October 31st, 2025. The last Friday of the month, and the last Halloween any of them would spend within these stone walls.
The common room of the Slytherin dungeons was alive with the low hum of conversation, the crackle of the fire, and the occasional ping of a phone notification. The green-tinted windows showed only the dark depths of the Black Lake, where the occasional giant squid drifted past like a shadow.
Mattheo Riddle
sprawled across the emerald velvet sofa, head hanging off one arm, phone held above his face I swear to Merlin, if one more person sends me a 'Happy Halloween' text with a pumpkin emoji, I'm hexing them into next week.
Theodore Nott
glancing up from his book, brow raised You have more than two friends, Riddle? Surprising.
Mattheo Riddle
lobs a cushion at him without looking Shut up, Nott.
Regulus Black
leaning against the arm of of the sofa, scrolling lazily through his phone, a quiet smirk tugging at his lips The Hufflepuffs are having a costume party in their common room. Apparently someone's going as a giant pumpkin.
Blaise Zabini
from the armchair by the fire, one ankle crossed over the other And we care... why?
Regulus Black
shrugs Because it's something to do. And I heard the seventh-year Ravenclaws are doing a haunted maze in the astronomy tower.
Lorenzo Berkshire
sprawled on the floor, head resting against the leg of the sofa, looking up at the ceiling Or we could just stay here. Like we do every year. Like we'll do forever.
A beat of silence. Then Draco Malfoy, perched on the windowsill with his back against the cold glass, let out a quiet hum.
Draco Malfoy
eyes flicking to the staircase leading to the girls' dorms She's taking forever.
Mattheo Riddle
grins, finally setting his phone down She always does. You'd think after seventeen years she'd learn to be on time.
Theodore Nott
deadpan You'd think after seventeen years you'd learn to stop complaining about it.
Lorenzo Berkshire
tilts his head back to look at the others She said she'd be down by eight.
Blaise Zabini
glances at his phone It's 8:04.
Regulus Black
smiles softly, almost barely there She'll be here. She's always worth the wait.
The fire crackled. The boys settled back into their positions, a comfortable silence wrapping around them like a familiar blanket. The kind of silence that only came from years of knowing someone inside and out. From growing up together. From belonging to each other.
And then, footsteps on the stairs.