#hacker chapter two

As the heavy atmosphere in the Great Hall settled into murmurs, Snape finally dismissed the sixth-years. The tension still clung to the air as the students shuffled out, many still gossiping in hushed tones about Astoria’s shocking reveal. Y/N glanced over at Daphne, whose face was drawn with worry as she moved to follow her sister out of the hall.

Y/N was about to go after Daphne when she noticed Harry lingering by her side. His expression was a mixture of concern and confusion, clearly unsure of what to say or do after the whirlwind that had just hit the group. Before she could speak, Mattheo appeared out of nowhere, his gaze fixed on her.

"Y/N, I need to talk to you. It’s important," Mattheo said, his voice tense. He threw a dismissive glance at Harry, waving him off. "You can go now, Henry."

Harry’s jaw tightened, clearly irritated by the misnaming. "It’s Harry," he corrected, but stayed rooted beside Y/N. 

Mattheo rolled his eyes but turned back to Y/N. "Seriously, this is urgent. I need your help."

Y/N hesitated, glancing between the two boys. Harry was clearly on edge, but she could feel the weight of Mattheo’s urgency. Curiosity gnawed at her—especially after noticing how shaken Mattheo had been during the slideshow. She laid a gentle hand on Harry’s arm, giving him a reassuring look.

"I’ll be okay," she said softly, trying to calm his growing agitation. "I just want to hear what he has to say."

Harry frowned, not liking the idea but reluctantly nodding. "Alright… but I’m not far."

Y/N turned back to Mattheo, her curiosity now fully piqued. "What’s going on, Mattheo?"

He glanced around, as if making sure no one was listening, then tugged her to the side, away from prying ears. His usual swagger seemed to evaporate, replaced with something like guilt. 

"You’re the smartest person I know," he started, his words making Y/N cringe a little, but she allowed him to continue. "And I need you to see this."

Mattheo pulled out his phone, unlocking it with a swipe before handing it to her. Y/N’s eyes skimmed the screen. The message was from someone named The Hacker.

"What happens when your parents find out what you did?"

Y/N's brow furrowed. "What does that mean?"

Mattheo shook his head quickly, brushing the question aside. "That's not important. Just read the rest, please."

She scrolled down, her eyes widening as she reached the next part of the message. 

"Pick one of your friends and your secret will be safe."

She looked up at him, incredulous. "And you chose Astoria?"

Mattheo's face twisted with guilt. He shifted his weight uneasily, running a hand through his hair. "Look, I don't even think of her as a real friend, okay? So… I thought it wouldn’t be a big deal."

Y/N shook her head, disbelief flooding her. "I can’t believe—"

"I know I fucked up," Mattheo interrupted, his voice edged with desperation. "But you need to understand, I thought it was some kind of joke! I didn’t think it would actually… well, this."

Y/N fell silent, trying to make sense of everything. The slideshow, the humiliating reveal of Astoria’s secrets, and now this—the blackmail from someone calling themselves The Hacker. "So… Pansy, Ginny… are they involved too?" she asked slowly, piecing together the strange behaviors she had witnessed earlier.

Mattheo’s hand slammed down on the table in frustration. "I don’t know! That asshole stopped replying to my messages."

Across campus, the damage had already been done. The gossip about Astoria spread like wildfire, students murmuring about her plastic surgeries, her dyed hair, and everything else that had been exposed. Some pitied her, others mocked. Astoria herself had locked herself in her dormitory, sobbing uncontrollably while Daphne sat by her side, trying to comfort her. 

Outside the dorm, Draco paced angrily, his fists clenched as Blaise stood nearby, offering quiet but firm words of comfort.

"She’ll be alright, mate. Give her time," Blaise said, his voice low.

Draco only grunted in response, his eyes hard with fury as he glared at the ground. Theo and Enzo approached from down the hall, their usual smirks plastered across their faces.

"Who knew the princess had so many secrets, huh?" Theo remarked, elbowing Enzo, who snickered beside him.

Draco shot them a withering glare. "Shut up. Now’s not the time."

Enzo raised his hands in mock surrender, though the amused glint in his eye remained. "Alright, alright. Just saying, mate, that’s rough."

Meanwhile, over by the common room entrance, Ginny sat quietly, clutching her bag even tighter than before. She hadn’t said a word since the slideshow, her face pale and drawn.

Those around her began to notice the oddity—Ginny Weasley, never known for silence, was now shrinking into herself, looking like she wished the ground would swallow her whole.

Back with Y/N, Mattheo’s frustration was palpable as he paced in front of her, glancing at his phone like it was some ticking time bomb.

"So, now what?" Y/N asked, her voice carefully neutral.

Mattheo stopped, looking at her, and for once, he seemed at a loss. "I don’t know. But I need to figure out who the hell is behind this before it gets worse."

Y/N stepped out of the corridor, her mind still swirling with the chaotic conversation she’d just had with Mattheo. As she rounded the corner, she spotted Harry leaning casually against the wall, clearly waiting for her. She chuckled softly, surprised. 

