Jack had just gotten off the Quidditch field after practice, his uniform still dusty and his hair windswept. He was making his way with his team towards the changing tent when he spotted his cousin standing nearby, her arms crossed and a fierce look in her eyes.

"Cousin," she hissed, her voice low and menacing.

The other players chuckled, patting Jack on the shoulder as they passed, leaving him alone with Gwen.

Jack raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "What can I do for you, dear cousin?"

She stepped closer, her glare intensifying. "Do you have feelings for Jackie?"

Jack's heart skipped a beat.

Shit.

He tried to play it cool, his smirk widening. "I'm not quite sure what you're on about."

"Don't play dumb with me, Jack," Gwen snapped, her frustration palpable. "I know Toni has feelings for you, and she's been acting like a complete nightmare because of it. You need to fix this mess."

Jack couldn't help but chuckle, his eyes twinkling with amusement. Gwen was a full head shorter than him, and despite her fury, she looked undeniably adorable. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes sparkled with a mix of anger and determination. It was hard to take her seriously when she was this worked up.

"Gwen, you're adorable when you're angry, you know that?" he teased, ruffling her hair.

Her eyes flashed dangerously. "This isn't a joke, Jack. Toni is angry, and Jackie is upset. You need to sort out your feelings and talk to them both. Before they kill one another, just this morning they were at one another's throats."

Jack rolled his eyes, still smirking. "And what if I don't feel like it?"

Before he could react, Gwen whipped out her wand and pointed it at him. "Bat-Bogey Hex!"

Instantly, large, bat-like bogeys sprouted from Jack's nose and began flapping around his face. He yelped, stumbling backward as he tried to swat them away.

"Gwen!" he shouted, his voice muffled by the flying bogeys.

"Maybe now you'll take me seriously," she said, her expression a mix of satisfaction and annoyance. "You need to fix this, Jack. Talk to Jackie and Toni. Figure out what you want, and stop making things worse for everyone."

She turned on her heel and marched away, leaving Jack standing there, struggling with the hex. As he finally managed to dispel it, he couldn't help but laugh, despite the situation.

"Alright, alright," he muttered to himself, shaking his head. "Message received, cousin. Message received."

The courtyard of Hogwarts was alive with its usual hustle and bustle, yet a darker undertone seemed to pervade the conversations among certain groups of students. Jack sat with his friends Finn Mulciber, Hugo Nott, and Fletcher Lestrange on a stone bench, the topic of conversation centering around the recent attacks by the Death Eaters and the allure of dark magic.

Finn leaned forward, his voice low but intense. "The Dark Lord's influence is growing stronger. My father says we're on the brink of a new era. We need to be prepared, ready to take our place at his side."

Hugo nodded, his expression grave. "We've been training for this, delving into the old magics, the kind of power that can change the course of history. It's our legacy."

Fletcher, his eyes gleaming with fervor, added, "Imagine the power, the respect. We're destined for greatness, to carry on our families' names."

Jack listened quietly, his thoughts elsewhere. The mention of legacies and expectations struck a nerve. Not for himself though, for his younger cousin. For he never cared for such responsibilities as he enjoyed the freedoms and liberties that came with being the spare. The others, sensing his distraction, turned their attention to him.

Fletcher raised an eyebrow. "But doesn't it bother you? Since you were born first and the eldest?"

Jack shrugged. "I was born from a second son, that is the natural order of things."

Hugo leaned back, folding his arms across his chest. "Still, it's got to feel like a slap in the face."

Jack met Hugo's gaze, his eyes hard. "Are you afraid that my cousin will show you up, all of you?"

Fletcher snorted. "She is a woman. She is incapable of such things."

Before Jack could defend his cousin, a familiar laugh cut through the air. Gwen, accompanied by Jackie and Pandora, entered the courtyard. They had grown over the summer, their presence commanding attention.

Jack swallowed, feeling his palms sweat.

"Speaking of the angel herself," Hugo whistled lowly, his dark eyes raking over Gwen. "Has she grown more beautiful over the summer?"

"Long legs t—" Fletcher started, but Regulus Black appeared, grabbing him by the collar.

