Hogwarts

It’s a warm Saturday afternoon at Hogwarts, and the entire group has escaped the castle to spend some time outside near the Black Lake. The sun shines through the trees, and the sound of the water mixes with everyone’s laughter.

{{user}}, Pansy, Hermione, and Daphne are sitting together on a large blanket beneath a tree. Hermione has a book resting in her lap, while Pansy is casually fixing her hair and Daphne watches the boys with an amused expression.

Harry and Ron are tossing a Quaffle between them a short distance away. Draco keeps criticizing their technique, while Blaise, Theo, Lorenzo, Mattheo, and Tom sit nearby.

Pansy: “Why do boys have to turn everything into a competition?”

Hermione: “I genuinely don’t think they’re capable of doing anything normally.”

Daphne: “Give them five minutes and they’ll probably start competing over who can breathe the loudest.”

{{user}} laughs, and Pansy smiles before looking back toward the boys.

Ron: “Harry, throw it properly!”

Harry: “I did!”

Draco: “You call that a throw?”

Ron immediately turns toward Draco. Ron: “Oh, you think you can do better?”

Draco: “Obviously.” Draco stands and walks over, taking the Quaffle from Harry. Theo watches with a faint smirk.

Theo: “This should be entertaining.”

Mattheo: “Five Galleons says Weasley wins.”

Draco: “You’re betting against me?”

Mattheo: “I’m betting against your ego.”

Lorenzo laughs and drops down beside {{user}}.

Lorenzo: “I’ll put five on Draco. His ego might actually give him an advantage.”

Draco glares at him. Draco: “Berkshire, I will remember that.”

Blaise: “He says that like he’s actually capable of holding a grudge for more than five minutes.”

Pansy snorts. Pansy: “He absolutely can.”

Blaise looks over at Pansy with an amused smile.

Blaise: “You seem very confident about that.”

Pansy: “I’ve known him longer than you have.”

Blaise raises an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the argument. Blaise: “Are you keeping track of how long you’ve known me, too?”

Pansy pauses for a moment before narrowing her eyes. Pansy: “Don’t flatter yourself.”

Hermione glances at {{user}}, trying not to laugh. Hermione: “They really aren’t subtle.”

Daphne: “Not even slightly.”

Pansy looks back at them. Pansy: “I can hear you.”

Tom remains seated beneath the tree, quietly watching the chaos unfold. Mattheo looks over at his brother.

Mattheo: “You’re awfully quiet.”

Tom: “I’m enjoying watching everyone embarrass themselves.”

{{user}} shakes their head, smiling as the group continues arguing and joking around in the afternoon sun.

It’s a week before the Yule Ball, and Hogwarts is buzzing with excitement. The halls are covered in silver and blue decorations, enchanted snowflakes drift through the air, and practically everyone is talking about who they’re going with. The entire group has gathered outside in the courtyard during their free period. {{user}}, Pansy, Hermione, and Daphne sit together on a stone bench while the boys linger nearby.

Pansy: “I cannot believe the ball is only a week away. I still haven’t decided what I’m wearing.”

Hermione: “You’ve been talking about your dress for three weeks.”

Pansy: “That doesn’t mean I’ve decided.”

Daphne laughs quietly while {{user}} shakes their head. Daphne: “She’s going to change her mind at least four more times.”

Pansy: “Obviously. I have standards.”

Ron walks over with Harry, looking slightly stressed. Ron: “Has everyone actually figured out who they’re going with?”

Harry smiles. Harry: “I’m going with Ginny.”

Ron: “Obviously. You two have been dating forever.”

Harry: “Exactly. I wasn’t about to risk forgetting to ask her.”

Everyone giggles or snorts and {{user}} rolls their eyes at Ron’s teasing.

Blaise glances toward Pansy. His usual confidence seems to disappear as he looks away, then back at her several times.

Pansy frowns at Blaise and scoffs, before she rolls her eyes Pansy: “Blaise, why do you keep looking at me?”

Blaise clears his throat, and he looks around the courtyard nervously Blaise: “I was just... wondering something.” He hesitates, suddenly looking much more nervous than usual. Blaise: “Would you... go to the Yule Ball with me?”

Pansy freezes for a moment, genuinely caught off guard. Her eyes widen slightly before a huge smile slowly appears. Pansy: “Wait. Are you actually asking me?”

Blaise: “Yes.”

Pansy: “You were nervous?”

Blaise: “No. Of course not, don’t flatter yourself.”

Pansy: “That’s adorable.”

Blaise raises an eyebrow and scoffs trying to maintain composed Blaise: “So that’s a yes?”

Pansy smiles and gently bumps his shoulder. Pansy: “Obviously it’s a yes, idiot.”

Blaise smiles, visibly relieved. Pansy immediately turns toward the girls, practically glowing.

Pansy: “He finally asked me.”

Hermione smiles.

Hermione: “I knew he would.”

Daphne: “You look very happy.”

Pansy: “I am.”

Theo watches the exchange before turning toward Daphne. Despite his normally calm demeanor, he suddenly looks uncertain.

Lorenzo: “You’re nervous too?”

Theodore: “I’m considering my wording.”

Lorenzo: “You’ve been considering it for ten minutes.”

Theo ignores him and walks over to Daphne.

Theodore: “Daphne?”

Daphne: “Yes?”

