Silvian and I slipped into the great hall now. It was strange being inside the large room without it being filled with students. Our footsteps echoed as we made our way past the empty tables.

Silvian looked to me now. “Are you sure they actually keep leftover food in here?”

I shrugged. “That’s what Susan Nibs said.”

Silvian rolled his eyes. “Why would you believe anything she says?”

“I figured it was win, win. Either we get some late night snacks or I get to prove her wrong.”

Silvian’s gaze suddenly darted around the hall. “Did you hear that?”

I blinked. “Hear what?”

“A sound…” he glanced to the door. “Did we shut the door? I could have sworn it was open earlier.”

I shrugged. “One of us probably did.”

Silvian made his way over to the kitchen now, poking his head inside. “Well, looks like Susan was wrong. It’s completely empty in here. They must stock all the food up in the morning.” He let out a little huff. “Well this has been a spectacular waste of my time. Come on, let’s go before someone catches us and we get in trouble.” He made his way back over to the door and went to open it.

The door didn’t budge.

He tried again, adding even more force.

Nothing.

His face had grown ashen.

“What’s wrong?” I asked innocently.

“The door,” Silvian said slowly, “it’s stuck.”

“Oh no! How is that possible?” Despite my words, it was in fact, VERY possible. Especially when my goal was to lock myself and my evil inclined roommate in a room so he couldn’t go and become even eviler. All I needed was a girl (possibly named Morgana) who hated his guts and a nimnim. Then all I had to do was simply break into a classroom, collect some nimnim ink, lure said roomate into the great hall and then have the girl (again possibly named Morgana) cover the door in nimnim ink before shutting it and trapping us both inside.

Silvian continued to push on the door in some desperate attempt to get it open. After about ten minutes he sank to the floor, breathing heavily.

“Shit,” he muttered. “Shit, shit, shit. This fucking sucks!”

I shrugged. “It’s not all bad, people will probably figure out a way to unjam the door in the morning.”

Silvian buried his face in his hands. “I really needed to go somewhere tonight. It was important,” he said, his voice muffled from behind his hands.

I continued my innocent act. “Couldn’t you go tomorrow?”

“No,” he mumbled. “I don’t think so.”

I fought the urge to grin. “Wow man, I’m sorry. That really sucks.” He didn’t say anything. I looked up at the ceiling. Despite being so far underground for some reason you could see the sky crystal clear above from a skylight that covered almost the entire ceiling of the great hall.

I smiled. “Hey, look on the bright side. At least we can watch the blood moon tonight.”

“I don’t want to see it,” Silvian muttered. “It makes me think of that goddamn prick Owen Thorn.”

I simply shrugged. “Suit yourself.” I climbed up onto one of the tables, laying down on my back, and stared up at the large red moon above. I assumed Silvian was still just sitting against the door moping. “It’s really pretty,” I said, “it’s crazy wizards get to see it once a year.” I had never seen anything like it, I felt almost like I could get lost in it if I stared long enough. It reminded me of Owen’s eyes. I suddenly heard a sound beside me and I turned my head to see Silvian getting up onto the table as well. With a sigh he flopped onto his back next to me.

I looked to him, “Ah, so I see you’ve changed my mind after all.”

“Don’t expect it to happen often.” He stared up at the moon above us as. “The chosen one will be given a second life beneath the blood moon. On the night of fire and smoke he will fight the blackened and the Dark One’s war in this world will be finished, for good or for bad. That’s how the prophecy goes,” he said softly.

Right, according to the story, tonight 18 years ago when Owen Thorn was born the Dark merged with a white, red eyed serpent to kill Owen and his family. The serpent ate Owen’s parents and then him. The Human Resistance showed up moments too late but still slayed the beast, cutting it in two.

The spirit of the Dark One is unkillable and escaped but due to being so quickly separated from the form he had merged with he was greatly weakened. Upon cutting the serpent open the Human Resistance found Owen, still alive, but his hair had turned white, his eyes had gone red and he had been blessed with unimaginable power. That’s when they knew for sure he was the chosen one.

To this day no one knows why the Dark One wanted Owen’s parents dead and the Human Resistance decided it would be better to keep the families privacy and refused to reveal the real name and identities of Owen’s parents.

Instead they gave Owen a new last name, a name that would become a legend among the wizarding world.

Thorn.

The Dark One went back into hiding after his serpent form was destroyed but everyone knew he was just building up enough power to merge with someone again.

I was determined to make sure that person would not be Silvian.

“You know, the blood moon doesn’t just remind me of Owen,” Silvian said. “My mom and I used to watch it every Hallows Eve until I came here. It was our tradition. Some years I used to call her and we would still watch it together, even if we were in two totally different places.” He laughed dryly. “But I guess that’s impossible this year.” He sighed heavily. “I...I just really miss her.” Silvian had never been this open or vulnerable with me before. I wasn’t even sure how to react. “Hey, Ches,” he suddenly said, rolling over on his side to look at me.

“Yeah?”

“I wanted to apologize.”

I blinked, that really was something I hadn’t expected him to say. “What for?”

Silvian hesitated a beat before continuing. “For following you. I promise I only did it because I honestly was worried you might have had a concussion. I swear to God I’ll never do anything like that ever again.” Silvian hesitated a beat before continuing. “I just wanted to try and keep you safe since I wasn’t able to protect Jay, or Trip...or even my own mother. You’re the only friend I have and I don’t want to lose you.”

No one had ever said anything like that to me before.

No one had ever willingly called my their friend.

I felt a sudden wave of sentimentality sweep over me and I fought my impulse to pull Silvian into a hug. In an attempt to not totally humiliate myself by doing something like that I tried to play it off.

I gave Silvian a playful shove. “You know you could make way more friends if you weren’t a dick to everyone, right?”

Silvian rolled his eyes. “We’re already in our final year. It’s not like there’s any point making new friends now.”

I snickered, “well at least promise me you won’t try to punch any more chosen ones to further dirty your reputation.” I shrugged. “Unless you’re purposely going for the broody emo bad boy stereotype, in which case, I think you’re succeeding with flying colors.”

“About that fight with Thorn,” Silvian said slowly. “There was something else that happened between him and I last year that…” he suddenly stopped, shaking his head. “You know what. Never mind. There’s no need to talk about the past. Uh...are you excited about the Halloween party tomorrow? It’s your first one, I think you’ll like it.”

I was obviously a little peeved that Silvian had changed the subject so quickly but I decided it was better to keep the mood light.

“Yeah,” I said, “why don’t you tell me about it.”

I already knew about it of course. The Halloween parties were always my favorite part of the books. Something was supposed to happen at this one however. The Dark One was going to influence Silvian to summon a hellhound and set it loose at the party.

Luckily that wasn’t going to happen anymore.

I smiled smugly to myself. I had just saved Silvian from the Dark One.

Well...at least for now.