Dual affinities were never supposed to exist. Yet somehow, Lyra Ashbourne awakened two. Thrown into both the Magical and Combat Divisions of Valmere Academy, Lyra finds herself struggling to keep up with impossible schedules, ruthless training, and classmates who seem determined to prove they are stronger than everyone else. Most students spend years mastering a single path. Lyra barely understands either. But academy life becomes far more complicated when she catches the attention of Black Crest-the most feared group in Valmere. A legendary second-year faction known for producing monsters, Black Crest stands at the center of countless rumors and stories. Yet the closer Lyra gets to them, the more she realizes appearances can be deceiving. As she begins learning the mysterious art of Synchronization, strange dreams and forgotten memories start resurfacing. Across the kingdom, ancient legends once dismissed as myths are beginning to stir again. Unexplained powers are appearing. Long-buried secrets are resurfacing. And somewhere beneath it all, something connected to Lyra is awakening. Something that should have remained lost to history. Because the story of dragons was never truly over. And some flames refuse to die.

Althea Lestrange is the youngest daughter of the infamous and murderous Bellatrix Lestrange, whom she never had the chance to know due to her imprisonment in Azkaban. As a result, she's forced to live her entire life with her aunt Walburga though that doesn't take away from her time at Hogwarts, of course. A Slytherin, naturally, she spends her days balancing boring classes and pranks with her group of friends, earning herself the well-deserved nickname Troublemaker. But does that remind you of someone? Maybe a red-haired boy? Named George? Add in a little family secret and a power to hide, and there you have it!

18+ | 2026 WATTYS SHORTLISTER | First Draft | Not edited. |"You gonna sit there all night?" Luka glances at me, smirking. I glare back. "I was enjoying the last few seconds of peace before having to spend an evening pretending to like you." "That's funny," he says, unbuckling his seatbelt. "Why?" I snap. "Because I was thinking the same thing." | The rules? Easy enough. 1. Pretend to be the perfect couple. 2. Keep it professional. 3. And whatever you do, don't. catch. feelings. Simple, right? Sofia Calloway never planned on going viral for throwing a drink in Luka Mikhaylov's face. But one video, one pissed-off hockey star, and one furious university later... she's suddenly stuck in a fake relationship with the guy she can't stand. He needs to clean up his image before the NHL draft. She needs the free tuition that comes with the deal. All they have to do is smile for the cameras, hold hands at the games, and act like they don't want to strangle each other. Then come the late-night arguments that last too long. The stolen glances that feel too dangerous. The moment where "pretend" starts looking way too real. Because when you break the rules, someone's bound to lose. And this time, it might be both of them.