"You don't understand, Montague! Movies are different—they're the pinnacle of Muggle culture. Yes, I know, I know, wizards have stage plays too, but it's not the same! Wizards don't even understand what acting is. We just recite lines like clockwork!"
That evening, after the Slytherins had finished dinner, they noisily made their way through the corridors toward their warm underground common room, just as they always did. Along the way, Miles and Montague were, as usual, locked in a pointless argument.
"So, I really don't get what's so interesting about these so-called movies," Montague said, shaking his head as he held his upper-year girlfriend close, looking utterly pleased with himself. "I heard from Nolan that you've plastered your dorm with Muggle posters. And that those posters only move because Nolan cast spells on them. So I know that Muggle posters don't actually move. Does that mean movies don't move either?"
"Movies move! Oh, for Merlin's sake! Posters are posters, and movies are movies! You don't understand anything!"
Miles practically shrieked in frustration.
He was annoyed by his friend's ignorance and equally irritated by the fact that his friend had a girlfriend—while he had none.
Why was that? His best friend Nolan had a girlfriend—two, in fact! Montague also had a girlfriend! Meanwhile, Miles was left all alone... Oh, wait. Maybe not completely alone. There was still that insufferable git, Malcolm Baddock.
"I can't explain it to you... Oh! Eve! You used to be a Muggle! You tell Montague how amazing movies are!"
"What are you talking about?" Eve turned her head, clearly having been engrossed in conversation with Alicia and completely missing the discussion.
"Movies! Movies! I'm trying to explain movies to this idiot Montague!"
"Howard's End? Or Wuthering Heights?"
That year, Howard's End was playing in major theaters across London. This British novel-turned-film, directed by a British filmmaker, had been receiving widespread acclaim from mainstream media. Naturally, Eve had seen it—as had Nolan, since Eve had dragged him along.
"Yes! Eve, I knew you'd understand!" Miles exclaimed excitedly. "We can finally talk about Muggle films!"
"I don't think that's a good idea, Miles," Camille cut in, smirking. "Nolan wouldn't be too happy about our little princess Eve chatting too much with another wizard. Are you sure you want to discuss movies with her, knowing it might annoy Nolan? Do you remember what Nolan did to Malcolm in our first year? I still have nightmares about that warty toad!"
Miles faltered, suddenly looking uneasy.
He really wanted to talk to Eve. In Slytherin, she seemed to be the only one who shared his passion for movies. But he wasn't sure if that would anger Nolan, and he wasn't willing to take the risk.
"Oh, come on, Camille," Alicia said in her usual dreamy tone, speaking slowly. "We all know Miles is an idiot—completely devoid of charm from head to toe. If Nolan ever got jealous, it certainly wouldn't be over him."
"What?!" Miles's eyes widened in outrage. "How can you say that?!"
"I know!" Camille seized the opportunity to pile on. "Nolan understands that even if the world were ending, and Miles was the last man alive, we'd all rather let wizardkind go extinct than settle for him! No one would let him lay a finger on them!"
"That's going too far!"
The Slytherin snakes bickered noisily as they always did.
And that was when Nolan's tall figure appeared at the entrance to the staircase.
Beside him was an equally tall woman—Penelope Clearwater. They were holding hands and looked rather... intimate!
"Good evening, Slytherins," Penelope greeted them with a bright smile. Then she leaned toward Nolan and whispered something softly. "I'll be waiting for you this weekend, then."
After that, she turned to Eve. The two girls exchanged knowing smiles and whispered something between them before Penelope, ignoring the stunned expressions of the Slytherins, strolled off with an air of confidence.
"What's going on here?" Camille practically shrieked. "Are you dating her now? A new girlfriend? A third one? Hey, Nolan! You can't do this!"
"Yeah!" Miles shouted indignantly. "You can't just claim all the pretty girls at Hogwarts for yourself!"
"Shut up, Miles!" Camille snapped before turning back to Nolan. "You need to start appreciating the Slytherin girls more! Why should a Ravenclaw get all the benefits? If you're taking applications for a third girlfriend, I, Camille Smith, am more than willing!"
She suddenly turned to Eve. "And you, Eve! You idiot! Why aren't you keeping a closer eye on him?!"
"Wait... That's what we're mad about?" Miles blinked. "Not the fact that Nolan got another girlfriend—but that his new girlfriend isn't from Slytherin?!"
"Relax, guys," Montague said, unfazed. "You still have a shot."
"A shot with who? Penelope Clearwater?"
"No… Millicent Bulstrode."
"Oh, come on! Why does everyone keep trying to set me up with Millicent?!" Miles groaned. "Just tell me, Nolan—what's going on? Are you dating Penelope or not?"
"Dating?" Nolan raised an eyebrow. "No."
Strictly speaking, he and Penelope weren't romantically involved… Their connection went far deeper than that. It was beyond a lover's bond—more like a master-servant relationship, or perhaps something even more profound. Blood carried its own kind of magic, after all, and their ties were stronger than any ordinary friendship.
Hearing his denial, the Slytherins let out a collective sigh of relief.
"Alright, everyone," Eve finally spoke, struggling to keep her laughter in check. "Penelope is close friends with Nolan's sister, Felicia. You all remember her, right? Our first-year Defense Against the Dark Arts professor?"
Everyone nodded.
Though Felicia had never actually taught them a single spell, oddly enough, she remained the most competent Defense professor Hogwarts had seen in years.
"Penelope visited Nolan's family over Christmas," Eve continued. "She and the Von Draugr family are on very good terms."
At that explanation, the Slytherins let go of their suspicions and continued their boisterous chatter as they made their way toward the common room.
During the commotion, Miles grabbed Nolan by the arm. "Hey, listen up! I have a new plan!"
"Oh? Fantastic."
"No, Nolan, this actually involves you! Prepare to be amazed! Miles Bletchley has come up with an absolutely brilliant idea—one that will make us filthy rich in the wizarding world!"