**Chapter 7: Shadows in the Night**

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the castle, I couldn't shake the feeling of restlessness that had settled within me. The note from Draco seemed to burn a hole in my pocket, and I found myself glancing at the clock tower every few minutes, willing the hands to move faster. The day dragged on, with each lesson feeling like an eternity. I went through the motions, my mind preoccupied with thoughts of the mysterious meeting and the secrets that Draco might reveal. Professor Darkwater's lesson on the _Verbum Occultus_ spell still lingered in my mind, and I couldn't help but wonder if this spell was connected to Draco's claims about my father's involvement with the Dark Arts. As I walked back to my dormitory after dinner, I caught a glimpse of myself in a window reflection. My eyes looked sunken, and my skin was pale. I felt like I was living in a dream, with the lines between reality and fantasy blurring. As I entered my dormitory, I spotted Elara sitting on her bed, her eyes fixed on a book. She looked up as I approached, and a concerned expression crossed her face. "Hey, Octavia, what's wrong?" she asked, setting her book aside. "You've seemed really distant today." I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But Elara's kind eyes and gentle tone put me at ease, and I found myself pouring out my heart to her. "I got a note from Draco," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "He wants to meet me at midnight, under the old oak tree. I don't know what he wants, but I have a feeling it's connected to my father's past." Elara's expression turned serious, and she nodded thoughtfully. "I think you should be careful, Octavia. Draco can be unpredictable, and we don't know what his motives are." I nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude towards Elara. "I'll be careful, I promise. But I need to know what's going on. I need to uncover the truth about my father's past." As the clock struck eleven, I made my way to the old oak tree, my heart pounding in my chest. The tree loomed before me, its branches creaking in the wind like skeletal fingers. I glanced around, feeling a shiver run down my spine. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Draco, his eyes gleaming with a mischievous light. "Octavia, I'm glad you came," he said, his voice low and mysterious. "I have something to show you. Follow me." With that, he turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving me to follow him into the unknown. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come, and stepped into the shadows.