"Stop the romance," Snape's voice came from the side, and he himself stepped out of the dark doorway while nonverbally "wilting" the rose in my hands. "Stop the confessions, kisses, and other rule violations. First and final warning. Get back to your common rooms. Lights out was an hour ago."

The professor's tone was terribly angry, and he didn't hide it. Someone must have messed up pretty badly, and it wasn't hard to guess exactly how given all the romance of the ball and those drops of alcohol from Weasley. After glancing over at Hermione, we both came to the same conclusions and decided not to argue with Snape, especially since the rightness is on his side. ​​

"Okay, Professor."

We obediently stepped toward the door, and Snape let us pass and followed step for step.

"But the moment was important," I sighed.

"I dare to remind you," the professor spoke more calmly already as we made our way down the stairs. "That you are perhaps the best students in my memory. If all your romantic adolescent urges undermine your grades, especially in my class, believe me, you will regret it. So save the romance for the two months of summer vacation and concentrate on your studies and the tournament. After all, no one's stopping you from spending the summer together."

"Thank you, Professor, for the kind words."

"Anytime," Snape replied with a snide chuckle.

"Can we walk to the common room on our own?"

"Only if it's to the common room. And here's another thing. Transgression is possible in the castle but forbidden. So, go on foot."

As soon as we descended the tower, Snape disappeared into the darkness with a distinctive sound. Now I finally understood how he moved around the castle so quickly - he was simply flying in transgression. The smoke is invisible in the darkness, and there's almost no sound, and you can muffle it if you want to. He must have caught up with us, too, when he saw the two transgression tracks.

We walked in silence to the common room. I couldn't help myself at the portrait:

"Damn Snape. Ruined such a moment."

"He's right," Hermione looked at me seriously. "We have work to do, and a relationship can send everything into the abyss."

"Argh. I seem to be smart, but I have no idea what to do in such situations."

Hermione smiled and, standing on tiptoe, which made almost no difference in her shoes, fleetingly kissed me on the lips.

"I'm not going anywhere. Neither are you."

"Now, I won't be able to sleep."

"That's why it's better to date later. At least after you win the tournament, where your life depends on your skills."

After telling the password, we went into the common room. There were probably a dozen senior students here. Many of them were still in their dresses and suits, only more loosely dressed. But again, no obscenity. They sat on couches and armchairs and chatted. Some couples just hugged. And everyone quietly sipped light drinks. We were greeted quietly, benevolently, marking a kind of greeting with a glass, bottle, or mug raised in the air.

After escorting Hermione to the door of the women's wing, I went downstairs and sat down on our inconspicuous sofa, unbuttoning the buttons of my jacket. Looking at this quiet and calm atmosphere, I once again catch myself thinking that we have an extremely unfortunate face of the House, which is now Potter and Ron. The twins' pranks also play a role, but once I dissolved a couple of their crazy candies into ingredients - there are no plant or animal components at all. They apparently sacrificed some of the power of the effect, leaving only a modified, completely safe base compatible with all potions. I understand why Snape fined them so enthusiastically - they are talented inventors and potions makers who waste their energy on all sorts of nonsense.

As for Ron and Potter... Potter, as an all-English star, automatically became the face of the House. A face that is unkempt, not particularly cultured, and not very well-mannered. But in this, he is only half to blame. His friend became the same wild Ronald, who is also terribly envious. As a result, Potter does not see that he is far from the most pleasant character. I'm a shithead, too, if you think about it. But Potter and Weasley are always in the spotlight, and they're always intentionally or unintentionally flaunting their Gryffindorness. So everyone judges us by them. And the Slytherins are judged by their brightest star, Malfoy, and company. That's why everyone thinks that Gryffindors are feeble-minded pigs and Slytherins are selfish bastards. It's sad. In fact, everything is not so simple. Yeah. Not everything is what it seems...