Greenish light from the lake pressed against the windows, turning the room into something submerged and unreal. Someone had charmed the gramophone to play far louder than was strictly advisable, and the bass thrummed through the leather sofas like a second heartbeat.

Bottles of firewhisky and pilfered elf-made wine covered every available surface. A group of fourth-years had started an ill-advised game involving Exploding Snap and a progressively larger pile of contraband sweets.

Draco Malfoy stood close enough that his cologne had become a familiar part of the air, one hand resting with comfortable possession on y/n's waist.

Pansy laughed too loudly at something Mattheo said, her dark hair sliding over one shoulder as she leaned into his space. Blaise watched the room from the corner of a leather sofa, glass held with the lazy elegance of someone who had already counted the exits.

Lorenzo was on his fourth drink. Possibly his fifth. He'd stopped keeping track somewhere around the time Theodore had started a debate about the ethical implications of using Confundus Charms on referees.

The night had the particular warmth of a group that knew each other too well, secrets folded neatly beneath the surface like cards in a rigged deck.