Late at night, the corridors that had been bustling with students during the day were completely empty. Walking alone felt rather frightening. Pomona took out the Two-Way Mirror and called Severus's name.
Before long, that vampire-pale face appeared on the other side of the mirror, and her pounding heart immediately calmed.
"How are things on your end?" she asked.
"As long as Harry Potter does not prowl the castle at night like his father did, I can go back to sleep. What about your side?" Severus asked.
"The children in my House are all asleep in their dormitories. They would not wander around the school at this hour. If they were not so worry-free, I would never..."
"He was so desperate to return to school that he nearly exposed the wizarding world. Since when have the Potter family been so passionate about studying?" the old bat interrupted irritably.
"Do you believe that rumor? That Harry is Slytherin's heir?" Pomona changed the subject.
Severus said nothing, his face rigid.
"You were there when he spoke Parseltongue."
"Focus, Pomona. Do you want to be attacked like those students?"
"If I get attacked, it will be your fault. How exactly are you watching my back?"
The moment she finished speaking, she heard a murmur.
She stopped and listened carefully, but the whispering vanished.
"What is it?" Severus asked.
"I thought... never mind, it's nothing." She continued patrolling the corridor.
After so many terrible attacks, who would still risk their life sneaking around the castle at night?
Yet on her way back, she ran into Crabbe and Goyle. Carrying a huge pile of food, the two were heading from the kitchens toward the Slytherin dungeons.
"Guess who I ran into?" Pomona said gleefully into the Two-Way Mirror.
"If you do not intend to tell