Worth it
The moon shined faintly over the forbidden forest, as a group of Ravenclaws made their way through the trees. The blonde girl groaned and started to complain: "Who had the fucking great idea, to throw a party in the forest. We are never gonna find this stupid tree wall. Are we sure they were not just luring us here to kill us?". "Honestly they might be, i mean it was Riddle and Berkshire " the short-haired brunette right behind her said with a straight face. "Well in order to kill us, they have to know where we are, and I am pretty sure we're lost" one of the boys chimed in. As they took another turn, they saw hundreds of trees next to each other, making it impossible to look behind it. Sighing theatrically and throwing her arms in the air, the blonde exclaimed: "At last. To have seen what I have seen, see what I see.", met by an eyeroll from her friend. "Not to interrupt your performance,", the other boy now got involved, "but how do we get through the tree wall and to our party, Mona?". "Not to worry", the brunette answered and waved a piece of paper she had been carrying the whole time. She stared at it profusely, then lifted her wand and began tapping the trees in front of them. When she was done, immediately the music reached the groups ears and two of the trees moved to the side. The Ravenclaw group entered the clearing and found themselves in the midst of seventh-year students. The party was in full swing with enchanted lights illuminating the area, music playing, and students dancing and laughing. The blonde girl, Sophia, couldn't help but smile as the lively atmosphere engulfed them. "Finally, we made it! This party better be worth it!" Mona exclaimed, already seeming much less stressed. "I'm gonna look for a drink, after that hike, I really need it." Sophie turned to Mona, who once again rolled her eyes at her: "It was not that bad. But go ahead, I saw Daphne over there." The group dispersed, Finn and Logan heading toward the dance floor, Mona towards Daphne and Sophia making her way through the crowd, trying to find a drink table of sorts. Mattheo Riddle, the one responsible for the fact, that the first party of this school year was taking place in the forbidden forest, noticed an irritated-looking Sophia, and approached her with a mischievous grin. "Did not expect to see you here, Valentine. You here to bust us or what? " he said, teasingly. Sophia shot Mattheo a mock glare: "Maybe I am, maybe I'm not," she replied with a sly smile. "But either way please tell me there is alcohol somewhere here". Mattheo chuckled, "Well, well, well, Miss perfect an underage drinker, are you not worried about killing your precious brain cells?" .Sophia simply rolled her eyes. Mattheo winked, "Of course we do, follow me!" Sophia nodded, "Alright, lead the way, Riddle, but if you're leading me into another trap, be prepared for the consequences." He turned his head, looking confused at her, "Another trap? What would have been the first one.". "Obviously getting half our year to walk a mile through a cold forest to come to this thing." They made their way through the seventh-years and when they approached the table filled with drinks, mostly Firewhiskey, Mattheo stopped. "Enjoy, Valentine", he whispered and joined his friends, who were in the midst of a heated discussion about who should be able to pick the next song. The music, a fusion of magical melodies, added to the enchantment of the evening. As the night wore on, the party took on a life of its own, weaving a tapestry of laughter, joy, and the shared experiences of Hogwarts students reveling in the forbidden forest. As Sophia continued to explore the enchanting party, she spotted Daphne, a Hufflepuff she had grown somewhat close to the past years. "Hey, Daphne! How's it going?" Sophia greeted her with a friendly tone. Daphne, her eyes lighting up with excitement, responded, "Sophia! You won't believe the stories I've heard. The summer romances, the secrets, it's all too good!" Sophia, feigning disinterest, leaned against a tree and took a sip of her drink. "Oh, really? Do tell." Daphne leaned in, lowering her voice as if sharing classified information. "So, you know Mattheo Riddle, right? Slytherin heartthrob, obviously. Well, rumor has it he's been quite busy over the summer." Sophia raised an eyebrow, pretending to be only mildly interested. "Busy? How so?" Daphne grinned mischievously. "Oh, you know, a series of mysterious rendezvous, secret late-night gatherings, and let's just say their summer social calendar was, um, eventful." Sophia maintained her nonchalant facade, concealing any genuine curiosity. "Really? And who were the lucky ones caught in their web of charm?" Daphne leaned in even closer, as if sharing the juiciest gossip. "Well, there were a few names thrown around. Some from other schools, even a couple from America." Sophia, still acting uninterested, nodded casually. "Sounds like a typical summer for them." As Daphne enthusiastically divulged the intricate details of the Slytherins' summer escapades, Sophia maintained her façade of disinterest, occasionally nodding as if only half-listening. The enchanted forest provided a fitting backdrop to the unfolding gossip, with shadows playing across Daphne's face as she relished each juicy tidbit. "And you won't believe what happened at the Quidditch match," Daphne continued, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "There was this intense rivalry, a love triangle, like they actually got to the announcer somehow and professed their love for him. And then, when they realized they were talking about the same person, they were screaming at each other with the speaker still being on. It took the officials full on 10 minutes to break the spell they used. It's like they're living in a magical soap opera." Sophia, feigning boredom, took another casual sip of her drink. "Sounds like a thrilling summer indeed." Daphne, oblivious to Sophia's true intentions, leaned in closer. "Oh, and the mystery girl from Beauxbatons who caught Mattheo's eye? They say she's got a secret that could shake the wizarding world. I'm dying to find out more!" Sophia, playing her part to perfection, remarked nonchalantly, "Secrets, drama, and romance — the usual Slytherin affair." Daphne nodded vigorously. "Exactly! But you know what they say, Sophia, the juiciest gossip is always hidden in the shadows. I've got my ear to the ground, and I'll be the first to spill the beans." Sophia, seemingly uninterested, gave Daphne a casual wave. "Well, good