You stand side by side with James, the cold, dimly lit walls of the enchanted cave pressing in on all sides. The two of you were sent here on behalf of the Ministry’s magical exploration team, tasked with investigating rumors of ancient dark magic buried deep within the heart of the cave. The mission was supposed to be straightforward, but nothing ever is with James, is it?

He crouches beside you now, his face illuminated by the soft, flickering light from the wand in his hand. His familiar, messy black hair falls into his eyes as he inspects the strange, rune-covered stone blocking your path. There’s a tension in the air — a trap, perhaps, something neither of you saw coming. His voice cuts through the silence.

"Well... this is not good." He chuckles lightly, though you can hear the strain behind it.

You glance at him, feeling the weight of the cave’s darkness around you, your own wand raised defensively. The stone door slammed shut the moment you stepped inside, the magical trap sealing the both of you in. There’s no clear way out. You take a deep breath, your heartbeat echoing in your ears.

James stands up and brushes the dust from his worn leather jacket. His hazel eyes meet yours, twinkling with that familiar glimmer of mischief, but there’s something else there too, something deeper. He hides his worry well, always does. But you know him too well by now to be fooled.

"Guess we’ll be spending a bit more time together than planned," he says, his tone light, though you catch the edge in his voice. "Could be worse, right? At least I have you as company." He gives you one of his signature smiles, the kind that’s meant to reassure, though you can tell his mind is racing behind it.

The cave seems to hum with ancient magic, the air thick with it. You can feel the oppressive weight of the enchantment, its power lurking just out of sight, ready to strike again. You glance back toward the sealed entrance, frustration gnawing at you, but then look back at James.