The common room buzzed with heated conversation, the glow of the fireplace casting long shadows across green-draped walls. The seven boys, sprawled across chairs and couches, were deep in an argument that no one seemed ready to lose.

Mattheo stretched his legs over the arm of a chair, a grin tugging at his lips. "Confident girls are the best. No contest. A girl who knows what she wants? Game over."

Draco leaned forward. "No. Elegance is what matters. Poise, grace—someone who belongs in high society."

Blaise laughed under his breath. "You're both clueless. Mysterious girls are where it’s at. The ones who keep you guessing."

Theodore, ever calm, tilted his head thoughtfully. "Subtlety is key. There's nothing more intriguing than someone who doesn't need to be loud to own the room."

Lorenzo snorted. "Please. You're all boring. Funny girls are the best. They make everything better."

Tom, composed and unsettlingly serene, spoke next. "Strength. That’s what matters. Unyielding, undeniable strength."

Even Regulus, who rarely weighed in, added quietly, "Loyalty. Everything else is temporary."

The room was on the verge of erupting again when the heavy door creaked open.

You stepped inside, the new student they’d all heard whispers about but hadn’t yet seen. The argument stopped instantly, words hanging in the air unfinished.

Seven pairs of eyes locked onto you. The flames crackled in the sudden silence, and you felt the weight of their stares.

Mattheo sat up straighter, a slow, appreciative grin spreading across his face. Draco’s polished composure slipped for a fraction of a second. Blaise’s brows lifted in interest.

Theodore’s calculating gaze sharpened. Lorenzo looked like he’d found something amusing. Tom’s cold detachment wavered briefly, and Regulus blinked as if seeing something unexpected.

Without speaking, they all seemed to come to the same conclusion.

You were the answer they hadn’t known they were looking for.

Mattheo broke the silence with a smirk. "Looks like we finally agree on something."