The Daughter of Valancaire

Jessa’s POV

My grandfather had always been ruthless in my training.

He had pushed me beyond my limits, tested the very foundation of my magic, and forced me to master my emotions in ways no one else ever had.

But this time—this time was different.

This was not just another lesson.

This was the last one.

The Battlefield of the Mind

“You are strong, Jessa,” he said, pacing in front of me. “Stronger than most.”

His blue eyes, the same as mine, flickered with something sharp.

“But power alone does not make you untouchable.”

He stopped, standing tall, unwavering.

“Your weakness,” he continued, “is your love.”

I gritted my teeth. “You’ve said that already.”

His gaze hardened.

“And yet, you have not learned it.”

A chill ran down my spine.

Then—

Everything shifted.

The room vanished.

I was no longer in the training hall.

I was somewhere else.

Somewhere I had never been—but somehow knew.

The sky above me was dark, swirling with shadows.

The ground beneath me cracked and broken.

And in front of me—

A figure knelt on the floor.

My stomach lurched.

It was Sebastian.

His head was bowed, his chest rising and falling unevenly.

His wand lay discarded in the dirt, shattered.

“Jessa—” his voice was hoarse, weak. “Don’t.”

I felt my breath leave me.

No.

This wasn’t real.

This wasn’t—

“You can save him.”

My grandfather’s voice echoed around me, disembodied, distant.

“All you have to do is surrender.”

And then—

Another voice.

A darker one.

“Give me your magic, Valancaire,” it purred. “And he will live.”

No.

I turned, my wand clutched so tightly my knuckles ached.

But I saw nothing.

Only the endless shadows swirling around us.

Sebastian coughed, blood staining his lips.

“Jessa—”

No.

NO.

This wasn’t real.

It wasn’t—

A second voice.

“Jessa!”

I turned sharply—

Ominis.

He was standing several feet away, wand raised, his stance defensive.

But behind him—a figure emerged from the shadows.

A wand pointed at his back.

“No—!”

I lunged forward, but it was too late.

A flash of green light.

Ominis collapsed.

Something inside me shattered.

I turned, heart thundering violently, my magic roaring like a storm inside my veins.

Sebastian, Ominis—they were—

No.

I could bring them back.

I had to bring them back.

A sharp whisper curled in my ear—seductive, familiar.

“You know what to do.”

I froze.

Because I did.

I knew exactly what to do.

Dark magic—the kind I had sworn to never touch.

The kind that had consumed my grandmother.

The kind that had nearly ruined Sebastian.

But if it meant saving them—

If it meant—

A hand gripped my shoulder.

And suddenly—

Everything stopped.

The world around me dissolved, the shadows vanishing like mist.

I gasped, staggering backward, my pulse still thunderous, my magic still on the verge of unleashing something terrible.

But when I looked up—

I was back in the keep.

Back in the training hall.

And my grandfather was standing in front of me, watching carefully.

The Warning

I was breathing hard, trembling.

My hands were shaking.

Because even though I knew it had been an illusion—it had felt real.

Too real.

My grandfather studied me.

Then—

“Now,” he said, his voice calm but firm, “you understand.”

I swallowed, my throat dry.

“That is how they will break you.”

I stared at him.

“Not with power,” he continued. “Not with force.”

His eyes bored into mine.

“But with love.”

The room was silent, save for the sound of my still-uneven breaths.

I felt cold, hollow.

And yet—I understood.

This was why he had been so strict.

Why he had trained me to control my emotions, to temper my impulses.

Because one day, someone would use them against me.

And when that day came—I could not afford to break.

I clenched my fists.

“So, tell me, Grandfather,” I said quietly. “How do I stop it?”

For the first time, his expression softened.

Just slightly.

“You already have the answer, Jessa.”

His gaze held mine.

“You must choose.”

I swallowed. “Choose?”

“You must choose what matters most to you.”

His voice was steady, final.

“Your magic. Or your heart.”

A sharp silence settled between us.

Because I knew—

That one day, I would have to make that choice.

And when I did—

It would change everything.

His piercing blue eyes were fixed on me, assessing, measuring—just as he always had.

And then, at last, he spoke.

“We are done.”

I blinked. “What?”

He stood tall, hands clasped behind his back, his expression as unreadable as ever.

“You may go.”

The words landed with more weight than I expected.

“That’s it?” I asked, my voice quieter than before.

“That is it.” His gaze never wavered. “You don’t need my training anymore. What you need now is experience.”

I swallowed hard, my thoughts spinning.

Weeks.

It had only been weeks since I arrived at Valancaire Keep.

And yet, in that time, I had been pushed harder than I ever thought possible.

I had nearly died in the Glen, fought an Elderwood tree, learned secrets about my own bloodline that still haunted me.

And through it all, my grandfather had never treated me with gentleness.

Not once.

Until now.

I should have felt relieved. I should have been grateful.

Instead—I already missed him.

A Goodbye, But Not an Ending

I hesitated before asking, “Can I write to you?”

He raised a brow, as if the question was beneath me.

“Yes.”

One word.

I smiled slightly. “Can I visit?”

“Yes.”

Again, one word.

I hesitated before pushing my luck, lips twitching. “Can I bring my suitors? With muffins?”

He exhaled sharply, clearly already exhausted by me. “Only if they are prepared to die.”

I huffed. “Noted.”

I didn’t think. I simply stepped forward and hugged him.

His entire body went rigid.

I knew why.

No one hugged Lord Valancaire.

Not his men, not his students—certainly not his heirs.

But after a moment—he let out a slow breath and returned the gesture.

It was careful, restrained—but it was there.

A rare, silent acknowledgment.

An understanding.

A reluctant kind of love.

A Parting Gift

He pulled away first, his hand resting briefly on my shoulder.

“Go, Granddaughter.” His voice was steady, calm.

But then, softer—almost too quiet to hear—

“The Keep will always be waiting.”

I swallowed past the sudden tightness in my throat.

I bowed my head slightly. “Thank you, Grandfather.”

And with that, I stepped through the portal.

Leaving Valancaire Keep behind.

For now.
______

For the first time in weeks, I woke up feeling… rested.

The weight of training, of battles fought in both reality and illusion, had finally lifted—if only for a moment.

The sunlight peeked through the curtains, warming the room in soft golden hues. Across from me, Samantha Dale was already awake, excitement practically radiating from her as she rifled through her trunk, clearly eager to go down to breakfast.

I let out a slow breath and stretched, feeling the rare sense of peace settle over me.

I reached for the delicate hair ornament resting on my bedside table, turning it between my fingers.

It had once belonged to the Valancaire daughter who never had the chance to live.

A gift passed down. A reminder.

I pinned it carefully into my hair and smiled softly.

For my grandmother.

For my mother.

For the women who had loved too much.

I glanced at Samantha as she pulled out a deep green dress from my wardrobe.

She too, loved too much.

She had always been there—steady, thoughtful, selfless.

Leander Prewett would never know just how lucky he was.

I smiled, shaking my head.

“What are you looking at, Jessa?” Samantha narrowed her eyes.

I smirked. “Nothing. Just thinking.”

She huffed. “If you’re thinking I’ll let you pick out something scandalous, you can forget it.”

I laughed. “I would never.”

Her lips pursed in suspicion before she turned back to my wardrobe.

After a moment, I said, “Leander is lucky to have you, you know.”

The dress in her hands froze mid-air.

A slow, rosy blush spread across her face.

“Jessa!” She whirled around, flustered.

I grinned, enjoying every second of it.

“What?” I said innocently.

She muttered something under her breath about ‘troublesome friends’ before shoving the dress into my hands.

“Here. Wear this before I hex you.”

I laughed again, feeling lighter than I had in weeks.

Yes.

Today was going to be a good day.
_____

Samantha and I made our way down to the Great Hall, the warm scent of fresh bread and spiced pumpkin juice filling the air. The usual chaotic symphony of Hogwarts was in full swing—laughter, chatter, the occasional explosion from the Gryffindor table (most likely Garreth’s doing).

And, of course, the usual suspects were already waiting.

Sebastian and Ominis were seated together, both clearly poised for another ridiculous battle of one-upmanship.

Jace, the ever-menacing twin, was perched right next to Sebastian, grinning like he had been waiting for me all morning.

His eyes flicked to my hair ornament.

“Wearing it again, I see.”

I smirked. “Noticed, did you?”

He shrugged dramatically. “Difficult not to when it practically screams ‘Valancaire heir.’”

Sebastian snorted. “That, and you’ve been staring at her head since she walked in.”

Jace didn’t even try to deny it.

I slid into my usual seat—directly between my two suitors.

Unfortunately.

Ominis, ever the gentleman, poured me tea immediately.

Sebastian, ever the competitive menace, snatched the honey before Ominis could reach it.

Ominis sighed. “Really, Sebastian?”

Sebastian smirked. “Really.”

I shook my head, already exasperated.

Before I could say anything, however—

“Leander, stop touching my plate!”

I turned just in time to witness Samantha smacking Leander Prewett’s hand away from her toast.

Leander, utterly undeterred, grinned. “I was only checking if it was poisoned.”

Samantha scowled. “By who?”

“Me,” he said cheekily.

I laughed, shaking my head. “Well, at least he’s honest.”

Samantha huffed, clearly half a second away from hexing him.

Meanwhile, Jace heaved a dramatic sigh and surveyed the table.

“I’m left out.”

I raised a brow. “Then find yourself a girl, brother.”

Before he could retort, Sebastian—always ready to stir chaos—chimed in.

“Oh, please.” He smirked, cutting into his eggs. “Your brother has tons, Jessa.”

Jace rolled his eyes. “You exaggerate.”

Sebastian leaned forward, grinning. “Did I tell you two Slytherins hexed each other for him?”

I blinked. “What.”

“It was ridiculous,” Sebastian continued, ignoring Jace’s glare. “Proper dueling stances, wands out—‘You stole him from me!’ ‘No, he likes me more!’—”

Ominis sighed. “If only they knew him better. That would have solved the argument immediately.”

Jace scowled. “You lot are insufferable.”

The table erupted into laughter.

A Long-Awaited Announcement

As the laughter died down, Sebastian cleared his throat.

“Oh, I have something to announce.”

That got everyone’s attention.

Sebastian paused for effect before finally saying—

“Anne is coming back to Hogwarts.”

For a moment, silence.

Then—

“What?”

The reaction was instantaneous.

Poppy nearly spilled her pumpkin juice. Natty grinned. Samantha clapped her hands together. Jace looked pleasantly surprised.

“She’s cured, then?” Jace asked, his tone sincere.

Sebastian nodded. “Yes. They… found a cure.”

I felt Ominis tense slightly beside me.

We had all agreed not to tell the full truth.

So, instead, Sebastian simply continued, “They’re finalizing the details, but she’ll be joining us soon.”

The table buzzed with excitement.

“That’s incredible news!” Samantha beamed. “Oh, another addition to our chaos!”

“She’s going to love it here,” Natty agreed.

Jace turned to Sebastian, expression genuinely warm. “I’m glad you have your sister back, mate.”

Sebastian gave a small, grateful smile. “Thank you.”

The moment the news settled, the girls were already scheming.

“We should do something to welcome her!” Samantha declared.

“Yes! A celebration,” Poppy added.

Natty nodded. “We can take her to Hogsmeade her first weekend back.”

“She’ll love that.”

I smiled, watching them all.

I turned to Samantha and said with certainty, “You and Anne are going to get along perfectly.”

Samantha grinned. “Oh, I just know it.”

Sebastian, meanwhile, was watching the entire thing unfold with mild horror.

“Merlin help her.”

Ominis sighed. “Merlin help all of us.”

The teasing and lighthearted conversation continued, filled with laughter and good-natured chaos.

For the first time in a long time, I looked at Sebastian and Ominis—really looked at them.

And I saw it.

The burden they had carried for so long…

Was finally gone.
___

Breakfast had been going so well.

Which, naturally, meant something had to go horribly wrong.

Garreth Weasley, ever the persistent menace, managed to squeeze himself into the already full table—directly across from me, of course.

He took one look at the scene—Ominis elegantly sipping tea, Sebastian already attempting to out-serve him, Jace grinning like a cat with cream, and Samantha trying (and failing) to argue with Leander—and smirked.

“Bit crowded here, don’t you think?”

And yet, he still sat down.

I rolled my eyes. “Good morning, Gar.”

“Morning, sweets.”

Then—his gaze flicked up to my hair.

His grin widened.

“That hair ornament brings back memories.”

Oh. No.

I froze.

Heat rushed to my face, and suddenly, I was reliving that night.

The dinner. The teasing. The kiss.

Sebastian’s fork hit his plate a little too hard.

Ominis set his teacup down very, very slowly.

And then—

“Oh?” Ominis hummed, voice dangerously smooth. “Do tell, Weasley.”

Sebastian arched a brow. “Yes, Garreth, do share.”

Garreth, being the absolute agent of chaos that he is, simply leaned back and smirked.

“Oh, you know. A beautiful evening, a lovely dinner, a kiss to seal the night—”

“GARRETH!” I hissed, kicking him under the table.

He laughed.

“That’s it. I’m poisoning his breakfast,” Ominis muttered.

Sebastian, still fuming, turned to me. “You kissed him for an ingredient, Jessa.”

I crossed my arms. “And?”

“AND?!”

“It was an effective strategy.”

Sebastian looked personally betrayed. “I—oh, we’re talking about this later.”

I smirked. “Can’t wait.”

The Owl of Doom

Before I could suffer more Sebastian-related consequences, an owl swooped down, dropping not one, but two letters in front of me.

I recognized the elegant script of my mother immediately.

But the other one—

I stilled.

The Valancaire seal.

From my father.

The entire table went silent.

Jace, ever the curious menace, leaned forward. “From father?”

I nodded, already reaching for the letter.

Jace tilted his head. “Curious. He rarely writes. You got that from him.”

I glared.

He smirked.

I ignored him, broke the seal, and unfolded the parchment.

And then—

My mouth dropped open.

My entire expression changed.

“What?” Samantha asked eagerly.

I didn’t respond.

Because, apparently, my father had received two official courtship letters.

From Sebastian Sallow and Ominis Gaunt.

And he was not amused.

The Public Execution of Jessa Valancaire

Jace, sensing my absolute horror, did not give me a moment to recover.

Instead, he snatched the letter straight out of my hand.

I didn’t even have the energy to stop him.

“Merlin’s beard!”

Jace read it over, eyes widening.

And then—

He started laughing.

No.

No.

“YOU ACTUALLY SENT OFFICIAL COURTSHIP LETTERS TO OUR LORD FATHER?”

He nearly died laughing.

Sebastian and Ominis?

Utterly unfazed.

They simply continued eating breakfast like this was perfectly normal.

Jace, still wheezing, turned to them. “You two bloody idiots!”

Sebastian shrugged. “It’s the proper thing to do.”

Ominis nodded, utterly composed. “We wouldn’t want to be improper.”

“IMPROPER?!”

Jace nearly fell off the bench.

Garreth, meanwhile, was watching with pure fascination.

“Wait. Wait, wait, wait.” He held up a hand. “There are official courtship letters?”

Sebastian, pretending he had always known this, casually sipped his tea. “For Valancaires, yes.”

Garreth stared.

Then—he stood up abruptly.

“If you’ll excuse me, I have a letter to write.”

And before I could even process what was happening, he ran.

I leapt up after him.

“GARRETH, DON’T YOU DARE—”

“TOO LATE, SWEETS!”

I slumped back into my seat, defeated.

The entire table was laughing at my misery.

Sebastian, still smug, turned to Ominis. “So, do we send another letter informing Lord Valancaire that Garreth is joining the war?”

“Oh, I’m sure he’ll be delighted,” Ominis replied smoothly.

I groaned, dropping my head onto the table.

“I hate all of you.”

Samantha patted my shoulder. “No, you don’t.”

“I DO.”

Jace was still dying.

Sebastian looked far too pleased.

Ominis was already planning my father’s next letter.

Garreth was going to get himself murdered.

Jace, the traitorous menace, was still laughing.

And he hadn’t even finished reading the letter.

The entire table was watching me, waiting for an explanation—except for Garreth, who had already fled like a man on a mission.

I was going to kill him later.

But first—I needed to survive this.

Jace wiped away actual tears of mirth, still holding the letter as he dramatically cleared his throat.

“Let’s see, let’s see,” he said, voice full of pure amusement. “Ah, here it is—Father’s words of wisdom.”

He raised the letter and read aloud, ensuring maximum humiliation.

“Jessa,

I have received two official courtship letters, from Sebastian Sallow and Ominis Gaunt.

Would you care to explain why my SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER has an OFFICIAL COURTSHIP?

Your mother, of course, is thrilled.

But I require an actual explanation.”

Jace paused for effect, then turned to me with a massive grin.

“Well, dear sister, would you care to explain?”

I gaped at him.

“WHY ARE YOU READING MY LETTER OUT LOUD?!”

He ignored my distress completely.

Instead, he turned to Sebastian and Ominis.

“You two really sent letters to our father?”

Sebastian shrugged, entirely unbothered. “It’s the proper thing to do.”

Ominis, ever composed, nodded. “A formal request ensures the suitor’s intentions are clear. It is a sign of respect to the Valancaire lineage.”

The entire table turned to stare at them.

“WAIT.”

Poppy was the first to speak.

She leaned forward, blinking. “So, hold on— we all knew you two were courting Jessa, but you actually made it official?”

