This is a game of fire, right? Tom said calmly. Then we stay warm by sticking close... or burn trying to go alone.
Silence followed. The breeze shifted through the ancient trees as if the forest itself had heard him.
James huffed and crossed his arms. Right. So what's the plan then? We stand here and let Riddle preach, or do we actually move.
I'm open to suggestions, Tom replied, folding the map back into his coat pocket.
Well, for one, James stepped forward, we need someone with actual leadership experience. Who knows what they're doing. I say we split into search groups—
No, Sameyr cut in, arms still folded. We just got here. Splitting up now is stupid.
Lucius nodded slowly. For once, I agree with the dark princess.
James threw his hands up. Oh, great. This is going to be fun.
Tom turned slightly, holding the glowing parchment out. Here. Samera? Lily? Maybe you'll make more sense of this than I can.
Samera stepped forward and took the map from him. Let's see.
She and Lily huddled over the parchment, trying to track the glowing lines, whispering softly, but no clear path emerged. The ink shimmered, rearranged itself, and blurred the farther they stared.
It's like it doesn't want us to find the way, Samera muttered.
Or it's waiting for something, Lily said.
Behind them, the group waited — already restless.
Tom looked into the trees, then back at the others.
We need to move before dark, he said. Whether this map cooperates or not.
Sameyr was the first to step forward, silent and precise, taking her place beside Tom as the others fanned out in a loose circle around the old duffel bag.
Tom knelt and unclipped the flap.
Inside were four neatly sealed leather packs, each stamped with the Hogwarts crest and glowing faintly from enchantment. He pulled one out and opened it.
Inside: One bottle of water, still cold with condensation. A wrapped snack kit, compact and enchanted. And… nothing else.
Tom looked into the bag again — reaching deeper — until his fingers brushed parchment.
He pulled it out carefully.
A single map — old, enchanted, and flickering with shifting ink.
Sameyr leaned closer beside him. That's it?
Tom stood, eyes scanning the edges of the forest. That's it.
Samera crossed her arms. Four packs. Twelve of us. Either they want us to share… or they want to see what happens when we don't.
James let out a low whistle. It's like the Hunger Games, but with house pride.
No, James, Lily said sharply. It's a test. Strategy. Trust. Or lack of it.
Lucius raised an eyebrow. Should've packed my own bag. What kind of joke is this?
Sameyr muttered. Sounds like the Thorns' idea of a real game.
Tom unfolded the map. The lines pulsed gently, trails shifting like veins.
This place isn't static, he murmured. It moves.
Kaito peered over his shoulder. That's a living map. You don't follow it. You adapt to it.
Silence followed.
Then Tom looked up.
This is a game of fire, right? Then we stay warm by sticking close… or burn trying to go alone.
The others watched him. Some with hesitation. Some with curiosity.
But no one walked away.
Not yet.
The silence stretched as Lily and Samera stared helplessly at the map.
Then Sameyr tensed. "…Did anyone else see that?"
Most of the group turned toward her. She was staring dead ahead — past the others, toward the thick wall of green that marked the forest's edge.
A moment of silence.
Then — rustle.
The bushes just ahead shifted. Slowly at first. Then with purpose. As if something large were brushing through from within… or worse — the forest itself was moving.
Okay, nope, Kaito said, backing up a step. I vote we don't go that way.
Samera moved closer to Tom. Even James took a subtle half-step behind Lily.
It's just wind, he offered.
No, Sameyr muttered. That wasn't wind. That was intention.
The bushes moved again — parting slightly now. A narrow trail, previously hidden, began to form between the leaves. The vines recoiled, and branches twisted as if being drawn by invisible hands.
"RUN!" Lily screamed.
No one waited.
Feet pounded the forest floor as the group scattered into the trees — Tom gripping Samera's hand, Sameyr just behind them, James dragging a stunned Ravenclaw boy by the arm.
Branches whipped their faces. Roots grabbed at ankles. Someone yelled. Someone tripped. But no one looked back.
Behind them, the creature roared again.
And the forest swallowed them whole.
They didn't stop running until the trees thinned and the roaring behind them faded into silence.
Everyone collapsed into the clearing — panting, shaking, brushing dirt and leaves from their clothes.
Tom straightened first, chest rising and falling, and turned to face the group.
Head count, he said.
One by one, they looked around — blinking, squinting through the fading light.
James. Lily. Sameyr. Samera. Kaito Goldfinch. Cordelia Knott. Oren Brooks. Thalia Reed. Beatrix Clay. Helena Wren.
Tom frowned.
Where's Lucius?
