Katie.

Sneaking out was supposed to get harder as you got older.

Instead, it got easier.

It helped that Mum and Lou were barely speaking these days—war brewing in the kitchen like clockwork. It helped that Adrien's siblings were either off at school or had fled the nest, leaving the house quieter, emptier, and frankly, easier to rob blind.

It especially helped that Adrien and I had spent the last four summers perfecting the art of not getting caught.

Mostly.

"You think she's still awake?" I whispered, hovering by the doorframe like a particularly stylish gargoyle.

Adrien rolled her eyes, adjusting the satchel slung over her shoulder. "She's too busy plotting her inevitable divorce to notice we're breathing."

"Touché."

Still, we crept like we were robbing Gringotts. Halfway to the back door, the floorboard under my boot creaked like a dying banshee.

We froze.

Voices floated from the kitchen—sharp, tense, a pot clanging a little too hard.

Adrien's eyes widened. She grabbed my wrist and yanked me into the broom cupboard just as footsteps shuffled past.

I slammed the door and barely resisted the urge to wheeze-laugh into her jacket.

"We are the queens of stealth," Adrien whispered smugly, elbowing me in the ribs.

"Yeah, if stealth includes mild cardiac arrest," I muttered.

We waited until the footsteps faded, then eased into the night like a pair of seasoned criminals.

"Freedom," Adrien breathed, throwing her arms wide as we cleared the back gate.

"Temporary," I said grimly, hiking up my hood. "We still have to survive re-entry."

"Optimism, Sass."

We cut down side streets, weaving through alleys and overgrown lots until the battered old park loomed ahead—swings creaking lazily in the breeze like a haunted playground.

Naturally, we claimed it first.

Adrien launched herself onto the left swing, sending herself into a lazy arc.

I took the right, dragging my boots through the dirt. "Told you we'd beat them."

"They're probably still arguing over hair products," Adrien said smugly, swinging higher.

"Or practicing their brooding," I added, laughing.

Footsteps echoed from across the street.

Adrien shaded her eyes dramatically. "And here come the princesses of punctuality."

Four dark figures crossed under the flickering streetlamp—Draco and Blaise in front, Crabbe and Goyle lumbering behind like loyal, slightly confused bodyguards.

"Look who finally decided to grace us with their mediocrity," Adrien called.

Blaise raised a brow. "Look who couldn't even wait five minutes without claiming the whole playground."

"We're trendsetters," I said primly, spinning lazily in a circle.

Draco swaggered across the gravel, every inch of him pure arrogance and trouble.

He stopped just in front of me, gaze flicking over my face, lingering just a little too long at my mouth.

"You're early," he said, voice low and faintly amused.

"You're late," I countered, not blinking.

He leaned in slightly, enough to make my swing sway toward him. "Missed me that much?"

I coasted back lazily, smirking. "You're assuming we came for you."

He laughed, low and wrecked. "Liar."

Across the park, Adrien had already slipped off her swing and was circling Blaise, one hand toying with the Zabini family ring still glinting on her finger.

Blaise caught her wrist mid-air and tugged her closer. "You're trouble," he said lowly, eyes gleaming.

"Only on Tuesdays," Adrien shot back, smiling wickedly.

"Good thing it's Friday," he murmured.

She cocked a brow. "Is it?"

He chuckled, teeth bare.

"No really, what day is it?" Adiren chuckled genuinely as the two giggled into a heavy, hazy silence.

The tension between them crackled hot and sharp, and I had to force myself not to spontaneously combust under Draco's heavy gaze.

"So," Blaise said brightly, glancing between all of us. "How badly do you want to lose tonight?"

Adrien scoffed. "You don't even know what the competition is."

"Don't need to," Draco said lazily, hands shoved deep in his pockets. "You two cheat."

"We innovate," I said sweetly.

"You lie," Blaise countered.

"We improvise," Adrien chimed, bumping Blaise with her hip.

"You hex people mid-race," Draco accused.

"Allegedly," I shrugged innocently. "You two do it too."

Blaise chuckled low in his throat, tugging Adrien closer by her belt loop. "And you love us for it."

Adrien smirked, chin lifted. "You're just mad we're better at it."

"Better at what?" Draco asked, stepping into my space, close enough that his breath brushed my cheek.

"Everything," I said, looking up at him through my lashes.

His mouth curved into something darker, hotter. "Careful, Blackwood."

"Or what?" I whispered, daring him.

He leaned down until his lips brushed the shell of my ear. "Or I'll prove you wrong."