Sebastian smirked. “Of course.”

Natty looked stunned. “Already? You’ve only been courting her for a few weeks!”

Samantha’s jaw dropped. “I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST FLIRTING!”

Leander whistled. “Merlin, you two move fast.”

Everett, who had been quietly eating, nearly choked on his pumpkin juice. “I—I’m sorry, I don’t think I’ve ever met two FIFTH-YEARS who submitted formal courtship letters.”

Jace grinned, relishing my suffering.

“Oh, it’s much worse than you think.”

Samantha, horrified, turned to me. “Jessa. Explain.”

“I DON’T KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENED.”

Jace snorted. “That’s a lie, and we all know it.”

“I AM JUST AS SHOCKED AS YOU.”

Sebastian leaned back, smug. “You really shouldn’t be.”

Ominis smirked. “You knew what you were getting into.”

Jace sighed dramatically and set the letter down.

“Alright, listen up, you lot.”

The table fell silent, all eyes on him.

“Since my dear sister is failing to explain, let me do it for her.”

I groaned. “Jace—”

“Hush, Jessa, this is a teachable moment.”

I glared.

He continued anyway.

“For normal wizards, dating is… well, casual. You flirt, you go on dates, you test the waters. Simple.”

The others nodded along.

“For Valancaires?” He gave a pointed look at Sebastian and Ominis. “Things are different.”

“How different?” Natty asked, curious.

Jace grinned. “Oh, very different. Because you see—when you pursue a Valancaire properly, you don’t just date them.”

He turned to me.

“You court them with intent.”

Samantha gasped. “WITH INTENT?!”

Leander nearly fell off his seat.

Everett looked vaguely terrified.

Poppy blinked rapidly. “Intent… as in…?”

Sebastian smirked. “Exactly what you think it means.”

Natty gasped again. “MARRIAGE?”

“EVENTUAL MARRIAGE,” Jace corrected. “It’s not a betrothal, but it is a public declaration that the suitor is serious about their intentions.”

Samantha looked between me and my two smug suitors. “JESSA. THIS IS A BIG DEAL.”

“I KNOW!”

“WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL US?!”

“I DIDN’T THINK IT WOULD ESCALATE THIS FAST!”

Natty: “I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU TWO JUST DECIDED THIS AFTER A FEW WEEKS.”

Samantha: “DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU’VE DONE?!”

Leander: “THIS IS BLOODY INSANE.”

Everett: “WHY IS YOUR FAMILY LIKE THIS?”

Poppy: “I THOUGHT WE HAD TIME BEFORE YOU STARTED CONSIDERING MARRIAGE, JESSA.”

Meanwhile, Sebastian and Ominis?

Utterly unbothered.

“Honestly, you lot are overreacting,” Ominis sighed.

Sebastian shrugged. “We were going to do it eventually.”

“EVENTUALLY?!”

Jace was grinning like mad.

I, however, was considering throwing myself into the Black Lake.

Samantha turned to me, eyes wild.

“So, wait—WHAT ABOUT GARRETH?”

I froze.

Jace’s eyes widened. “Oh, Merlin.”

And then—

“THAT BLOODY WEASLEY RAN OFF TO WRITE HIS OWN LETTER.”

Silence.

Then—

EVERYONE SCREAMED.

Just when I thought the chaos had reached its peak, my two eldest brothers arrived.

Vix and Valor, tall, imposing, and currently looking like they were about to throw someone off the Astronomy Tower, strode toward our table—holding yet another letter.

Oh no.

Not another one.

They stopped directly behind me, their presence looming.

Valor, the more composed of the two, slowly turned his gaze to Sebastian and Ominis.

“DO YOU TWO KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?”

Silence.

The entire table froze.

Sebastian and Ominis, unfazed as ever, calmly looked up at him.

Sebastian, ever the menace, tilted his head. “That Jessa has excellent taste?”

“THAT—THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS MEANS!” Valor’s voice boomed through the Great Hall.

Vix, less composed than Valor, was barely containing his laughter. “Oh, this is good. This is REALLY good.”

I groaned, rubbing my temples. “For Merlin’s sake, Vix—”

“No, no, I want to savor this,” he interrupted. “My two little brothers-in-law are absolutely doomed.”

Valor—the ever-serious, highly responsible, deeply terrifying eldest sibling of House Valancaire—was actually fuming.

“Father sent another letter,” he announced.

I whimpered.

Jace, still enjoying my downfall, smirked. “Read it aloud, brother.”

I whipped my head toward him. “YOU TRAITOR!”

Valor, ever the dutiful firstborn, cleared his throat and read aloud.

“To my children,

The situation has escalated.

Two official courtship letters have been received and confirmed.

I expect Jessa to explain. Immediately.

This is not a matter I take lightly.

Her mother, however, continues to be insufferably excited.”

I let out a dramatic groan and slammed my head on the table.

Sebastian, far too smug for someone who was about to be murdered by my brothers, calmly sipped his tea. “He sounds thrilled.”

Valor gritted his teeth. “No, he sounds CONCERNED, Sallow.”

Ominis, who was handling this with far more grace than he should, sighed. “I don’t see why this is an issue. We followed the Valancaire customs properly.”

“THAT’S THE ISSUE!” Valor exploded. “YOU FOLLOWED THEM TOO WELL!”

The entire table burst into laughter.

The Valancaire Sibling War Council

Jace, still highly amused, leaned back in his seat. “Alright, let’s discuss our next steps.”

“NEXT STEPS?!” I threw my hands up. “THERE ARE NO NEXT STEPS!”

Vix, still grinning like the menace he is, hummed. “Oh, I don’t know. I think a proper meeting with our dear suitors should be arranged.”

“WE ARE NOT ARRANGING ANYTHING!”

Valor ignored me entirely. “Jessa, do you even understand what you’ve done?”

I gestured wildly at Sebastian and Ominis. “WHY IS THIS MY FAULT?!”

Sebastian snickered. “Well, you did accept our courtship.”

Ominis, ever the instigator, nodded. “And you haven’t hexed us for it.”

I turned to Jace, my supposed twin, for backup.

Jace grinned. “They have a point.”

I hated everything.

Valor exhaled sharply. “Fine. If you’re so sure about them, let’s test their knowledge.”

Sebastian smirked. “Oh? A test?”

“YES,” Valor said, deadly serious. “And if you fail, I will personally make sure Father never allows this to continue.”

Sebastian and Ominis exchanged one look.

Then, in perfect unison, they said—

“We accept.”

Jace slammed his hands on the table. “Oh, this is going to be GOOD.”

Vix, clearly thriving in the chaos, grinned. “Agreed. Let’s see if they truly know what they’ve gotten into.”

Valor, ever the serious eldest, squared his shoulders and stared directly at Sebastian and Ominis.

“Fine. Let’s begin.”

He didn’t ask about me.

Oh, no.

He asked about Valancaire courtship traditions.

“Since you two have already sent your letters, I assume you are familiar with our customs. So tell me—what are the proper courtship expectations for a Valancaire?”

Sebastian and Ominis didn’t even hesitate.

“Attending formal balls together,” Sebastian said smoothly.

Ominis nodded. “Participating in family dinners.”

Sebastian smirked. “Wearing the family colors in formal events.”

Ominis sighed. “And informing our own families.”

Silence.

Then—

“YOU DID WHAT?!”

Everyone at the table exploded.

Samantha clutched her chest. “YOU TOLD YOUR OWN FAMILIES?!”

Natty gasped. “OH MERLIN, YOUR FAMILIES KNOW?!”

Poppy looked scandalized. “JESSA, THIS IS REAL!”

Leander was wheezing. “You two actually told your parents?”

Everett stared at them like they had lost their minds. “Why would you do that?!”

Meanwhile—Jace.

Jace was CRYING FROM LAUGHTER.

“SEBASTIAN, OMINIS—YOU TWO ARE DONE FOR!”

Vix, ever the troublemaker, grinned wickedly. “Did your families respond yet?”

Sebastian and Ominis exchanged a look.

Then, at the same time—they both nodded.

More screaming.

“Jessa, I need you to breathe,” Samantha said, shaking my arm.

“I CANNOT BREATHE.”

“Sweets, they’re basically engaged at this point,” Poppy whispered in horror.

I turned to Sebastian and Ominis, who remained entirely unbothered by the chaos they had caused.

“You actually told your families?” I asked, my voice almost a whisper.

Ominis nodded. “Of course.”

Sebastian shrugged. “It would be disrespectful not to.”

I grabbed my own hair in frustration. “MERLIN, I AM DOOMED.”

“You’re not doomed,” Ominis corrected, looking highly amused. “You’re well-courted.”

Valor was still rubbing his temples, clearly regretting everything.

Finally, he sighed and looked at Vix and Jace.

“They actually know the customs.”

Vix grinned. “Of course they do. They’re obsessed with her.”

Sebastian did not deny it.

Ominis took another sip of tea.

“So? Do we pass?” Sebastian smirked.

Valor let out a long suffering sigh.

“Yes, you pass. BUT—” he pointed at me. “You are writing Father back immediately.”

I collapsed onto the table.

“This is the worst day of my life.”

Jace patted my back, still laughing. “No, no. This is the best day of OUR lives.”

I had just barely recovered from the absolute disaster that was my brothers’ interrogation when another horrifying thought hit me.

The Gaunts and the Sallows knew.

The Gaunts. And. The Sallows. Knew.

I turned sharply to Ominis.

“Wait. The Gaunts know?”

Ominis, ever the picture of calm composure, nodded.

“Of course. It would be improper not to inform them.”

I stared. “And… what did they say?”

Ominis shrugged, entirely unbothered. “My parents don’t really care as long as the girl is pureblood.”

I gaped.

“That’s it? That’s their only requirement?”

He nodded. “They value bloodline purity above all else. Aside from that, they have no interest in my personal affairs.”

“So… they just don’t care?” Samantha asked, eyes wide.

Ominis sighed. “No, but my father is particularly not fond of your father, Merlin knows why.”

I blinked.

“WHAT? WHY?”

Ominis smirked. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because your father once publicly humiliated him at an international wizarding conference?”

I choked. “HE DID WHAT?!”

Jace burst into laughter. “Oh, I remember this. Father absolutely destroyed him in a political debate. It was brutal.”

Valor nodded. “He called the Gaunts ‘a relic of outdated ideology’ in front of half the Wizengamot.”

Sebastian nearly spit out his tea. “HE SAID THAT? TO THE HEAD OF THE GAUNT FAMILY?”

Ominis smirked. “Oh yes. Father never forgave him for that.”

I buried my face in my hands.

“Merlin’s beard, I am never meeting your parents.”

Ominis tilted his head, considering. “You’d certainly give them something to talk about.”

“NO THANK YOU.”

The Sallow Family Reaction

Then, my worst fear hit me.

I slowly turned to Sebastian.

“And you?” I asked cautiously.

Sebastian froze mid-sip.

He slowly set down his tea.

“What did Uncle Solomon say?” I pressed.

Sebastian cleared his throat. “Well… he was… surprised.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Sebastian.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Alright, fine. He lost his bloody mind.”

I gasped. “HE WHAT?”

Sebastian groaned. “He went on this whole rant about how I ‘shouldn’t be thinking about courtship at my age’ and how I’m ‘already enough of a bloody headache.’ Then he accused me of ‘dragging a noble family’s daughter into my chaos’—”

Ominis snorted. “To be fair, he has a point.”

“OI.”

Jace was absolutely howling with laughter.

“Uncle Solomon was furious?”

“Oh, completely,” Sebastian grumbled. “Then he wrote an entire second letter scolding me for not informing him sooner.”

Vix wiped a fake tear from his eye. “I like this man.”

Meanwhile, my stomach dropped.

“Wait.” I stared at Sebastian. “If your uncle reacted like that… then what about Anne?”

Sebastian visibly tensed.

The table leaned in.

Natty, giddy with gossip, grinned. “Yes, what did Anne say?”

Sebastian let out a heavy sigh.

Then, in the most defeated voice I’d ever heard, he muttered—

“She called me a lovesick fool and said she was proud of me.”

The table ERUPTED.

Samantha was wheezing.

Leander nearly fell off his chair.

Jace was banging the table, laughing.

Poppy clapped her hands. “Oh, I LOVE her!”

Everett grinned. “So, she approves?”

Sebastian groaned. “No, she’s enjoying this far too much.”

I grinned. “She’s right, you know.”

Sebastian turned to me, scowling. “Don’t you start.”

Ominis smirked. “It’s already too late, mate.”

And just like that—

The Great Valancaire Courtship Scandal had reached new heights..

Just when I thought my dignity couldn’t be dragged any lower, Leander Prewett decided to make it worse.

He leaned forward, looking far too smug for my liking, and said—

“Oh yeah, what is the Valancaire family color again? You two should shop, no?”

Before I could hex him into next week, Jace the Menace™ took it upon himself to answer.

“Any shade of blue,” he said, completely nonchalant, as if this conversation wasn’t ruining my life. “But it must be paired with silver.”

And then—he grinned.

“Better get shopping, Gaunt. Sallow.”

The entire table erupted into delighted chaos.

Natty gasped. “OH! They have to match with you at formal events?”

Samantha beamed. “How romantic!”

Poppy was practically bouncing. “Oh, they HAVE to get new robes!”

Sebastian and Ominis?

The two bloody idiots actually started planning.

The Immediate Descent into Madness

“Midnight blue,” Ominis mused. “It would contrast nicely with my complexion.”

Sebastian nodded, serious. “Or storm blue, it would bring out my eyes.”

“Oh, Merlin,” I groaned, burying my face in my hands.

Leander, having the time of his life, smirked. “You two are actually taking this seriously?”

Sebastian scoffed. “Of course we are. We have standards, Prewett.”

Ominis took another sip of tea, perfectly composed. “If we are to court Jessa properly, we must be presentable.”

Jace snickered. “Oh, I cannot wait to see you two in coordinated outfits.”

Samantha clapped her hands. “We should ALL go shopping! A group trip to Hogsmeade!”

“NO,” I blurted immediately.

Natty grinned. “Oh, yes. Absolutely yes.”

Poppy nodded enthusiastically. “We have to make sure they get the right shades.”

Sebastian, ever the dramatic one, smirked. “If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right.”

Ominis tilted his head. “Should we get matching accessories?”

Sebastian nodded. “Silver cufflinks?”

Ominis thought for a moment. “Or lapel pins?”

I let out the longest, most suffering sigh of my life.

“You two are insufferable.”

Jace patted my shoulder. “No, no. They’re just deeply in love.”

Sebastian smirked. “Obviously.”

Ominis gave me a knowing look. “You knew what you signed up for, darling.”

I groaned.

Just when I thought the morning’s madness had finally settled, Garreth Weasley returned to the table—looking smug.

Too smug.

Which meant one thing.

Absolute disaster.

I immediately froze.

A cold chill crept up my spine.

“Garreth.”

He grinned. “Yes, sweets?”

I swallowed. “Tell me you did not.”

Garreth’s smirk widened. “Oh, I did.”

I nearly fainted.

“GARRETH!”

The table erupted.

The Weasley Reckoning

Samantha gasped. “Oh no.”

Natty clapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh YES.”

Leander howled with laughter. “You ACTUALLY sent the letter?!”

Everett choked on his pumpkin juice. “MATE, WHY?”

Poppy was speechless.

Jace?

Jace was having the time of his life.

He leaned forward, grinning like the menace he was.

“Tell me, dear Garreth,” he said, voice dripping with mock innocence. “Did you happen to review Valancaire courtship customs before sending said letter?”

Garreth blinked.

”…What?”

The table exploded again.

Samantha shook her head, horrified. “Oh, he doesn’t know.”

Natty let out a delighted laugh. “He really just sent it without reading the fine print!”

Sebastian smirked. “We did our research, Weasley.”

Ominis sighed, ever the composed one. “You may have made a grave error.”

Garreth, suddenly alarmed, turned back to Jace. “Alright, what did I miss?”

Jace, who was clearly thriving on my suffering, took his time rolling up his sleeves.

Then, in his most dramatic voice, he began—

“Well, you see, Garreth… for a Valancaire, courtship is not just casual dating.”

Garreth frowned. ”…I got that part, yes.”

“Did you also get the part where there are formal expectations?”

Garreth nodded. “I assume the basics—respect, public declaration, the usual?”

Jace smirked. “Oh, my dear, dear fool. Let me educate you.”

“You are now required to:”

1.Attend formal balls with Jessa.

2.Be present at Valancaire family dinners.

3.Have you wear Valancaires family color at  official events.

4.AND—inform your own family of the courtship.

Garreth visibly paled.

He stared at Jace.

Then at me.

Then back at Jace.

“I HAVE TO TELL MY MOTHER?!”

Jace grinned. “Indeed, you do.”

The table howled.

Sebastian was smirking so hard it was criminal.

Ominis looked immensely pleased.

Samantha was wheezing.

Leander?

Absolutely losing it.

Poppy whispered, delighted. “He’s doomed.”

Garreth grabbed his hair in horror.

“WHAT HAVE I DONE?!”

I leaned forward, utterly deadpan.

“You sent the fastest owl, didn’t you?”

Garreth groaned, burying his face in his hands.

“It’s already too late, isn’t it?”

Sebastian nodded.

Ominis sipped his tea. “Oh, absolutely.”