No one answered.
He looked again. Checked behind trees. Called once.
Nothing.
Lucius Malfoy was gone.
Typical, James muttered, shaking his head. Leave it to a Slytherin to get eaten in the first five minutes.
Sameyr slowly turned toward him. You want to repeat that? she asked, voice cool.
James shrugged, already puffing up. I'm just saying, we're out here dodging death, and he's probably tripped over his own ego and fainted. Honestly, I say we keep moving.
We're not leaving anyone behind, Tom said firmly. We go back. We look for him.
There was a pause.
James blinked. We?
Tom nodded. Yes. We. As in the group.
James gave a nervous laugh. You heard the roar, right? That thing back there wasn't a puffskein. It sounded like it eats dragons for breakfast. No thanks.
So you're refusing? Tom asked.
Uh, yes. Proudly.
Let me get this straight, Sameyr said, arms crossed. You called Slytherins weak… and now you're refusing to go back because you're scared?
James opened his mouth. Closed it. Tried again.
Strategic caution.
Sameyr smirked. Sounds like Gryffindor for weakling.
The others chuckled — even Kaito snorted.
James threw his arms in the air. Fine! Just let it be known, when we all get eaten, I told you so.
Duly noted, Tom said.
Samera was already stepping toward the trees again. Let's go before we lose someone else.
The forest rustled ahead.
The real fire had just begun.
Lucius lay collapsed near the twisted roots of an old tree, his blonde hair streaked with leaves and dust. His chest rose and fell — shallow, but steady.
"He's alive," Samera breathed, crouching beside him.
Knot and Reed dropped to their knees, fumbling through one of the supply bags for water. Sameyr hovered protectively over them, wand out.
But before anyone could do more — a wave of heat rolled over them.
The trees behind them groaned. Shadows danced unnaturally across the bark.
Then it stepped out.
Taller than Hagrid. Shoulders broad as two centaurs side by side. Its body was made of charred, cracked bark, glowing with molten veins that pulsed like dying embers.
Its head resembled a burning stump — no mouth, no eyes, just two empty pits of flame that stared straight at them. Its movements were slow… deliberate… like it had waited centuries for this exact moment.
Each step left the ground singed.
"Everyone move!" Tom barked.
Tom, Lily, James, Kaito, Brooks, and Helena split from the group and rushed to form a line between the monster and the others.
"We buy time," Lily snapped, eyes locked on the beast. "That's all we have to do."
"And hopefully don't die," James muttered.
The Emberling Warden lifted one long, smoldering arm — and flame lashed from its fingers.
"Aguamenti!" — Helena countered, sending a rush of water that sizzled mid-air.
"Ventus!" — Kaito followed, blowing smoke back at the creature.
"Bombarda!" — Thaila fired, the ground erupting at the Warden's feet.
The creature staggered — but barely flinched. Its burning limbs reached out and swiped. Flames surged forward in arcs, catching trees on fire and searing the ground.
"Protego!" — Lily, casting a wide shield as the fire crashed over them like a wave.
"Stupefy!" — James, red light shooting across the smoke.
Tom didn't speak. He raised his wand with precision and sent a jagged streak of lightning through the air.
"Confringo!"
The Warden's chest cracked — glowing brighter now, its embers furious.
Back at Lucius:
Samera was shaking him hard. "Lucius! You don't get to be the spoiled pureblood brat that dies first!"
Knot splashed water on his face. "Come on!"
Thailia pulled a small vial from his robes — a glowing green stimulant. He uncorked it and tipped it into Lucius's mouth.
For a moment — nothing.
Then Lucius gasped.
"What— where— why is the forest on fire?!"
The Warden roared, sending a fiery shockwave that knocked James and Helena off their feet.
Lucius and the rest rushed off to help.
Tom saw them coming and decided to draw the warden attention toward himself.
"Now, Lucius!" Tom shouted.
Lucius stood, staggered once — then raised his wand.
"Oppugno ignis!" he shouted, sending flames from the trees back toward the Warden.
Sameyr was already beside him.
"Reducto!" she yelled, her blast cracking off one of its burning limbs.
"Levicorpus!" — Thailia, sending vines snatching the Warden's leg upward. It stumbled but didn't fall.
"Petrificus Totalus!" — Cordelia, sparks flying as the spell fizzled against its burning bark.
The whole clearing had become an inferno of light and shadow. Heat distorted the air. Trees snapped. Sparks rained down like fireflies gone mad.
Tom slid in beside Lily.
"It's weakening," he said between breaths. "The glow in its chest— that's the core. That's where we aim."