"Keep your perverted thoughts to yourself," Regulus snarled, with Severus Snape, Evan Rosier, and Antonin Dolohov flanking him.

"We all know about your love for the Donoghue witch," Hugo added, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Jack stood, his eyes narrowing. "Watch your tongue, Fletcher. Gwen is not someone you can speak about so freely."

Fletcher sneered, but the combined glares from Regulus and Jack silenced him. The tension was palpable, the air thick with unspoken challenges.

Regulus turned to Jack, his expression softening slightly. "She's not just your cousin, Jack. She's one of us. We protect our own."

Jack nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude. Despite their differences and the dark paths some of them were treading, there was still a sense of loyalty and friendship among them.

Gwen, unaware of the commotion, continued chatting with Jackie and Pandora, their laughter a stark contrast to the brooding atmosphere of the boys. They had all sat on a bench across the courtyard, oblivious to the attention they were receiving.

Finn broke the silence, his voice thoughtful. "You know, Jack, Gwen's strength could be an asset. If she ever decides to join us, she'd be formidable."

Jack nodded slowly, the idea taking root in his mind. Gwen was powerful, more so than she probably realized. If she could be convinced to align with them, she would be a force to be reckoned with.

For now, though, Jack pushed those thoughts aside. There would be time enough to consider the future. For now, he would protect Gwen, even if it meant standing against his friends. Just until she had proved her loyalty. Until then, they would continue to view her with hesitation.

Fletcher, emboldened by the brief silence, turned to Evan with a smirk. "Y'know, your own sister looks quite delectable. She might be a loon, but she is quite fit."

Evan scoffed, his eyes narrowing. "Pandora wouldn't come near you if you were the last person on earth, Fletcher. Keep dreaming."

Fletcher shrugged, unfazed. "A man can admire beauty, can't he?"

"What about the little half-blood?" Antonin asked, his gaze fixed on Jackie, who sat with her crystal knitting needles in hand. "She may not be pure, but it won't matter if she's just a plaything."

Jack felt his fists tighten, a surge of anger coursing through him. "Watch your mouth, Dolohov. Jackie is off-limits."

Antonin raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Protective, are we? What's it to you? She's not even a pureblood, she is just a little half blood."

"She's my friend, and she's more than what you're reducing her to," Jack retorted, his voice low and dangerous.

Finn, sensing the rising tension, interjected. "Enough. We're not here to argue about blood status or women. We have bigger concerns."

Hugo nodded, though his eyes flicked to Gwen. "Finn's right. Our focus should be on the future and what we're working towards. We need unity, not division."

Regulus, still holding Fletcher's collar, released him with a shove. "Remember, we protect our own. That includes Gwen and Pandora, they are purebloods. Disrespect them, and you disrespect all of us."

Fletcher muttered an apology, though his eyes flashed with resentment. Antonin merely shrugged, but Jack could see the calculation in his gaze.

Gwen, oblivious to the heated exchange, continued to laugh with Jackie and Pandora. Her presence was a beacon of light in the darkening courtyard, a reminder of what Jack was fighting for. He was trusting her plan that she had clued him on last year.

As the group began to disband, Jack caught Gwen's eye. She smiled at him, and he felt a pang of guilt for the secret burdens he carried. Protecting her meant navigating a treacherous path, one that could easily consume them both.

Regulus clapped Jack on the shoulder, breaking his reverie. "You've got your work cut out for you, mate. Keeping them safe and dealing with the likes of Fletcher and Dolohov isn't easy."

Jack nodded, his jaw set. "I know. But I won't let them harm her or anyone else. Not while I'm around."

Regulus gave a rare smile, a glint of approval in his eyes. "Good. We'll stand with you. Just remember, loyalty is earned, not given. Gwen will prove herself in time to them."

As they walked away, Jack glanced back at Gwen one last time. The courtyard seemed darker without her laughter, and he felt the weight of responsibility settle heavily on his shoulders. The road ahead was uncertain, fraught with danger and deception. But for Gwen, for Pandora, forJackie—he would face it all.