Jace patted Garreth’s shoulder. “Welcome to the war, mate.”

“Oh well.”

He dismissed it. Just like that.

The table gaped.

“WHAT?!”

Sebastian’s teacup nearly slipped from his hand.

Ominis, usually impossible to shake, visibly stiffened.

Samantha leaned forward, eyes wide. “THAT’S IT?! THAT’S ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY?!”

Garreth grinned, utterly unfazed.

“Yeah. I need to write a letter to my mother later.”

He turned to me, still smiling sweetly, as if he hadn’t just thrown himself into political, magical, and social warfare.

“No big deal, sweets.”

I blinked.

“Garreth.”

Natty clutched her heart. “Are you actually serious?”

He tilted his head, considering. “As serious as a Niffler chasing gold.”

The table erupted.

Leander slammed his hands down. “WELL THEN, BETTER START SHOPPING FOR BLUE AND SILVER, GAR!”

Sebastian snapped his head toward Leander. “Excuse me?”

Leander grinned, the menace.

“Oh, you heard me. You and Ominis have already started planning your outfits—better let Garreth join in!”

Sebastian scowled. “Absolutely not.”

Ominis sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I refuse to share a color palette with him.”

Samantha giggled. “Oh, I think he should go with you two!”

Poppy beamed. “Yes! A group shopping trip! You three should get matching ties.”

Everett choked on his juice. “OH MERLIN, THE THREE OF THEM SHOWING UP IN MATCHING OUTFITS?!”

Leander grinned. “Gaunt, Sallow, and Weasley—coordinating their outfits in the name of love.”

Jace nearly fell off the bench. “I WOULD PAY MONEY TO SEE THIS.”

I groaned, slamming my forehead onto the table.

“NO ONE IS GOING SHOPPING TOGETHER.”

Garreth, still ridiculously confident, leaned back in his seat.

“I don’t know, sweets. I think it’s a lovely idea.”

Sebastian and Ominis turned to glare at him.

“You are NOT coming with us,” Sebastian said flatly.

Ominis folded his arms. “Stay in your own lane, Weasley.”

Garreth feigned offense. “What, afraid I’ll outdress you two?”

Sebastian’s eye twitched. “You don’t even know what shade of blue to get.”

Garreth grinned. “Don’t worry, I’ll just steal a piece of Jessa’s wardrobe and match it.”

Ominis visibly stiffened.

Sebastian immediately scowled.

Samantha squealed. “OH, HE KNOWS WHAT HE’S DOING!”

Poppy covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

Jace, absolutely delighted, turned to me. “Jessa. I love this. Please, please let him come shopping with them.”

I groaned. “I hate all of you.”

Garreth winked. “You love me, sweets.”

Sebastian gritted his teeth. “Not for long if you keep talking.”

Ominis sighed dramatically. “This is the worst day of my life.”

Leander snickered. “Oh, no. This is the best day of OUR lives.”

The table was already in hysterics—Sebastian and Ominis were barely restraining themselves from hexing Garreth, my so-called friends were instigating pure chaos, and I was contemplating fleeing the country.

And then—my eldest brothers made it worse.

Valor, still looking deeply unimpressed, exhaled heavily. “Unbelievable. I’ll be seeing three prats at our family dinner wearing coordinated outfits.”

Vix, ever the menace, smirked. “Oh, it gets better.”

He leaned forward, grinning wickedly at my suitors.

“You do know that Jessa still has four older brothers, right?”

Sebastian and Ominis froze.

Garreth—utterly fearless or completely oblivious—just grinned. “Oh yeah, I heard about them.”

Valor raised a brow. “Did you also hear that two of them are currently in Durmstrang?”

Garreth’s smile faltered.

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed.

Ominis, ever composed, slowly lowered his teacup. ”…I was not aware of this information.”

Jace snorted. “Oh, it’s true.”

Leander, always loving drama, grinned. “Wait, wait—Durmstrang? As in, the Durmstrang?”

Natty, delighted, gasped. “They trained in that school?”

Poppy covered her mouth. “Oh, they must be terrifying.”

Vix smirked. “Oh, they are. And they’re quite fond of our little Jessa, you see.”

Valor, ever the responsible eldest, nodded seriously. “They will want to meet the suitors.”

The entire table fell silent.

Sebastian blinked. “Durmstrang-trained brothers.”

Ominis, processing this horrifying revelation, sighed. “Fantastic.”

Garreth, clearly still not grasping the gravity of the situation, smiled. “Well, I look forward to meeting them!”

Valor stared at him like he was an idiot.

“You will not be meeting them. You will be surviving them.”

Garreth laughed.

Sebastian and Ominis did not.

The Threat of Death by Durmstrang

Sebastian, scowling, turned to me. “You have four older brothers?”

I winced. ”…Yes.”

Ominis, voice painfully neutral, repeated. “Two of them. From Durmstrang.”

I cleared my throat. “Correct.”

Garreth, the only idiot still smiling, shrugged. “Well, I’ve always liked a challenge!”

Valor narrowed his eyes. “You say that now.”

Vix grinned. “Wait until they arrive at the next family dinner.”

Sebastian’s jaw clenched. “When is that?”

Valor, smirking, said the words that nearly killed my suitors on the spot.

“Over the winter holiday.”

Ominis went pale.

Sebastian immediately downed his tea.

Garreth?

Garreth just smiled. “Oh, I’ll be there.”

Leander snickered. “Merlin, Weasley, you’ve got guts.”

Jace, still laughing, turned to my suitors. “Well, lads. You’ve survived my interrogation, you’ve survived the courtship traditions… but will you survive Durmstrang-trained Valancaire brothers?”

Sebastian exhaled sharply. “I hate everything.”

Ominis, ever the strategist, turned to me. “Can we bribe them?”

Valor chuckled darkly. “You can try.”

And just like that—

My suitors were now officially terrified.

And Jace, Vix, and Valor?

They were absolutely thrilled.

Valor, Vix, and Jace stared at Garreth with the same deadpan expression one would give a particularly foolish first-year about to duel a troll.

“Just be happy you haven’t met her grandfather, Weasley.”

Garreth, still annoyingly confident, just grinned. “Oh, come on, how bad can he be?”

The table shuddered.

Sebastian, the absolute menace that he is, chose this exact moment to accidentally dig his own grave.

“You met our grandfather?” Valor suddenly asked.

Sebastian stiffened.

Jace, narrowing his eyes, folded his arms. “How and why?”

Vix, suspicious as always, tilted his head. “And how are you still alive?”

Sebastian, for the first time in his life, looked visibly nervous.

His hand gripped his teacup a little too tightly. “Uh—”

I immediately turned to Ominis.

Save him.

Save him NOW.

Ominis, cool as ever, swooped in.

“It was the errand Professor Weasley excused us for,” Ominis said smoothly. “Delivering something to Lord Valancaire on behalf of Hogwarts.”

Silence.

Then—

Valor frowned. “Professor Weasley had you deliver something to Grandfather?”

Sebastian nodded vigorously, clearly relieved. “Yes. Completely routine. Just… official business.”

Jace narrowed his eyes further. “And he let you leave alive?”

Ominis, ever the strategist, simply nodded. “Obviously.”

Vix tilted his head. “And he didn’t hex you? Not even a little?”

Sebastian forced a chuckle. “Oh, well, you know, your grandfather is a very… composed man.”

Vix and Jace looked at each other.

Then at me.

Then back at Sebastian.

Vix, still suspicious, hummed. “Right. Composed.”

The Friends Interrogation

Then, of course, my lovely traitorous friends decided to get involved.

Samantha leaned forward, eyes sparkling. “Oh! What is Jessa’s grandfather like?”

Poppy nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, tell us!”

Natty smiled. “We’ve heard stories, but what’s he like in person?”

Oh no.

Sebastian and Ominis, to their credit, did not panic.

But I could see the gears turning at high speed in their heads.

Sebastian, choosing his words carefully, cleared his throat.

“Well… he’s very… traditional.”

Ominis, quickly adding on, nodded. “Yes. Traditional. Very… dignified.”

Sebastian nodded as well. “And intimidating. In a noble sort of way.”

Ominis, sipping his tea, continued. “Powerful presence. Very, ah… authoritative.”

Sebastian, completely making things up now, added— “Not a man you’d want to disappoint.”

I mentally facepalmed.

Not a man you’d want to disappoint?! THEY HAD NEARLY DIED MEETING HIM.

Leander, clearly entertained, smirked. “So basically, terrifying.”

Sebastian and Ominis, both maintaining the illusion, shrugged.

“Depends on how brave you are,” Ominis said smoothly.

Poppy, blinking, whispered. “I would die on the spot.”

Samantha looked at me, concerned. “And you grew up with him?”

I forced a smile. “Oh, you know. Just a typical childhood.”

Jace snorted. “If by ‘typical’ you mean constant dueling lessons and survival training, then yes.”

Leander grinned. “Weasley, I don’t think you stand a chance.”

Garreth, who had been quietly sipping his drink, finally spoke.

“Oh, I’m looking forward to meeting him.”

The table fell silent.

Sebastian and Ominis stared at him like he had lost his mind.

Jace actually had to cover his mouth to stop from choking on his laughter.

Valor and Vix shared a look before Valor sighed deeply.

“Weasley, if you survive, I will personally write to the Daily Prophet about it.”

Garreth grinned, utterly unbothered. “Oh, come on, how bad can he be?”

Sebastian closed his eyes.

Ominis rubbed his temple.

And me?

I just prayed to Merlin that Garreth’s first meeting with my grandfather wouldn’t be his last.
__

I knew that if we continued this conversation any longer, Garreth would either dig his own grave deeper or somehow charm his way into actually surviving my grandfather.

Neither option was acceptable.

So, with the grace of a seasoned duelist, I swiftly redirected the conversation to safer territory.

“Anyway!” I said brightly, cutting off any further discussion of my terrifying bloodline. “We need to talk about something far more important—Anne’s welcome back party.”

Samantha, predictably, latched onto this immediately.

Her eyes sparkled. “Oh! Yes, I’ve already got ideas!”

“Here we go,” Leander muttered.

“Quiet, Prewett,” Sam snapped before launching into an immediate, rapid-fire plan that no one could interrupt.

Natty nodded enthusiastically. “We should decorate the Great Hall.”

Poppy clapped her hands. “Yes! And we should get her a gift!”

Samantha, already halfway through planning a five-course meal, matching outfits, and possibly a choreographed entrance, completely took over.

Leander, Everett, and Jace resigned themselves to their fate.

Sebastian and Ominis, grateful for the distraction, wisely did not protest.

And me?

I took the rare opportunity of peace to finally open my mother’s letter.

My Mother’s Reply: A Prayer for a Daughter

I unfolded the parchment, my eyes scanning over the familiar, elegant handwriting.

My Darling Jessa,

Before I say anything else—

I KNEW IT.

I KNEW YOU WERE MEANT TO HAVE THREE SUITORS.

(Your father is still trying to pretend this isn’t happening, but I am overjoyed.)

Now, onto the real reason for your letter.

The song you sent me…

I have not heard those exact words before, but I know what it is.

It is an old, old magic.

A magic tied to the daughters of our bloodline.

And, my love—

It is a song I have sung myself.

You must understand, you were not meant to be.

The Valancaire bloodline does not bring daughters into this world easily.

For centuries, our line has been ruled by sons—strong, brilliant, and powerful, but never daughters.

Not until I prayed.

Not until I begged.

I wanted you so desperately, Jessa.

I prayed under the moon, offered my own blood, whispered your name into the stars before you even existed.

I performed every ritual I could find, sought every whisper of magic that could bring you to me.

And then—

You came.

But magic is never without consequences.

And I do not know if my prayers… or something older… were what answered me.

There is something about our line—something that makes it so that few daughters are born, and even fewer survive.

I do not know why you heard the song now.

But I know this—

It is calling to you.

Please, Jessa—be careful.

With love,

Mother

The Weight of the Past

I froze.

The voices in the Glen.

The blue-eyed woman.

The tree.

It wasn’t just in my head.

It was real.

And it had happened before.

My mother prayed for me.

She bled for me.

She offered herself to something—to magic, to fate, to whatever force governs this world—and I was the answer.

A daughter, where there were never daughters.

A mistake.

An anomaly.

And now, something old was calling to me.

I clenched the letter in my hands, my heart pounding.

What did this mean?

What was I meant for?

And most terrifying of all—

What was the cost?

I must have stared at my mother’s letter for too long, because the moment I looked up, I found two very sharp pairs of eyes watching me.

Sebastian and Ominis.

They didn’t even have to say anything—their expressions said it all.

Something was wrong, and they knew it.

Sebastian, ever perceptive, leaned in. “Is there something wrong?”

Ominis’s voice was quiet but firm. “You’ve gone pale, Jessa.”

I forced a smile, folding the letter and slipping it into my robes. “I—I’ll tell you later.”

Sebastian narrowed his eyes.

Ominis tilted his head, unconvinced.

But I wasn’t ready to talk about this yet.

Not here.

Not now.

So before they could press further, I quickly shifted my focus back to the planning. “For now, let’s just enjoy the day.”

I could feel Garreth watching me, too, a rare moment where he wasn’t smiling or teasing. But I gave him a reassuring look, and thankfully, he didn’t push.

Sunday was spent exactly as it should be—in a mess of laughter, games, and absolutely ridiculous amounts of food.

Garreth, the lovable menace, had somehow secured an entire box of Honeydukes pastries—a feat that was definitely not legal.

“You stole these, didn’t you?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Garreth grinned. “I would never!”

Sebastian snorted. “You absolutely did.”

Ominis, breaking off a piece of treacle tart, sighed. “Accessory to theft. Yet again.”

Garreth waved him off. “Oh, hush, Gaunt. It’s not theft if it’s done with love.”

“That’s not how the law works.”

But despite Ominis’s exasperation, he still ate the stolen pastry.

Of course, the peaceful atmosphere didn’t stop my suitors from turning the day into another ridiculous contest.

First, it was Wizard’s Chess—which ended with Ominis beating Sebastian in a crushing defeat, causing Sebastian to demand a rematch while Garreth laughed in the background.

Then it was Gobstones, which led to an entire argument over who was “strategically superior.”

(Garreth somehow won. None of us were sure how.)

At one point, they nearly turned a simple race down the Hogwarts halls into a full-blown duel, which I had to personally stop before we all got detention.

“You’re all idiots,” I told them, exasperated.

Sebastian, grinning, wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Your idiots.”

Ominis sighed. “Unfortunately.”

Garreth winked. “Lovable idiots.”

Jace, watching the entire thing from the sidelines, smirked. “You know, I’m actually enjoying this.”

I groaned. “Of course you are.”

A Moment of Gratitude

As the day slowly wound down, we sat by the Great Lake, the last of the sunlight casting golden reflections on the water.

I closed my eyes, letting the laughter of my friends and the murmur of the castle in the distance settle around me like warmth.

This—this was what I wanted.

Not curses. Not battles. Not ancient songs whispering about my fate.

Just this.

Laughter. Friendship. Love.

A day of peace.

I sighed, smiling to myself.

I hope days like these last.

__

The day had ended in laughter, games, and stolen pastries, but of course, Garreth had to have the last word.

As we parted ways, he swooped in, pressing a quick kiss to my cheek before I could react.

Sebastian had seen it coming.

He lunged—but missed.

Again.

Garreth was already running.

“OI—WEASLEY!” Sebastian shouted after him.

Garreth just laughed, disappearing down the corridor. “Goodnight, sweets!”

Ominis sighed. “I’m going to hex him one of these days.”

I just shook my head, smiling.

But for the first time in a long while, we weren’t immediately preparing for something.

No ingredients to hunt.

No missions to obsess over.

Just… peace.

So we turned, making our way to the Room of Requirement.

__

The familiar warmth of the Room of Requirement greeted us, the ever-shifting space somehow knowing that tonight, we didn’t need brewing tables or dueling spaces—just quiet.

For a long moment, we sat in the soft glow of candlelight, settling into the rare stillness.

Then, inevitably—

“Do you have training later?” Ominis asked.

Sebastian glanced at me. “Did you go last night?”

I hesitated for only a moment before nodding.

“Yes, I did go to training last night.”

I smiled.

“But that was the last, actually.”

There was a beat of silence before both of them turned to me.

“Last?”

I nodded. “Yes. My grandfather said we are done.”

Ominis exhaled, relieved. “That’s good, right?”

Sebastian, frowning, studied my face. “You don’t sound sure.”

I was sure.

And yet—

Something lingered in my chest—that same weight from the Glen, from the voices, from the letter I had just read.

I pressed my lips together, hesitating before I finally spoke.

“My mother wrote back.”

That got their attention.

Sebastian leaned forward. “And?”

I swallowed. “She told me that she… prayed for me.”

Ominis tilted his head. “Prayed?”

I nodded, fingers curling slightly against my robes.

“She wanted a daughter so much that she performed rituals, gave offerings, did everything she could to bring me into the world.”

Sebastian’s brow furrowed. “That doesn’t sound bad.”

I took a breath, feeling my throat tighten.

“Except… Valancaires aren’t meant to have daughters.”

They stilled.

“She said our bloodline never has girls. That very few have ever been born—and even fewer survived.”

I exhaled shakily.

“I don’t think I was originally meant to exist.”

Meant to Be

The moment the words left my lips, Sebastian immediately shook his head.

“No.”

