When Professor Slughorn announced the new pairings for the upcoming Potions project, you groaned under your breath.

“Partners… with him?” you muttered, staring across the table at Mattheo Riddle. He looked up, perfectly composed as always, a faint smirk on his lips.

“Looks like we’re doomed together,” you said, trying to keep your voice steady.

Mattheo’s eyes flickered with amusement. “Doomed? I think you’ll find that working with me will be… educational. For you.”

You clenched your jaw. “Educational, huh? I doubt you can teach me anything I don’t already know.”

He leaned back casually, wand twirling in his fingers. “We’ll see about that. Though I must admit, I’m curious… how will you manage not to ruin everything?”

The first day of working together was tense. Every move, every instruction, every stir of a cauldron carried an invisible war. You disagreed on ingredients, timing, and the proper way to handle the fumes. The bubbles in the cauldron mirrored your growing frustration—and yet, you couldn’t deny the strange energy between you.

“You’re too reckless,” Mattheo snapped when you added the mandrake extract a second too soon.

“And you’re too meticulous,” you shot back. “Life isn’t all perfect timing and flawless technique!”

He raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained by your audacity. “Flawed execution is hardly the way to impress anyone.”