I completed it, things began running through my mind again, questioning the things I thought I knew about my friends.

I finished my work and put it back in my book. Eager to be done for the night, I stood up and carried my papers upstairs, heading to my dorm. I walked in, set my book near my bag of schoolwork, and went back to the common room to talk to Draco and Star again.

I stopped halfway down the stairs as I heard something, sitting as to not be seen.

Star's voice, powerful but trembling, was speaking in a tone just loud enough to be heard from where I was.

"You know that we can't tell her!" she argued. "You know that she's on the other side—"

Draco interjected. "But I trust her! I thought you did, too."

"We can't trust anybody, and we can't let her know about this," Star answered, voice low and angry. "If you really care about her, you won't tell her. Knowing about this will only put her in more danger than she's already in."

Neither of the two spoke for a moment. Eventually, Draco said something. "I know. I won't tell her."

"Thank you. One of these days, this will all be over, and then you can be with her without having to worry about this."

Confused, I had to fight every urge to stand up and ask what they were talking about. However, I doubted that I could get anywhere without them shutting me down. I didn't even know if they were talking about me.

After a few moments of silence, I slowly stood up on the stairs again and continued descending them.

When I reached the floor of the common room, I saw Draco sitting on the couch, fidgeting with his hands as Star worked on her homework across the room.

I sat next to Draco again, curious and worried. "Is everything okay?" I asked.

"Of course, love. Star's just a tad upset right now. It's nothing big."

"Oh," I said, standing. "Do you think I should talk to her about what's bothering her?"

Draco reached for my hand. "I don't think so, not right now, at least."

I sat back down, worried. "I hope she's okay," I said quietly.

"Me too," Draco answered.