Ominis frowned. “Jessa—”

“I mean it.” I forced a small, hollow laugh. “What if I’m some kind of mistake? What if—”

Sebastian grabbed my hands. “Don’t.”

I blinked.

His grip was firm, grounding. His chestnut eyes burned with certainty.

“You’re not a mistake,” he said, voice steady.

Ominis, beside me, nodded.

“You were meant to exist.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but Ominis’s hand came to rest over mine as well, his voice soft but unwavering.

“Your mother wanted you. Your father loves you. Your brothers would burn the world for you.”

Sebastian nodded fiercely. “And us? We wouldn’t know what to do without you.”

His fingers tightened around mine. “You’re not some accident of magic, Jessa.”

Ominis, still holding my hand, added gently, “You are here because you were meant to be.”

My breath hitched.

Because for a moment, just a brief moment—I almost believed them.

I exhaled, finally nodding.

Sebastian, satisfied, gave my hand a squeeze.

“Good.”

Ominis smirked. “You can’t get rid of us that easily, you know.”

I huffed a laugh, finally, finally feeling the weight in my chest loosen.

Because no matter what the Glen whispered, no matter what fate intended—

They believed in me.

And that was enough.

And then—

It started with a touch.

Soft, teasing, deliberate.

Fingertips tracing slow, lazy circles against my palms.

Sebastian’s hand over my left, Ominis’ over my right—their touches mirroring each other, featherlight and maddening.

And then—lips.

First, Sebastian.

His mouth pressed softly against the back of my hand, lingering just a moment too long, his breath warm against my skin.

Then Ominis.

A mirror. A twin. A slow, lingering kiss against my other hand, his lips infuriatingly soft.

My breath stopped.

Oh.

I knew where this was going.

Sebastian was the first to speak, his voice a low, wicked whisper.

“Whatever will we do without you…”

Ominis, always in sync, always smooth, followed effortlessly.

“What a tragedy.”

I exhaled sharply.

The air shifted, something dangerous curling around us.

Sebastian leaned in.

His lips brushed my shoulder, slow, unhurried, like he had all the time in the world.

I shivered.

He felt it.

He smirked.

“What will become of the Sallows?” he teased, his voice dripping with amusement.

And before I could even think to form a reply—

Ominis moved.

His mouth grazed my cheek, slow and dangerously close to the corner of my lips.

I sucked in a breath.

“I will not have a damsel,” he murmured against my skin.

I was melting.

I was burning.

And they knew it.

Sebastian, resting his chin against my shoulder, sighed dramatically.

“What a predicament we find ourselves in, Ominis.”

Ominis smirked, his fingers now tracing along my wrist, featherlight and torturous.

“Completely at her mercy.”

Oh, they were insufferable.

And I was losing.

Surrender

I had been fighting it all day.

Their relentless teasing, their sly touches, the way they breathed my name like it was a spell meant to break me.

But now?

Now, I succumbed.

Sebastian nipped playfully at my shoulder, his voice a wicked murmur.

“You know, it’s the first day we don’t have anything to do here.”

My mind struggled to function. “We could—” I swallowed, trying to focus. “We could tend to our plants. Play with the phoenix. I also have a book that helped us with the cure—we could read the other—”

Ominis chuckled, cutting me off, his lips just barely brushing the shell of my ear.

“You are such a Ravenclaw.”

I whimpered.

Sebastian’s hand found my waist, slow, deliberate.

“We have other activities in mind.”

“And that is?”

I barely had time to process the question—barely had time to breathe—

Before Sebastian’s lips crashed against mine.

I whimpered.

Oh, he liked that.

His fingers curled around my waist, pulling me in, his kiss hungry and slow—like he was savoring me, like he had all the time in the world to ruin me.

I clutched at his robes, but just as I began to fall deeper—

He pulled away.

And Ominis took his place.

His hands framed my face, a soft contrast to the way his mouth claimed mine.

Firm. Unyielding. A slow, deliberate torment.

I let out a sound—a sinful, breathy noise that I barely recognized as my own.

Ominis groaned, deep and satisfied.

I felt Sebastian smirk against my neck.

“Now that,” he murmured, “is a sound I could get used to.”

I barely had a moment to recover before his lips were on me again, kissing along my jaw, my pulse, his breath hot against my skin.

Mother, I thought, I am losing my grip.

I was drowning.

I was losing.

And I didn’t even care.

Ominis’ hands gripped my waist, his breath warm against my ear.

“Jessa…” he whispered, voice low and sinful, like he was praying to me.

I felt Sebastian grin, his fingers slipping beneath the hem of my robes, teasing against bare skin.

I let out another noise, something soft, something desperate.

“Patience, love,” Sebastian hummed, kissing just beneath my ear.

Patience?

PAT—

And then—

The Room of Requirement door flew open.

We froze.

And standing there—beet red, wide-eyed, looking like she had just walked into a scandalous novel—

Was Anne.

There was a beat of silence.

Then—

Anne pointed at me, then at them, then at me again.

“I KNEW IT!”

Sebastian, cursing under his breath, practically threw himself away from me.

Ominis, clearly trying to collect himself, ran a hand through his hair, his usual composure absolutely shattered.

And me?

I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.

Anne grinned wickedly, folding her arms.

“You animals.”

Sebastian groaned. “Anne—”

“Don’t Anne me, Sebastian.” She smirked. “I knew something was going on, but this—this is just delightful.”

Ominis, still trying to compose himself, muttered under his breath. “Merlin help me.”

Anne laughed.

I covered my face.

I was never living this down.

“What—Anne, what are you doing here?” I asked, my voice higher than usual, my face still burning.

Sebastian had already stepped away, running a hand through his hair, his face somewhere between mortification and frustration.

Ominis, ever the picture of composure—except absolutely not right now—was pinching the bridge of his nose, visibly trying to salvage his dignity.

Anne, meanwhile, stood there like a cat who had caught three very messy canaries.

She smirked.

“Oh, you know,” she said casually, “had some papers to sort, a quick interview with Professor Weasley to make sure I’m actually okay before officially re-enrolling.”**

I exhaled, trying to focus on something—anything—that was not the absolute disaster she just walked in on.

“And?” I prompted.

Anne grinned.

“And—I’m all good! I start next week. The professors even gave me some homework to help me catch up.”

“Anne, that’s amazing!” I beamed, stepping toward her, genuinely happy.

Sebastian’s face brightened instantly. “That’s incredible, Anne!”

Ominis nodded, visibly relieved to have something else to focus on. “We’re all really glad for you.”

For a brief moment, the tension dissolved into something lighthearted.

And then—Anne struck again.

Her grin turned absolutely wicked.

“That’s all well and good,” she mused. “But tell me—does the Room of Requirement have a way to warn me before I walk in on something like this?”

I choked on air.

Sebastian groaned loudly, covering his face.

Ominis, as if he could physically will himself out of existence, muttered, “Merlin, save me.”

**We had been so caught up in the moment—**so lost in each other—we hadn’t even thought about what would have happened if Anne hadn’t barged in.

And that thought alone was enough to make my entire body burn with mortification.

Anne, absolutely delighted, crossed her arms.

“Well?”

“We were—” Ominis started, attempting to salvage whatever dignity we had left.

Anne tilted her head, smirking. “You were?”

“We were discussing… things.”

Sebastian let out an actual wheeze.

Anne, fully enjoying this, grinned. “Oh, things, is it?”

I wanted to die.

“Anne,” I groaned, covering my face. “Please.”

She laughed. “Oh no, no, I’m having far too much fun with this.”

Sebastian, regaining his usual bravado, smirked at her. “You do realize this is all your fault, right?”

Anne raised an eyebrow. “My fault?!”

“Yes,” Ominis said dryly, finally composing himself. “You’re the one who told her we’d burn her if she kept teasing us.”

Anne gasped, hand to her chest in faux offense. “So now you’re blaming me for your lack of self-control?”

Sebastian, grinning, threw an arm around my shoulders. “Yes.”

I elbowed him. “You are not blaming Anne for this.”

Anne smirked at me. “Oh, so you’re taking responsibility, then?”

I walked straight into that one.

Sebastian and Ominis both turned to me expectantly.

I groaned.

Anne laughed again, shaking her head. “You three are impossible.”

Ominis sighed. “We’re aware.”

Anne, still beet red but clearly amused, finally stepped further into the room, shaking her head.

“Merlin, I need a drink.”

Sebastian grinned. “Shall we have tea, then?”

“Tea, yes. Scandal, no.” Anne shot me a knowing look. “At least, not while I’m in the room.”

“No promises,” Sebastian murmured under his breath.

I kicked his shin.

Anne cackled.

Conclusion: Anne’s Victory

By the time we were seated, sipping on tea, Anne had fully embraced her new favorite hobby—teasing us endlessly.

Ominis sighed. “I assume you’re never letting this go, are you?”

Anne beamed. “Oh, absolutely not.”

Sebastian grumbled into his tea.

I, completely exhausted from the sheer embarrassment of it all, accepted my fate.

Anne had won this round.
__

After the absolute disaster that was Anne walking in on… whatever that was—we decided that tea was necessary.

So, with as much dignity as we could muster (which wasn’t much), we guided her to the tea room that the Room of Requirement had crafted for Ominis.

A quiet, elegant space, lined with soft candlelight and enchanted bookshelves, a table set with delicate china, and an air of refined calm that was very much needed after what just transpired.

Anne, still looking far too smug, settled into a chair, crossing her legs.

Ominis, ever the gentleman, poured her tea.

Sebastian, ever the troublemaker, poured himself a generous amount of honey, smirking all the while.

And me?

I was doing my absolute best to recover from the sheer humiliation of it all.

But of course, Anne wasn’t done yet.

The Final Blow

She took a slow sip of her tea, eyes flicking between Sebastian and Ominis, watching the way they moved.

Sebastian, idly stirring his tea, made sure to place my favorite pastries on my plate without me asking.

Ominis, without a word, handed me the exact tea blend I preferred, already cooled to the perfect temperature.

Anne narrowed her eyes.

“Merlin’s beard,” she said, setting down her cup. “You two are ridiculous.”

Sebastian raised a brow. “What?”

“You’re so bloody attentive—like a pair of trained kneazles hovering around their favorite human.”

Ominis exhaled, setting his teacup down. “Anne—”

But she wasn’t finished.

She tapped a finger to her chin, feigning deep thought.

“I mean, you’ve barely started officially courting her—”

I stilled.

She smirked.

”—And yet, here you are, acting like a pair of devoted husbands.”

Sebastian nearly choked on his tea.

Ominis went rigid.

And me?

My cheeks burned hotter than the tea.

I whipped my head up. “Anne—!”

She held up a hand, looking smug.

“Look, I’m just saying—if you two act like this now…”

She leaned forward, her voice dropping into a falsely concerned tone.

“Do I need to be prepared for nieces and nephews by next year?”

I gasped.

Sebastian dropped his spoon.

Ominis, who never lost his composure, actually sputtered.

Anne, having successfully ruined my life, sipped her tea like she hadn’t just set the entire table on fire.

“What exactly is going on here?” she asked sweetly.

Sebastian, recovering first, coughed into his fist, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Anne,” he said, half-choking on his words. “I think you’re skipping a few steps.”

Ominis sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Several steps.”

I, still speechless, was currently considering whether I could just fling myself into the fireplace and be done with it.

Anne, delighted, tapped her fingers against her cup. “Oh, I don’t know. You’re all very dramatic. I wouldn’t put it past you.”

Sebastian huffed. “We’re not that bad.”

Anne gave him a look. “Sebastian, you two wrote official courtship letters in your fifth year—to her father, no less.”

Sebastian opened his mouth. Closed it. Looked away.

Ominis sighed heavily. ”…Fair point.”

Anne beamed.

I, finally regaining my ability to function, glared at her. “Anne. Please.”

She laughed, shaking her head. “Fine, fine. I’ll behave.”

A pause.

Then, grinning wickedly:

“For now.”

Sebastian groaned.

Ominis exhaled, exhausted.

And me?

I just prayed to Merlin that this conversation would never leave this room.

…Because if Jace ever found out, I’d never hear the end of it.

__

Anne had barely stepped out of the room, and already, I could feel it.

The shift in the air. The heat curling around us.

It took less than a second.

Sebastian’s hands found my waist, pulling me in with deliberate slowness, his fingers splaying possessively against my robes.

Ominis, never one to be left behind, stepped in as well, his presence warm, his breath dangerously close to my cheek.

I exhaled sharply.

Oh no.

Sebastian’s grip tightened slightly. “Finally alone again.”

Ominis smirked, his hands tracing featherlight circles against my wrist. “And no interruptions this time.”

I swallowed.

I knew exactly where this was going.

“Okay—” I started, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Let’s not traumatize Deek. He might walk in on us again.”

Sebastian smirked, lips brushing against the edge of my jaw. “Deek will live.”

Ominis chuckled, low and knowing. “And if not, I’m sure he’s already learned to avert his eyes.”

I whimpered.

Oh, they were unbearable.

And I was melting.

Their hands, their voices, their breath against my skin—

I stood no chance.

So, this time—I indulged.

I let myself fall.

I tilted my head, letting my lips brush against Sebastian’s first—

He growled in satisfaction, immediately deepening the kiss, his fingers gripping my waist like he never intended to let go.

I barely had time to breathe before Ominis pulled me to him, his mouth claiming mine in a way that left me utterly breathless.

I felt them both—the heat of their bodies pressing against me, the slow, dangerous way their hands traced over my arms, my back, my waist—

I was drowning.

Completely lost.

Sebastian’s lips trailed to my neck, his teeth grazing my pulse point, and I let out a sound that made him smirk against my skin.

“You’re making this far too easy, love,” he whispered.

Ominis, his hand tangled in my hair, murmured, “She wants to be caught.”

I shivered.

This is getting out of hand.

I pulled away abruptly, gasping for air.

Sebastian blinked, dazed and frustrated.

Ominis’ lips were still parted, his breathing uneven.

I grinned.

“Alright.” I cleared my throat, ignoring the way my entire body felt like it was on fire. “We should really tend to the plants.”

Silence.

Sebastian stared. “What?”

“The plants,” I repeated. “You know, from the hidden herbology garden? They need care.”

Ominis tilted his head, utterly unimpressed. “Jessa.”

Sebastian, eyes dark and filled with frustration, exhaled sharply. “Are you serious?”

I beamed. “Completely.”

A beat.

Then, Sebastian groaned, rubbing his hands down his face.

“I hate you.”

Ominis, grumbling, finally stepped back. “I truly despise you sometimes.”

I laughed, stepping away with ease, feeling utterly victorious.

“Come on, gentlemen,” I teased. “The plants need us.”

Sebastian gritted his teeth, muttering under his breath. “This is not over.”

Ominis, adjusting his robes, exhaled slowly. “Not even close.”

I shivered.

Oh, I was in trouble.

___

Tending to the plants was supposed to be a simple, quiet task.

Water the roots. Trim the overgrowth. Harvest the leaves.

Easy.

It should have been easy.

But it wasn’t.

Not with them.

The Distraction Problem

Every time I so much as reached for a sprig of Mallowroot, Sebastian was suddenly behind me, his hands brushing over mine, his chest almost flush against my back.

“Careful, love,” he murmured, his breath hot against my ear.

I stilled.

He smirked.

And then Ominis’ hand found my wrist, guiding it away.

“Don’t listen to him,” he said smoothly, tilting his head. “I think he just wanted an excuse to touch you.”

Sebastian huffed. “As if you’re any better.”

“I never claimed to be.”

I rolled my eyes, trying to focus.

“You two are unbearable.”

Sebastian grinned. “And yet, you let us stay close.”

Ominis, gripping my elbow to steady me as I poured water into the pot, smirked. “She likes it.”

I did.

That was the problem.

The Battle of Self-Control

They were constantly hovering.

Sebastian’s fingers would ghost over my waist, his palm pressing against the small of my back for no reason other than to fluster me.

Ominis’ knuckles traced my wrist when I handed him shears, his voice ever so smooth, ever so knowing.

I was losing.

So, I fought back.

I “accidentally” brushed my fingers along Sebastian’s jaw when reaching for a flower behind him, smiling sweetly when he stiffened.

I leaned just a little too close to Ominis, whispering, “Hand me the clippers, please,” and felt his breath catch.

It was satisfying, watching them falter.

But then I made a mistake.

I smirked.

And they noticed.

Sebastian’s eyes darkened immediately, his grip tightening on the pot he was holding.

Ominis, who never let anything go unnoticed, smirked in return. “Oh? She thinks she’s clever.”

Sebastian set down his tools slowly, tilting his head. “You know, I think we’ve been letting her get away with too much.”

I stepped back. “I think you two should—”

Sebastian moved first.

His hand caught my waist again, pulling me in, his smirk devilish, dangerous.

Ominis tilted his head, stepping forward as well, hands just grazing my arms, trapping me between them.

Merlin.

Sebastian leaned in first. “Now what was that, love?”

Ominis brushed his lips close to my temple. “Did you really think you could win?”

Escape Plan #2: The Great Hall

“Dinner,” I blurted, voice slightly breathless.

They both paused.

I exhaled, trying to steady myself. “We need to get to the Great Hall.”

Sebastian groaned, tilting his head back. “You always do this.”

Ominis, annoyed but amused, sighed. “She’s right. We should go.”

Sebastian grumbled, clearly frustrated, running a hand through his hair. “This is not over.”