"You actually waited?" she said with an amused grin.

Harry nodded, his eyes warm and patient. "Told you I wouldn’t go far."

She smiled but didn’t have time to respond before her attention was drawn elsewhere. The soft sound of crying echoed from the nearby girls’ bathroom. Y/N’s expression shifted to concern, and she gave Harry a quick nod before walking toward the door.

Inside the bathroom, the quiet sobbing was unmistakable now. Y/N spotted a familiar purse peeking out from beneath one of the stalls.

"Ginny?" Y/N called out, her voice gentle yet firm. "I can see your purse."

There was a tense silence before Ginny’s shaky voice answered from behind the closed stall. "What is it?"

Y/N stepped closer, leaning lightly against the door. "I want to talk about what happened to Astoria."

There was no immediate reply, just more silence and a few shaky breaths. Y/N took a deep breath, her suspicions solidifying. "You’re being blackmailed too, right?"

Ginny's voice quivered as she responded, barely above a whisper. "What makes you think that?"

Y/N sighed softly. "I know that you took Astoria’s phone."

The words hung heavy in the air, and Y/N could hear Ginny begin to sob again, louder this time. She continued, her tone calm yet knowing. "I saw you leave class earlier and figured it out. It wasn’t hard to connect the dots."

Outside, Harry had been waiting patiently, but when he heard Ginny’s sobs growing louder, concern flickered across his face. He pushed the bathroom door open, stepping in tentatively. Ginny went quiet when she noticed him, her embarrassment palpable as she tried to collect herself. 

Harry approached cautiously, his voice soft. "Hey, Ginny. Why don’t you come out? Y/N’s just trying to help you."

There was a long pause, and then Harry continued, his tone comforting. "It’s my first day, and, well… it’s been pretty eventful." He gave a small, awkward smile, glancing toward Y/N before turning back to the stall. "You don’t need to be embarrassed. It’s just us."

Ginny sniffled, clearly torn, but after a moment, the stall door creaked open. Her eyes were red and puffy, and she clutched her purse tightly to her chest as if it were a lifeline. She glanced at Harry, then back to Y/N.

"If Astoria finds out…" Ginny’s voice broke, panic evident in her eyes. "I’m dead."

Y/N gave her a soft, reassuring look. "It wasn’t your fault. Whoever’s behind this just wanted to see if you’d betray your friend."

Ginny shook her head, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. "I didn’t want to, Y/N," she whispered, her voice thick with guilt. 

Without warning, she moved toward Harry, burying her face in his chest. Harry, caught off guard, stood awkwardly for a second before his arms hesitantly wrapped around her, offering a stiff but kind embrace. His wide eyes met Y/N’s, silently asking for guidance on what to do next.

Y/N gave him an understanding nod, her expression softening as she saw how shaken Ginny truly was. Harry patted her back gently, clearly uncomfortable but doing his best to console her.

Ginny pulled back slightly, wiping her eyes before asking the question that had been gnawing at her. "But who made the video?"

Y/N’s mind raced as the pieces clicked into place. She thought back to the Great Hall—the slideshow, the chaos—and something stood out: Pansy. Pansy had been acting strange, fidgeting, just before the slideshow started. And when the rest of the room was glued to the shocking images, Pansy had barely reacted at all.

Y/N’s voice was steady but laced with suspicion as she answered, "The one person who wasn’t paying attention to the slideshow… Pansy."

Ginny’s eyes widened in realization, the fear in her expression momentarily replaced with understanding. "You think she’s involved?"

Y/N nodded slowly. "It makes sense. She was fidgeting just before the slideshow came on, like she expected it.

Y/N stormed down the hallway, her mind set on finding Pansy. The accusations and suspicions were swirling in her head, and she needed answers. Harry was right beside her, glancing at her with concern but staying silent for now, sensing her determination.

She finally found Pansy loitering near the courtyard, leaning against the wall with her usual smirk. Y/N approached her without hesitation. 

"Pansy," Y/N called out, her voice sharp, "we need to talk."

Pansy barely looked up from her phone, flicking a glance at Y/N before rolling her eyes. "About what, Greengrass's little meltdown? Please, spare me."

Y/N took a deep breath, her frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. "Did you have anything to do with the slideshow?" she asked directly, her gaze piercing.

Pansy’s smirk widened as she pocketed her phone, finally giving Y/N her full attention. "Oh? And what if I did?" she shrugged dismissively, pushing herself off the wall. "You think I care about some spoiled little drama? Astoria’s been asking for it."

Y/N took a step forward, unfazed by Pansy’s nonchalance. "I want to know if you’re involved," she demanded, her voice steady.

Pansy crossed her arms, looking at Y/N with a sneer. "Involved?" she repeated mockingly. "You should be asking yourself that question. You know, I was thinking—who’s smart enough to pull off something like this? To hack into someone's phone and orchestrate a public humiliation? All signs point to you, Y/N."

Y/N froze, blinking in confusion. "What?" she said, incredulity lacing her words. "I didn’t send that text, and I sure as hell wouldn’t waste my time on something like this."

