Hogwarts, 1943. A transfer student with ancient magic. A boy who was destined to inherit Slytherin's throne. When their paths cross, the foundations of wizarding Britain begin to crack, revealing a buried history powerful enough to reshape everything that came before. Two ancient players. One ancient game. Together they are the beginning of the end of the ancient lie. _ Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter universe, characters, or settings. All rights belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. I only own Astraea Ambrose, her story, and all original characters and lore not found in canon.

Penn Romero is a smart girl. Smart girls don't get involved with their professors. ***** It begins with a casual meeting at a speakeasy. It begins with a drink. It begins with a stolen stare. It begins with the not-knowing, the secrecy, the sneaking around. Penn Romero hardly knew what she was getting into when she was drawn in by Chase Steele's magnetism, and she hardly knew he'd be her new Film Theory professor. Against everything she's ever known, against everything she should do, she stills falls into a dark spiral of manipulation that keeps her trapped in a spider web, losing sight of who the real Penn is--all that's left is what he has made of her and all he's taken. It ends with him taking and taking. It ends with the should've-knowns. It ends in ruin. ***** THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE. DON'T ADD THIS TO ROMANCE READING LISTS, PLEASE. [[THE AMBYS 2024 TOP PICK IN CONTEMPORARY]] © 2021 caterina george // all rights reserved