Ominis smirked, brushing his fingers along my wrist one last time before stepping back. “Not even close.”

I shivered.

And as we headed toward the Great Hall, I couldn’t help but smile.

Merlin help me.

___

We descended into the Great Hall, settling into our usual spots, the warm glow of candlelight flickering above.

As expected, the whole gang was there—loud, chaotic, and already up to something.

Leander and Sam sat close together, both reading the same book—and oh?

They had gone to the library together?

Oh, this was interesting.

I nudged Sam. “Library date?”

She blushed instantly. “It wasn’t a date!”

Leander turned an equal shade of red, burying his face further into the book.

Sebastian, never missing an opportunity, smirked. “So, you’re saying it could be one?”

Sam gasped, smacking his arm. “Shut it, Sallow.”

I laughed, but before I could comment further—

Jace leaned forward, fixing Sebastian with a look.

“You know, Sallow,” he drawled, “now that you have your sister back, how about giving me mine back?”

Sebastian, in the middle of placing food onto my plate like the overbearing menace he was, didn’t even hesitate.

“Uh. No.”

I groaned. “Jace—”

“You are always with them,” he accused, pointing at Ominis and Sebastian. “I think I should file an official complaint.”

Ominis, taking a very delicate sip of his tea, hummed. “Feel free. The department of ‘Give Jessa More Freedom’ is currently closed.”

Sebastian smirked, satisfied. “Permanently.”

Jace gaped. “You two are insufferable.”

“And yet, here we are.” Sebastian grinned, finally setting his utensils down.

Before I could even take a bite, Leander cleared his throat.

“So, we—I—” he started.

Sam nudged him encouragingly.

I grinned. “With Sam,” I teased, watching him turn red again.

He scowled. “Anyway. I read something.”

“Oh?” Sebastian asked, lazily stirring his drink.

Leander glanced at Ominis and Sebastian. “Your suitors,” he said carefully. “They need to take your name when the time comes.”

There was a pause.

Not new knowledge to Ominis or Sebastian, who both responded simply and immediately.

“Yes,” Ominis said smoothly.

“Obviously,” Sebastian added.

I choked.

Obviously?!

And just like that, a round of teasing began.

The Name Debate (Absolute Chaos)

“Oh, this is excellent.” Jace grinned. “Sebastian Sallow-Valancaire. Ominis Gaunt-Valancaire.”

Sebastian groaned. “Stop.”

Garreth, who had been waiting for a moment to join the madness, smirked.

“You know,” he mused, “my mother replied to my letter.”

We all turned to him.

“And?” I asked cautiously.

“She’s very proud.” Garreth grinned. “Sent me a set of blue and silver robes.”

The table erupted.

Sam gasped. “Oh, so you’re taking this seriously?”

Leander snickered. “You do realize that means you also have to take the Valancaire name, right?”

Garreth beamed, completely unbothered. “Garreth Weasley-Valancaire does have a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”

Sebastian and Ominis both turned to glare at him.

Ominis sighed heavily. “This is getting out of hand.”

Sebastian pinched the bridge of his nose. “This was out of hand the moment we sent the letters.”

Jace grinned. “I can’t wait for family dinners.”

I, utterly exasperated, dropped my head into my hands.

Just when I thought the chaos at the table couldn’t get any worse, Vix and Valor strolled by, their usual intimidating older brother energy radiating off them in waves.

They barely glanced at me before zeroing in on Sebastian, Ominis, and Garreth, arms crossed in matching disapproval.

“I don’t like the sound of those names.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Change it.” Valor said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Vix nodded. “Sallow-Valancaire? Gaunt-Valancaire? No. That won’t do. It sounds wrong.”

Sebastian opened his mouth, then closed it, clearly not prepared for this level of opposition.

Ominis, for once, looked entirely at a loss for words.

Garreth, who had been sipping his drink happily, perked up. “Oh? So does that mean you’re fine with Weasley-Valancaire?”

Vix and Valor turned to him, narrowed their eyes, and said in perfect unison—

“Absolutely not.”

Garreth laughed, entirely unbothered. “Too late. My robes are already on the way.”

Immediate Resistance

Sebastian huffed, finally regaining his composure. “And what exactly do you propose we change it to?”

Vix stared him down. “Something that fits.”

Ominis sighed. “We are not changing our entire identities just because it doesn’t sound right to you two.”

“Yes, you are,” Valor countered, completely serious.

Sebastian rolled his eyes. “Let me guess. You’d rather it be Valancaire-Sallow and Valancaire-Gaunt?”

“No.” Vix smirked. “Just Valancaire.”

There was a long silence.

The table erupted.

“WAIT—” Sebastian choked. “You want us to erase our last names?!”

Ominis stared at them, absolutely baffled. “That’s not how it works!”

Jace, **who had been watching gleefully, laughed. “Oh, I like this plan.”

Sebastian gaped. “OF COURSE YOU DO.”

Garreth grinned. “You know… Garreth Valancaire does sound elegant.”

Sebastian nearly threw his goblet at him.

Ominis, pinching the bridge of his nose, exhaled sharply. “We are not erasing centuries of family history.”

Vix and Valor shrugged. “Then make it sound better.”

Sebastian groaned. “Merlin’s bloody beard—”

Leander, who had been silent until now, suddenly nodded in agreement. “They have a point. Sallow-Valancaire is a mouthful.”

Sebastian whipped his head toward him. “WHY ARE YOU EVEN INVOLVED?!”

“Because this is entertaining,” Leander said, smirking.

Samantha giggled. “Oh, absolutely. This is the best dinner we’ve had in weeks.”

Ominis sighed in defeat, rubbing his temples. “We are not changing our names.”

Jace leaned in, resting his chin on his palm. “But you will have to convince our father first. Good luck with that.”

Sebastian looked like he was about to pass out.

Garreth, cheerfully munching on a pastry, added— “Let me know what you all settle on! I’ll just be Garreth Valancaire, I suppose.”

Sebastian snapped. “YOU’RE NOT EVEN A THREAT—WHY ARE YOU WINNING?!”

Garreth winked at me.

As if the chaos at the table couldn’t get any worse, Poppy and Natty—who had been quietly thriving in the madness—finally decided to contribute.

Natty, grinning mischievously, leaned in. “Oh, imagine the chaos when Ominis’ parents find out he’ll just be a Valancaire instead of Gaunt-Valancaire.”

Poppy gasped dramatically, clutching Everett’s arm. “They’ll lose their minds.”

Everett snickered. “Do you think they’ll send an owl? Or just show up to hex everyone?”

Amit, thoughtfully tapping his chin, added, “I mean, they’re already upset that he doesn’t act like the rest of the Gaunts… but giving up the name entirely? Oh, that’s going to be legendary.”

The entire table turned to Ominis.

Ominis. Who had gone completely still.

A heavy silence fell.

And then—

“…Oh no.”

Ominis’ voice came out quiet. Horrified.

Sebastian, clearly delighted by Ominis’ suffering for once, clapped him on the shoulder.

“Oh yes, mate. You’re doomed.”

Ominis exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I have spent years avoiding their wrath, and now you’re telling me I’m going to willingly hand them a reason to summon me home?”

Natty nodded solemnly. “Yes.”

Poppy grinned. “And they’ll definitely try to ‘talk some sense into you.’”

Everett chimed in. “Or, you know… threaten murder.”

Jace, who had been enjoying every second of this, smirked. “Ominis, what do you think they’ll hate more—the name change, or the fact that you’re technically courting a pureblood Valancaire with more status than them, instead of, you know, some cousin they handpicked for you?”

Ominis looked at me. Then back at them.

Then, without hesitation—

“I’m going to die.”

Sebastian laughed. “Yeah, probably.”

Leander, smirking, added, “If it makes you feel better, Sallow-Valancaire is still worse.”

Sebastian whipped around. “WHY IS EVERYONE AFTER ME?!”

Absolute Madness

Garreth, not wanting to be left out of the chaos, smirked. “Well, I suppose that means I win then. Garreth Valancaire has a nice ring to it.”

Sebastian, already hanging on by a thread, groaned.

“STOP SAYING THAT.”

Jace leaned back, grinning. “You know, Ominis, if you’re going to die anyway, you should at least make it fun. Send a letter now and tell them outright.”

Ominis shot him a look. “I’d rather drink poison.”

Samantha giggled. “Oh, I can’t wait for the fallout.”

Natty, laughing, patted Ominis on the shoulder. “I’ll write your obituary, friend.”

Sebastian chuckled. “I’ll write mine too. Because once Anne finds out I sent an official courtship letter without warning her first, I won’t make it either.”

Garreth grinned. “Oh no. You both have angry families after you?”

Jace smirked. “Don’t forget our father. He has questions.”

Sebastian and Ominis both groaned in unison.

And I, utterly exasperated, dropped my head into my hands.

This was never going to end.
___

For once, the chaos at the table took a merciful pause when Professor Black stood at the staff table and cleared his throat, immediately drawing attention.

“After much deliberation,” he announced in his usual pompous tone, “I am reinstating the Hogwarts Quidditch season.”

The Great Hall erupted.

Cheering. Whistling. Students pounding on the tables in excitement.

Poppy and Natty clapped excitedly, and Everett practically whooped, elbowing Amit, who was already looking thrilled about the return of strategic plays.

Among the excitement, Garreth turned to me with a wide, cheeky grin.

“Sweets, be sure to cheer me on, yeah?”

I blinked. “You’re on the team?”

“Just recently got added.” He looked incredibly smug. “Beater for Gryffindor. Valor did not make it easy.”

I groaned. “Merlin, I’m going to lose my voice if I have to cheer for so many people.”

Before I could process Garreth in Quidditch robes, Sebastian spoke up.

“I’m trying out for Slytherin again.”

I froze.

The table fell silent.

Garreth raised a brow. “Again?”

Sebastian grinned. “I used to play. Chaser. But I quit when Anne got cursed.”

There was a beat of silence.

Jace tilted his head. “And now you’re coming back?”

Sebastian nodded. “She’s coming back to Hogwarts. It feels right.”

For once, no one teased him.

Even Garreth, who had never let an opportunity slip past, nodded approvingly.

Jace, however, smirked. “Good luck, then. The Slytherin captain’s a menace.”

Sebastian grinned, rolling his shoulders. “Oh, I’ll be fine.”

Ominis, who had been stirring his drink idly, raised an unimpressed brow. “You do remember how aggressive they are, right?”

Sebastian smirked. “Obviously.”

Jace laughed. “You’re going to get murdered in tryouts.”

Ominis sipped his tea. “Pity I can’t watch.”

Jessa’s Jailers

Before I could add to the conversation, Jace turned to me, smirking.

“Jessa.”

I raised a brow. “Yes?”

“If your jailers—” he gestured lazily toward Sebastian and Ominis, “—who look like they guard Gringotts vaults in their spare time, actually let you escape tonight, I need to talk to you.”

Sebastian and Ominis both grunted.

They did not look pleased.

I sighed dramatically. “Of course, Jace.”

Ominis muttered under his breath. “She’s not escaping anywhere.”

Sebastian smirked, voice full of innuendo. “We have… plans.”

I gave them a look.

Jace, clearly catching on, smirked. “Oh? More prison time in some hidden Slytherin dungeon?”

Ominis, calm as ever, lifted his cup to his lips. “We prefer the term house arrest.”

Sebastian grinned. “With very generous accommodations.”

I kicked them both under the table.

“I am going to talk to my brother.”

Jace smirked wider. “We’ll see.”

I swore to Merlin—

This was never going to end.

____

Dinner had barely ended when Jace—the menace of a twin that he was—finally succeeded in prying me away from my ever-hovering suitors.

With a victorious smirk, he dragged me by the wrist, maneuvering through the castle corridors with the confidence of a man on a mission.

I sighed, already knowing where we were going.

The same damn room he had shoved me into during the Bloom Incident.

The door shut behind us, and Jace immediately turned to me, arms crossed, expression sharp.

“Okay, Jessa. Tell me everything.”

I blinked. “What?”

Jace rolled his eyes. “Don’t play dumb. I know you had something to do with Anne’s cure.”

I opened my mouth—

“And,” he cut me off, “there is no way Grandfather let those two into the keep just to run an errand. You three should lie better.”

I stared at him.

Of course.

Of course, Jace would know.

The Confession

I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

There was no escaping this.

“Alright, fine.”

I told him everything.

About Essentia Veritas.

The way we used it to identify what we needed for the cure.

The Medimorfius spell.

The insanely dangerous ingredients we had to collect for the restorative potion.

How we went to the Keep.

The Glen.

The Elderwood.

Everything.

When I finished, I expected some kind of reaction.

Maybe shock.

Maybe awe.

Maybe concern.

But instead—

Jace stared at me, completely unamused.

And then—

His expression darkened.

“…You’re joking.”

Jace Absolutely Loses It

I barely had time to react before—

“ARE YOU BLOODY KIDDING ME?!”

I flinched. “Jace, I—”

“YOU JUST SLEPT FOR SEVEN YEARS, JESSA.” His voice rose, filled with disbelief, with fury. “SEVEN. YEARS.”

I winced. “I know—”

“AND THE MOMENT YOU WAKE UP, YOU SPEND YOURSELF ON PEOPLE YOU’VE ONLY KNOWN FOR A FEW MONTHS?!”

I opened my mouth—

“NO, NO, NO—DON’T EVEN TRY TO DEFEND YOURSELF—” He ran a hand through his hair, pacing the room. “What is WRONG with you? Do you even hear yourself?”

“I—”

“You almost DIED, Jessa!”

I snapped my mouth shut.

Jace whirled on me, eyes blazing. “You fought a magical tree, almost got swallowed by a Glen, threw yourself into dangerous magic, and let Sebastian Sallow of all people drag you into this mess?”

I bristled. “He didn’t drag me into anything, I—”

“YES, HE BLOODY DID.” Jace pointed at me. “Do you think I don’t know what he’s like? Do you think I don’t know that the moment he gets desperate enough, he’ll do anything? And you—” He took a sharp breath. “You just let yourself get swept up in it.”

The Reality Check I Didn’t Want

Jace pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply.

“Merlin, Jessa. It’s like you don’t even know how to live for yourself.”

That—

That stung.

He shook his head. “I thought waking up meant you’d finally get to breathe. To experience things for yourself. But instead, you wake up, run straight into some idiot’s problems, and nearly get yourself killed for them.”

I wasn’t expecting this.

Jace looked at me, eyes sharp, cold. “Tell me. If it was you—if you were the one who needed saving—do you think they would have done the same?”

I stiffened.

“You don’t know them,” I whispered.

“Neither do you.”

I stared at him.

“…That’s not fair.”

Jace let out a humorless laugh. “No, what’s not fair is me watching my sister throw herself into something she’s barely even had time to think about.”

I felt my throat tighten. “…I made my choice, Jace.”

“Yeah?” He gave me a hard look. “And did you ever stop to think about what you wanted? Or was it always just about saving someone else?”

I didn’t have an answer for that.

For the first time in this entire conversation, Jace looked tired.

He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “…Anne is lucky.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“…I know.”

Jace studied me for a long moment.

Then, finally—

“You’re lucky I love you, menace.”

I exhaled, letting out a watery laugh.

“It’s genetic.”

Jace rolled his eyes but finally—finally—his shoulders relaxed.

“Just… don’t make a habit of this, okay?”

I grinned weakly. “No promises.”

Jace groaned. “Of course not.”

And just like that, I knew—

We were okay.

Jace had finally calmed down.

The anger was still there, simmering beneath the surface, but the fire had settled.

I exhaled, taking the opportunity to change the subject.

“I’m done with training.”

His brow furrowed. “What?”

“Grandfather said I don’t need it anymore. That I just need experience.”

Jace paused.

I could see the thoughts turning in his head, the calculations.

Then, finally—

“You’re sure?”

I nodded. “Yes. He told me himself.”

Jace exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face.

“Good. Maybe now you’ll stop throwing yourself into death traps.”

I huffed. “Don’t get your hopes up.”

He groaned. “Of course not.”

I smiled faintly but hesitated before continuing.

“…He also told me something else.”

Jace looked at me, expectant.

I swallowed. “About Grandmother. And about Mother.”

His expression flickered.

I told him.

About how our grandmother was like our mother—too full of love, too willing to risk everything for the people she loved.

About how she fell to grief when their firstborn daughter died.

About how she turned to the Dark Arts to bring her back, how it consumed her, took her from our grandfather forever.

Jace stared at me, unblinking.

For a long moment, he said nothing.

And then—

“…That could’ve been Sebastian.”

The words were quiet. Cold. Sharp as a blade.

I nodded.

“…Yes.”

Jace closed his eyes briefly, exhaling through his nose.

“And you saw that too, didn’t you?”

I froze.

He opened his eyes, staring at me like he already knew the answer.

“In the Pensieve.”

My throat felt dry.

“…Yes.”

Jace let out a slow, tired breath.

Then, after a long pause—

“…You’re still a menace.”

I let out a weak laugh. “I know.”

He sighed.

But this time, when he looked at me, it wasn’t just frustration.

It was understanding.

“…Just don’t let them be your whole world, Jessa.”

I felt something tighten in my chest.

“…I won’t.”

I just hoped I wasn’t lying.

___

I sighed, shaking my head with a small smirk.

“You’re too smart, you know that?”

Jace grinned, his usual arrogance returning now that his meltdown was over.

