The darkened streets of Diagon Alley were alive with the magic of Halloween. Wizards and witches in costumes crowded the cobblestones, their laughter mixing with the crisp autumn air. But none of that mattered to you. Your heart was racing, and you were trying to shake the odd feeling that lingered ever since you'd agreed to meet Theo for this Halloween pub crawl.

He hadn’t told you about the mask.

Not that Theo ever announced anything; his mystery was part of his charm. But now, standing just inside the Leaky Cauldron, with him leaning against the bar in a "Ghostface" mask from the Muggle film Scream, you couldn't deny the intimidating effect. He looked menacing and yet, undeniably gorgeous, the black robes clinging to his lean frame in all the right places. Even from behind the mask, you could sense those piercing grey eyes on you, the ones that had always made you feel... something.

“Surprised you made it,” his voice drawled, distorted slightly through the mask but unmistakably Theo—low, smooth, and laced with that dry humor and italian accent. “Thought you might chicken out.”

You rolled your eyes, stepping closer to him, trying to play it cool, but the way his presence always made your heart skip a beat was impossible to ignore. "I wouldn’t miss it. Besides, someone’s got to make sure you don’t start hexing people for spilling drinks on you."

He chuckled softly, the sound vibrating in your chest. He turned towards you, tilting his head ever so slightly as he pulled down the mask enough to reveal his face—those sharp cheekbones, the soft curl of his lips, and that faint scar running along his jawline. For a moment, he just watched you, and it was enough to make you feel like you were being stripped bare, like he could see everything you were trying to hide.

“So,” he said, eyes trailing over you slowly, “what do you think? Intimidating enough?”