Last chapter! This is kinda long, but is divided in six different parts. feel free to stop whenever you want! </3

The sunshine was beaming, fully free from any clouds, on that fresh December morning.

Snowing season had officially started for England, and a still thin but persistent coat of snow was now covering the entirety of the school's fields, that glimmered as the rays of light illuminated the surfaces.

The lake, which the sudden cold wave had quickly frozen, was no exception to the glimmer caused by the weak December sun; and its shiny top now offered students the possibility to try ice skating for the first time – for their own enjoyment, for the water creatures' (who could see the development of that unusual sport from the cold waters below the icy surface);

"I'm telling you, the sun today is so bright I'll be surprised if no one falls down" stated a young boy, his neck and half of his face engulfed in a big silver-and-green scarf, who was walking casually around the area of the lake and was carefully inspecting the big number of students that had decided to skip the trip to Hogsmeade to enjoy their time there.

"Oh, shut up. It looks fun, I honestly wouldn't mind trying" replied a Gryffindor, whom he was walking hand in hand with.

The boy looked at the other with raised eyebrows. "You'd like to slither around on those thin metal thingies while trying to stay balanced and not fall over?"

"You make it seem like a nightmare, Minnie" the Gryffindor rolled her eyes. "It could be potentially fun".

"Yeah, fun like a kick up your ass-"

"I think you are simply scared" snapped back the girl.

"Me? Scared?" the Slytherin scoffed. "Y/n, please".

The girl raised her hands, acting like someone who had been unexpectedly caught while doing something they knew they should not be doing. "It was just a thought man" she said. "If you're really so chill about it, why don't you try it out yourself?"

The Slytherin rolled his eyes. "I don't need no evidence. I don't have to demonstrate anything to anyone".

The girl named Y/n chuckled. "Sure, however you say it, Minnie".

And then they fell silent for a while – not one of those silences that soon became awkward and uncomfortable; but rather one so cosy that felt like it was filled with words.

"You know what? It honestly feels like the world has stopped" stated the Gryffindor again after awhile, "this past week has been so boring!"

The boy gently squeezed her hands. "Honey – I'm sorry, but honestly cannot relate. Just enjoy the newly found peace and quiet! It won't last long anyway – like c'mon, we're at Hogwarts! There are also positives in living the chill life, you know?" he added mockingly.

"Mm..." muttered the girl, unconvinced. "Sometimes I really do wonder how you manage to always stay so optimistic".

The Slytherin simply shook his shoulders. "It's just a matter of how you see things, I guess. Because at the end of the day, there always are a few good things around you. You just need to be able to see them. Although" and there he stopped to turn around and smile widely at the girl, "to be honest, ever since we got together, you've made it ten times easier".

"Oh, shut up" replied the other dramatically, her free hand covering her face, "I'm gonna blush".

The Slytherin laughed at that adorable reaction and puller the girl into a tight hug. "I am so grateful for you", he whispered, "and I hope you know that".

***

"Oooh, looks like love-birds season has officially started!" exclaimed the professor, his eyes staring outside of the big window and a happy smile plastered on his face. Then, after a more careful inspection: "woah, that's unusual! a Slyth and a Gryffin, who would've thought..."

"Love-birds season doesn't start until spring, Neville" replied Mrs. Kim, the potions' teacher, rolling her shiny brown eyes.

Professor Longbottom smirked, "Well, Yuna, it's not my fault if yours started that late into the year-"

The young woman was just about to reply, but a third voice interrupted the small bickering: "Ladies and gentlemen, please. I called you here because I wanted to inform you on the latest measures that I have taken, not to assist your petty talking!"

"Sorry Minerva" apologized Neville, sending a last gaze at the garden underneath them and taking a seat at the Headmistress' table. He seemed to be in a particularly good mood. "Tell us everything, I promise we'll pay attention this time".

"Oh!" crept in Yuna, crossing her arms as if deeply offended, "for your information, I have been paying attention ever since I have stepped foot inside this office; don't include me in mistakes your Gryffin head did just so that you can feel better about it-"

"Mrs. Kim, thank you" said the Headmistress, who as a former Gryffindor had found the young woman's remark particularly funny, "I think you got your point through perfectly".