“Of course. It runs in our blood.”

I rolled my eyes but felt the tension ease between us.

Then, without warning, I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him tightly.

Jace froze, caught off guard for a moment, before I felt him return the embrace.

I closed my eyes, speaking quietly.

“If I was in Sebastian’s position—if it was you who was cursed, dying—”

I felt him stiffen slightly.

“You do know that I would do anything and everything for you too, right?”

Jace exhaled slowly.

For a moment, he didn’t say anything.

Then, his voice came, quieter this time.

“…Yeah.”

He rested his chin on my head.

“I know.”

We stayed like that for a moment.

For once, he didn’t argue.

Didn’t scold me.

Didn’t tell me how reckless I was being.

Because the truth was, if it had been him—if I was the one who needed saving—he would have done the same.

Without question.

Without hesitation.

Because that was who we were.

Not just Valancaires.

Not just siblings.

But each other’s first and greatest allies.

Until the very end.

We left the room quietly, ensuring that no one saw us slipping back into the corridors.

The castle was quieter now, the lingering warmth of the Great Hall’s chatter fading into the distant murmur of students making their way to their dorms.

Jace walked beside me, his earlier frustration now replaced with something softer—something steadier.

At the entrance to the Grand Staircase, he paused, turning to me with a familiar exasperated fondness.

“Alright, menace.” His tone was mockingly stern. “Now that your suicidal training is finally over, maybe we should actually spend time together, you know? Like normal siblings.”

I arched a brow. “Normal?”

He snorted. “Fine. Our version of normal.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “That might be even more dangerous.”

Jace grinned. “Exactly. But let’s do it anyway. Merlin knows you need a break from those jailers of yours.”

I rolled my eyes. “Sebastian and Ominis are not jailers.”

He gave me a look.

I sighed. “…Alright, maybe a little.”

Jace smirked, victorious. “So it’s settled. We hang out more. Let them miss you for once.”

I tilted my head thoughtfully. “That’s… actually not a terrible idea.”

Jace mock-gasped, clutching his chest. “Wow, high praise from you. I might faint.”

I shoved him.

He laughed, ruffling my hair before taking a step back toward his common room.

“Be safe, Jessa.”

His tone was light, but the meaning beneath it ran deep.

I met his gaze, nodding. “You too, Jace.”

And with that, we parted ways, a quiet understanding between us.

___

On my way to the Ravenclaw Tower, the castle corridors dim and quiet, I suddenly heard a sharp whisper.

“Psst. Sweets! Over here.”

I stilled, my hand instinctively twitching toward my wand, until—

Garreth.

Peeking from behind an alcove, looking entirely too smug, his fiery hair half-hidden in shadow.

I narrowed my eyes. “Garreth, what in Merlin’s name—?”

“Shh, shh—” He beckoned me closer, still grinning.

I sighed, glancing around before stepping into the alcove with him. “Alright, what’s this about? Why are you hiding like a common criminal?”

Garreth clasped his hands over his chest, feigning offense. “Sweets, you wound me.”

I arched a brow.

“Fine,” he relented, his mischief softening into something more genuine. “I finally got time with you away from those two.”

My cheeks warmed. “…Those two?”

“Yes, your jailers, your shadows, your personal bodyguards—Sallow and Gaunt.”** His grin turned teasing.** “You do know you have other suitors, right?”

I rolled my eyes. “I know, Garreth.”

He leaned in closer, voice dropping. “Then you also know it’s my turn.”

I blinked.

He grabbed my hand, lacing his fingers through mine with a confident ease that sent a shiver up my spine.

“Come with me.”

I stared at him suspiciously. “Where?”

“It’s a surprise.”

A Sky Full of Magic

Garreth led me through the castle, expertly dodging patrolling professors and prefects with the skill of a seasoned rule-breaker.

We slipped out through a side entrance, the crisp night air sending a chill through me.

I looked at him. “Garreth, if this is another one of your potion experiments, I swear—”

“No potions. No explosions. Just magic, sweets.”

He grinned, tugging me toward a small clearing just past the castle grounds.

It was quiet, the moon full and bright, bathing everything in a silver glow.

And then—

I heard them.

Soft cooing sounds.

I turned my head—

And gasped.

Mooncalves.

A whole herd of them, their wide, glowing eyes reflecting the moonlight like tiny stars.

And before I could say anything—

They began to dance.

The mooncalves twirled and leaped, their movements so graceful, so effortless, that for a moment, it felt like I was watching a celestial performance made just for us.

The ground beneath them shimmered, the grass alight with magic, pulsing softly with each step.

I felt my breath catch.

“Garreth…”

He watched me closely, his expression softer now. “Do you like it?”

“This is…” I could barely find the words. “It’s beautiful.”

He grinned, clearly satisfied with my reaction. “Told you I had a good surprise.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “How did you even find this?”

“Accident, actually.” He chuckled. “Snuck out for a midnight snack, saw them dancing. Thought of you immediately.”

I turned to look at him, heart skipping a beat.

He wasn’t watching the mooncalves.

He was watching me.

A Moment Meant for Us

“You know, sweets…” Garreth tilted his head, stepping closer, voice dropping into something softer. “You’re always running around, always solving some crisis, always thinking three steps ahead.”

I blinked.

He gently nudged me. “When’s the last time you let yourself just… enjoy something?”

The words struck deeper than I expected.

I opened my mouth to reply—but he took my hand again, pulling me forward.

“Dance with me.”

I laughed, startled. “What?”

“Dance with me, Jessa.”

I hesitated. “Garreth, I don’t know how to—”

“Neither do I.”

I snorted. “That’s not very reassuring.”

“Come on, sweets.” He twirled me suddenly, and I let out a breathless laugh.

And just like that—

We danced.

Beneath the moonlight.

Among the magic.

Between the glow of the mooncalves and the warmth of Garreth’s hands.

And for the first time in a long, long while—

I let myself just enjoy it.

We danced with the mooncalves, twirling and stepping in awkward, clumsy movements, our laughter mixing with the soft sounds of their cooing.

Garreth kept twirling me, despite our lack of coordination, despite the way we stumbled over each other’s feet.

“You’re terrible at this,” I teased, breathless.

“Excuse you,” he shot back, grinning as he spun me once more. “I am a fantastic dancer.”

I nearly tripped.

Garreth snickered and caught me by the waist, holding me close, his eyes glowing with mischief under the moonlight.

“Well, maybe just slightly less than fantastic,” he admitted.

I rolled my eyes, trying to fight the warmth spreading through me.

But then—

A raindrop.

Then another.

And within seconds—

The sky split open.

“Oh, bloody—”

The rain came down in sheets, drenching us in an instant.

The mooncalves scattered, disappearing into the night as we stared at each other in shock before—

We burst into laughter.

“Run!” Garreth grabbed my hand, and we bolted toward the castle, our boots kicking up water as we sprinted through the storm.

Soaking Wet and Nearly Caught

By the time we reached Hogwarts, we were completely drenched, water dripping from our clothes, our hair plastered to our faces.

Garreth pushed open a side door, and we stumbled inside, breathless and shivering.

“Well,” I huffed, wringing water from my sleeves, “that was romantic while it lasted.”

Garreth laughed, shaking out his hair like an overgrown niffler.

“Oh, it’s still romantic, sweets.” He winked. “We just added adventure.”

I shoved him, still giggling. “Let’s get back before—”

Footsteps.

Lots of them.

We froze.

Prefects.

Too many of them.

Patrolling the hallways, their voices getting closer.

Garreth grabbed my wrist.

“Crap. Come on.”

And before I could protest, he yanked me into a cupboard.

Pressed Together in the Dark

The door clicked shut, leaving us pressed together in a space far too small for comfort.

Outside, I could hear the soft murmurs of prefects walking past, their boots echoing against the stone floor.

Inside—

It was silent.

Except for our breathing.

The faint dripping of water from our soaked clothes.

The tiny space illuminated just enough for me to see Garreth’s face—

The way his green eyes flickered toward my lips.

The way his chest rose and fell, still catching his breath.

The way the warmth of his hands, still on my waist, sent a shiver down my spine.

I felt my pulse quicken.

Garreth didn’t move.

Didn’t say anything.

He just looked at me.

And then—

The space between us vanished in an instant.

Garreth’s lips crashed against mine, fierce, impatient—hungry.

There was no hesitation, no teasing flirtation this time—only pure, unfiltered want.

The kiss was fire and desperation, his hands gripping my waist, pulling me so close I could feel the pounding of his heart against mine.

I matched his intensity, fingers threading into his damp, unruly hair, tugging him even closer.

A groan rumbled in his throat, deep and unrestrained, and it sent a thrill down my spine.

My nails dug into his soaked robes, fisting the fabric as his lips moved against mine, demanding, consuming—like he was trying to brand me with every single kiss.

I whimpered.

A sound that should have been forbidden, a sound I barely recognized as mine.

Garreth shuddered, as if the noise itself was a spell, as if it had completely undone him.

“Bloody hell, sweets,” he rasped against my lips, his voice hoarse, wrecked.

He pulled back for a fraction of a second—

Not to stop.

No.

Because his lips found my neck.

And then I was truly gone.

Garreth’s mouth burned a path down my jaw, trailing to the delicate pulse point beneath my ear.

I gasped, head tilting back against the wooden wall, my body arching into his touch.

His lips ghosted over my skin, slow and deliberate, before he bit down, just enough to make my breath hitch.

“Garreth—”

His hands tightened on my waist.

“I like how you say my name, sweets.” His voice was low, wrecked—dangerous.

His lips dragged lower, pressing hot, open-mouthed kisses along my throat.

I clutched at his robes, my fingers trembling, my mind spiraling into nothing but sensation.

“You drive me mad.”

The words were half-growled, his voice vibrating against my skin.

I bit my lip, trying to suppress the helpless noise that nearly escaped.

He felt it anyway.

Smirked against my skin.

“I don’t care how many Slytherins I need to compete with, sweets.”

His teeth brushed the base of my throat, a promise, a warning.

“You’ll be mine.”

And I was lost.

Completely.

Hopelessly.

Utterly lost.

His hands slid higher, his lips trailing even lower—

And then—

Bloody Jace.

The cupboard door flew open.

“Bloody hell.”

Jace’s furious voice sliced through the thick haze of heat and want.

I barely had time to process before a hand shot out, grabbing the back of Garreth’s robes and hauling him off me with zero gentleness.

Garreth stumbled, looking more dazed than guilty, his hair even messier than usual, lips swollen.

I was barely faring better.

Breathless.

Shaking.

A complete, ruined mess.

Jace looked at the two of us, then pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply.

“You bloody idiots.”

I winced.

Garreth—the menace—had the nerve to look more smug than remorseful.

Jace’s eyes darkened dangerously.

“You,” he snapped at Garreth. “Back to your common room before I hex you into next week.”

Garreth, for once in his life, actually listened.

He shot me a lingering glance, something still burning behind his eyes, before he grinned and took off into the night.

I exhaled, attempting to steady my completely wrecked senses.

Jace turned to me.

“And you—”

He grabbed my arm and started dragging me away from the patrol routes.

“We’re going to have another talk. The second time tonight.”

Jace dragged me into an empty corridor, away from prying eyes, away from any potential interruptions.

And then—

He lost his mind.

“I TOLD YOU TO BE SAFE, AND YOU DO THIS?!”

I winced, rubbing my ear. “Jace, keep your voice down—”

“Keep my voice—?! JESSA.” His hands flew to his hair in absolute frustration.

I sighed, crossing my arms. “You are overreacting.”

“OVERREACTING?!”

I flinched at the sheer volume of his voice.

“Jace, you—”

“DO YOU KNOW WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED?!” he cut me off, pacing like a madman. “You were hidden in a damn cupboard, snogging that MENACE of a Weasley like—like—”

He paused, looking physically ill. “Like a Hufflepuff on too much butterbeer.”

“Oh, you mean exactly like you last month?” I shot back, folding my arms. “I seem to recall you snogging four girls at the same time during that Slytherin common room party.”

Jace jerked back. “That was different.”

“HOW?!”

“Because I was NOT OFFICIALLY COURTING THEM!” He threw his hands in the air. “AND WE WERE NOT HIDING IN A DAMN CUPBOARD!”

“Oh, so that makes it better?”

“YES.”

“You’re unbelievable.”

“NO, YOU’RE UNBELIEVABLE—”

His voice rose an octave, his frustration exploding into pure, overprotective hysteria.

“DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF A PREFECT CAUGHT YOU?! IF HEADMASTER BLACK GOT WIND OF IT AND WROTE TO FATHER?!”

I froze.

Jace’s eyes narrowed.

“Oh, now you’re listening.”

”…He wouldn’t actually—”

“HE WOULD, JESSA.”

Jace grabbed my shoulders, giving me a gentle but dramatic shake.

“AND YOU KNOW WHAT HE’D DO?”

I gulped.

Jace’s eyes darkened.

“YOU’D BE MARRIED. IMMEDIATELY. TO AVOID A SCANDAL.”

I stared at him, horrified.

“No—he wouldn’t—”

“YOU WANNA TEST THAT THEORY?!”

I felt faint.

Jace continued, relentless.

“AND ANOTHER THING—”

“Jace, please.”

“THOSE TWO MORONS YOU CALL SUITORS—”

Oh, Merlin.

“YOU THINK THEY’LL JUST LET WEASLEY GET AWAY WITH THIS?!”

I swallowed hard.

Because.

Well.

No.

No, they absolutely would not.

If Ominis and Sebastian found out about this, they’d storm Gryffindor Tower and—oh, no.

I groaned, burying my face in my hands.

“Jace, don’t say anything—”

He ignored me.

“Oh, Merlin. I LET YOU HAVE FUN, AND YOU’RE HAVING TOO MUCH FUN.”

“Jace, please.”

“First, I find out you have official courtships at sixteen, and now THIS?!”

“Jace—”

“WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU BEEN DOING?!”

I froze.

The guilty expression must have flickered across my face because—

Jace’s eyes widened.

His jaw dropped.

His whole body went rigid.

“OH, MERLIN—”

I immediately turned on my heel to run.

“I’M NOT HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, GOODNIGHT, JACE.”

“OH, NO YOU DON’T—”

I sprinted.

Jace chased me.

I was running for my life.

Jace was hot on my heels, ranting like a madman about how I was ruining his lifespan and how he was going to hex Weasley into next week.

And then—

“OI! YOU TWO! STOP RIGHT THERE!”

Oh, bloody hell.

We froze.

Standing at the end of the corridor, wand raised, eyes sharp with suspicion, was a bloody prefect.

Jace and I stared at them.

They stared back.

A tense, awful silence stretched between us.

Jace, the absolute idiot, tried to pivot and walk away like that would actually work.

“Where do you think you’re going?” the prefect snapped.

“To bed,” Jace said smoothly. “Like responsible students.”

The prefect snorted. “It’s past curfew.”

“Which is exactly why we are responsibly making our way back to our respective towers.”

The prefect’s eyes narrowed. “Why were you running?”

“Exercise.”

I elbowed Jace so hard he nearly choked.

The prefect folded their arms.

“Right. So you just happened to be running full-speed down a dark corridor, past curfew, for exercise?”

“That’s correct,” Jace said, nodding far too quickly.

I groaned, dragging my hands down my face.

“Detention,” the prefect announced.

We both gawked.

“Wait, what—”

“Detention,” they repeated, sounding far too smug. “Both of you. Tomorrow night.”

I gaped at Jace. “THIS IS YOUR FAULT.”

“HOW IS THIS MY FAULT?!”

“YOU CHASED ME.”

“BECAUSE YOU WERE RUNNING AWAY FROM ME.”

“BECAUSE YOU WERE YELLING ABOUT MY LOVE LIFE!”

The prefect sighed dramatically. “Would you like a second night of detention?”

We shut up immediately.

“Good,” they said. “Now go. Before I change my mind and make it a week.”

I glared at Jace as we begrudgingly turned toward our dormitories.

“This is actually your fault,” I muttered under my breath.

“Oh, shut up, Jessa.”

“You shut up.”

“You shut up first.”

“I hope Peeves throws ink at you in your sleep.”

“I hope Sebastian and Ominis find out about your little cupboard escapades and drag you to your wedding tomorrow.”

I whipped around, scandalized.

Jace grinned triumphantly.

I was never escaping this.

___

Morning came, and I felt everything at once.

The lingering intensity from last night’s mooncalf madness with Garreth still burned at the back of my mind—

But then, of course, there was the absolute disaster that was my detention with Jace.

So now, instead of basking in the sweet, intoxicating thrill of my stolen moment with Garreth, I was sitting at breakfast, grumpy, exhausted, and between two very, very suspicious Slytherins.

The Walk of Shame to Breakfast

Samantha and I descended the staircase, making our way toward the Great Hall.

I spotted the usual gang at our table—

Poppy and Everett laughing over something, Amit rambling excitedly to Natty about some magical star chart while she listened with polite patience, and Leander—

Leander, waiting for Sam nonchalantly, as if we all didn’t see right through him.

And then, of course—

Garreth.

He was grinning at me, completely unapologetic.

The moment our eyes met, my face heated at the memory of last night’s utter sin.

But just as quickly as my thoughts turned to Garreth and the absolute madness we had gotten up to—

They were rudely replaced by the crushing reality of my detention.

Because sitting at my usual seat—one that they had saved for me, naturally—were my two Slytherin suitors.

