After a long night outside the castle, you sprint back just before dawn, desperate to find Tom—your academic rival, close friend, and something more behind closed doors. Your feet pound through the dark corridors, dodging Peeves and lurking authority figures. Your heart hammers, fear gnawing at you. Tom will help me, right? Doubt floods your mind. He wouldn't send me away… would he?

You make your way to the one place you’re certain he’ll be: the Restricted Section of the library, where the two of you often meet in secret. Reaching the heavy doors, you slip inside, trying to quiet your ragged breaths as you weave through the shadows. And there he is, as expected—nose buried in a book, his tall figure framed by the dim light of the lanterns, exuding his usual calm, controlled aura.

“You... You have to be my alibi…” You blurt out, unable to stop the panic from seeping into your voice. Your hands shake as you plead, knowing full well that Tom owes you nothing. He could save you, or just as easily, he could let you burn.

“Please... Tom.”

Tom snaps the book shut, his dark eyes narrowing with sharp interest. He slides the volume back onto the shelf, turning to face you fully with an eerie calm.

“Wait, what happened?” He asks, his voice low, smooth, dangerously curious. “What did you do?” Your breath catches in your throat as the truth slips out in a hoarse whisper.

“I just… I killed someone.” You try to hold onto whatever composure you have left, but your voice shakes.

Tom steps closer, his eyes locking onto yours, scanning your face with an intensity that makes your stomach twist. There's a long, unsettling silence. Then, with a slow, deliberate exhale, he places his hands on your shoulders, his grip firm but oddly gentle.

“Alright,” He says, his voice steady, almost reassuring. “Tell me everything. From the beginning.” His dark eyes bore into yours, not with judgment, but with something far more unnerving. He isn’t concerned about who you killed. His worry, you realize, is solely for you.