"Careful around them," they’d say. "Serpentines are ruthless. You cannot trust them. They will get you into trouble."

But that wasn’t the truth. They were far from ruthless, and you relied on them most of the time.

You had seen their kindness in ways no one else cared to notice.

The way Mattheo comforted you without saying a word, the way he held you in his arms, shielding you from the chaos of the world. The way Tom always protected you when someone's sharp words cut too deep, his presence alone enough to keep the darkness at bay.

Draco loved to keep an eye on you during lessons, being your 'tutor' even when you didn't need one, but only because he wanted to be close to you. He would scoff and roll his eyes, but his notes would always find their way onto your desk when he thought you weren’t looking. Blaise had a way of making you laugh at the most unexpected moments, his dry wit lifting your spirits when the weight of expectation bore down on you.

Then there was Theodore, who always seemed to know what you needed, when you needed it. He was always there for you, a quiet but constant presence. Lorenzo was always the first to offer you a scarf or his jacket when you were cold, draping it over your shoulders before you could protest.

And Regulus, always reserved, but inexplicably gentle when it came to you. His actions spoke louder than his words—a soft caress, a gentle squeeze of your hand, a fleeting but knowing glance that told you he saw you, really saw you.

They weren’t the monsters everyone painted them to be. No, they were your protectors, your sanctuary, your quiet comfort in a world too quick to judge. They had their sharp edges, their guarded hearts, but for you, they softened.

The world might call them villains, but to you, they weren’t.

They were your safe place. Your home.