And they looked…

Suspicious.

Ominis sat perfectly poised, but I could feel the intensity of his attention, even if he couldn’t see me.

Sebastian, on the other hand, was less subtle—his arms crossed, brows raised, eyes locked onto mine with knowing amusement.

And right beside them…

Sat Jace, looking too quiet, too smug, and like he was plotting my immediate downfall.

I had a very, very bad feeling about this.

The Ultimate Betrayal

Samantha, blissfully unaware of my impending doom, sat beside Leander and promptly destroyed me.

“Oh, by the way—” she said casually, as if she were talking about the weather—

“Jessa and Jace got detention last night.”

Utter. Silence.

I stiffened.

Jace, the traitor, sipped his pumpkin juice, unbothered.

Sebastian and Ominis, serving me breakfast like the overbearing menaces they were, froze mid-motion.

Ominis, calmly placing toast on my plate, tilted his head slightly. “We let you talk one night, and you got detention?”

Sebastian, hand hovering over the jam, narrowed his eyes. “With Jace?”

Garreth snorted.

Jace, because he was the absolute worst person alive, leaned back lazily, crossing his arms.

“Ohhh, ask her why we got detention.”

“Jace,” I hissed under my breath, glaring daggers at him.

Don’t. You. Dare.

Garreth, the menace himself, laughed into his goblet.

Natty, always quick on the uptake, raised a brow. “Wait, wait, why did you get detention?”

Poppy, ever the instigator, leaned forward eagerly. “Did you curse someone?”

Leander, half-eating, half-listening, snorted. “Oh, no—did you hex a professor?”

Jace, the snake, smirked at me.

“Oh no, nothing like that.”

Sebastian stiffened. “…What does that mean?”

Ominis, **who had been composed this entire time, set his tea down a little too carefully.

“…Jessa?”

I gritted my teeth, scowling.

“It was nothing.”

Jace chuckled darkly. “Oh, it was definitely not nothing.”

Garreth, enjoying my suffering, waggled his brows. “Was it fun, at least?”

Sebastian whipped his head toward him so fast I thought he might snap his own neck. “What.”

“GARRETH.” I practically slammed my fist against the table, my face going up in flames.

Garreth, realizing his mistake, coughed. “I mean—uh—was detention fun? Was sneaking around the halls fun?—”he was making it worse—“Was getting caught fun?”

Poppy covered her mouth.

Natty’s eyes went wide.

Leander nearly choked on his food.

Amit, who had been completely oblivious, finally looked up. “Wait—was this detention or something else?”

Sebastian put down his fork. “Jessa.”

Ominis adjusted his cufflinks. “Jessa.”

Jace grinned wickedly. “Oh, don’t worry, she was just enjoying herself too much.”

“JACE, I SWEAR TO MERLIN—”

The entire table erupted.

“WAIT, WAIT, WAIT—” Poppy clapped her hands together, eyes darting between Jessa and Garreth like she was watching a bloody drama unfold.

Natty looked between us, horrified. “No—No, you didn’t—”

Leander, cackling, pointed at Jace. “Oh, he’s enjoying this way too much.”

Garreth, completely unbothered, grinned at me. “You did enjoy yourself, though.”

Sebastian and Ominis both turned to me in unison.

Sebastian: “What exactly were you enjoying?”

Ominis: “Jessa. Explain.”

I was going to hex Jace.

No—

I was going to murder Jace.

I shoved a piece of toast in my mouth and refused to speak.

Jace, smug as ever, simply smirked at me and took another sip of his juice.

I slammed my toast down, desperate to regain control of this spiraling disaster.

“It was nothing!” I declared, a bit too loudly—which, in hindsight, only made me look more guilty.

The entire table stared at me.

Sebastian and Ominis were now squinting—their suspicion increasing by the second.

Jace, the traitor, sat back and smirked, enjoying my suffering.

Garreth, menace that he was, grinned like a kneazle who caught a canary.

I had to lie.

And I had to lie well.

Think, Jessa.

The World’s Worst Excuse

I took a deep breath, schooled my expression, and lied through my teeth.

“We—uh—”

Jace raised a brow, waiting.

I squeezed my eyes shut and blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“We were—um—caught…stealing candied pineapple from the kitchen.”

Silence.

Absolute. Deafening. Silence.

Ominis, completely deadpan, tilted his head. “Candied pineapple.”

Sebastian, expression unreadable, simply muttered, “Huh.”

The rest of the table—

Erupted.

Leander, mid-drink, nearly choked.

Poppy and Natty slammed their hands on the table in sheer disbelief.

Amit, who had been innocently eating his eggs, looked deeply disturbed. “Candied pineapple?”

Jace, the absolute menace, actually threw his head back and laughed.

Garreth?

Garreth Weasley had to cover his face because he was laughing so hard.

“Oh, Sweets,” he wheezed, “that is the worst lie I’ve ever heard.”

Sebastian, who had been listening with an unreadable expression, calmly set down his fork.

Ominis, who had been gripping his tea cup, inhaled deeply and sighed.

And then—

Both of them visibly sulked.

Sebastian rubbed his temples, exhaling through his nose. “I knew we shouldn’t have left you alone with Jace last night.”

Ominis, dramatic as ever, folded his arms and leaned back. “We give her one night—one—and she commits a crime.”

“IT WAS NOT A CRIME!”

“You got detention, Jessa,” Ominis shot back, “so it certainly wasn’t legal.”

Garreth, who was still enjoying himself far too much, smirked.

“Well, I certainly think it was worth it.”

Sebastian and Ominis?

Both turned to him.

Sebastian narrowed his eyes. “Oh, do you now?”

Ominis, voice smooth, “What exactly do you mean by that, Weasley?”

Garreth only grinned, completely unbothered. “Oh, nothing~.”

I kicked him under the table.

He winced, but the smirk remained.

The table conversation continued—mostly without me, since I was too busy glaring at Jace, Garreth, and my sulking Slytherins.

Natty, still giggling, whispered to Poppy.

Leander, completely over the conversation, was now focused on Samantha, who was still teasing him about something.

Amit? Still disturbed by the pineapple thing.

Jace?

Smug. Too smug.

Garreth?

Looking at me with entirely too much amusement.

Sebastian?

Dramatically sulking, pushing food around his plate.

Ominis?

Leaning back, arms crossed, looking like he was contemplating my life choices.

And me?

Fuming.

I was going to murder my twin.

I was going to hex Garreth Weasley into next week.

And most of all?

I was going to have to work extremely hard to make it up to my sulking Slytherins.

Merlin help me.
___

After breakfast—and the absolute humiliation that was my morning—I had one goal.

Get to Ancient Runes before Sebastian and Ominis could trap me.

Because—

One, I actually liked Ancient Runes.

Two, I wanted to focus for once.

Three, I absolutely did not need the two of them testing my self-control during class.

So, I did what any reasonable Ravenclaw would do—

I hurried ahead before they could catch me.

Unfortunately—

They caught me.

The Hunt and Capture

“Jessa, love, where are you running off to?”

Sebastian’s smug voice came from behind me, far too amused.

I sped up.

Ominis tilted his head, his expression neutral, but I could hear the knowing smirk in his voice. “Avoiding us, are you?”

“Absolutely not,” I lied. “Just excited for class!”

Garreth—the damn Gryffindor—just grinned.

“You keep telling yourself that, Sweets.”

The rest of our friends—Natty, Poppy, Leander, and Samantha—all exchanged amused looks.

But none of them helped me.

Because they were traitors.

Within moments, I was sandwiched between two very determined Slytherins.

Ancient Runes was going to be a disaster.

I loved Ancient Runes.

The logic, the complexity—the way each symbol had layers of meaning, centuries of history, and could be woven into powerful enchantments—it was fascinating.

But then—

Sebastian Sallow.

Ominis Gaunt.

And their bloody need to make my life difficult.

Professor Babbling had barely begun her lecture before the nonsense started.

Sebastian, pretending to be deeply invested in his notes, absentmindedly tapped his wand against my thigh under the desk.

Once.

Twice.

I ignored it.

Then, slowly—

The wand traveled.

Up.

Higher.

I grabbed it without looking and shoved it back into his lap.

He chuckled under his breath.

“Oh? You noticed?” he whispered, sounding far too pleased.

“I will hex you.”

“During class? How scandalous.”

I gritted my teeth and looked straight ahead.

Which is when Ominis got involved.

Because, of course, he did.

His quill, which had been perfectly normal up until now, suddenly became a weapon.

He twirled it lazily between his fingers before letting it graze the side of my hand.

Then—

Across my wrist.

Up my arm.

I inhaled sharply.

Sebastian noticed immediately.

His smirk deepened.

I refused to react.

Which is when Ominis leaned in, whispering—

“You’re awfully tense, my damsel.”

I nearly dropped my textbook.

Garreth, watching from across the aisle, smirked. “You alright there, Sweets?”

I glared at him.

He snorted and went back to his work.

Meanwhile, Sebastian pretended to stretch, casually draping an arm behind my chair.

I could feel his fingers brushing against my back.

Slow. Deliberate.

Merlin’s bloody beard.

The Struggle to Focus

Professor Babbling continued explaining the importance of bind-runes in ancient spellwork.

I tried to listen.

I really did.

But between—

Sebastian’s wand tracing lazy patterns on my knee,

Ominis’ quill feather tickling my wrist,

And the sheer heat of their presence—

I was seconds away from setting something on fire.

“This is cruel and unusual punishment,” I muttered under my breath.

Sebastian smirked. “You wound me, darling. We’re just trying to help you focus.”

Ominis tilted his head toward me, his voice smooth as silk. “Yes. You should be thanking us, really.”

I dug my nails into my parchment.

The Downfall

I managed to survive the first half of class.

But then—

Sebastian leaned closer, lips brushing against my ear.

“You’re turning pages too fast. Should I help?”

I dropped my book.

The entire class turned to look at me.

Professor Babbling raised a brow.

“Something wrong, Miss Valancaire?”

I smiled tightly.

“No, Professor. Just—” I cleared my throat, picking up my book. “Enthusiastic.”

The professor nodded slowly before continuing the lecture.

As soon as her back was turned—

Sebastian snickered.

Ominis smirked.

And Garreth?

Garreth was actually crying from silent laughter.

I was going to hex all of them.

The Aftermath

When class finally ended, I stood up so fast my chair nearly fell over.

The boys grinned at me.

“Enjoy class?” Sebastian asked innocently.

Ominis sighed dramatically. “Shame you didn’t seem to absorb much. Perhaps we should have a study session later?”

Garreth walked past, smirking. “Careful, Sweets. Any more ‘study sessions’ with them and you won’t survive the term.”

I threw my book at his head.

He dodged it.

Sebastian chuckled, throwing an arm around my shoulders. “Don’t worry, Jessa. We’ll make sure you get all the ‘hands-on’ learning you need.”

I elbowed him in the ribs.

He just laughed harder.

Ominis sighed, smirking. “We really are terrible distractions, aren’t we?”

“Yes.”

“And yet, you always sit with us.”

I glared at both of them. “I hate you.”

Sebastian grinned. “No, you don’t.”

Ominis smirked. “She really doesn’t.”

I groaned, marching ahead of them.

This was going to be a long term.
___

Sebastian and Ominis thought they could distract me in Ancient Runes?

Thought they could make me squirm?

Thought I would just take it?

I would make them suffer.

The Setup

We arrived at DADA, and I allowed myself to sit between them.

Sebastian and Ominis both looked surprised.

Our friends, watching curiously, sensed trouble.

They were right to be afraid.

Because today, I, Jessa Valancaire, was going to ruin them.

I owed it all to my mother’s scandalous, utterly sinful manual.

Sebastian was confident.

Arrogant.

Too sure of himself.

So, naturally—

I had to remind him what happens when you provoke me.

Professor Hecat began her lecture, but I wasn’t listening.

I crossed my legs slowly, deliberately, grazing Sebastian’s thigh.

He froze.

The motion was casual, effortless, like I had no idea what I was doing.

But I knew.

I could feel the way his muscles tensed beneath his robes, the way his quill halted mid-stroke.

He didn’t move away.

Oh, no.

He stayed still, as if testing his own resolve.

I smirked to myself.

Poor, poor Sebastian.

Next—

Ominis.

He was different.

Touch alone wouldn’t destroy him.

No.

Ominis thrived on sound. On sensation. On perception.

So—

I “accidentally” dropped my quill.

And then, slowly, I leaned down to pick it up—

Arching my back, letting my breath hitch just slightly as I reached beneath the desk.

I heard it.

Ominis inhaling sharply.

Sebastian, beside me, gripping his wand so hard his knuckles turned white.

I straightened, letting my hair cascade over one shoulder, brushing against Ominis’ arm.

I pretended not to notice the way he shifted, swallowing hard.

I wasn’t done.

Oh, I was just getting started.

The classroom was perfectly fine—

But I pretended it was unbearably hot.

With a soft sigh, I unbuttoned the top of my uniform just slightly, enough to show a teasing hint of skin, and then fanned myself.

The scent of my perfume—one I knew they liked—drifted in the air.

Sebastian shifted uncomfortably.

Ominis, who relied on scent more than sight, went utterly still.

The Breaking Point

Sebastian turned his head slightly, voice low.

“Jessa.”

Ominis, a warning note in his tone.

“What are you doing?”

I innocently licked my lips. “Nothing.”

Garreth, across the room, had caught on and was now grinning like an idiot.

Poppy, Natty, and Samantha looked like they were watching a live execution.

Samantha was taking notes.

Leander looked horrified.

Amit was actually praying.

Checkmate

I leaned in, lowering my voice just enough for them to hear.

“You two look flustered.”

Sebastian broke first.

He cursed under his breath, slammed his book shut, and stood up abruptly.

Ominis lasted five seconds longer.

Then—

He let out a sharp breath, clenched his jaw, and stood as well.

The entire class watched in horror as both of them fled.

Professor Hecat stared after them, unimpressed.

“I don’t even want to know.”

Garreth was choking on laughter.

Samantha was still scribbling.

Poppy mouthed ‘what have you done’.

I smiled sweetly and returned to my notes.
___

The moment class ended, I knew I was doomed.

The Teasing Begins

“Oh, Jessa.”

Natty, grinning far too much for my liking, hooked an arm through mine as we left the classroom.

“That was cruel.”

Poppy giggled into her hand. “Cruel, but… honestly impressive.”

Samantha?

Absolutely beside herself.

She was still flipping through her notes, quill scribbling madly. “You have to tell me what chapter of your mother’s manual that was.”

Garreth?

Garreth was wheezing.

“Sweets, you actually—” He had to pause, still laughing. “You actually made Sebastian Sallow leave class. The man who sat through detention with Sharp without flinching—and you broke him with a quill and perfume?”

Leander, ever the skeptic, shook his head in sheer disbelief. “That was unnatural.”

Amit, still shaken, simply muttered, “I fear for our future.”

I huffed, crossing my arms. “They deserved it! I love Ancient Runes, and they ruined it!”

“Oh, but you enjoyed it.”

Natty teased, nudging me.

Poppy giggled again.

Samantha, grinning mischievously, added, “You definitely enjoyed it. And so did they.”

Leander groaned. “Please, stop.”

Garreth was still struggling to breathe through his laughter.

“You should’ve seen Ominis’ face,” he wheezed. “I swear he was one second away from combusting.”

I snorted.

I knew.

I had felt it.

Which made this even more satisfying.

Where Were They?

The question lingered in my mind as we strolled through the corridors.

Where did they even go?

I could only imagine—

Were they furious?

Were they plotting revenge?

Were they trying to cool down somewhere?

The thought made me smirk.

Samantha noticed.

“Oh no,” she murmured. “That’s a dangerous face.”

Garreth, not helping at all, threw an arm over my shoulders.

“So, Sweets, what’s next?” He grinned. “Are you going to make them beg next time?”

I rolled my eyes.

But—

The idea wasn’t terrible.

For now, I enjoyed the peace.

The two menaces were gone.

The rest of my friends still reeled from what they’d witnessed.

And I had won this battle.

But—

Somewhere, lurking in the depths of Hogwarts—

Sebastian and Ominis were undoubtedly plotting revenge.

And I had to be ready.
___

I sensed danger.

A deep, foreboding sense of doom that settled in my chest.

Sebastian and Ominis weren’t done with me.

Which meant—

I had to stay in a group.

For protection.

For survival.

I turned to my friends with grim certainty. “None of you are leaving me alone this free period.”

They blinked at me.

Poppy, ever so concerned, asked, “Why?”

“Because,” I said, “I know Sebastian and Ominis. They’re plotting. And I refuse to be their next victim.”

Samantha looked amused.

Garreth grinned like the troublemaker he was.

Leander sighed. “Merlin’s beard, this is getting ridiculous.”

Natty nodded, serious. “To the library then.”

And so, we all went together, forming a fortress of safety around me.

The library was a sanctuary, filled with the rustling of parchment, the scent of old books, and—most importantly—the absence of two particular Slytherins.

We settled at our usual spot, Garreth flopping into the seat beside me.

I ignored his knowing smirk and pulled out my books.

Then—

I remembered something.

Something I had been compiling for weeks—

A collection of unique potion formulas, gathered from various ancient texts, including the ones my grandfather gave me.

Not just any potions.

Whimsical ones. Intriguing ones. The kind that would capture Garreth’s chaotic, curious mind.

A thank-you—

For the mooncalf dance.

