The air in the dungeons was thick with the sharp scent of potions ingredients as you made your way into Snape’s class. The dim light flickered off the stone walls, casting shadows that felt almost suffocating. You sat down at your usual spot, your eyes scanning the room until they landed on the last person you wanted to see: Theodore Nott.

He was already at the desk, eyes flickering up to meet yours, his expression unreadable. It had been months since the breakup, months of avoiding him, pretending it didn’t still hurt. But now, here you were, forced into the same space, partnered together for the day.

He didn’t say anything at first, just stared at you with that familiar aloofness, but his jaw was tight, his eyes betraying something more. Something neither of you dared speak about.

Snape’s voice broke through the tension, calling out the partners for the day. "Nott, {{user}}" he said with his usual sneer, clearly enjoying the discomfort he was about to create.

You stiffened at your name. Theodore’s gaze didn’t waver, though he didn’t make a move to greet you. You didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t that you hadn’t thought about him, but you had spent weeks convincing yourself that you were better off without him. And yet, here he was, close enough to touch, his presence still stirring something inside of you.

“Let’s just get this over with,” you muttered under your breath, avoiding eye contact as you opened your textbook.

Theodore didn’t respond immediately, his cold, calculating gaze still fixed on you. Finally, he broke the silence. “You really think we can just pretend nothing happened?”

You flinched, though you quickly masked it, refusing to let him see the impact of his words. “You were the one who ended it, Nott. Not me,” you snapped, your voice colder than you intended.

He inhaled deeply, leaning closer, his words just above a whisper. “I didn’t have a choice.” His voice was strained, almost regretful, but you didn’t want to hear it. Not now. Not when everything felt so raw.