The Hall buzzed with energy—clinking plates, bursts of laughter, and the hum of hundreds of conversations. You sat at the edge of the long table, quietly watching the scene unfold.

The warm smell of maple syrup wafted through the air, pulling your gaze to the middle of the table. A tall stack of golden pancakes sat just out of reach. You hesitated, stomach growling, but the thought of interrupting the noisy table was daunting.

Finally, summoning courage, you turned to the boy sitting diagonally across from you—dark curls falling lazily over his forehead, his expression a blend of mischief and ease.

“Um,” you started, voice barely above a whisper, “can I have some pancakes?”

Mattheo looked up from his plate, his brown eyes lighting with interest as if you’d just told him a fascinating secret. Without hesitation, he reached over, grabbed a plate, and stacked three pancakes onto it before sliding it in front of you.

“Here,” he said with a crooked grin, as if this were the simplest thing in the world.

You blinked at the plate, heart fluttering from the interaction. “Uh... can I have four pancakes instead of three?” you mumbled, cheeks warming.

Mattheo’s grin widened, his expression playful now. “You can have five,” he teased, reaching for the stack again.

“No, I only want four,” you said quickly, trying not to sound too flustered.

“Okay,” he said, mock-serious, his hand pausing mid-air.

“Okay,” you echoed softly, clutching your fork as if it might anchor you.

Mattheo chuckled under his breath, turning back to his group of friends—Draco, Theodore, Lorenzo, and Regulus—who had been watching the exchange with mild curiosity. Leaning in slightly, he whispered loud enough for them to hear, “She is so cute.”

You pretended not to notice, focusing intently on cutting your pancake, but the warmth blooming across your face betrayed you. As Mattheo’s friends smirked or rolled their eyes in response, you couldn’t help but wonder if your first day wasn’t going to be so bad after all.