1978
Mack Thomas would describe himself as a very ordinary boy, well ordinary. He was as ordinary a wizard would ever be. His parents had been overjoyed with his arrival, and as a result, Mack was raised with a mix of love and books. They worked tirelessly to ensure that he and his younger brother both received the education they deserved.
It was no surprise, then, that Mack was sorted into Ravenclaw on his very first day at Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. From that day on, he had vowed to prove himself during his time at the magical school.
By 1977, Mack was much like any other seventeen-year-old. In his seventh and final year at Hogwarts, he was well-known among his peers for his sharp intellect. If anyone was looking for him, they were far more likely to find him tucked away in the quiet corners of the library, poring over books as he prepared for his N.E.W.T.s. Mack firmly believed in laying a strong foundation for future success, sparing no effort in his studies.
His friends, however, didn’t share the same enthusiasm for academics. Despite all being sorted into Ravenclaw, each of them had their own take on schoolwork.
This fact was plain to see in the Ravenclaw common room that one particular night. The victory over Gryffindor in the final Quidditch match of the season had been nothing short of legendary. A grand banner bearing a soaring eagle hung above the fireplace, where a warm fire crackled. The room was filled with food and drinks, with the help of the house-elves to ensure everything was perfect. A corner of the room had even been cleared for dancing, with a magically-enhanced sound system playing popular wizarding tunes.
Mack sat on the edge of a worn armchair near the window, an open book balanced precisely on his knee. He wasn't reading though. The words swam before his eyes as he watched his friends celebrating their victory. It was a rare sight for Mack, who typically avoided noisy spaces. While he’d cheered loudly from the stands as Ravenclaw’s Seeker, his close friend Jack Hepburn, had caught the Snitch, he now felt oddly out of place
"Thomas, mate! You’re miles away," called Lodo Bagman, one of Mack´s friends and a Beater on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. He flopped onto the armrest of Mack’s chair, nearly toppling his book.
"Sorry," Mack said. "Guess my mind's wandered off."
"You’d better get it out soon, mate," Lodo said with a grin. "This is our year, and you’ve more than earned the right to celebrate. Top of the year in Charms and we’ve got the cup! Don’t tell me you’re thinking about N.E.W.T.s already."
Mack forced a smile, "Old habits, I suppose."
Lodo rolled his eyes. "Well, get up and enjoy yourself, or you’ll end up like Binns. Burke’s playing Exploding Snap against Dale, he could use your tactical brain.”
Mack hesitated, glancing over at Dale and Ben, who were deep into their game.
Before he could reply, Fiona Chen bounded over, her eyes sparkling. Mack couldn’t shake the feeling she fancied him, though he didn’t feel the same way.
Just then, Fiona Chen walked over, her eyes sparkling. Mack could've sworn that she had a crush on him, but he personally didn't like her that way.
“Mack! Come on, get off that chair! You can’t hide in the corner forever!”
“I’m not hiding,” Mack protested weakly.
“Looks like hiding to me!” she teased, tugging at his sleeve. “Join us! We’re about to start a dance-off, you have to join in!”
Mack chuckled despite himself. “A dance-off? You lot have fun. I’ll just... observe.”
“Observing is for professors! Get up!” Fiona insisted, but Mack gently shook his head.
He continued observing, his eyes drifting to the group of Gryffindors across the room. Lily Evans, James Potter, and Sirius Black were dancing enthusiastically, while their friends, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Mary MacDonald, and Alice Fortescue, were engrossed in a spirited game of wizard’s chess, loudly encouraging their pieces. It wasn’t unusual for Gryffindors to be here; despite the fierce competition between houses, celebrations often brought everyone together.
Elsewhere in the room, Mack noticed two girls, a Gryffindor and a Slytherin, standing a little closer than most friends would.
The door creaked open and a group of students with green-and-silver ties entered. Mack recognised one of them as Barty Crouch Jr., who was smirking while whispering to his girlfriend, Julie Davis. Evan Rosier followed close behind, flanked by his usual entourage, though the greasy-haired boy often seen with them was absent tonight.
“Oh, they’re bound to cause trouble,” Lodo muttered, following Mack’s gaze.
“Julie?” Mack asked.
“No, the bloody suits of armour,” Lodo said dryly. “Of course Julie Davis! She’s tied to Crouch, and that boy’s trouble with a capital T. His closest mate is Rosier, you’ve heard the rumours.”
Mack didn’t reply. He had heard the rumours. He knew many Slytherins held beliefs that didn’t align with his own. It was said Rosier had been a follower of You-Know-Who since their sixth year, and Mack was certain Crouch and his friends shared similar allegiances. But Julie was different. She was sharp and self-assured, often outshining her peers in Potions and Arithmancy. Mack had partnered with her in class several times, and though she rarely let her guard down, he felt they shared a mutual respect.