My pulse skidded and nearly faceplanted.

Behind us, Adrien and Blaise were already loudly arguing over some imaginary point system.

"First one to the jungle gym wins!" Adrien declared, grabbing Blaise's sleeve and sprinting off.

Blaise cursed and took off after her, laughing.

Crabbe and Goyle immediately bet ten Sickles on Adrien.

I watched them go, still a little breathless, then shot Draco a sideways look.

"You coming, Malfoy?" I asked sweetly.

He smirked like he knew exactly how this hunt would end. "Oh, I'm coming."

I grinned wickedly—and ran like hell.

We didn't even make it halfway through the "official" competition before it devolved into complete chaos.

Adrien hexed Blaise's shoelaces together mid-climb (he still insisted he "tripped on a molehill"), Crabbe faceplanted vaulting the seesaw, and Goyle somehow managed to get his head stuck in the swing chains.

Again.

"You know," I said, flopping back onto the grass, "we're basically criminal masterminds."

Draco dropped beside me with a groan. "You're basically delusional."

I kicked him lightly. "Jealousy's a bad look, Malfoy."

He smirked lazily, his hair glowing faintly in the lamplight. "I make every look work."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't hide the stupid smile.

The smog blurred the stars overhead, but you could still pick out a few stubborn constellations if you squinted.

"Terrible view," Draco muttered.

I shifted closer until our shoulders brushed. "You're not exactly a stunning vista either."

He huffed a laugh. "You're full of compliments tonight."

"Just getting warmed up."

He looked over at me, and for a second the whole world narrowed to the electricity crackling between us.

Then—

"Oi!" Adrien's voice rang out. "No shagging in public!"

"Speak for yourself!" Blaise called, sprawled dramatically across the merry-go-round.

I flipped them both off without looking away from Draco.

"You were saying?" he murmured with a faint grin.

"I was saying," I whispered back, leaning closer, "that you're impossible."

"And you're insufferable," he hissed. brushing his lips against mine.

The rest of the park blurred and burned away.

He kissed me like he meant to make me forget my own name.

Somewhere behind us, Crabbe tripped over Goyle and they both cursed.

Neither of us flinched.

Boots crunched on the gravel, causing us to finally—finally—pull apart.

"Move over, lovebirds," Adrien called, dropping down beside me without ceremony.

Blaise followed, dramatically flopping in between Draco and I, pretending to adjust himself while elbowing both of us in the ribs, earning a giggle from me and a glare from Draco.

"Personal space," Draco grumbled.

Blaise grinned. "Suffer."

Adrien elbowed him hard. "Big baby."

He caught her hand and laced their fingers together, the Zabini family ring gleaming against her knuckles. There was a moment of pause between them while I flinched at Blasie pole vaulting himself over me to squeeze between Adrien and I.

"Jesus Christ." I chuckled as I caught Draco's slightly amused half-smirk as he shook his head, returning his gaze to the stars.

We laid there for a moment, staring up at the hazy stars.

"You ever think about it?" Adrien asked suddenly, too casual.

"Think about what?" I asked, glancing sideways.

"Last year," she said, shrugging. "How close everything got to... breaking."

A shiver tried to climb my spine, but I shoved it down.

Draco spoke first, voice dry as dust. "Every bloody day."

Blaise sighed. "Anselme wasn't supposed to get that close. Hogwarts wasn't supposed to..." He trailed off.

Adrien stared up at the stars, her face unreadable. "Wasn't supposed to turn into a war zone."

Silence pressed around us.

Blaise shifted, propping himself on one elbow. "You know, my mother sent another letter after the first."

Adrien frowned. "Another?"

He smirked humorlessly. "Apparently I'm still salvageable. If I—" he cleared his throat and rolled his shoulders as if he was going a dramatic reading, "publicly disown my 'affections' and demonstrate 'proper penance.'"

"Penance?" I echoed, arching my eyebrow.

Blaise winked. "Nothing serious. Just public character assassination and groveling before the Wizengamot. Just not the Zabini way to be the heroic, I guess."

Adrien snorted and kissed the knuckle bearing his ring. "Let's see them try."

Blaise smiled slowly. "They've never had to deal with a Blackwood before."

Adrien grinned wickedly.

I leaned into Draco, staring up at the blurry stars.

"Think your parents will freak too?" I asked lightly.

He didn't answer right away.

Then: "They already are."

I pulled back slightly to study his face, tension carved deep into it.

"They're... considering inviting you over," he said stiffly. "Officially."