For the hidden herbology garden.

For the moonstone core essence.

I slid the parchment toward him without a word, watching as he blinked in surprise.

“What’s this?”

I smiled softly. “Something for you.”

Garreth froze.

His grin, usually quick and effortless, faltered just slightly as he looked at the notes.

For a moment, he was quiet.

And then, softer than I’d ever heard before—

“Sweets…”

His fingers brushed the parchment, eyes tracing over the carefully handwritten formulas.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.

“You—” He exhaled. “You really did this for me?”

I laughed lightly. “Of course, Gar. You’ve done so much for me—I wanted to give you something in return.”

His eyes met mine, warm and intense, something unspoken lingering there.

And then—

BAM.

A book slammed onto the table.

A very familiar book.

A very angry Slytherin standing behind it.

“Enjoying yourselves?”

Oh, no.

Sebastian was here.

And—

Ominis was right behind him, arms crossed, expression deceptively calm.

My stomach dropped.

The hunters had arrived.

BUT

I did what any good, responsible, rule-abiding student would do when faced with imminent doom.

I tattled.

Immediately.

Without hesitation.

I stood up, turned on my heel, and marched straight to Madam Scribner before either of my two menaces could stop me.

Garreth, bless his chaotic soul, choked on a laugh.

Sebastian?

Murder in his eyes.

Ominis?

Utter betrayal.

Samantha, Natty, and Poppy?

Staring at me like I was the bravest (or most foolish) witch alive.

But I had one goal—

Self-preservation.

And Madam Scribner was my best shot.

I strolled right up to the librarian, cleared my throat, and with my most sweet, innocent voice, said—

“Madam Scribner, I think some students are about to disrupt the peace in the library.”

I could feel Sebastian bristle behind me.

I could hear Ominis mutter something unholy under his breath.

Madam Scribner snapped her head up, adjusting her glasses. “Oh?”

“Yes,” I said primly, resisting the urge to smirk. “They were whispering about some grand revenge scheme after I outperformed them in class.”

Sebastian let out an offended noise.

Ominis looked ready to strangle me.

Madam Scribner, however, scanned the library sharply, gaze landing on them.

“Mr. Sallow. Mr. Gaunt.” Her voice was razor-sharp.

“Care to explain why you seem intent on disturbing the library’s peace?”

Checkmate.

Garreth was dying beside me, barely suppressing his laughter.

Samantha had buried her face in her hands.

Leander was actually choking on his drink.

And Sebastian?

Sebastian, glaring daggers at me, put on his most innocent, well-behaved expression and said—

“Of course not, Madam Scribner. We were simply… admiring the way Jessa so diligently studies. A true Ravenclaw, through and through.”

I barely held back a snort.

Ominis, ever the composed one, sighed dramatically. “A true inspiration.”

Madam Scribner was unimpressed. “Do not test my patience.”

Sebastian and Ominis immediately straightened. “Of course not, Madam.”

And just like that—

My plan worked.

They couldn’t enact their revenge here.

Not under the librarian’s watchful gaze.

The Aftermath

As soon as Madam Scribner turned away, Sebastian leaned in dangerously close.

“Oh, you’re going to pay for that.”

Ominis, his voice low, added, “You just delayed the inevitable, Jessa.”

Garreth, still grinning, threw an arm over my shoulders and spun me away from them.

“Come now, gentlemen, let the lady study in peace. You wouldn’t want to get banned from the library, would you?”

Sebastian and Ominis glowered.

But they couldn’t do anything.

Not yet.

And that was enough for me.

For a brief, blissful moment, I believed I was safe.

Sebastian and Ominis had settled.

No schemes. No sudden attacks. Just focused on their homework, like normal, well-behaved students.

I should’ve known.

It was the quiet before the storm.

The Betrayal of My Friends

I looked to Natty and Samantha, my loyal friends, hoping to cling to their presence for just a little longer.

But—

“We have Arithmancy,” Natty sighed dramatically, packing up her books. “Which, unfortunately, you refused to take, Jessa.”

Samantha smirked. “A true Ravenclaw, terrified of numbers. A tragedy.”

I glared. “I hate Arithmancy.”

Natty patted my shoulder in mock sympathy. “And yet, here you are. Alone. Vulnerable.”

I felt betrayed.

Poppy, who was usually my safe haven, looked regretful.

“I’d stay, but the Mooncalves need feeding, and I really can’t be late again.”

My eyes widened in horror.

They were leaving me.

All of them.

One by one, they cast me pitying, amused glances as they gathered their things.

And then—

Garreth.

He grinned as he swung his broom over his shoulder, still glowing from the gift I had given him.

“I have Quidditch practice, sweets. Your brother Valor is scarier than those two combined, and if I’m late, I’m dead.”

I opened my mouth to protest—but he cut me off, brushing a soft kiss against my temple.

“I love the gift, by the way.” His voice dropped warm and teasing. “I’ll steal you again next time.”

And just like that—

He was gone, too.

I was alone.

With them.

The Moment I Knew I Was Doomed

I turned slowly to the table beside me.

Sebastian was grinning.

Ominis was too composed.

Not a good sign.

At least—

Madam Scribner was still here.

I let out a quiet breath of relief.

That was—

Until I saw her stand.

Until I saw her walk toward Professor Weasley at the far side of the library.

No.

No, no, no, no—

I tensed.

Sebastian’s grin widened.

Ominis tilted his head slightly, listening.

I didn’t think.

I bolted for the door.

Or—

I tried.

I made it two steps.

Then—

My body jerked backward.

Not by hands. Not by force.

By a spell.

The tethering spell.

A delicate, invisible thread yanked me from my escape, dragging me through the air—silently, swiftly—

Until I landed straight into their trap.

The far side of the library.

Where no students ever dared to go.

Dark. Quiet. Private.

Sebastian caught me effortlessly, arms locking around my waist.

Ominis stood before me, waiting.

I felt their magic thrumming in the air, heavy and deliberate.

And then—

Sebastian whispered, low and victorious against my ear—

“Got you.”

Sebastian’s arms were still firmly around my waist, his grip unchanged since he caught me.

Ominis stood in front of me, arms crossed, completely composed—which, in his case, meant he was absolutely plotting my demise.

And I—

I was trapped between them.

Literally sandwiched.

The Interrogation Begins

“Okay—” I blurted, hands up in surrender. “In my defense, you started it!”

Sebastian arched a brow.

Ominis tilted his head.

“Oh?” Ominis hummed. “We started it?”

“Yes!” I insisted. “I love Ancient Runes! You two ruined it!”

Sebastian chuckled darkly. “You love Ancient Runes?”

His hand—still at my waist—tightened slightly.

Ominis’s fingers ghosted against my wrist.

“Fascinating,” Ominis murmured, tracing slow, torturous circles over my pulse point.

Sebastian leaned in, voice dangerously low.

“And yet, you seemed more interested in… other activities during Defense Against the Dark Arts.”

I stiffened.

Sebastian smirked.

Ominis’s grip at my wrist tightened.

Oh. Oh no.

They weren’t just mad.

They were frustrated.

And I—

I was stammering.

I swallowed thickly, desperately trying to regain control.

“Well—” I cleared my throat. “As much as I love our dragon’s nest and the Glen ‘dates,’ I really liked the mooncalf dance.”

Silence.

A deadly silence.

Sebastian stilled.

Ominis’s expression twitched.

And then—

Oh.

Oh, no.

The Breaking Point

Sebastian let out a slow, sharp exhale through his nose.

Ominis ran a hand down his face, as if trying to physically calm himself.

Then—

Sebastian huffed a laugh.

Not a lighthearted one.

A frustrated one.

“Oh, he took you to see a mooncalf dance?”

His voice dripped with mocking sweetness.

Ominis shook his head, muttering something about Gryffindors and their theatrics.

“Adorable,” Ominis deadpanned. “Absolutely charming.”

“Precious, even,” Sebastian added.

I gulped.

“You two are being ridiculous,” I said quickly.

Sebastian tilted his head.

Ominis leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.

“Are we, Jessa?”

Oh, Merlin help me.

Because they were far too close, and far too frustrated.

Sebastian’s thumb brushed my hipbone through my robes, slow and deliberate.

Ominis’s hand at my wrist trailed upward, barely grazing my skin—maddeningly light.

I swallowed hard.

Sebastian smirked at my reaction.

Ominis’s lips quirked upward.

“Stammering now, darling?” Ominis whispered.

Sebastian chuckled, voice taunting. “What’s the matter, Jessa?”

“N-Nothing,” I said way too quickly.

Ominis leaned in just enough for me to feel the warmth of his breath against my cheek.

“Are you sure?”

I squeaked.

They were going to kill me.

And I was definitely losing this round.

I swallowed thickly.

Merlin, help me.

This was worse than being trapped in the cupboard with Garreth last night.

That was one boy.

This was two Slytherins with a grudge and zero patience.

I didn’t know what was happening to me.

Whenever one of them got too close, I—

Whenever all three of them started circling like hungry wolves, I—

Fine! I blurted. “I’m sorry about Defense Against the Dark Arts!”

Sebastian arched a brow.

Ominis tilted his head, unimpressed.

I exhaled in relief.

That should be enough, right?

Wrong.

Because my idiotic, masochistic, self-sabotaging mouth didn’t stop.

“…But I’m not sorry about the fact that I saw the mooncalf dance with Garreth.”

Silence.

The kind that sent a shiver down my spine.

I blinked.

Oh.

Oh, no.

Sebastian’s jaw tightened.

Ominis’s grip on my wrist didn’t budge.

They stared at me.

Unmoving.

Unblinking.

Unbelievably deadly.

What had I done.

Sebastian’s Breaking Point

Sebastian let out a slow breath, rubbing the bridge of his nose like he was physically restraining himself.

And then—

He chuckled.

A very dangerous, very not-actually-amused chuckle.

“Oh?”

I swallowed hard.

Sebastian’s hand traced up my spine, featherlight, like he was toying with a decision.

“You’re not sorry?”

Ominis let out a long, slow sigh, as if I had just made the worst mistake of my life.

Which, to be clear—

I had.

Sebastian leaned in, lips brushing the shell of my ear, and whispered—

“You really shouldn’t have said that, love.”

Oh, Merlin save me.

The moment Sebastian and Ominis moved, I was gone—trapped between them, caged in silk and fire, drowning in their heat.

Their hands were everywhere.

Their lips—everywhere.

I couldn’t keep track of who was touching where, who was kissing what—

Only that I was being consumed.

Sebastian’s lips captured mine, hot, hungry, teeth grazing my lower lip like he wanted to mark, to ruin, to claim.

I moaned into his mouth—

And he growled, low and deep in his chest, like I had just lit him on fire.

Ominis’s fingers tilted my chin, his own lips trailing down my jaw, my throat, his voice low and dark against my pulse.

“You make us crazy, Jessa.”

His breath sent shivers cascading down my spine.

Sebastian bit my lip in retaliation.

“Mad.” A kiss to my jaw.

“Stupid.” A kiss to my throat.

Ominis’s fingers slid under the fabric of my robe, tracing slow, torturous patterns over my ribs.

Sebastian’s hands—rough, possessive— ghosted down my spine.

They were dizzying.

I was dizzying.

A storm between them.

And I was drowning in it.

I couldn’t think.

I couldn’t breathe.

Sebastian’s lips devoured my neck, sucking, biting, leaving a trail of heat that sent my head spinning.

Ominis’s hand slipped beneath my robe, fingertips barely grazing bare skin—light, teasing, maddeningly slow.

A curse slipped from my lips, breathy, sinful, something that made Sebastian groan against my skin.

“Fuck, Jessa.”

Ominis let out a sharp exhale, his grip on my waist tightening.

“You have no idea what you do to us.”

Sebastian dragged his teeth along my throat, his voice pure, wicked sin.

“And you have no idea how much we want to ruin you.”

I let out a choked gasp—

And that seemed to undo them both.

We didn’t hear the footsteps.

Didn’t sense the shifting magic in the library.

Didn’t realize—

Until a slow, deadly voice cut through the air like a blade.

“…What. The. Fuck. Is this?”

Oh.

Oh, no.

We froze.

Sebastian’s grip tensed.

Ominis went rigid.

And I—

I could feel my soul leave my body.

Because standing at the far end of the library, arms crossed, expression calm, but his eyes sharp like a dagger pressed against our throats—

Was Vix.

My brother.

Who was very much not amused.

Vix exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“I came here to find Sallow for Quidditch tryouts.” His voice was calm. Too calm. “And instead, I find you two all over my sister.”

Sebastian swallowed.

Ominis adjusted his grip on me like that would save us.

It wouldn’t.

Because Vix wasn’t yelling.

He was the special kind of mad that ended with people buried six feet under.

“Would one of you like to explain,” he continued, his voice dangerously smooth, “why my baby sister is pinned between two snakes in a fucking library?”

Ominis opened his mouth.

Then closed it.

Sebastian, to his credit, tried.

“Well—”

“No, actually, shut the fuck up.”

Sebastian shut the fuck up.

Vix tilted his head toward me.

“And you.”

I gulped.

“…Hi, Vix?”

Vix took a deep, controlled breath.

“You two,” he pointed at Ominis and Sebastian, “stay the fuck away from me for the next hour.”

Sebastian nodded, wisely silent.

Ominis, the brave idiot, tilted his head.

“…Only an hour?”

Vix shot him a look so deadly that Ominis finally realized he should shut up.

Then, he turned to me.

“You.”

I tensed.

“Valor will be hearing about this.”

Vix’s voice was calm. Too calm.

Which meant danger.

Immediate, inescapable danger.

“Vix—no.” I blurted. “We don’t have to involve Valor.”

Vix turned to me slowly.

Oh, that was a mistake.

I could see the moment he decided that yes, Valor was absolutely getting involved.

“Oh,” he hummed, “we do.”

Sebastian and Ominis both stiffened.

I could see Sebastian’s entire life flash before his eyes.

Ominis, ever composed, only exhaled through his nose—but I could feel the regret radiating off him.

They both knew Valor.

They both knew what was coming.

And neither of them were prepared for it.

Vix turned to Sebastian, sharp and decisive.

“Sallow. Go to tryouts. Now.”

Sebastian didn’t argue.

Not even a cocky remark, not even a smirk.

Just a solemn nod.

Ominis, however—was not so lucky.

“And bring Gaunt as a water boy or something.”

Ominis looked personally offended.

“A what?”

Vix didn’t even acknowledge the protest.

“I’ll deal with you later.”

Sebastian dragged Ominis by the sleeve before he could argue further, and just like that, they were gone.

And then—

Then, I was alone.

Alone.

With Vix.

Vix, who reminded me very much of our father right now.

Vix, whose stare was drilling a hole into my soul.

I swallowed.

And prayed to Merlin for mercy.

The silence in the library was deafening.

No yelling.

No dramatic outbursts.

Just Vix—standing in front of me, arms crossed, staring me down with the cold, measured disappointment of an older brother who has just discovered his younger sister committing a grievous crime.

And in his eyes?

I was guilty.

Very, very guilty.

“You are a noble lady.”

Oh.

Oh no.

The second those words left his mouth, I knew I was in for it.

Vix was not yelling, which was worse.

“We let you have your fun at the party,” he continued, voice like ice. “Because we were there.”

I swallowed.

“Because we could make sure you weren’t doing anything absolutely reckless.”

Vix exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose like I was already a lost cause.

And then—

Then, he looked me dead in the eye.

“And now.”

I could feel the impending doom crawl up my spine.

“Now, I find you in a secluded corner of the library, about to be—I don’t even know—devoured by two boys WHO HAVE ALREADY SENT A LETTER OF COURTSHIP.”

I gasped, offended, betrayed, humiliated all at once.

“Vix!”

“No.” He raised a hand. “Tell me, right now, why I should not write to Father.”

I froze.

Oh. Oh no.

Not Father.

Not Grandfather.

Not both.

“You wouldn’t.” I said, voice carefully measured.

“Oh, I would.”

I panicked.

I panicked fast.

“Vix, let’s be reasonable here—”

“Reasonable?” he cut me off, voice dangerously calm.

“Jessa, I had to witness Sallow and Gaunt practically pinning you against a bookshelf like two wolves closing in on their prey.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but—

“And you let them!”

I snapped my mouth shut.

Because, well.

He was right.

“You have officially entered a formal courtship,” Vix continued, voice scarily even.

“Do you know what that means?”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course I do.”

“Oh, really?” he challenged, arching a brow. “Then tell me, dear sister, do you think our dear Father will be pleased to know his only daughter—his fifth-year daughter—is already being pinned against various furniture by not one, but two suitors?”

I grimaced.

Vix smirked.

“That’s what I thought.”

I groaned, dragging my hands down my face.

“Fine.”

“Fine, what?”

I grumbled. “Fine, I will… control myself.”

Vix hummed. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

Then, just when I thought I was free, he delivered the final blow.

“Maybe I should just ask Grandfather to double-check.”

I choked.

“Absolutely not.”

Vix smiled.

Like a true menace.

The Sentence

Vix sighed, shaking his head.

“You’re lucky I have better things to do today.”

I exhaled in relief.

“But.”

Damn it.

“You are on probation.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Probation.” He gestured vaguely. “I will be watching you.”

I huffed. “You already watch me!”

“Well, now I’m watching you harder.”

“Don’t do anything that will make me regret not writing to Father.”

___