The First Attack.
The next night, it happened.
Harry had been in bed, lying stiffly under the covers, staring at the ceiling. His mind refused to rest. The portrait. The way it had moved. The way its shadows seemed alive.
He had forced himself to turn over, closing his eyes. But sleep never came easily in this place.
Then—
Click.
His breath caught.
That sound.
The same one from his visions. The one that signaled her presence.
He sat up instantly, pulse hammering. His eyes darted toward the door—nothing. The window—nothing. His candle, still flickering on the desk—
Then he saw it.
The portrait.
It had moved again.
Now, it was inside his room.
Hanging on the far wall, directly across from his bed.
Harry felt ice settle in his veins. His magic recoiled, coiling tightly around him like an instinctive shield.
The candle flickered.
The shadows deepened.
And then—
She stepped out.
The painting rippled like water, and a hand emerged. Thin, pale, wrong.
Harry’s breath hitched.
Before he could move, the hand lunged, dragging the rest of her form out. She was taller than he remembered. Her black habit seemed to stretch into the darkness, like it was part of the night itself.
Harry scrambled back, nearly falling off the bed. His heartbeat pounded in his ears.
She didn’t speak.
Didn’t breathe.
She just stood there.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then, the room lurched.
The candle’s flame died. Shadows twisted across the walls, alive, crawling toward him like ink spreading over paper. The temperature dropped sharply. His breath left his lips in mist.
The nun moved.
One step.
Then another.
Silent.
Predatory.
Harry reacted. His magic surged, lashing out wildly, a deep black mist curling from his fingertips. The shadows in the room snapped, retreating for a moment—just long enough for him to run.
He bolted for the door.
But before he could reach it—
The world flipped.
He was thrown back, his body slamming against the wall with invisible force.
Pain exploded through him. His head spun.
The shadows closed in.
The nun’s face was inches from his now.
Her mouth opened—
And darkness swallowed everything.