As the party continued, Mack overheard snippets of conversation. "Did you hear about the new spell Professor Flitwick is teaching?" Fiona exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement. "It’s supposed to make any object float for ten minutes! We should try it later!"
"Only if you promise not to float me out the window," Lodo joked.
"Alright, everyone! Time for a toast!" called Jack Hepburn, raising his glass. "To Ravenclaw! May we always fly higher! "To Ravenclaw!" the room echoed. Mack raised his cup but felt a tug at his sleeve. He turned to find Julie standing beside him
"Hey Mack, how have you been?"
Mack smiled faintly. “The usual—studying for my N.E.W.T.s. Nothing special.”
Julie’s eyes widened. "You’ve started already?"
Mack nodded, sipping his drink.
"Merlin’s beard, I should start to then." Julie muttered, more to herself than to him.
Mack noticed Barty glancing their way. “Your boyfriend’s watching us,” he mentioned, unsure why he mentioned it.
Julie glanced at Barty and offered a small smile. “Yeah, he doesn’t like it when I talk to people he doesn’t know well. I told him you’re a good friend, though.”
Mack couldn’t help feeling a small pang of satisfaction at her words. “Let me guess, he thinks everyone’s like Potter or Black?”
Julie shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. We’ve been in the same class for seven years, but I’ve never really spoken to them. Barty can be a bit... jealous,” she admitted.
Mack nodded, unsure how to respond.
The party continued with games of Exploding Snap, wizard duels, and even Spin the Wand.
“It’s a bit loud, isn’t it?” Julie said, while sipping her drink. “You’re not one for parties?” Mack asked, tilting his head. “Not usually,” Julie admitted. “But Barty insisted we come. He said it’d be good to show that Slytherins aren’t all gloomy and miserable. Although, to be honest, I think he just wanted an excuse to cause a bit of mischief.”
Mack raised an eyebrow. “Mischief?” Julie gave him a half-smile but didn’t elaborate.
Before Mack could press further, Jack Hepburn’s voice boomed across the room. “Alright, everyone, we’re starting a game of truth or dare!” Jack declared, waving his wand to dim the lights slightly. “No backing out, no boring truths. And absolutely no whining if you’re dared to do something outrageous!”
Mack hesitated, but Julie nudged him with her elbow. “Go on,” she said. “You’re not getting out of this one.” With a resigned sigh, Mack allowed himself to be pulled into the circle.
He ended up seated between Lodo and Fiona. Across from him sat Barty Crouch Jr., his arm draped lazily around Julie’s shoulders. Evan Rosier lounged beside them. More students joined them, even Ben and Dale ended their game.
Jack waved his wand again. It spun rapidly before landing on Dale, who flushed as everyone turned to him.
“Truth or dare?” Jack asked with a grin.
“Er, truth,” Dale said nervously.
The group groaned, but Jack leaned forward, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Alright, who’s your biggest crush at Hogwarts?”
Dale turned crimson. “I… I don’t have one,” he stammered unconvincingly.
“Liar!” Lodo crowed. “Come on, Dale, we all know the truth!”
After a moment of hemming and hawing, Dale mumbled something under his breath.
“What was that?” Peter teased, leaning closer. “Did you say… Alice Fortescue?”
The game continued, with dares becoming progressively more outrageous. Ben was dared to sing the school anthem in a high-pitched voice while balancing a teacup on his head. Jack had to hex his own shoes to tap-dance uncontrollably for a full minute. Even Sirius Black got roped into the chaos when the bottle landed on him; he was dared to impersonate Professor McGonagall, complete with her animagus form of a cat.
When the bottle finally pointed at Mack, he felt his stomach drop. All eyes turned to him expectantly. “Truth or dare, Mack?” Jack asked, grinning.
Mack hesitated. “Truth,” he said cautiously.
The group groaned again, but Evan leaned back, considering. “Alright, here’s a good one: if you could pick anyone in this room to go on a date with, who would it be?”
Mack blinked, his mind racing. He could feel everyones curious gaze on him. He glanced around the circle, trying to think of a diplomatic answer.
“I think I’d rather spend the evening with a good book,” he said finally, earning a chorus of boos and laughter.
Come on, Mack!” Lodo teased. “That’s a cop-out!” “I stand by it,” Mack replied with a faint smile. The game moved on, and soon, it was Julie’s turn. She chose dare without hesitation. James Potter grin widened as he leaned forward. “I dare you to hex the Slytherin banner outside the common room to read, Gryffindor: Superior in Every Way.”
Julie rolled her eyes. She stood, wand in hand, and marched to the door, followed by a small group of cheering students. A few moments later, they returned, triumphant.
He noticed Barty whispering something to Julie, who shook her head with a small smile. Whatever the conversation was, it didn’t seem tense, but Mack couldn’t shake the feeling that Barty was watching him more closely than usual.
By the time the clock struck midnight, the laughter in the common room had faded to murmurs. It wasn’t until the next morning that anyone noticed Julie Davis and Mack Thomas were gone.