Mia's desire to celebrate her birthday a week before school started had taken her family by surprise, especially considering the recent events in Mykonos. They had assumed she might want to skip the party, but Mia had a different plan. With careful consideration, the trio had set certain rules to ensure her safety and peace of mind. No one outside of the family could touch, kiss, or hug Mia unless they were Jace or Theo. These protective measures were non-negotiable. Furthermore, Mia's parents, along with Theo and Jace, had personally checked and approved the guest list to avoid any unexpected surprises.

The theme of the party was "Night at the Casino," and the transformation of the Borghese mansion left guests in awe. A red carpet led to the front door, where a doorman in an elegant tuxedo greeted and welcomed each guest with a courteous inside, attendees were immediately captivated by the ambiance. Dim lighting created a mysterious and exciting atmosphere. Las Vegas-style twinkling lights adorned the lobby, while a grand crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, adding a touch of opulence to the surroundings.

In the living room, rows of blackjack, roulette, and poker gaming tables lined the length of the space. Professional croupiers, impeccably dressed in crisp tuxedos, encouraged guests to join in the fun. Mia even had her own VIP poker table, where she would later sit with her closest friends and jazz music filled the air, played by a talented band in a corner of the room. Guests moved gracefully through the space, sipping custom cocktails crafted by professional bartenders. At the buffet tables, a tantalizing array of appetizers and gourmet snacks awaited the attendees.

Costumes were an essential part of the evening, and all the guests had dressed in elegant suits and dazzling dresses. Mia herself was a vision in a long champagne sequin dress that shimmered with every step she took. Jace and Theo had opted for classic black tailcoats paired with matching pants, crisp white shirts with windproof collars, and completed their looks with white bow ties and vests.

The Potters and the rest of the family arrived at the spectacular party, their eyes wide with amazement as they took in the grandeur of the event. From the gaming tables to the lavish buffet, the entire setup was nothing short of , Narcissa, and Regulus wasted no time and headed straight for the gaming tables, their curiosity piqued. Sirius, on the other hand, made a beeline for the buffet, his appetite clearly driving him. Meanwhile, Harry and Draco ventured off in an unknown direction, their interests leading them elsewhere, and James and Lily, hand in hand, made their way to the dance floor, eager to enjoy the music.

As James twirled Lily in his arms on the dance floor, he couldn't help but notice something amiss. He furrowed his brow in concern, and Lily, noticing his change in demeanor, gently touched his face and asked, "What's wrong?"

James leaned in slightly, whispering to Lily, "There's more surveillance than usual. Apart from the regular bodyguards, there are American and Italian Aurors here, blending in among the guests."

Meanwhile, Theo and Jace kept a watchful eye on Mia as they gracefully walked her around the room to greet the guests. Deep down, Mia felt immense gratitude for having Jace and Theo by her side. Their presence provided her with a sense of comfort and security that she cherished. She wasn't sure how she would react if anyone other than Jace, Theo, or her family attempted to touch, hug, or kiss her.

Jace, with Mia on his arm, leaned in. "Are you enjoying your birthday party?"

Mia managed a grateful smile and replied, "I'm having a great time."

Suddenly, a voice echoed across the room, calling out "MIA!" In a matter of seconds, two strong arms enveloped her. Mia tensed immediately, her heart racing, and her surroundings felt suffocating. Distant voices called her name, but she remained unresponsive, trapped in her own panic. It felt as if the world was closing in on her, and she couldn't breathe. It was like a haunting echo of her Mykonos nightmare.

Jace barely had time to react as he witnessed Harry's sudden lunge towards Mia. He swiftly turned to Mia, sensing her grip on his arm tightening. Her face was drained of color, her eyes wide with fear, and her breathing was erratic. Mia was having a panic attack.

"Let go of your sister, Harry." Jace demanded with a stern tone

Harry, seemingly oblivious to the distress he was causing, insisted "I just wanted to wish her a happy birthday."

"You've already done that," Jace's frown deepened as he repeated, "Now let go of her."

Harry, his temper flaring, retorted. "You can't tell me what to do, she's my sister."

Just as tensions escalated, Theo materialized seemingly out of thin air, placing himself squarely between Harry and the trio of Mia, Jace, and himself, acting as a protective barrier.

Theo's voice dripped with anger as he addressed Harry, "Jace isn't asking you, he's telling you."

Harry, equally infuriated, shot back, "I haven't seen my sister all summer, I have every right to give her a hug."

"What's going on here?" Regulus's authoritative voice cut through the confrontation.

"I swear to God Regulus, if you don't tell Harry to go I'll kick him out myself." Theo's voice was cold.

Concern etched across his features, Regulus peered past Theo and observed the scene unfolding. He recognized the signs immediately; his goddaughter was experiencing a panic attack.

"Harry please, leave your sister with her friends." Regulus commanded with a no-nonsense tone.

Harry, arms crossed and clearly frustrated, "No"

James and Lily became increasingly concerned as they noticed people sneaking glances towards a corner of the room. Their anxiety heightened as they spotted their son Harry engaged in a heated argument with an infuriated Theo, who stood protectively in front of Jace, who was trying to soothe their daughter.

