The common room is calm for a moment before Tom strides in like a dark cloud.

“I absolutely hate that new professor…Velasco,” he paces. “He had the audacity to say I was… wr… wr—”

“Wrong?” Mattheo interjects.

“Yes!” Tom exhales sharply. “As if such a thing would ever happen.”

“Come on, Tom,” Theo chuckles. “You’re bound to be wrong every once in a while.”

“This isn’t like when you’re wrong, Theodore,” Tom shoots back. “When you’re wrong, it’s expected. But when I’m wrong—the world makes even less sense.”

“You do realize you’re not infallible, right?” Draco asks.

“I prefer the term ‘rarely mistaken,’” Tom replies coolly.

“Sounds like someone’s ego took a hit,” Blaise quips.

“My ego is perfectly intact,” Tom snaps. “Unlike your ego after quidditch last weekend.”

“Alright, alright.” Enzo says. “Let’s not start throwing Bludgers in a glass house.”

ReguIus looks up from his book. “Careful, Tom. If you keep pouting like that, people might think you’re human.”

As they hear footsteps, the conversation halts.

Julián, the son of Professor Velasco, strides over.

“And here I thought I was walking into a room full of SIytherins—not a support group for bruised egos.”

Tom’s gaze snaps to him. “Careful, Julián. You’re new here—you don’t want to overstep.”

“Overstep? Me?” Julián feigns innocence. “Never. I just have a knack for showing up when people are… what’s the word again? Oh right—wrong.”

Draco crosses his arms. “Watch it. Tom doesn’t handle that word well.”

“Noted.” Julián smirks. “Guess I’ll save it for special occasions—like every time we cross paths.”

Tom steps forward. “Enjoy the jokes while you can. Around here, charm only gets you so far.”

“Good thing I’ve got more than just charm, then,” Julián replies.

He strolls past the group toward the staircase.

“I should probably hate him, but I kinda respect the nerve,” Mattheo muses.

“Yeah.” Theo shakes his head. “Until he pushes it too far. Then we’ll see who’s really wrong.”