You stand quietly in front of a display case, your eyes fixed on a single necklace.

It's a silver chain with a small, feather-shaped pendant.

You don't realise how long you've been staring until Hermione appears at your side, brushing her scarf back from her shoulder.

She leans in to see what’s caught your attention. Her lips part with a soft gasp. "Oh, it is beautiful!" she says, her voice hushed with awe. "You should buy it. It’s so you."

You swallow the thought you’ve already had a dozen times and say quietly. "I’d love to... But it’s a little too expensive."

Across the room, Mattheo watches.

He’s not pretending to browse. He’s just... watching you. The way you look at that necklace, as though it means something.

Then, suddenly, he’s moving.

Mattheo strides to the counter. "Wrap up the feather-shaped pendant."

Fred raises an eyebrow but nods and hands over the small black box tied with a green ribbon.

Mattheo tucks the box into the inside pocket of his coat and walks out of the shop without looking back.

Fred nudges George, his expression unreadable. "Tell me I didn’t just see Mattheo buy a necklace."

George doesn’t even blink. "You did. And I think he might actually be sick."

Fred smirks. "Yeah. Love-sick."

---

Mattheo sits with his arms resting on his knees, the box containing the necklace still untouched beside him. He has been staring at it for most of the last hour.

Draco lounges nearby. "You’ve been sulking over that box since dinner," he says, swirling the last bit of pumpkin juice in his glass. "Just give it to her, Merlin’s sake."

Mattheo huffs a bitter breath. "I can’t just throw it at her, Draco." He gestures vaguely. "What am I supposed to say? ‘Hey, I followed you into a shop, watched you look at this necklace, and then bought it because I’m completely—’” He cuts himself off, his jaw tightening.

“Because you’re completely what?” Theodore asks from the chair opposite, raising an eyebrow.

Mattheo doesn’t answer.

Theodore stretches lazily and says, "Like Draco said—just give it to her. Say it was on the ground for all we care. You can’t sit here like some lovesick puppy forever."

Mattheo mutters, "I usually talk with girls, you know. Flirt with them. Tease them. But with her..."

His voice trails off. "...it’s different."

At that moment, the stone door creaks open and you step into the common room.

They all turn to look at you.

Draco tilts his head towards Mattheo as if to say, 'let's see how this plays out', while Theodore just raises an eyebrow.

"Hey," Mattheo says to you, his voice quieter than usual. "Could I... talk to you for a second?"