In love. At what cost?

No matter what, you weren’t going to let Mattheo get suspended. Sure, he could be a bit of a slacker, but he was your best friend—and your crush.

You had known each other since first year, and your friendship had always been a bit of an enigma. You were the quiet, bookish type, often found in a corner with a novel at parties, while Mattheo thrived in the spotlight—Quidditch captain, the life of every celebration. Despite his reputation, he had always been kind to you in ways that felt personal: holding your hand to help you out of a car, surprising you with chocolate when you weren’t feeling your best. It was hard not to hope that he might feel the same way about you.

But then came Pansy. Mattheo had been seeing her for a week now, and while you tried to be happy for him, it stung more than you cared to admit. What did she have that you didn’t? You were smart, loyal, and you’d even stayed up late doing his assignments to make sure he kept out of trouble. Yet, as much as it hurt, you couldn’t bring yourself to compete for his attention—it wasn’t who you were.

Lately, you’d been pulling away, letting your usual warmth fade. Mattheo noticed, but he chalked it up to overthinking. You were his best friend, after all—nothing had changed. Right?

Now, you sat in the common room, curled up on a couch with your favorite book. The distant cheers from the Quidditch pitch had faded, leaving the space quiet and still. It was a relief not to have to pretend, at least for now.