The dungeon classroom smells like damp stone and crushed beetle dung, and it’s already setting your nerves on edge.

Theo catches the look on your face and frowns. “What’s your problem?”

You don’t even bother softening it. “The last thing I want to do is spend the next few hours in the same room as you with my hands in beetle dung. And I definitely don’t want my boyfriend alone with Millie.”

Theo blinks. “Why would Millie and Barty being alone together be an issue?”

You scoff, irritation bubbling over. “You would be too oblivious to notice how much she flirts with him. She does it right in front of you. I don’t even know how you’re still with her.”

Theo’s jaw tightens. “So you think they’re cheating on us.”

“Don’t twist my words,” you snap, immediately defensive. “Barty would never do that. He doesn’t even like her.”

Theo studies you for a moment, eyes narrowing. “You wouldn’t be worried about them being together if you actually believed that. You didn’t see him all summer. He could’ve been doing anything.”

Your temper flares. “You didn’t see Millie all summer either.”

“And you don’t think it’s weird that neither of them wanted to see us?” Theo presses. “All summer. Too busy. Both of them.”

You hesitate despite yourself. “Surely you’re not suggesting they were with… each other.”

“I’m saying it’s strange,” Theo replies evenly. “And clearly some part of you is worried, or you wouldn’t care if they were alone.”

You fold your arms. “I don’t trust Millie.”

Theo exhales sharply. “And I don’t trust Barty.”

“Barty isn’t doing anything,” you insist.

Theo’s voice drops, sharper now. “You weren’t saying that this summer when he had nothing to do with you. Why did you even get with him in the first place?”

That hits harder than you expect. “Why did you get with Millie?” you fire back. “Ugh—forget it. Let’s just finish this. I don’t want to be around you.”

Theo lets out a humorless laugh. “You keep saying that. But I seem to remember a very steamy kiss you were pretty into—right before you got with Barty.”

Your chest tightens. “And I seem to remember you ghosting me right after that,” you snap. “So fuck off.”

You turn away, hands shaking as you focus on your work, the argument still burning between you like a live wire.

⸻

Meanwhile, in the Transfiguration classroom, things are very much not fine.

Professor McGonagall’s sharp voice cuts through the room like a blade.

“What in Merlin’s name is going on here?”

Millie scrambles back, face pale. “Professor, it’s not what it looks like.”

McGonagall’s eyes narrow dangerously. “Do I look like I was born yesterday, Miss Bulstrode?”

She gestures sharply with her wand. “Both of you—clothes on. Now. And follow me to Professor Dumbledore’s office.”

Her voice hardens, icy and furious. “Never in all my years at Hogwarts…”

The door slams shut behind them.

And somewhere deep in the castle, you feel it—

That sickening twist in your gut that tells you everything is about to get much worse.