As a prefect, Cedric was scheduled to patrol the castle after curfew every few nights, ensuring all students had returned to their common rooms.

Every third night, he did just that. He would take a quiet walk through the corridors near the Hufflepuff common room, gently reminding any lingering students to head back to their dorms before someone stricter found them. Not that he usually encountered anyone—the halls were typically empty.

Tonight was no different. As the clock struck ten, Cedric left the warmth of the Hufflepuff common room and stepped into the cold, echoing corridors of the vast castle.

He was hoping for a quiet shift. Without hundreds of students bustling about, the castle could be strangely peaceful, serene, even.

But that peace didn’t last long. His ears caught the sound of hushed voices and heavy breathing coming from around the corner.

Catching students snogging wasn’t the worst thing he could stumble upon, but it was still a nuisance, especially when they refused to stop and he had no choice but to assign detention.

Two older students. He recognized you immediately—a fellow sixth year. The boy beside you, too. But it wasn’t recognition that made his jaw tighten.

It was the way the boy had you pinned—his hand wrapped harshly around your wrist, pressing it into the stone wall. The way you shifted, tense, visibly uncomfortable.

“It’s past curfew. You both should be back in your dorms,” Cedric said, stepping closer. His voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp. Something about the scene didn’t sit right—his instincts told him this wasn’t entirely consensual.