Lily nodded. "Then we finish this. Together."
He turned, voice clear despite the chaos:
"Everyone! Aim for the core!"
The Emberling Warden raised both arms — fire curling in massive swirling coils above its head.
"Now!" Tom shouted.
"Expelliarmus!"
Twelve voices. Twelve wands. Twelve streams of red light collided mid-air and surged as one toward the beast's chest.
For a split second, the clearing went silent — time suspended.
Then—
BOOM.
A shockwave of blinding light exploded outward. The Warden let out a final roar as its chest cracked open — embers spewing into the sky like a volcano's heart. The light twisted, climbed, and spun downward — straight into the map still clenched in Tom's hand.
The parchment glowed, then unfurled itself mid-air — and a single golden trail etched itself forward through the inked forest.
A path. Not complete… but their first direction revealed.
Sameyr stared. "It was guarding the way."
"Or it was the way," Lily murmured.
The flames died down. The trees stilled. Smoke drifted like ghosts between the trunks.
And in the silence that followed, no one said a word.
Then James coughed, still on the ground. "Right. So. Who's up for not doing that again?"
Lucius groaned. "I think I left my spine back there."
Tom didn't laugh. But something in his eyes flickered—not fear, not doubt.
Purpose.
He glanced down at the glowing map.
The way forward had begun.
Then night came.
The forest had gone quiet again, save for the occasional hiss of wind through the high branches. The group had been walking for hours after the Emberling Warden fight, their legs aching, nerves frayed, and patience thin. When the last streaks of sunset bled out of the sky, they stopped in a small clearing, deciding it would have to do.
They dropped their packs in a heap, and Tom lit a small controlled fire in the center. The faint warmth and flicker seemed to ease everyone — for about thirty seconds.
Then Boyd unzipped one of the supply kits.
"Three bottles of water, three snack packs, one blanket. That's it?"
Kaito leaned over. "That's per kit. Four kits, remember?"
"Yeah, but each kit's for three people," Boyd said, glancing around. "So… who's with who?"
Lucius smirked. "Easy. Slytherins together."
"That's not how it works," Lily said immediately. "We're splitting into fair groups so no one starves while someone else hoards."
Sameyr crossed her arms. "Translation: Gryffindors want the bigger share."
James threw his arms wide. "Bigger share? Please. We'd win even if you fed us crumbs."
"Funny," Sameyr shot back, "coming from the one who ran from the Warden first."
That got a ripple of snickers from the Ravenclaw side — especially Tilda.
"Oh, ha ha," James said, glaring at her. "Fine. Let's just sort it like normal humans."
Knot raised her hand. "Why not just boys with boys and girls with girls? Easier. Done."
It was oddly logical, and after a few more grumbles, they split.
Boys' group: Tom, James, Lucius, Kaito, Oren,
Girls' group: Lily, Sameyr, Samera, Cordelia, Thailia, Helena, Beatrix.
The fire crackled while they unrolled the four thin blankets, each group huddling close under theirs. The boys sprawled awkwardly in a half-circle, Daniel trying not to breathe on anyone. The girls were quieter, speaking in low murmurs under their blanket's edge.
One by one, the voices faded and the forest claimed the night again.
Tom had just closed his eyes when he heard a faint rustle. He sat up, glancing toward the firelight, and saw Lily slipping away from the blanket she shared with the others.
She sat on a log near the edge of the clearing, knees pulled up, staring at the embers.
Tom got up and crossed the few steps to her.
"Couldn't sleep?"
She shook her head. "Too much noise in here."
He smirked faintly. "That's rich, coming from the Gryffindor dormitory expert."
She gave a half-laugh, then sighed. "It's not the noise out here. It's the noise up here." She tapped her temple.
Tom didn't answer immediately. He sat beside her, letting the quiet stretch.
"How was your summer?" she asked after a moment.
"I didn't go back to the orphanage," he said. "The Thornwicks took me in."
"The twins' family?"
He nodded. "Loud. Strange. Very… Slytherin."
She smiled faintly. "My parents tried to act like nothing happened after the Chamber. But they were scared. I was too."
"You don't seem scared now."
"That's the strange part," she admitted. "I'm not. Not anymore."
Tom studied her face in the firelight. "Then maybe you're finally becoming who you're meant to be."
For a moment, neither of them moved. Then she looked away, brushing a bit of ash off her skirt.
"We should get some rest," she said softly.
They stood, walking back toward their blankets in silence. The fire popped once, sending a shower of sparks into the night.
Somewhere beyond the trees, the Games were waiting.
NESSGEEORIGINAL