Jack knew that the bonds they forged now, amidst the shadows and whispers of Hogwarts, would define their future. He could only hope that when the time came, they would all stand united against the darkness that threatened to engulf them. Yet the dreams he suffered from haunted him, slowly consuming him now that he knew what those dreams really were.

A talk with Alphard had him on edge. His cousin's godfather, wise beyond his years, had seen the signs that Jack had missed or dismissed. Alphard had approached him one evening in the early summer, his expression serious.

"Jack, you need to understand something about these dreams you've been having," Alphard had said, his voice low and urgent. "They're not just dreams. They're visions."

"Visions?" Jack had scoffed, trying to mask his fear with bravado. "I'm no seer, Alphard. That's rare even among wizards."

"Rare, yes," Alphard had agreed, "but not impossible. The signs are there. You've described events before they've happened, seen things you couldn't possibly know. You have the gift, whether you want it or not. I should know as I too have the gift."

Since that conversation, Jack's nights had become a battleground. Every time he closed his eyes, he was plunged into a world of chaos and foreboding. He saw flashes of faces—friends, enemies, strangers—all caught in moments of terror or despair. He saw Gwen, Pandora, and Jackie in danger, their lives hanging by a thread. Each vision left him shaken, his mind reeling with the weight of what he had seen.

By day, he struggled to maintain a facade of normalcy. He laughed with his friends, participated in classes, and even found moments of solace in the Quidditch pitch. But the dreams were always there, lurking at the edges of his consciousness, ready to pounce the moment he let his guard down.

Jack had always been drawn to a certain type of witch—those with grace, elegance, and a quiet, demure presence. They were the ones who moved through the world with an effortless poise, the ones who rarely spoke unless spoken to, whose beauty was understated and refined. That was his type. Or so he had always believed.

But then there was Jackie.

She wasn't the type of witch who fit neatly into the mold of his past preferences. There was nothing particularly quiet or demure about her, yet she had a way of commanding attention without even trying. She had an energy about her, a vibrant spark that made it impossible not to notice her when she walked into a room.

And Jack noticed.

He noticed everything about her.

At first, he wasn't sure when it had started, this strange fascination with the girl who seemed to defy his expectations. Maybe it was the way her laugh echoed through the corridors, bright and uninhibited, or the way she wasn't afraid to speak her mind, even when her opinions weren't popular. She had a confidence about her that was both intimidating and magnetic, and Jack found himself drawn to it, drawn to her, in ways he hadn't anticipated.

It started with small things.

He'd catch himself looking for her in the Great Hall, scanning the tables for the familiar flash of her blonde hair. His eyes would follow her movements, watching the way she twirled her crystal knitting needles between her fingers as she spoke, always animated, always engaged. The needles were her signature, glinting in the sunlight as she used them to pin up her hair, a habit he found oddly endearing. Every day, he looked forward to seeing what color they would be, as if the simple act of choosing them said something about her mood, her thoughts.

Her hair was another thing.

He found himself thinking about it far more often than he should. It was long, golden, and seemed to shimmer even in the dimmest light. The way she wore it up, with those delicate needles keeping it in place, only made him want to reach out and let it down, to see it cascade around her shoulders like a waterfall of sunlight. He imagined how it would feel between his fingers, soft and silken, and the thought made his chest tighten in a way that was both thrilling and unsettling.

And then there were her eyes.

Those beautiful, bright blue eyes that seemed to light up whenever she smiled. They were expressive, always reflecting her emotions—whether it was the crinkle at the edges when she was genuinely happy, or the way they narrowed just slightly when she was deep in thought or irritated. Jack had never really paid much attention to anyone's eyes before, but with Jackie, he couldn't help himself. They were captivating, pulling him in like a riptide, and he found himself drowning in them more often than he cared to admit.

He admired her spirit, too.

Jackie wasn't afraid to be herself, to be bold and unrestrained in a world that often demanded conformity, especially from witches. She was unapologetically unique, with a passion for things others might find trivial—like knitting. But even that, something so simple and mundane, became fascinating when she did it. Watching her knit was like watching an artist at work, her fingers moving deftly, creating something beautiful out of nothing. It was in those quiet moments, when she was absorbed in her craft, that he felt an unexpected softness in his chest, a warmth that spread through him and made him smile.

