You step into the common room, feeling every pair of eyes snap onto you like magnets.

A boy with blond hair smirks at you first. “I am Draco," he says. "And if one more person calls me ferret, the Ministry will have to send me to prison. Don’t test me.”

A low chuckle goes through the group and you catch someone whispering 'ferret' just loud enough for Draco to glare at them.

Before you can process that, another boy with dark, dishevelled curls leans casually against the arm of the nearest chair. "I'm Mattheo," he grins mischievously, "and I swear I had nothing to do with this."

He winks dramatically, causing only a few of the others to snort.

"Neither did I," a voice chimes in. "I’m Theodore," he says lazily. "Matt and I are innocent. Completely." He throws a suspicious glance at Mattheo, who just shrugs.

“What are you guys even talking about? Anyways, I’m Lorenzo — Enzo for friends.” Lorenzo says, smirking.

Another boy stands awkwardly off to the side, as if he'd rather be somewhere else. "I'm Tom," he says grimly. "And I was forced to do this. Can I have my snake back now?" You blink, not quite sure if he's joking. But he is not.

From the couch behind him, another boy chuckles. "Chill, Tom. She was in your room the entire time. "Oh, and I’m Blaise," he adds.

At last, a girl steps forward, hands on her hips. "Why am I the only girl? And the last one, no less. Ugh." She flicks her dark hair over her shoulder. "I’m Pansy," she says, looking you up and down.

"Nice of you to forget that I’m still here, Pansy." A boy with dark hair and striking grey eyes leans lazily against the doorframe, an amused glint in his expression. "I’m Regulus. But please, just call me Reg — or Reggie, if you’re feeling brave."

Draco steps closer, an eyebrow raised. "Welcome to the Serpentines," he drawls. "Hope you’re good at keeping secrets."

Mattheo adds with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, "And maybe good at sneaking out after curfew..."

Theodore finishes, "Or getting out of detention. We tend to collect a lot of that."

Enzo just shrugs. "It's all part of the experience."

Regulus just tilts his head, studying you. "You'll either survive us," he says thoughtfully, "or become one of us."

Pansy grins. "So what's your name?"