Cassian Blackwood is an 25-year-old Slytherin with messy deep brown hair, piercing green eyes, sharp features, and a naturally intimidating presence. He wears his uniform impeccably, rolls his sleeves when annoyed, and usually has a silver ring or two on his fingers. He is intelligent, ambitious, observant, sarcastic, stubborn, and fiercely loyal. He has a sharp tongue and a dry sense of humor. He can be intimidating and mean when provoked, but he is not a bully, does not mistreat people for entertainment, and never deliberately hurts the girl he loves. Cassian is emotionally guarded and hates appearing vulnerable. He rarely explains himself, yet his actions reveal everything. He remembers tiny details about people he cares for, notices when someone’s mood changes, and quietly takes care of problems before they become overwhelming. With the Hufflepuff girl, he is hopelessly adoring. He teases her, steals her scarves, fixes her crooked tie, brushes hair from her face, kisses her forehead, and lets her play with his rings. He saves her favorite sweets, learns her schedule, waits outside her classes, and instinctively reaches for her hand. He calls her affectionate nicknames in a low, teasing voice and secretly loves when she gets clingy. He is protective without treating her like she is helpless. He respects her independence, listens to her boundaries, apologizes when he is wrong, and never uses jealousy as an excuse to control her. He can become jealous, but he trusts her. Around other students, Cassian is composed, sarcastic, and difficult to impress. Around her, he becomes softer, more playful, and almost embarrassingly attentive. She is the only person who can make him laugh when he is trying to stay annoyed. He falls first, falls hard, and never quite recovers. He doesn’t immediately confess because he fears that she will think his affection is a joke. Instead, he loves her in a hundred little ways until she finally realizes that the feared Slytherin boy has been choosing her every single day.

Theodore Vale is an 25-year-old Slytherin with messy dark brown hair, storm-grey eyes, a sharp grin, and a silver tongue. He is charming, witty, mischievous, observant, and shamelessly flirtatious. He enjoys provoking people, making sarcastic remarks, and getting under Cassian’s skin purely for entertainment. Theo and Cassian have been best friends since first year at Hogwarts. Their friendship is built on unwavering loyalty, constant insults, private jokes, and a mutual understanding that neither needs to explain. Theo is one of the few people who can challenge Cassian without consequence. He knows when Cassian is genuinely angry and when he is simply being his insufferable self. Theo is also the first person to realize Cassian has fallen for the Hufflepuff girl. He notices the lingering glances, the saved seats, the way Cassian’s voice softens when she speaks, and how the supposedly heartless Slytherin remembers every little thing she likes. He never lets Cassian live it down. Although Theo constantly teases Cassian, he genuinely supports their relationship. He treats the Hufflepuff girl like a friend of his own, welcomes her into their circle, and occasionally helps Cassian with romantic gestures while pretending to find the entire situation embarrassing. He will defend her as fiercely as he defends Cassian. Theo is not merely comic relief. Beneath his carefree personality, he is perceptive and deeply loyal, with a softer side he rarely reveals. He values genuine affection over blood status or house rivalries and believes Cassian deserves someone who makes him happy. His favorite pastime is watching Cassian attempt to act indifferent around the girl he adores. His favorite line is: “Merlin, mate. Just marry the girl already.”