*Pansy's view

Friday night arrived quicker than we expected. The days passed quickly and seemed like minutes. Now the Slytherin common room was transformed into a dazzling party venue, with decorations hanging from every surface and music filling the air. Emily was beaming with happiness, completely oblivious to the surprise we had in store for her.

As the party reached its peak, I received a discreet message from Theo. It was time. I gave Astoria a subtle nod, and she led Emily towards the Astronomy Tower under the pretense that she needed some fresh air due to the cigarette smoke. Pansy and I followed at a distance, making sure everything was going according to plan. The night sky was clear, and the stars twinkled brightly overhead. We reached the Tower just as the first firework shot into the sky, exploding in a brilliant display of colours.

Emily's eyes widened in amazement as more fireworks followed, each one more spectacular than the last. She turned to us, her face glowing with pure joy. – This is incredible! Did you all do this for me?

Theo stepped forward, grinning from ear to ear. – Happy birthday, baby. We wanted to make it a night you will never forget.

The fireworks continued to light up the sky, and for a moment, all our worries and fears melted away. It was a perfect night, filled with laughter, friendship, and unforgettable memories. As the final firework burst in the sky, spelling out "Happy Birthday, Emily," we all cheered and hugged each other. In that moment, I knew that no matter what challenges we faced, we would always have each other's backs.

- It is just that I finally found themselves. What did they imagine? This is forbidden and, moreover, dangerous.

- Good evening, Professor McGonagall. – Theo said, approaching her cautiously. - I would like to tell you something incredibly important.

- What is it? - Professor McGonagall asked with a serious expression.

Theo took a deep breath and looked seriously at Professor McGonagall. - Run! – he shouted urgently. – Goodbye, Professor McGonagall. He did not need to tell that twice. We all started rushing.

Professor McGonagall did not hesitate, her eyes narrowing as she processed Theo's urgent command. Without a word, she turned on her heel and dashed towards the castle, her robes billowing behind her. The urgency in her movements spurred us into action.

We followed her lead, sprinting through the corridors of Hogwarts, adrenaline coursing through our veins. Behind us, we could hear shouts and the echoing footsteps of pursuers. The castle seemed alive with the danger of discovery.

As we reached a familiar hidden passageway, Theo stopped abruptly and tapped a sequence on the stone wall. The stones shifted, revealing a narrow opening just big enough for us to squeeze through. One by one, we slipped inside, the passage leading us to safety away from prying eyes and the consequences of our forbidden escapade.

After a while, we heard Professor McGonagall's footsteps echoing down the corridor. Our hearts raced with the fear of being caught. Fortunately, after a few tense moments, the footsteps faded away as she moved further down the hall. But we dared not relax just yet; the risk of discovery was still too great. We remained huddled together in the cramped passageway.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours, the silence oppressive and our nerves frayed. Every creak of the old castle seemed amplified, threatening to betray our presence. Finally, when we were certain the coast was clear, we cautiously emerged from our hiding place. Relief washed over us, but the memory of that narrow escape lingered, a stark reminder of the perilous secrets we were sworn to protect our breath and straining to hear any signs of approaching danger.

- Considering how old she is, she can move fast – Draco said with a smirk.

- Professor, they are here!

- F*ck, it is Filch – Theo muttered. We nervously looked at each other. – Go separate way, they will not catch us easily.

We nodded in agreement and then scattered in different directions. Theo's word replayed in my head as we ran together. My heart pounded in my chest; each beat a reminder of the danger we were in.

- This way, quick – I whispered urgently, pulling Sofia down a narrow hallway. The sound of Filch's heavy footsteps grew louder, and panic began to set in.

- He is getting closer – Sofia gasped, glancing over her shoulder.

- Here – I hissed, spotting an empty classroom. Without hesitation, we darted inside and closed the door softly behind us. Pressing ourselves against the wall, we tried to remain as silent as possible.

Filch's footsteps echoed ominously outside the door. We held our breath, praying he would not find us. – I know you are around here somewhere – Filch growled just outside the classroom. Sofia and I exchanged frightened glances, clutching each other's hands for reassurance.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Filch's voice began to fade as he moved down the hallway, still searching. We waited a few minutes longer to be sure he was gone before allowing ourselves to breathe normally again.

- We should stay here for a bit – I whispered. – Just to be safe.

Sofia nodded, her eyes wide with fear. We slid down the wall and sat on the cold stone floor, trying to steady our racing hearts. For now, we are safe, but we knew we could not stay hidden forever.

By default, I would say I am a lucky person. Now, that's not the case. Out of nowhere, it was like lightning when we heard Filch's voice again. – How many times will he come back? – Sofia whispered nervously.

To make matters worse, the wind pushed a vase off the windowsill, and it shattered loudly on the floor.

- Ifwe survive this night, I swear I will kill the person who forgot to close the window. – Sofia muttered under her breath.

- So you are here. You can't scam me – he said laughing.

Before he opened the door, we quickly slipped under the teacher's desk, pressing ourselves into the shadows. Our hearts pounded in unison as we held our breath, hoping he wouldn't find us. Filch stepped inside, his lantern casting an eerie glow that swept across the room. We could see his feet moving slowly, methodically, as he inspected the classroom.

I could feel Sofia trembling beside me, and I reached out to squeeze her hand, trying to offer some comfort. Filch's boots paused right in front of the desk. The tension was unbearable.

Just when I thought we were doomed, a distant noise from the corridor drew Filch's attention. He hesitated for a moment, then turned and left the room, muttering about students and their tricks.

- You weren't here. But you won't be able to come in here later – he said, then closed the door.

Carefully, we crawled out from under the desk. Our movement were slow and deliberate. We couldn't afford another mistake. As we sat on one of the tables, the reality of our situation hit us hard. The night was far from over, and the dangers were still very real.

- Well, let's think about our options – Sofia said with a serious tone. – The door is closed, so we can't go out on it. We are on the third floor so the window is also excluded. Therefore, we have only one possibility.

- We stay here for the night – I finished her thought.

- Exactly – Sofia agreed with a determined nod.

- Hey, at least we have a good story to tell – I said with a small smile, trying to lighten the mood.

She chuckled softly. – Yeah.

We arranged the desks into a makeshift bed and settled down, using our robes as blankets. The room was cold, and the stone floor didn't offer much comfort, but we snuggled close, sharing warmth.

Thanks for sticking with me," Sofia whispered as she closed her eyes.

- Always - I replied. – Good night, Sofia.

- Good night, Pansy – she said with a yawn.