Mathias's evening had started normally enough: after finishing up his charms class, where all of the 5th year Gryffindors had studied a new silencing charm, he decided to neglect the small pile of homework that he'd received that day and head down to dinner. Per the usual, he debated the costs and benefits of pulling a prank on Professor Binns with his friend Alfred and ate plenty of delicious food.

The first indication of his adventures to come arrived as he was preparing to leave for Quidditch practice. He was just slinging his bag over his shoulder when he saw a majestic, graphite-hued Peregrin Falcon gracefully dive down next to his glass of pumpkin juice. The falcon, of course, could only belong to his friend Lukas; why he'd choose to send Mathias a note rather than speaking to him, though, Mathias didn't understand. He quickly took the paper from the bird and turned it over, scanning the familiar cursive.

Meet me outside the Gryffindor Common Room TONIGHT at 12:30. Wear a sweater.

He flipped it over once more to look for an explanation, but found nothing more. Burning with curiosity, he stood on his toes to get a glimpse of where Lukas was sitting at the Slytherin table. He looked the same as always: bored, pale, and unnervingly handsome - nothing to indicate that he was planning trouble. Mathias took one last look at the note, stuck it in his robes pocket, and began to walk to the Quidditch pitch.

He had played poorly, too preoccupied with questions to properly manage his job as a Beater. After an especially close call where he'd only just managed to whack away a bludger before it collided with a chaser's head, the team captain dismissed him and he was left to sit and wait in Gryffindor tower until Lukas arrived.

And at 12:32 AM, Lukas came padding up the steps with his wand in one hand and a ragged Invisibility Cloak in the other. The dim light emanating from his wand tip cast shadows across his delicate features, throwing his handsome face into a mischievous mask.

"Where the hell did you get one of that?!" Mathias gaped, eyes glued to the cloak.

"Made it m'self," Lukas replied, unfastening the button on it. "I found a book in the Restricted section that explained the process of enchanting it while I was picking up a Defence Against the Dark Arts book. It took me a week and I burned holes in two of my spare cloaks, but I just perfected this one this morning. Now, come on," he said, holding out the cloak in front of him.

Mathias shivered and quickly stepped forward, taking the cloak from Lukas and trying his best to spread it over both of them. A minute later, two seemingly-ownerless pairs of feet took off stumbling through the castle.

Mathias squinted around him in the thick darkness, searching for any school ghosts or cats that might alert a teacher to their little escapade . "Filch is gonna whoop our asses if he catches us," he commented.

"I know, so shut up so we don't get caught."

"Alright, alright. Can I ask you something first?"

"No."

Mathias ignored his friend's exasperated response. "What exactly are we doing, wandering around the castle in the middle of the night?"

Lukas kept his gaze on the darkness in front of them. "That's classified information," he drawled, a tiny smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.

Mathias's heart fluttered as he bit back another question. He scooted closer to Lukas under the invisibility cloak, enjoying the warmth radiating from him wherever their arms touched. Lukas sighed but didn't pull away, much to Mathias's delight.

The pair of them walked in near-silence through the castle. After several backtracks and sharp turns that left Mathias with a queasy feeling in his stomach, their wand light shone over a heavy wooden door. Lukas checked to make sure that no ghosts were around to see them, then quietly muttered "Alohomora." The iron lock swung open with a click and Lukas grabbed Mathias's hand, swiftly tugging him out into the cool April air.