The weight of the upcoming season hung heavily in the air. You stood shoulder to shoulder with Pansy, Astoria, Daphne and a few other girls. Your gaze was fixed on the silver goblet resting on the table in front of you.

Across the room, the boys lounged casually, including Regulus. His eyes burned with amusement. He smirked cockily, but beneath the surface, an unmistakable edge of fury lurked. You hated him with every fibre of your being, and you could feel the same fire reflected in his gaze.

“Ready to find out which boy you're going to be the 'lucky charm' for this year?” Pansy whispered.

One by one, the other girls stepped forward and pulled out names, displaying a range of emotions, from hopefulness to disappointment. The tension mounted with each name read aloud: Draco, Blaise, Barty, Evan, Theodore...

Finally, it was your turn. You stepped forward slowly and dipped your hand into the goblet. You clenched your fist around the piece of paper and pulled it out, unfolding it carefully.

Regulus.

The word echoed inside your head, louder than any cheer or gasp from the crowd.

Every pair of eyes flickered between you and Regulus. His smirk twisted into an angry sneer.

“Of all the damn luck,” Regulus spat. “They throw you my way.” He stepped forward, his eyes blazing. “You, of all people. The one I can’t stand.”

You met his glare without flinching. “Don’t expect me to cheer you on. Or even show up.”

He laughed. "I'm counting on you to fail, actually. It would be entertaining to watch you squirm.”

Draco chuckled behind him. “Looks like the tension’s already at boiling point.”

Regulus pointed a finger at you. “Do you think you’re better than me? Stronger? This is your chance to prove it. Otherwise, you’ll just be another disappointment.”

Your jaw tightened. “Keep dreaming, Regulus.”

His grin widened. “If you embarrass me, I won’t be the one who ends up humiliated.”

A hush fell over the hall. The other girls exchanged nervous glances, and even Pansy's smirk faltered for a moment.

You hand him the piece of paper. “Lucky charm? I’m more like your worst nightmare.”

Regulus’s eyes flickered with something unspoken... annoyance, perhaps, or grudging respect, or maybe an even deeper fire.

“Well, then,” he said, “let’s make this season unforgettable.”