The Slytherin common room glowed green from the lanterns set high on the stone walls, shadows dancing across the water-like ceiling as the sound of drums and guitar echoed through the chamber. Tonight wasn’t just any gathering—it was a full-on party, and the Slytherin boys’ band had taken over the corner stage. Only this time, their lead vocalist wasn’t one of them. It was Natalia, their honorary “sixth snake,” their girl who could snarl and sing better than any of them.

She stood front and center, hair messy from headbanging, a wicked grin splitting her face as she belted into the mic. The crowd roared, Slytherins pressed together, drinks sloshing, boots stomping in rhythm. The boys were in sync behind her, their usual dark, edgy sound filling the air, but everyone’s eyes were on Natalia.

Everyone except Natalia’s eyes, because she only ever looked at one person. Pansy Parkinson. Sitting on a couch in the front row, black dress glittering under the shifting light, Pansy was the goddess of Natalia’s universe. Natalia sang every lyric to her, her stare cutting through the crowd like a blade, daring anyone else to even think about it.

The Slytherin boys knew the deal—Natalia might be their “one of us” sister, but she’d learned every ounce of their possessiveness, their territorial instincts, their sharp-edged loyalty. And when it came to Pansy, Natalia was worse than all of them combined. She’d fight, bleed, and break every bone in someone’s face before she let another witch or wizard even breathe wrong in her girl’s direction.

From the couch, Pansy smiled, arms folded, enjoying the show and basking in the attention of her girlfriend’s laser focus. A group of students who’d snuck in for the party whispered something, eyes flicking toward Pansy—and Natalia saw it. Her grin twisted darker as she leaned into the mic, voice dropping lower, lyrics turning into a growl, and the boys caught on instantly, riffing harder, louder.

The room vibrated with Slytherin pride and dangerous energy. Everyone could feel it. This wasn’t just a band performance. This was Natalia’s warning.

Pansy was hers.

And she dared anyone to test that.