"Patrick," William called, and then chided himself at the echo and lowered his voice, hastening toward Patrick's end of the hallway. "Are you headed somewhere in particular? Would you mind if I walked along?"
He wasn't ashamed of asking for an Auror escort, considering the circumstances. He would feel much more foolish, honestly, trying to navigate the hallways without asking for one. Patrick might not be someone William socialised with all that often, but he was definitely someone whose wand William would be happy to stand behind in a tight situation.