"Officially," I repeated. "As in, parlor tea and death threats?"

He cracked half a smile. "You make it sound so inviting."

"You had your chance," I teased. "At the World Cup. Could've introduced me."

He huffed a rough laugh. "Father would've fainted."

"And sued for emotional damages," I added.

He laughed again—real, wrecked—and pulled at the sleeve of my jacket playfully.

"Political optics," he muttered. "Politically inclined assholes."

"Welcome to the club," Adrien cackled from beside us.

"Do we get matching jackets?" I asked.

"Only if they're cursed," Blaise said deadpan.

We laughed—quiet and easy.

Forgetting for a little while that the world was already starting to close in.

Forgetting that time was running out.

But for tonight?

Tonight was ours.

The park faded behind us, the swings still creaking softly in the breeze, the last stars barely clinging to the edge of the sky. We walked in pairs down the cracked sidewalk, gravel crunching underfoot, the town still half-asleep around us.

Adrien and Blaise led the way, hands tangled together, bickering quietly about who would've actually won if someone hadn't cheated. (It was definitely Adrien.)

Draco and I followed a few steps behind, our arms brushing with every lazy swing, stealing glances at each other like we couldn't help it. All while Crabbe and Goyle hung back, as if they were unpaid bodyguards—which they probably were.

The horizon was just starting to turn that hazy pre-dawn grey when we reached the end of our street.

"Alright," I said, clapping my hands dramatically. "This is where we part ways, gentlemen."

Adrien grinned wickedly. "We've got a slumber party to set up for."

Draco arched an eyebrow. "Slumber party?"

"Yeah," I said with mock-seriousness. "Sage, Maddie, Zoe... you know. Important girl stuff."

Blaise's face twisted into a scowl at the sound of Zoe's name.

"What kind of girl stuff?" he demanded, narrowing his eyes.

Adrien tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Pillow fights. Giggling. Definitely no discussions about boys."

"And definitely not sharing scandalous details," I added, smirking.

"I don't know, with Sage and Maddie involved..." Draco trailed off, earning a smile from me as flashes of the year before came to mind.

Blaise looked one second away from throwing both of us over his shoulder and marching us straight to his Manor.

"Relax, Zabini," Adrien purred, reaching up to tug playfully at the collar of his jacket. "We're just trading state secrets and planning world domination."

He didn't look even remotely reassured. If anything, he looked more murderous—and so stupidly in love it hurt to look at. "I'm gonna need you to promise not to hex anyone without me," Blaise said seriously.

"No promises," Adrien chirped, standing on tiptoes to press a kiss against his jaw.

Blaise let out a low sound and pulled her in tighter, muttering something against her hair that made her laugh quietly.

I turned back toward Draco, who was watching me with that familiar look—like he was memorizing me.

"You're thinking too hard," I teased, stepping closer.

His hands slid into the back pockets of my jeans, tugging me flush against him. "Can't help it."

We stood there for a moment, the air between us humming, the world narrowing to the space where we touched.

"You're not gonna start brooding too, are you?" I asked lightly, pretending my heart wasn't trying to climb out of my chest.

"Too late," he murmured, brushing his nose against mine. "Already thinking about how much I hate letting you go."

I closed my eyes for a second, letting the weight of that settle.

It shouldn't have felt this heavy.

It was just another night. Just another goodbye.

Right?

"Just think," I said, voice too bright, "you'll have at least forty eight hours of not being mocked mercilessly."

He laughed under his breath, the sound wrecked and warm against my skin.

"Sounds like hell," he said.

I kissed him—fast, fierce, fingers curling in the front of his shirt—and he kissed me back like he was anchoring himself to the ground.

Behind us, Adrien and Blaise were saying their own goodbye in low voices, the kind you didn't eavesdrop on unless you wanted to be cursed.

Finally, Blaise straightened up, flashing a sharp smile. "If you're not at the Platform by then, Blackwood, we're sending a search party."

"You'd just show up to sabotage it," I called back.

Adrien linked her arm through mine as we backed toward the side gate of our house.

"Go on," she teased. "Miss us already."

Draco's fingers caught mine one last time, squeezing hard like he didn't want to let go.

"Always," he said quietly.

The world tilted for a second—too much, too fast—but I smiled anyway.

"Try not to die of boredom without us," I said, forcing the words out like they didn't hurt.

Blaise and Draco stood there, watching as we slipped into the backyard shadows.

Watching until they couldn't see us anymore.

And we watched them too—until the sun cracked the sky open and swallowed the night whole.