As the sun set over the Qu1dditch pitch you sat on the sidelines, your laughter catching the attention of Cormac, who watched from afar.

Cormac walked over, his broom slung lazily over one shoulder. "Well, well, if it isn't the most breathtaking sight on the field."

Before you could react, the air around you shifted. From the other side of the pitch, the boys - Draco, Mattheo, Tom, Blaise, Theodore, Lorenzo and Regulus - watched the scene unfold.

Regulus was the first to move, his sharp gray eyes narrowed as he strode toward Cormac with an air of calm menace. The others quickly exchanged glances, their expressions hardening as they began to close in from all sides.

Regulus stopped just a step away from Cormac. “Okay,” he said, a smirk of his own playing at his lips. “Now you’ve got my attention, Cormac.”

Cormac faltered. “Relax,” he muttered, trying to maintain his bravado. “I was just—”

“Just making a fool of yourself,” Blaise interrupted smoothly as he appeared at Regulus’s side. “Do yourself a favor and walk away.”

Draco’s voice cut through next. “It’s almost admirable, really—thinking you had a chance. Almost.”

Mattheo laughed darkly. “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. Brains, though? Clearly not.”

Cormac opened his mouth to reply, but Tom silenced him. "I suggest you leave. Now. Before you embarrass yourself any further."

Theodore crossed his arms and added, “You really don’t want to find out what happens if you don’t.”

Cormac hesitated. “Fine. No need to overreact.” He turned and stalked off.

As the group watched him retreat, Mattheo turned to you, his playful smirk softening. “Are we going to have to start putting up warning signs around you?”

Draco rolled his eyes, though his protective gaze lingered on you. “Honestly, some people have no sense of boundaries.”

Regulus’s smirk returned. “He won’t be bothering you again.”

The others murmured their agreement, their protectiveness palpable as they led you back to the castle, leaving no doubt that you belonged with them - and them alone.