Catch me using skz songs as chapter titles 👀👉🏻👈🏻

Chan had never ran as fast as he was running right now – or at least, not as far as he could remember.

There had been that time, during the holidays following his first year at Hogwarts, where he had had to run for his life while being strategically chased by his mother (clog at hand), because he had allowed a whole community of gnomes into their living room – but although his scariest memory yet, that moment felt almost like a joke compared to what he was feeling now.

A giant snake within the castle. Who would've ever suspected that? Suddenly, all the talks the Headmistress had told them about safety and all the recommendations she'd given, how they'd been strictly instructed to refer any oddity (though small) they might encounter ̶ they all made sense.

But how was he supposed to go find the Headmistress, when a giant creature was running free, and possibly already causing harm?

He didn't dare ask Woojin to leave him face the snake alone: not only was he sure that the friend would laugh at him rather than actually listening to the advice; but he also knew that, whatever was bound to happen, he would feel less stressed with the Hufflepuff by his side.

Instead, he had tried to tell the two Ravenclaws they had bumped into – who Chan highly suspected hadn't been randomly walking through the many corridors at midnight aimlessly, considering their status – to go fetch Mrs. McGonagall on Woojin's and his behalf, but the two wouldn't listen.

Those had been some very awkward ten seconds: while the Gryffindor was impatiently waiting for a positive answer, the two Ravenclaws had exchanged a handful of rather eloquent looks, that Chan was almost sure to have understood the meaning of perfectly:

"We should go now!" (That had been the long, black-haired guy, Hyunjin).

"We would be going to the Headmistress, you moron!" the smaller one (Changbin), there, had tilted his head in the direction of Mrs. McGonagall's office.

"Oh shit, you're right" the first one had bitten his lips, clearly conflicted. "What should we do now?"

"I say scratch the Headmistress" there, the second had mouthed a clear 'no'.

"So... should we go with them?" the fearful look the tall one had given Woojin and Chan had been as good as if he had been talking.

The other, at that silent question, had almost imperceptibly nodded. "Well... it was our fault" he had then said out loud. "I think we should help".

"Yes!" the voice of the taller one was very high-pitched. "We should... should help, yes".

At that, Chan had rolled his eyes: could they be any less helpful? But there was sadly no time to argue. "We're going to fight that thing" he specified, just to make them understand what he was not so certain they had grasped. "If you come with us, there's a risk you'll get hurt".

The smaller one had snored. "Oh, how intriguing. I thought you were gonna have a nice chat with each other, perhaps with some tea and biscuits" and he had even dared repeat the same eye-rolling motion Chan had done just a few moments earlier. "We said we're going, we... wanna help".

Chan had looked at Woojin, and the ladder had shrugged his shoulders. "What can we do?" he was saying.

The Gryffindor had breathed loudly. "Okay, it's fine with us" he'd stated, using what he'd hoped was a more commanding tone. "But you have to remember that this is no playground joke. There's risk you'll get hurt".

Again, the smaller one had faked a yawn. "So, when are we leaving?" he'd asked with an almost bored tone.

Sooner than they could say, they came about the infamous corridor: it didn't look too messy to Chan – there were only two strings of cord laying on the ground, drenched. Having his gaze already been fixed on the flooring, the Gryffindor immediately detected the other abnormality: a narrow but long track, made of running water. The scene immediately reminded him of that time the same exact corridor had got completely submerged in water: could the same creature have been the reason behind that accident as well?

But that was no time to lose himself in such thoughts: for whatever reason, the water flood had not been as heavy, and it wasn't definitely something he could complain about – actually, it could hopefully also prove rather helpful. "I say we follow the track" he in fact said to the others. "It must be connected to the creature in some way".

Since nobody seemed to have a better idea, they all agreed and started following the tight path the water was forming. It was not too difficult to keep track of (the running of it also let out a very low, soothing sound that informed them that they were not getting off-track), but for good measure, Chan also whispered "Lumos" to lighten up the surroundings.

After a few minutes, they came to a flight of stairs. The water there was more abundant, and it had created a small waterfall. "Stick to the borders" Chan had no wish for anybody to get injured – in that circumstance especially.

As they kept walking (always making sure to be following the path), the Gryffindor couldn't help but observe that they still hadn't encountered any Prefect. How queer, he thought. Could it really be that they have not heard, seen nor noticed anything? The boy would've gladly appreciated bumping into one of the two Prefects who were supposed to patrol that specific area of the castle: he could've informed them on what was happening, and could've told them to rush to the Headmistress' office and explain her what was going on.

"Woojin, do you perharps remember who we have assigned this area to?" he therefore asked.

"Mhm... I think they were two fifth years" replied the friend after a few seconds of thinking. "A Slytherin and a Gryffindor, I reckon? I don't really remember..."

Chan shrugged his shoulders: at that point, it really made no matter. But the hearing of the word "Slytherin" got him thinking: might it be that this snake has been dwelling in the lake, without anyone noticing? He in fact knew that the Slytherins' dorm was just underneath the lake.

After a while, they finally came to a halt, and 'halt' meant a door – more specifically, that of the girl's bathroom, which Chan knew to be the one where Moaning Myrtle was usually seen staying in. Finding it all very odd, he double-checked the track to make sure they had been following the right one: and there was no doubt about it, they had.

"Moaning Myrtle? Why!?" whined the taller Ravenclaw.

"Shut up, will you" replied the other. "As far as I'm concerned, one Moaning Myrtle is more than enough. I definitely don't want a Moaning Hyunjin".

Chan didn't really know if the extreme nonchalance the two Ravenclaws were showing was something to be awed by or concerned about. Either way, it was not the moment to think it through.

"I'll go first" he announced, and stepped into the bathroom.

The boy was not really sure what to expect, and tried to mentally prepare himself for the worst – but he soon had to reconsider his fear, for the only thing he could see were two small figures squatted in front of a big hole behind one of the bathroom's sinks, and a silvery Moaning Myrtle laughing full-heartedly mid-air.

"Hihihihihi, they fell in! They fell in!" the ghost was in a full giggle session.

Chan spoke up: "What has happened? Who's fallen in? Why are you all here?"

The two squatted figures turned around so suddenly that the one on the left (clearly a girl) almost lost her balance.

A sudden yell came from behind Chan. "Changbin, look! It's the debate girl!" it had been one of the two Ravenclaws, the one who had complained about Moaning Myrtle a few moments earlier.

"Hyunjin?" this time, the voice seemed to be coming from futher away – Chan realized it was coming from down the hole.

Again, Hyunjin screamed in surprise: "Jeongin?"

~🤍~

hello!

10 days until skz comeback😎.
today has been my last day of school, which is kinds crazy.
i've never come to june looking so pale, i 100% need a tan :,(.

but anyways, i have written this during italian (i think? maybe it was maths i don't rlly remember rip) & i very much like this chapter.

as you can see, i'm slowly getting everyone together, so on thursday it'll be seungmin! </3

see you then~

Vic🌙.