There were times when he'd catch himself staring at her, lost in thought, wondering when exactly she had become the center of his world. When had he started caring so much about whether she smiled at him, whether she noticed him as more than just a friend? He hated to admit it, even to himself, but the truth was inescapable. He was falling for her, and it terrified him.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. Jackie wasn't supposed to be the witch who made his heart race, who occupied his thoughts day and night. She wasn't supposed to be the one he wanted to impress, the one whose approval he craved. Yet, here he was, hopelessly caught in her orbit, unable to pull himself free.

Jack tried to reason with himself, to dismiss the feelings as a passing fancy, something that would fade with time. But the more he tried to push her away, the more she occupied his thoughts, his dreams. The way she laughed, the way she spoke, the way she simply existed—it all drew him in, deeper and deeper, until he could no longer deny the truth.

Jack was in love with Jackie.

Not in the way he had loved anyone before, with calculated affection or measured interest. No, this was something different, something more intense and raw, something that scared him because of its unpredictability. She made him feel things he hadn't felt before, made him question everything he thought he knew about himself and what he wanted.

As much as he tried to hide it, to keep his feelings under control, he knew it was only a matter of time before they became too strong to ignore. Every time she smiled at him, every time their eyes met across a crowded room, he felt the walls he had built around his heart crumble just a little bit more. And for once, he wasn't sure he wanted to rebuild them.

Jackie was a beautiful witch, and she had bewitched him in ways he hadn't thought possible. All he could do now was hope that, somehow, she might feel the same way. And if she didn't, well, he would figure out how to move on, how to live with the knowledge that the one witch who had truly captured his heart might never be his. But for now, he would cherish the moments they had, the stolen glances, the quiet conversations, and the way she made him feel like maybe, just maybe, there was more to him than he had ever imagined.

Jack could feel the warmth in his chest as he watched Jackie's cheeks turn pink at his greeting. It was a reaction he had come to expect, and one that he couldn't help but find endearing. There was something about the way her blush spread across her fair skin that made him want to keep teasing her, to see just how much of a reaction he could elicit.

"Good morning, Jacqueline," he repeated, letting the name roll off his tongue with a teasing lilt. He knew she preferred to be called Jackie, but there was a certain satisfaction in watching her squirm, in seeing that little pout form on her lips.

She huffed softly, her blush deepening as she pouted at him. "You can call me Jackie, you know…"

Jack leaned back slightly, a smirk playing on his lips. "I prefer saying your full name. It suits you."

Jackie's pout deepened, and she glanced away, fiddling with the edge of her sleeve. He couldn't help but chuckle, enjoying the playful banter between them. It was moments like these that made him forget about the darker thoughts that often plagued his mind. When he was with Jackie, everything felt lighter, simpler. He could just be Jack, the boy who enjoyed teasing a girl he might be more than a little infatuated with.

His cousin, Gwen, sitting beside him, rolled her eyes at their exchange. She was used to their back-and-forth by now, though she often pretended to be annoyed by it. She glanced up from the letters she was reading and fixed him with a mock-serious glare. "Why are you here so early in the morning, Jack? Shouldn't you be with your little gang of admirers, plotting world domination or something?"

Jack feigned a hurt expression, placing a hand dramatically over his chest. "You wound me, cousin. Can't a man enjoy breakfast with his favorite people without being interrogated?"

Gwen snorted, shaking her head as she went back to her letters. "I doubt that. You're up to something."

Jack grinned, leaning forward slightly to steal a glance at what she was reading. "Maybe I just wanted to spend time with my dear cousin and her charming friend. Is that so hard to believe?"

Gwen didn't look up, but the corner of her mouth twitched. "Charming, huh? And here I thought you just liked to cause trouble."

Jack shrugged, not denying it. "A little trouble never hurt anyone."

Jackie, who had been watching their exchange with a small smile, finally spoke up. "It's nice to see you, Jack. But Gwen's right—you usually avoid breakfast this early."

Jack turned his attention back to Jackie, his smirk softening into something more genuine. "I suppose I couldn't resist the company today. Besides, it's not every day I get to see you blushing before you've even had your tea."