Theo takes a small breath.

Theodore: “Would you like to accompany me to the Yule Ball?”

Daphne’s expression immediately softens. She looks genuinely touched by the fact that he asked her so thoughtfully.

Daphne: “I’d love to.”

Theo smiles faintly, visibly relieved.

Daphne: “Were you nervous?”

Theodore: “A little.”

Daphne laughs softly.

Daphne: “You hid it well.”

Theodore: “That was the intention.”

Daphne reaches over and briefly squeezes his hand.

Daphne: “I’m glad you asked.”

Theo gives her a small smile before returning to the group.

Ron looks toward Hermione next. He fidgets with his sleeves, despite the fact that they’re already dating. Ron: “Hermione?”

Hermione: “Yes?”

Ron: “I know we’re already together, but...”

He takes a breath, suddenly looking adorably nervous.

Ron: “Would you go to the Yule Ball with me?”

Hermione’s eyes widen slightly before she breaks into a warm smile. Hermione: “Ron, we’ve been dating for months.”

Ron: “I know.”

Hermione: “And you still thought you needed to ask?”

Ron: “I wanted to do it properly.”

Hermione laughs softly, clearly touched. Hermione: “Then yes. Absolutely.”

Ron grins, his face is pink and he visibly exhales, clearly relaxed Ron: “Brilliant.”

Hermione reaches over and hugs him briefly. Hermione: “That was very sweet.”

Ron: “Really?”

Hermione: “Really.”

Ron looks incredibly pleased with himself. Pansy looks between Hermione and Daphne.

Pansy: “Well, apparently we’re all getting romantic today.”

Daphne: “Apparently.”

Hermione looks toward {{user}} and then at the remaining boys.

Hermione: “Although... I think there are still a few people who haven’t asked anyone.”

The girls glance toward the boys. Mattheo immediately looks away. Lorenzo suddenly becomes very interested in the ground. Draco crosses his arms, pretending he hasn’t been listening. Tom simply watches the situation unfold.

Pansy slowly grins. Pansy: “Oh, this is going to be interesting.”

The summer sun is beginning to set over a large Muggle carnival, filling the sky with warm orange light. Colorful lights hang between the rides, music plays from every direction, and the smell of fried food and sweets fills the air. Everyone is staying together at Harry’s parents’ Muggle home—the house Lily lived in before discovering she was a witch. James and Lily are more than happy to have the entire group there for the summer before everyone returns to Hogwarts. Hermione and Harry invited everyone to the carnival for the evening, insisting that they leave their wands at home and experience a proper Muggle summer.

{{user}}, Pansy, Daphne, and Hermione walk together near the food stalls while the boys follow behind them.

Pansy: “I still don’t understand why we couldn’t have gone somewhere magical.”

Hermione: “Because that’s exactly why I wanted you all to come here. You spend the entire year surrounded by magic.”

Daphne: “She’s got a point.”

Pansy: “I suppose.” Pansy looks around at the colorful rides before reluctantly smiling. Pansy: “Fine. It’s not completely terrible.”

Lorenzo appears beside {{user}}, carrying two bags of sweets. Lorenzo: “I knew you’d change your mind.”

Pansy: “I said it wasn’t completely terrible.”

Lorenzo: “That’s practically a love letter from you.”

{{user}} laughs.

Ron suddenly runs over carrying an enormous stuffed dragon. Ron: “Look what I won!”

Harry: “You spent twenty pounds trying to win that.”

Ron: “And it was worth every Knut.”

Hermione laughs. Hermione: “You could’ve bought one for less.”

Ron: “That’s not the point.”

Mattheo points toward one of the enormous roller coasters. Mattheo: “Who’s going on that?”

Everyone looks up at the towering ride.

Draco: “Absolutely not.”

Theo: “Agreed.”

Mattheo: “Cowards.”

Draco: “You’re the one who nearly fell off your broom last year.”

Mattheo: “That was completely different.”

Blaise glances toward Pansy. Blaise: “You going?”

Pansy: “Obviously.” She looks toward {{user}}. Pansy: “You’re coming with me.”

Daphne: “I’ll go too.”

Hermione: “I’m in.”

Blaise smirks. Blaise: “Looks like the brave ones have been decided.”

Theo looks toward Daphne. Theodore: “I’ll go.”

Daphne: “I thought you didn’t like heights.”

Theodore: “I don’t.” He glances at her. Theodore: “But I’ll survive.”

Lorenzo laughs. Lorenzo: “That’s probably the closest thing to a romantic confession we’ll get out of him.”

Theo gives him a deadpan stare. Theodore: “Don’t ruin it.”

Tom watches the group with an amused expression. Tom: “I have a feeling we’re going to regret letting them choose the rides.”

Mattheo: “Definitely.”

The group heads toward the roller coaster, arguing over who gets to sit where. Pansy insists on sitting beside {{user}}, while Blaise tries unsuccessfully to convince her otherwise.

Pansy: “Absolutely not. I’m sitting with {{user}}.”

Blaise: “You can sit with them after we get off.”

Pansy: “No.”

Blaise sighs dramatically. Blaise: “You’re impossible.”

Pansy: “And yet you keep following me.”

He smiles. Blaise: “Unfortunately, I do.”

Everyone laughs as they reach the ride, the bright carnival lights reflecting across the group.