The potions' teacher sat down at last, a mixture of embarrassment and a flaunted dignity. "So – what are these measures?" she then asked, to fill in the silence.

"For a start, I have finally received an owl from Lucretia Stevenson: she reached Edinburgh a couple of weeks ago, has met her partner and has started to restore her old Book Shop. She said everything is good and that they wish for their child to come back home for winter break" her eyes eloquently landed on Yuna: as the Slytherin Head-teacher, the information regarded her especially.

"I'll inform Minho as soon as I see him. Tonight, probably, because I think he's one of the few who actually went to Hogsmeade today" fondness was clear in her voice – she'd always liked the boy, but after his most recent deeds the liking had grown into more of a motherly affection. "I am also very pleased to see that 'Tia has been doing great. After all she's been through, she totally deserves this".

"'Tia?" professor Longbottom raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know the two of you were acquainted".

Yuna flashed an angry stare towards his direction. "We just so happened to be very good friends back in the days. I thought you'd got it by now..."

The man raised his shoulders as if in apology. "Must've slipped my notice" he said matter-of-factly, "but do go on, Minerva" he added when he noticed that the Headmistress' gaze had landed on him, "I'm finding all this information extremely interesting".

"Yes, so..." the old woman paused a second (probably to think of when her speech had got interrupted), "Malfoy" she then said, when she finally remembered. "He's been visited by a psychiatric in his new cell in Azkaban: he said he's a danger more to himself than to others – the failure of this crazy late dream must've taken a toll on him".

"Let him rot there" commented the Herbology professor, suddenly serious. "I can't believe that he did what he did. I thought Voldermort's fall had made him rethink about a few of the things he's got wrong, but apparently I was wrong..."

"And what about the Horned Serpent?" asked Yuna. "Will it be returned to the United States?"

"Now?" the Headmistress looked like (if her interlocutor hadn't been a someone she fully respected) she might've laughed. "With how big and wild it's grown, Lord spare me! I've personally seen to it be moved to our own lake" and she pointed at the round, white surface clearly visible outside the window. "the merepeople have welcomed it full-heatedly; it should be great".

Neville sighed. "Oof, so it seems like things have finally settled down for the best", he stated.

"Finally" added Yuna, falling back on her chair's back.

The Headmistress looked at the two of them with a pretty satisfied expression plastered on her face. "You can say so. And as a present, you are free of your charges for the rest of today and tomorrow. You deserve a rest, for how much you have helped me these past months.

"Thank you Minerva!" excitedly answered Neville, getting up immediately.

"But we should be patrolling the corridors..." reasoned the other, "students might get hurt..."

"Oh, as for that," the Headmistress smiled warmly, "do not worry. Three of our best Prefects have kindly accepted – almost offered! – to take on your tasks for this afternoon".

***

A few corridors apart, were the three Prefects who had so "willingly" volunteered.

"Mph" muttered the girl (a Slytherin), a pout helplessly forming on her full lips. "I can't believe we were made to work even today. And it makes no sense! For all Mrs. McGonagall knew, we might've been at Hogsmeade!"

"That's probably why we got chosen though" reasonably replied the second one – a Hufflepuff with a bright Head Boy badge finely sewn on the top left side of his uniform. "Not being at Hogsmeade".

The third and last one – a Gryffindor, with the same shiny badge – shrugged. "I simply think it's her wicked and strange way to punish Woojin and me, Yeji. I'm sorry you got thrown into the mix as well. You can go to your common room if you want to, we can manage" he then offered kindly.

The girl rolled her eyes. "Yah! I'm gonna stay, because it's not like I've got much else to do. And in any case, why would she want to punish you? From what you and Jinnie have told me, you have done nothing bad".

"Technically" answered the Hufflepuff, "we broke around twenty school codes ̶ first and foremost being that we didn't even bother to tell the Headmistress what was happening".

"Yeah" agreed the Gryffindor, "Thank Lord we ended up doing something useful, because if not she would've straight up expelled us or something. Instead we managed to save our asses and win fifty points each for our Houses!"

The girl turned around to look at the Gryffindor, disappointment clear in her expression. "I can't believe this happened on my night off" she whined, "I always miss all the fun things!"

"Yeji" said the boy, most serious. "It was not fun. We almost all died, there was a fucking maniac that shot curses left right and bottom and who had a fucking serpent as thick as this corridor as his pet animal!".

