The garden is bathed in golden sunlight, the summer heat pressing heavily over the group lounging beneath the shade of a towering oak tree.

You stand near the edge of the group, fidgeting slightly as you glance around before asking, “Hey, have you seen my hoodie?”

Harry, who’s sprawled out on the grass with his arms behind his head, cracks an eye open and scoffs. “Why a hoodie? It’s over 30 degrees! You’ll melt.”

The air shifts.

Mattheo freezes while Tom, leaning against the tree with his arms crossed, tilts his head ever so slightly.

Draco, who had been flicking through a book idly, suddenly closes it with a quiet snap, his smirk fading. Blaise and Regulus exchange a glance, something unspoken passing between them. Lorenzo watches you carefully now, while Theodore studies you with a furrowed brow.

It’s Theo who speaks first. “Why do you need it?” His voice is calm, but laced with something unreadable.

You shift under their collective stares, suddenly feeling exposed. You hadn’t expected them to notice—hadn’t thought they’d realize. But of course, they do. They always do.

Draco’s gaze sharpens. “Did someone say something to you?”

Mattheo stands, stretching, but his usual carefree grin is absent. "You know you don’t have to do that around us, right?"

Regulus tilts his head, voice quieter than the others. "Did something happen?"

The concern in their voices presses against you like a weight, heavier than the summer heat. You glance away, unsure of how to respond. They don’t push, but their worry is palpable.

Blaise sighs and stands, already shrugging off his own hoodie. “If you really need one, take mine.”

Lorenzo offers a reassuring smile, his voice gentle. “But you don’t have to hide from us. Ever.”

The warmth of their words lingers, mixing with the warmth of the sun. You look at the hoodie Blaise holds out, then at the others—the silent promise in their eyes. They aren’t just offering fabric. They’re offering safety.