The grand library is quiet tonight, too quiet. The shelves stretch high into the shadows, the faint scent of parchment and candle wax hanging in the air like an unspoken secret. You stand at the threshold of the Restr!cted Section, heart pounding with the rush of anticipation.

"Okay, cool," you murmur, more to steady yourself than anything else. You glance at Pansy, who stands next to you, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Ready for this?" she asks, a grin tugging at her lips.

"Absolutely," you reply, pulling your cloak tighter around you. The gate ahead shimmers faintly with magic, and you know there's no going back now.

Just as you start to move, a soft voice from behind you makes you stop.

"Hey," Theodore whispers. You turn, meeting his eyes in the dim light. "Be safe."

You almost want to laugh at the seriousness in his tone, but Pansy cuts in smoothly, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "We will," she says with a wink, wrapping her arm around yours as you both begin to step away from the group.

Behind you, you hear Blaise’s smirk before you even see it. He leans toward Mattheo, his voice low but clear as he mimics Theodore’s words with exaggerated care. “Be safe,” Blaise says, eyes dancing with amusement.

Mattheo rolls his eyes, leaning back against the wall with a sigh. “I’ll be so safe,” he mocks, dragging the words out with perfect mock sincerity.

Theodore huffs, clearly exasperated. “Guys, can you stop?”

You and Pansy exchange a quick look, a mix of amusement and impatience in your eyes. "Let’s go before they make a scene," you say, and with that, you slip into the shadows, the heavy iron gate clicking softly as you pass through it.

As you vanish into the dim corridors beyond, you can still hear the faint bickering behind you, but it fades quickly. You and Pansy move deeper into the Section, the air thick with magic and excitement.

This could either go brilliantly—or disastrously. But you’re already committed.