"Yes, but at least you did something" she replied. "Gosh, I can't believe I was sleeping".

The Gryffindor, resigned, raised his arms: "Think it however you like. I'm just glad you were not there".

"In any case, at least you didn't miss that conference on how to choose our future jobs" cut in the other Head Boy. "I can't believe we missed that".

"I told you guys, it was the same ol' talk" explained the girl for what she felt like was the one-hundredth time. "'Choose wisely', 'Do what you really wanna do', blah blah blah. It was not very starking".

The Gryffindor nodded absent-mindedly. The other two both noticed, for they were quick to ask if everything was okay. "It's just that I don't even know if I know what I really wanna do" he said with a sigh. "And I am very scared about my parents' judgement. I don't want to let them down".

"Fuck your parents' judgement!" exclaimed the Slytherin (who had never even met them). "You have to do what you think is right".

"Chan, my man" agreed the Hufflepuff, "she's right. And you know it full well. So screw your parents and go apply for that curse-breaker job at Gringott's".

The boy's eyes grew wide. "I ̶ you..." he stuttered, "how do you know I had been meaning to-"

The friend broke into giggles. "Chan, mate, we've been friends for as long as I can remember. I know you better than you know yourself".

The girl, on Chan's other side, was clapping her hands in satisfaction. "Oh, this is all so exciting! A curse-breaker! That's such a nice job, Channie!"

The Gryffindor shook his head uncomfortably. "I don't know guys, my parents..."

"Oh, screw them", repeated the girl named Yeji. "What should mine do, then? My brother wants to become a fucking prankster and wander around London to show his tricks as if he was freaking Peeves. Yours should be glad, if anything".

"Woah" commented the Hufflepuff, "And there I was, thinking that I was the strange one, wanting to open an apothecary".

The Gryffindor, at these remarks, finally smiled, not being able to help it. "Ahhh, you guys should be right. Wait ̶ you must be right. I will apply as a curse-breaker as soon as school is over".

"Great!" approved Yeji, who in that moment was the embodiment of the completely whipped and supportive girlfriend. "I'm sure you'll do fantastic babe. And the curse-breaker seems the right work for a half-werewolf too. This way you won't risk seeing the moon!"

For the second time in a very (or rather, too) sort amount of time, the Gryffindor felt his jaw drop as his eyes became two big and round spheres. "Yo- you-" he shook his head vigorously. "How?"

The Slytherin looked at him mysteriously, before placing a kiss on his left cheek. "Honey, I'm a Slyth. Not stupid".

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" a loud scream echoed from a nearby corridor.

"Oh dear" said Chan while holding his head with both hands. "I must be really off right now. I can even hear my poor brain screaming in pain!"

***

"Shhh, you idiot!" scolded the shorter boy. "Do you want to get us caught?"

"It's a spider!" screamed the other once again, as if that explanation in itself was satisfactory enough.

The first one rolled his eyes. "Hyunjin, shut up, will you".

"Oh please, do not show too much compassion" commented the boy named Hyunjin sarcastically. "I might start blushing".

"All I'm saying is that we should try and be more careful. We just earned a hundred fifty points for Ravenclaw, we'd be very dumb to give people reasons to take them away".

Hyunjin smirked, making it clear that the thought was not bothering him in the slightest. "Binnie, my dear friend, we are too intelligent and this school too empty for us to get caught".

But before he could even finish talking, a sudden blow of wind invested him and took his pointed hat. A second later, an unmistakeable set of giggles filled the room the two guys were in. "Oh, little ickle Hyunjinnie is too intelligent to get caught" mocked the same voice.

The ladder, raising his eyes to see (or rather confirm) who was talking, flinched dramatically. "Oh dear! Peeves, go away".

"Yeah" agreed the other guy, positioning a set of round and transparent half-spheres on the windows' corners, "go away, Peeves".

The poltergeist (who could be even more dramatic than Hyunjin), faked being stabbed right in the chest and let himself fall graciously towards the floor. "Oh, my poor peeveslings!" he whined, "I'm never going to recover from this atrocious offence!"

For what felt like the millionth time, the shorter Ravenclaw rolled his eyes. "Peeveslings? Seriously? Is this what your humour has reduced to?"

