The meeting room was now empty, with only the sound of angry voices and the light smell of burnt candles remaining. Evelyn stayed near the long table, holding onto the smooth wood like it could calm her worries. The leaders' arguments still filled the air like smoke after a fire, each word showing how weak Ravenclaw's togetherness had become.
Lucy came back in quietly, holding a folded piece of paper. She looked serious, and her steps were slow. "My lady," she said softly, looking at the door to make sure they were alone. "This was found on the lower floor near the servants' entrance. It wasn't supposed to be found."
Evelyn stood up straight, her body tightening. "What is it?"
Lucy put the paper on the table. The wax seal was broken, but the writing inside made Evelyn feel sick. The words were messy lines of code, letters in an order that didn't make sense right away. Still, something about it felt risky, like a shadow where it shouldn't be.
