The common room was alive with its usual late-night energy. Theo and Lorenzo were locked in a quiet, intense game of chess, Blaise lounged on the couch flipping through a magazine, and Regulus was reading.

You sat next to Mattheo on the couch, the two of you sharing an easy, familiar banter. His legs were stretched out lazily, one arm draped along the back of the couch behind you. He was in the middle of telling some wild story.

“You should’ve seen the look on his face!” Mattheo exclaimed. “I thought he was going to—”

Without thinking, you leaned in and kissed him.

It wasn’t planned—just a sudden, impulsive urge you couldn’t explain. The warmth of his lips, the way his laughter cut off instantly, the stunned silence that followed—it all happened in an instant, but it felt like time had slowed.

When you pulled back, the room was utterly still.

Mattheo stared at you, his dark eyes wide and uncharacteristically vulnerable. "What…” His voice was softer than usual, almost breathless. “What was that?”

The silence broke as Blaise let out a low whistle. “Well, that was unexpected.”

Draco blinked. “Did that… Did that just happen?”

Theo raised an eyebrow but said nothing, while Lorenzo merely glanced between you and Mattheo.

You felt your cheeks burn, but you forced yourself to shrug. “What? You were talking too much. I had to shut you up somehow.”

Mattheo's initial shock faded as a slow, wicked grin spread across his face. "Oh, is that right?"

“Yup,” you said, standing your ground despite the way your heart was racing.

For a moment, it looked like he was going to say something else, but instead, he just chuckled and leaned back. “Well, you’ve certainly got my attention now.”

The rest of the boys burst out laughing. But you couldn't help noticing the way Mattheo kept stealing glances at you, the teasing glint in his eyes now laced with something deeper.

And you couldn’t stop replaying the moment, wondering if you’d ever feel that bold—or that reckless—again.