Approaching the commotion, James demanded, "What's going on here?"

Harry, upon seeing his father, explained defensively, "I just wanted to give my sister a hug, and she froze."

Lily's heart sank as she watched her daughter. Mia trembled, her gaze distant, while Jace's comforting touch failed to alleviate her distress. If Harry's account was accurate, Lily had a sinking suspicion of what had transpired—her eldest daughter had been sexually assaulted and Harry was triggering Mia.

With tear-filled eyes, Lily turned to Theo, her voice trembling as she inquired, "Who hurt her?"

Theo's response was not an answer to her question; instead, he insisted "Take Harry away from here or I'm kicking all of you out. I don't care if you're Mia's other family."

Jace placed a reassuring hand on Theo's shoulder and spoke calmly, "I'm going to take Mia outside for some fresh air." Theo nodded in agreement, and together with Mia, they left the room without saying goodbye to anyone.

James, who had been observing the situation, noticed Enzo watching him with a serious expression. He subtly gestured to Enzo, indicating that he wanted to speak privately. Enzo murmured something to Isabelle, who nodded in understanding. James, noticing Enzo's serious expression, signaled to him that he wanted to talk privately. Enzo leaned over to whisper something to Isabelle, who nodded in understanding.

Once inside Enzo's office, James demanded answers, "What the fuck happened out there?"

Enzo, his brows furrowed, warned "Lower your voice or you'll be kindly asked to abandon my house"

Lily, looking at Isabelle, asked the question that weighed heavily on her heart. "Who dared to touch Mia?"

James immediately snapped his head towards his wife "Lily, surely you're not implying our daughter got sexually assaulted." The mere thought left him visibly distressed.

"Mia has all the signs," Lily exclaimed worriedly, looking at James.

James's expression darkened as he turned his angry gaze toward Enzo. "Is this true?" he asked tersely. "My daughter was assaulted, and I wasn't informed?"

Enzo, equally enraged, leaned forward, his voice dripping with anger. "That's not what happened," he retorted sharply.

James crossed his arms, his frustration evident. "Then you better explain, Lorenzo, or I'll find a way to arrest you."

Enzo let out a mocking laugh. "Go ahead and try it. Try and see what Mia thinks of you lot after that. Causing an international conflict will be the least of your problems"

A clearly frustrated Isabelle interjected, her voice trembling with concern. "Mia, Jace, and Theo went to Mykonos to party several weeks ago. Some guy was too clever for his own good and spiked Mia's drink. Jace and Theo managed to rescue her."

Lily exclaimed in horror, her hand covering her mouth, and James's eyes bore into Enzo. "Why wasn't I informed of this?" he demanded.

Enzo slammed his fist onto the desk, his frustration evident. "Because my daughter didn't want anyone to find out!"

James shouted in response, his voice echoing through the room, "Mia is my daughter too, and I have a right to know!"

Enzo, undeterred, yelled back, "You're an Auror too, James!"

James raised an eyebrow, his patience waning. "What does that have to do with anything?"

Enzo's tone was resolute as he explained, "It has everything to do with it. Mia doesn't want to be questioned about what happened in Mykonos."

James, trying to remain composed, stated firmly, "I have a right to know."

Enzo crossed his arms defiantly. "As you should know, neither Jace nor Theo nor Mia trust the Aurors, and you're their boss."

James frowned but chose to hold back his words, allowing Enzo to continue.

"So," Enzo continued, "correct me if I'm wrong but the procedure to follow is to ask Mia questions, make her testify, and have her identify her attacker..."

James interrupted, agreeing with a nod, "Yes, that's the procedure."

Enzo leaned forward, emphasizing his point. "Well, that's why we haven't said anything. Besides, there's no aggressor to identify."

Lily, still bewildered, asked Enzo, "What do you mean by saying there was no aggressor to identify?"

Enzo shrugged indifferently. "We took care of it. In fact, Theo and Jace handled the situation."

James's frown deepened, and he demanded, "Explain."

Enzo leaned back in his chair, his tone mocking. "Well, let's just say Hogwarts is going to have one less student this year."

James, his face growing serious, asked them directly, "You let Jace and Theo kill someone?"

Enzo appeared genuinely confused. "Who said anything about killing?" he asked with a smirk, eyeing James's reaction.

James, gesturing emphatically, replied, "You implied it."

Enzo burst into laughter, shaking his head as he looked at James's stern expression. Isabelle, feeling the need to clarify, looked at James and said, "What my husband meant, in a rather dark sense, is that Jace and Theo erased the boy's memory and broke his wand."

Lily, still struggling to process this information, chimed in, "But that's impossible. Theo, Jace, and Mia are only fifteen years old, and the Obliviate spell is quite advanced."

Isabelle smiled wryly. "At Durmstrang, they teach Obliviate in the third grade. Mia's going into her fourth year, so Theo and Jace do know how to perform it."

James, clearly concerned, stated, "What they did was illegal."

Enzo, leaning forward with a grin, countered, "It's not illegal if no one snitches. I'm not snitch, Izzy is not a snitch. Are you?"