luck with your gossip hunt. I'll catch you later, Daphne." As she walked away, Sophia couldn't help but smile to herself. The information she had gathered might prove useful in unexpected ways. As the party continued to pulse with magic and revelry, Sophia felt a newfound sense of awareness, armed with the knowledge that could potentially unravel the mysteries surrounding Mattheo Riddle and his summer exploits. Flickering lights transformed the trees into a magical spectacle, casting playful shadows on the dancing crowd. The bonfire crackled, its warmth inviting students to gather around, sharing tales and creating memories that would linger long after the party's end. Sophia and her friends found themselves caught up in the rhythm of the night. The dance floor became a hub of spontaneous choreography, a blend of wizarding and Muggle dance moves, creating a unique fusion of celebration. Mona, with a radiant smile, joined Sophia on the dance floor. Together, they twirled and spun, momentarily forgetting the stresses of school and losing themselves in the magical ambiance. Finn and Logan, normally reserved, surprised everyone with their energetic dance moves, earning cheers and applause from fellow partygoers. As the night unfolded, Sophia found herself enjoying the party more than she expected. She was dancing with Mona, talking to other people and actually having a good time. When she checked the time on her enchanted watch, she realized it was getting late, and she wanted to get up for breakfast tomorrow, so she could get some work done before Hogsmeade. Usually, Students would skip breakfast and just wake up for lunch after late nights, but Sophia really wanted to get ahead of the amount of school work, they had already received the past week. She turned to her friends, "Hey guys, I think I'm going to head back to the dorm. It's getting late, and I have that Charms essay to finish tomorrow." Her friends, lost in the festivities, barely acknowledged her departure. Sophia trudged through the clearing, irritated and slightly disoriented. As the trees closed behind her, she admitted to herself that she had absolutely no idea where she was going. To make matters worse, Mona, the designated navigator, was still reveling in the party, leaving Sophia at the mercy of Hogwarts' maze-like surroundings. Frustrated, Sophia considered finding a secluded spot to wait until someone else decided to abandon the festivities. Just as she was contemplating her options, Mattheo materialized beside her, nonchalantly puffing on a cigarette. "Lost?" he chuckled, a sly grin playing on his lips. "I'll walk you back to the castle." Sophia shot him a skeptical look. "Walk me back? How generous of you. What's the catch, Riddle? Planning to lead me into another adventure? Mattheo feigned innocence, taking another drag of his cigarette. "Adventure? Me? Never. I'm just here to rescue damsels in distress from the perilous forest, you know, the usual hero stuff." Rolling her eyes, Sophia sighed, "Well, lucky me. Lead the way, hero, but no funny business." Mattheo grinned, "Scout's honor. Let's go, Valentine." As they embarked on their journey back to Hogwarts, the banter between them continued, each comment and retort punctuated by Mattheo's occasional laughter. Despite the annoyance that had lingered from their initial encounter, Sophia found herself reluctantly entertained by Mattheo's witty remarks. "Are you always this charming, or is it a special occasion?" Sophia quipped. "Oh, it's a talent," Mattheo replied with a wink. "Part of my Riddle charm, you could say." "Charm or not, just make sure we don't end up in another secret party in the Forbidden Forest," Sophia warned. Mattheo chuckled, "No promises. But don't worry, this time I'm your humble guide back to the safety of Hogwarts." As they continued their banter on the way back to Hogwarts, Sophia couldn't resist the urge to tease Mattheo about the information she had gleaned from Daphne's gossip. A mischievous glint sparkled in her eyes as she looked at him. "So, Riddle, had a fun summer, did you?" she inquired casually, her tone laced with amusement. Mattheo, caught off guard by her question, arched an eyebrow. "Why do you ask, Valentine? Curious about my thrilling adventures?" Sophia chuckled, maintaining an air of nonchalance. "Oh, you know, just heard a few things at the party. Something about secret Quidditch matches, mysterious Beauxbatons girls, and a love triangle or two." Mattheo's expression shifted from confusion to realization, and he couldn't help but smirk. "Ah, the rumors. You shouldn't believe everything you hear, Valentine. Gossip has a way of exaggerating things." Sophia raised an eyebrow, playing along. "Exaggeration or not, it seems you had quite the eventful summer. Love triangles and secret matches – sounds like a page out of a romance novel." Mattheo laughed, appreciating Sophia's teasing. "Well, you know, I like to keep things interesting. Adds a bit of spice to life." However, as they neared the castle, Tom Riddle, Mattheo's brother, but more importantly a Professor, seemingly appeared out of nowhere. "Well, well, what do we have here?" the Professors smooth voice cut through the night. "Two students wandering the castle grounds after hours. Quite against the rules, isn't it?", he raised an eyebrow as he noticed Sophias panicked look,"A prefect as well, you should know better," he said, his shifting gaze landing on Sophia. "Follow me to my office. We'll discuss this matter further." Professor Riddle led them through the winding corridors of Hogwarts until they reached his office. The room was adorned with ancient-looking books and peculiar artifacts. The atmosphere was both intimidating and intriguing. "Now, as punishment for breaking the rules, you'll need to serve detention, of course." Tom declared, his piercing gaze fixed on them. Sophia sighed, expecting a typical punishment. However, Tom's next words surprised her. "Miss Valentine, the form of your detention will be tutoring Mr. Riddle here. I believe your expertise in Defense against the dark arts could be of great assistance to him. After all you are my best student, while he barely passed his O.W.L.s" Mattheo snickered, finding the situation amusing, but his brother quickly put a stop to that, "Not that quick, Mr. Riddle, I expect you to attend this tutoring and give it your best. Both of you will be denied Hogsmeade weekends, until Mattheo has an O on one of his assignments, I hope that is incentive enough for you."