Jackie's eyes widened slightly, and she quickly looked down at her plate, her blush deepening even further. "I'm not blushing…" she mumbled, though the evidence was clear.

Jack chuckled again, finding her flustered reaction even more adorable. He could see Gwen watching them out of the corner of his eye, her expression somewhere between amusement and exasperation. She knew him too well, knew that he enjoyed toying with Jackie's emotions—though perhaps not in the way Gwen might think.

There was a part of him that wanted to tell Jackie the truth, to let her know that his teasing wasn't just for fun, that it came from a place of genuine affection. But another part of him, the part that was more cautious, held back. He wasn't sure how she would react, and he wasn't ready to risk their friendship just yet.

Especially from his visions, from his friends that wanted to follow Lucius Malfoy and the Dark Lord.

For now, he would keep things as they were—light, playful, and a little bit flirty. He would continue to call her Jacqueline, just to see that pretty blush on her cheeks, and he would cherish these small moments of connection, even if they never amounted to anything more.

"Hey, Jack!"

Jack turned at the sound of Toni's voice, spotting her as she hurried toward him. Her hair was tousled, as if she had just rolled out of bed, and her cheeks were flushed with that familiar shade of pink he had come to recognize. It was a look that made her seem more endearing, though he tried not to dwell on it too much.

"What's up, Toni?" he asked, casually leaning against the stone wall of the courtyard.

Toni hesitated for a moment, biting her lower lip as she approached him. She seemed nervous, her eyes darting away from his gaze before she forced herself to look up at him. "I was wondering if you wanted to help me study for my Charms exam," she said, her voice slightly higher-pitched than usual.

Jack raised an eyebrow, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He could see the subtle signs—her fidgeting hands, the way she avoided direct eye contact, the pink tint to her cheeks. His cousin Gwen had hinted at this, telling him that Toni might have developed a crush on him. And now, seeing her like this, it was hard to deny it.

For a moment, Jack considered his options. He'd always been close to Toni; they had grown to be close friends, and spent countless hours in each other's company. But now, there was a shift in the air between them, something new that he wasn't sure he wanted to encourage. He valued their friendship too much to bring it up.

Still, he didn't want to hurt her. Toni was sweet, and he cared about her. But if he wasn't careful, she might start getting the wrong idea. He would need to be more mindful, to keep things clear between them, even if it meant being a little more distant than usual.

"Charms, huh?" Jack finally said, keeping his tone light and casual. "I suppose I could help you out. What's been giving you trouble?"

Toni's eyes lit up at his response, and she smiled shyly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "It's the Switching Spells. I keep mixing up the incantations, and Professor Flitwick said I need to practice more before the exam."

Jack nodded, pretending to consider it seriously. "Switching Spells can be tricky. But don't worry, I'll help you get it down. We can meet in the library after dinner if that works for you."

"Really?" Toni's smile widened, relief washing over her features. "That would be great, Jack. Thank you."

"No problem," he replied, offering her a reassuring grin. "Just don't go thinking I'm some kind of Charms genius, though. I'm still trying to figure out half of those spells myself."

Toni giggled, her earlier nerves seeming to melt away. "I'm sure you're better at them than you're letting on."

Jack just shrugged, not wanting to drag the conversation on any longer. The last thing he wanted was for Toni to misinterpret his willingness to help as something more than simple friendship. He knew he had to tread carefully, to keep things from getting too complicated.

"Anyway," Jack said, pushing himself off the wall, "I've got to head to class. But I'll see you in the library later, alright?"

"Yeah, definitely," Toni nodded, her smile still in place. "Thanks again, Jack."

As he walked away, Jack couldn't help but glance back at Toni, who was watching him with that same shy expression. He let out a small sigh, running a hand through his hair. Gwen had been right—Toni did have a crush on him. And now that he knew for sure, he had to be careful.

The last thing he wanted was to hurt her or lead her on. She was a good friend, and he intended to keep it that way, even if it meant setting some boundaries. For now, though, he would focus on helping her with Charms and keeping their interactions as normal as possible.

Even if it meant ignoring the awkwardness that was beginning to creep into their friendship.