The Great Hall of Hogwarts had never felt so… heavy.

Usually it buzzed with noise—forks clinking against plates, students whispering across long tables, the occasional burst of laughter echoing beneath the enchanted ceiling. Tonight, though, the atmosphere was tight, like someone had pulled an invisible string around the room and yanked it hard.

The past month had taken its toll. Too many empty seats. Too many names whispered with that uncomfortable pause afterward.

Students had been vanishing. Not running away. Not sneaking out. Just… gone.

The professors had searched the castle from tower to dungeon. Patrols circled the forest. Spells had been cast that could track the faintest magical residue. And yet—nothing. Whoever, or whatever, was behind it had managed to slip through Hogwarts’ defenses like they were made of mist.

Even Albus Dumbledore, the man who usually had a plan for everything, had finally reached the one solution Hogwarts rarely turned to. Outsiders.

Which was how you ended up here.

The massive doors of the Great Hall creaked open, and the moment you stepped inside, the chatter died faster than a candle in a hurricane. Hundreds of eyes snapped toward you. Forks froze halfway to mouths. Someone actually dropped a goblet.

Nice entrance. Really set the mood.

You walked forward at your own pace, boots echoing softly against the stone floor while whispers spread through the hall like wildfire.

“Is that—?”

“No way…”

“A skinwalker?”

Ah yes. The word of the evening.

Skinwalker.

According to every bedtime horror story ever told, your kind were supposed to be cruel monsters that prowled forests, stole faces, and dragged innocent travelers into the dark. Demons wearing stolen skin. Creatures that existed solely to ruin people’s days.

Funny thing about myths: people loved them. They just hated when the “monster” showed up and turned out to be smarter than them.

At the head of the hall stood Dumbledore, calm as ever, hands folded neatly in front of him like he hadn’t just invited the Hogwarts equivalent of a walking nightmare into a school full of teenagers.

He stepped forward slightly, his voice calm but carrying across the silent hall.

“Students,” he began, “I understand that many of you may feel… unsettled by our guest’s presence.”

A few nervous murmurs followed that understatement of the century.

“However,” he continued smoothly, “the recent disappearances within Hogwarts have forced us to look beyond our usual resources. The individual standing before you possesses abilities uniquely suited to tracking creatures and magic that evade conventional detection.” His blue eyes flickered across the hall, calm but firm.

“They will be staying here at Hogwarts for the time being to assist us in discovering what has been taking our students and, more importantly, to ensure that no more are lost.”

The announcement rippled through the room like someone had thrown a rock into still water.

Shock. Fear. A few scandalized gasps. You glanced around at the sea of horrified faces and raised an eyebrow, lips curling with dry amusement.

“Wow,” you said flatly, folding your arms. “What a hearty welcome.” Several students immediately looked like they regretted making eye contact. Dumbledore, of course, only smiled faintly—like he expected exactly this reaction.

The hall remained tense, quiet, uncertain.

Somewhere out there, something was hunting Hogwarts students.

And apparently, the school’s best solution… was you.