Purée

Excitement

**Vanessa's Perspective: Games of the Heart**

"Regulus and Caitlin Black don't come here?" I asked, my voice laced with confusion as I locked eyes with Albus Dumbledore. The dim light of his office seemed to cast long shadows, making his expression difficult to read.

"They were invited around the same time as your brother," he replied calmly, his hands folded on his desk. "But they never showed up. Their attendance was expected, but it simply never materialized."

"Aww, my bestie's all alone now," I pouted, the sarcasm dripping from my voice. "Guess I'll have to send him a letter."

Joshua's scoff cut through my feigned concern like a knife. "As if you care. You're more interested in your friends with benefits," he snapped, eyes narrowing at me. "And don't forget you hated Caitlin so much you once wanted to kill her for taking your bloody brush when we lived with them."

"Hey!" I retorted, my voice rising defensively. "That was an extremely expensive brush, and she sold it for drugs! But that's not the point. I still hate her for being around when I don't want her to be. I bet she has a crush on me. That's probably the real reason she's always in my way."

"Or you're just insane in the fucking head," Tom's voice broke through, laced with amusement. I turned my gaze to him, noticing his brother laughing his head off beside him.

"You dated me, so shut it," I shot back, my tone sharp. "Besides, I'm busy sending a letter to dear old Regulus." I grinned, feeling a mischievous spark ignite inside me.

"The fuck did you just call me?" Regulus's voice echoed from behind me, and I whipped around to see him standing there, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Regi!" I screamed, throwing myself at him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist, holding him tight as if I'd never let go.

"You done abusing me?" he asked dryly, though I could hear the hint of affection in his voice.

I planted a quick kiss on his cheek, then another on his lips, feeling a thrill rush through me. "Now I am," I whispered, pulling back just enough to meet his eyes.

"The fuck have you dated?" Joshua asked incredulously, looking between us as if trying to piece together some puzzle that didn't make sense.

Mattheo burst out laughing, and Tom rolled his eyes. "Your sister," Tom said flatly, "who I now don't believe I actually dated."

"You two aren't dating anymore? What happened?" Regulus asked, genuinely curious as he raised an eyebrow.

Before I could respond, Caitlin's annoying singsong voice cut through the air. "Shhh, she's heeere," she hummed as she sauntered into the room, locking eyes with me. The disdain was mutual, and I couldn't resist smiling as I waved at her mockingly.

"Of course you're here," she rolled her eyes, her tone dripping with venom. "You don't even know the start of it. But now that we don't live in the same rooms together, don't even think about touching—or more like, getting your grimy hands on—anything of mine, or I will kill you."

"Oh, how sweet of you," I retorted, circling her like a predator. "Just reminding you, you said that about your brush, and yet here I am, still breathing."

"For now," I hissed, stopping in front of her. "But you never were good at following rules, were you?"

"Says you, bitch!" she shot back, her voice rising in challenge.

That was it. I slammed her against the wall, my hand closing around her throat. "The fuck did you just call me?" I snarled, my face inches from hers, daring her to try me.