James shook his head firmly. "No," he reiterated, his concern for his daughter still weighing heavily on his mind.

Isabelle, relieved that the tension seemed to be dissipating, smiled warmly and said, "Now that that's solved, we can go back to the party."

One by one, they exited the office, making their way to the dancefloor. There, they were met with a heartwarming sight: Jace and Theo at the piano on the stage, and Mia in the middle of the dance floor looking at them. Jace took hold of the microphone and gently tapped it to get everyone's attention. The room gradually fell silent, all eyes turning toward him. He looked at Mia with affection and began to speak, his voice filled with adoration, "Mia, princess, you don't know how proud I am of you. You are the strongest and smartest person I have ever met."

Theo nodded in agreement, his eyes never leaving Mia.

Jace continued, his gaze fixed on Mia, "You are my sunshine when skies are gray, you know how I feel without talking, and being with you makes my days more fun. I love knowing that with you, I can be myself, without worrying about what you'll think of me or that you'll ever leave me, like how people judge others. I want you to know that you will always have me by your side. I'll catch you whenever you fall, I'll be your shoulder to cry on, I'll always defend you, and I'll never doubt you. I love you so much, princess. Happy birthday."

The moment was magical as Jace took a step back and gracefully bowed, holding the microphone. He looked deep into Mia's eyes and asked, "Can I have this dance?"

Mia's face lit up with a radiant smile as she nodded, accepting Jace's invitation. She let him lead her to the center of the dance floor, their movements fluid and Jace signaled to Theo to start playing, he began to sing, his voice smooth and filled with emotion, "Take my hand, take a breath, pull me close and take one step." With each word, he guided Mia through the dance, their steps perfectly in tune with the music.

Jace's confidence and grace were infectious, and soon, Mia's laughter filled the air as he twirled her around, their joy evident to everyone watching. "Take my hand, I'll take the lead," Jace continued to sing, his voice a soothing melody. "And every turn will be safe with me. Don't be afraid, afraid to fall, you know I'll catch you through it all."

"Oh, no mountains too high enough, oceans too wide.'Cause together or not, our dance won't stop." Mia, her heart overflowing with happiness, joined in, their voices blending beautifully, "Let it rain, let it pour. What we have is worth fighting for. You know I believe, that we were meant to be."

As Jace finished singing, tears welled up in Mia's eyes. Overwhelmed with emotion, she wrapped her arms tightly around streamed down her face as she whispered, "Thank you," her voice trembling with gratitude.

Taking the microphone from Jace, Theo stepped forward and addressed the gathered guests with a sly smile, his tone playful yet heartfelt. "Thank you, Romeo and Juliet, for impaling us all with your dancing. You remind the rest of us how lonely we are," he quipped, eliciting a chorus of laughter and cheers.

Jace, never one to miss an opportunity for a friendly exchange, couldn't help himself. He playfully pulled out his middle finger, aiming it at Theo, while Mia blew him an exaggerated kiss in return.

"Now it's my turn to speak," Theo declared, his gaze shifting to Mia. He began with a warm, genuine tone, directed solely at the birthday girl. "Mia, star of my heart, you know how much I care about you and how far I'm willing to go as long as you are safe," he began, his words carrying a depth of emotion. "As Jace said, with you, I can be myself. If you tell me to jump, I'll ask you how high. You're my best friend, you're a part of me. I can't conceive of my life without you, and I don't want to."

Theo's voice trembled slightly as he continued, "You'll always have me, through thick and thin, and when things get ugly as fuck. Your smile and your happiness make it all worth it. For me, and for Jace, you will always be our first choice, above everything and above everyone. I love you very much, Star. Happy birthday."

As Theo concluded his heartfelt speech, he couldn't contain his excitement any longer. He ran to the center of the dance floor and kicked off his shoes with a flourish, signaling his intent to dance. Pulling Mia and Jace close to him, he enthusiastically instructed, "Take off your shoes and dance with me!"

Mia and Jace, filled with laughter and mirth, followed his lead without hesitation. Theo took each of his friends by the hand, forming a joyous circle. Jace and Theo extended their hands to create a bridge, and Mia playfully walked underneath it, her laughter ringing out.

Mia, caught up in the moment, extended her hands upward and twirled around, her laughter contagious. Slowly but surely, the rest of the guests caught on to the trio's infectious enthusiasm, removing their own shoes and joining the impromptu dance alternated between dancing with Jace and Theo, her heart brimming with happiness. Their laughter filled the room, creating a joyful symphony of celebration and unity.

As if time had indeed stopped, Mia locked eyes with Theo, he mouthed, "I love you," and Mia's eyes glistened with emotion as she mouthed the words back to him. Suddenly, a cannon shot rang out, and golden confetti began to rain down upon them, sparkling in the dimmed lights. Mia turned her gaze toward Jace, only to find that he was already looking at her, his eyes brimming with affection."I love you," Jace mouthed with a heartfelt smile. Unable to contain her overflowing emotions, Mia wrapped her arms tightly around both Jace and Theo, hugging them fiercely as they all laughed together, sharing in the profound joy of the moment.