Peeves, clearly offended, levitated towards the boy. "Mhph" she said, annoyed, "clearly there's someone grumpy out here. Is your ickle prankle not working out?"

"It is, for your information" answered Hyunjin ̶ dead serious, because jokes on himself; he could handle. But on his creations? Lord forbid. "We're placing the new noise balls the Weasley's Wheezes has released. They will pop off as soon as they hear the sound of chalk writing, filling the classroom with the most random noises".

"Since the water balls were kind of a fail, we decided to switch kind" explained the shorter guy, continuing his work unbothered.

"Well, you have a point" agreed the poltergeist, always ready to make fun of students. "Your second try turned out horrible! A mere stripe of water as thin as my school credits. Who were you trying to kid?"

Hyunjin scoffed. "Well, that snake straight up swallowed it before the ball could even react to the touch".

"Yeah" the other nodded. "Took all the fun away. It could've at least let it explode inside its reptylish belly".

"Snakes these days have no respect for pranksters anymore" commented Peeves, fully invested in the story. Then, whether out of boredom or because inspiration had suddenly hit him, he let out yet another blow of wind and had Changbin's backpack (full of many products the boys had bought at George Weasley's shop down in Hogsmeade that morning) fall over, scattering all the goods it held inside around the room.

"PEEVES!" screamed the two in perfect unison. "This room is a mess already, for God's sake!" continued Changbin, "go mess up another one! The library, for instance, that place is always too quiet!"

The poltergeist pondered on the words for a few seconds. Then, before the two Ravenclaws could even realize, he was gone.

"Gosh!" commented Hyunjin, looking around. "This will take forever to clean up! AND THE SPIDER HAS FUCKING DISAPPEARED! AGAIN!"

***

Noise filled the spacious room as books, lonely pieces of parchment, quills (and sometimes even bottles of ink!) randomly flew around above the students' heads. Jeongin covered his own ears with both of his hands while squatting down on the floor. "The library today was pretty crowded as it was" he screamed, to make himself heard over all that chaos, "there was definitely no need for Peeves to come in as well!"

Felix nodded, to make the friend understand the ladder had made a point he completely agreed with. "I think Mme Prince is coming though!" he added, risking his safety by slightly raising his head above the table. "Yep, definitely her. And she does not look too pleased!" he went back to his original position, avoiding a copy of Quidditch through the ages squinting very close to his face by mere luck. "Shit's about to go down".

"About time" murmured Jeongin, accompanying with an eye roll his words ̶ words that were overshadowed, however, by the librarian's angry screams: "PEEVES! GET OUT! NOW! I THOUGHT MRS MCGONAGALL HAD BEEN CLEAR ENOUGH WHEN TELLING YOU YOU WERE NOT ALLOWED TO STEP FOOT INTO THE SCHOOL'S LIBRARY-"

Peeves ̶ completely unbothered ̶ whipped another set of still organized parchments a bit further away, and commented simply: "Mrs. The Headmistress must've been high that day, dear lady, to tell you that; for I sadly have no feet to step inside, as you instead seemed to be implying..."

"I WILL TAKE NO FURTHER INSULTS!" roared the woman. "PEEVES, IN THE NAME OF OLD MERLIN-"

"Let's go away while we still can" said Felix, grabbing the Ravenclaw by the wrist. "No one is safe here!"

And, before Jeongin knew, the two (alongside most of the people who were in the library with them) were walking down the corridor, searching for a nice and comfortable spot to sit down and wait for the argument to cool down.

Once they found a comfortable position (both of their backs pressed against the wall, and Felix's head tilting gently on Jeongin's shoulder), the two friends could finally take a look at the other students: most of them, in fact, had followed their example and were now lazily waiting to get back inside to grab hold of their homework, textbooks and notes; and they looked some sad, some pissed, at the thought of the mess that was going to welcome them eventually.

"Maybe we should've gone to Hogsmeade as well", commented Jeongin after awhile. "Why didn't we go, once again?"

Felix looked at the friend with the most resigned look of his repertory. "Are you kidding now? It's because Jisung begged me to let him go alone so that he'd feel less awkward around Minho".

"Oh" Jeongin might've slapped his pretty face himself. "Yeah, true. I forgot".

"Again" added Felix. "You know, honestly Jisung should really start worshipping me.