But Pansy wasn’t done. She raised her voice, making sure everyone in the vicinity could hear. "Oh, really? Come on, you’re smart enough to pull this off. Who’s to say you didn’t do it? Maybe you’re just getting revenge for last year’s breakdown. We all know you’re still not over that."

Y/N’s face paled as her breath hitched. The mention of last year hit her like a ton of bricks, and for a split second, she couldn’t move. Pansy had crossed the line, and she knew it.

Harry, still standing by Y/N, took a step forward, glaring at Pansy. "Back off, Pansy. Leave her alone."

Pansy’s eyes flickered over to Harry, her smirk faltering. "Oh, look at you, Potter. Defending her like some kind of hero. Let me give you some advice," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Stay away from Y/N. She might have another breakdown, and this time, you’ll be the one she drags down with her."

Y/N flinched at Pansy’s words, her confidence crumbling as she instinctively took a step back. Her chest tightened, the memories of last year clawing their way back to the surface. She had fought so hard to move past it, but here it was, right in front of her again.

"Y/N?" Harry’s voice broke through her thoughts, soft and concerned. He reached out, gently touching her arm. "Are you okay?"

Y/N swallowed hard, blinking away the emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She pulled away slightly, her voice quieter than before. "I… I’m fine. Pansy’s right, though. You should probably stay away from me."

But Harry shook his head firmly, his green eyes full of determination. "No. I can choose who I’m friends with. And I choose you, Y/N." He looked at her with sincerity, his voice soft but unwavering. "You’re the nicest person I’ve met here. I want to be your friend."

Y/N stared at him for a moment, her heart aching from the kindness in his words. Despite everything Pansy had said, despite the doubt creeping in, Harry stood by her. She took a deep breath, nodding slowly as she allowed herself to believe, even for a moment, that she deserved that kind of loyalty. 

"Thank you, Harry," she whispered, a small smile tugging at her lips, though the weight of the confrontation still hung heavy in the air.

Astoria lay on her bed, her eyes puffy and red from crying, while Daphne slept soundly in the bed beside hers. The room was quiet, save for the occasional sound of Daphne shifting in her sleep. Draco had finally left after hours of comforting her, but even his presence had felt empty, like he wasn’t fully with her anymore. Astoria couldn’t shake the cold weight of humiliation that clung to her, and she found herself scrolling through her shattered reputation in her head over and over.

Her phone buzzed on her nightstand, a faint glow illuminating the dim room. With a heavy sigh, she reached for it, expecting more pity texts or gossip circulating among her classmates. Instead, the message made her freeze.

The Hacker "Want to get back at those who betrayed you?"

Astoria’s pulse quickened as she sat up, her hands trembling. The words felt like a dangerous invitation, but the fury boiling inside her was louder than her fear. She quickly texted back.

Astoria  "Who are you?"

Seconds passed like hours before the reply came.

The Hacker "Mattheo picked you. Ginny took your phone. Pansy uploaded the video. And now, Draco has betrayed you."

Astoria’s breath hitched as she read the message, her heart sinking into her stomach. Her fingers hovered over the screen as she typed back, desperate for clarity.

Astoria    "What do you mean Draco betrayed me?"

This time, the response wasn’t a text. It was a video file. With shaky hands, Astoria pressed play.

The footage was grainy, but unmistakable. Draco, standing outside their common room, was talking to Theo and Enzo. They were joking, but the conversation quickly shifted.

"Did you know about Astoria’s surgeries?" Theo’s voice cut through the video, his tone casual but with a hint of curiosity.

Draco hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck before shaking his head. "No, I didn’t. It’s disgusting, honestly. She lied to me about it." His voice was cold, and the words felt like a knife twisting in Astoria’s chest.

The video continued as Theo and Enzo exchanged glances. "She lied to you? But haven’t you known her since you were kids?" Theo pressed.

Draco’s expression darkened, his tone defensive. "Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I had any idea about… that."

Astoria’s hand flew to her mouth, her breath shallow. Draco knew. He had always known. He and Daphne had grown up with her; they knew every insecurity, every reason she had gotten those surgeries. And yet, here he was, pretending he didn’t. Worse—acting disgusted by it.

A wave of nausea hit her as she hurled her phone across the room, the sound of glass cracking echoing in the silence. The betrayal cut deeper than anything she’d experienced today. She had always trusted Draco, and now that trust lay shattered, just like her phone.

But before she could fully process the devastation, her phone buzzed again, the soft glow flickering from its now cracked screen. Reluctantly, she crossed the room and picked it up, wiping away the tears that had started to fall again.

The Hacker "Do you want revenge?"

Her fingers hovered over the screen, her mind racing with anger, pain, and confusion. She hesitated for a split second, but the image of Draco’s face as he lied about her was burned into her mind. The choice felt inevitable.

Astoria  "Yes."

The screen remained dark for a moment, and then a final message appeared:

The Hacker   "Good. Let’s begin."

Next chapter

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