It’s late evening, and you’re wandering near the outskirts of the forest. You were supposed to meet Harry, Ron, and Hermione here, but they’re nowhere to be found.

“Hermione? Ron? Harry?” you call softly into the dim light.

You hear nothing for a moment—then a faint crack of a twig behind you. Spinning around, you raise your wand instinctively.

“Relax,” a smooth, lazy voice drawls from the shadows. “If we wanted to curse you, you’d already be on the ground.”

Out of the darkness, Blaise steps forward, his lips curling into a sly smirk. Behind him, the rest of the Serpentine Boys emerge one by one.

Mattheo leans against a tree trunk. His dark eyes glint with amusement as he gives you a lopsided grin. “Lost, are we?” he teases.

Draco steps up beside Blaise, crossing his arms over his chest. “Harry and his merry band of fools left you behind, did they? Typical.”

“Maybe they weren’t worth waiting for,” Theodore murmurs from the side.

“I wasn’t left behind,” you snap, trying to keep your voice steady. “I’m meeting them here.”

Regulus raises a skeptical brow. “Well, they’re not here now, are they?”

Lorenzo finally speaks. “Perhaps they’ve realized the risks of wandering into the forest and decided to spare themselves the trouble,” he says. “Which begs the question… why are you still here?”

You hesitate, your fingers tightening around your wand. Something about the way they’re all looking at you sends a shiver down your spine. But it’s not just fear; it’s something else entirely.

You take a step back, your mind racing. You know you should leave—turn around and head straight back to the castle, where it’s safe. But something about the Serpentine Boys holds you in place.

Mattheo notices your hesitation and chuckles. “Admit it—you don’t want to go back to them. They’re predictable, boring.” He leans closer. “We’re much more fun.”

Mattheo takes a step closer, his teasing grin softening just enough to make his next words feel unexpectedly genuine.

“Come with us,” he says, extending his hand toward you.