**Shadows of Deceit**

As I walked away from the corridor, the sound of footsteps echoed in my mind, mingling with Draco's words. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched, and the portraits of former headmasters and headmistresses seemed to be gazing at me with an air of suspicion. I quickened my pace, my heart pounding in my chest. I turned a corner and almost collided with a group of students rushing to their next class. Apologetic smiles and hasty greetings were exchanged as we parted ways, but my mind was still reeling from Draco's revelation. I felt like I was trapped in a maze, with no clear exit in sight. As I approached the entrance to the Great Hall, I spotted Professor Darkwater standing by the doorway, his eyes fixed intently on me. I felt a shiver run down my spine as he smiled, his eyes glinting with an otherworldly intensity. "Ah, Octavia, I see you're right on time," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I trust you're prepared for today's lesson?" I nodded, trying to shake off the feeling of unease. "Yes, Professor," I replied, taking my seat at the table. The rest of the lesson was a blur as I struggled to focus on the complexities of manipulation. Professor Darkwater's words seemed to take on a sinister tone, and I couldn't help but wonder if he was trying to impart more than just theoretical knowledge. As the lesson drew to a close, Professor Darkwater handed out a sheet of parchment with a complex spell diagrammed on it. "For your homework, I want you to practice the _Verbum Occultus_ spell," he said, his eyes glinting with a knowing light. "It's a simple yet powerful incantation, one that will help you uncover hidden truths." I felt a surge of unease as I took the parchment, my mind racing with the implications. Was this spell connected to Draco's claims about my father's involvement with the Dark Arts? And what exactly did Professor Darkwater hope to achieve by teaching us this spell? As I gathered my things and left the Great Hall, I spotted a piece of parchment on the floor, partially hidden under a nearby table. I picked it up, and my heart skipped a beat as I recognized Draco's handwriting. "Meet me in the old oak tree's shadow at midnight," the note read. "Come alone." I felt a shiver run down my spine as I crumpled the parchment in my hand. What did Draco want to reveal, and what secrets lay hidden in the shadows, waiting to be uncovered?