The common room was quiet, save for the crackle of the fire in the hearth. Mattheo leaned against the cold stone wall, his arms crossed, waiting for the clock to signal the end of another grueling lesson. He couldn’t focus today—not with the empty seat beside him in every class.

You never skipped lessons. Ever.

His jaw tightened as he headed for your dormitory. The last thing either of you needed was more trouble, and with their father’s ever-watchful eyes lurking in the shadows, missing a day’s lesson could turn into a problem bigger than it needed to be.

Reaching your door, Mattheo knocked once, sharply. No response. He frowned, then knocked again, louder this time.

“Come on, open up..”

Silence. His patience, always precariously thin, evaporated. He shoved the door open to find you lying on your bed, curled up on your side with a blanket haphazardly draped over you.

“What the hell, {{user}}?”

You turned your head slightly, your voice muffled against the pillow. “Go away, Mattheo.”

“Not happening.” He stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. “Why’d you skip class? You never skip.”

“It’s fine. Just leave me alone.”

“Yeah, no. It’s not fine. What’s going on?”

Your silence stretched long enough that he thought you might not answer. But then you sighed, rolling over just enough to face him. “Cramps.”

Mattheo was caught off guard. “Cramps? Like...period cramps?”

You gave him a look that was part exhaustion, part are-you-serious-right-now. “No, Mattheo. I just randomly decided to die today. Yes, period cramps.”

He ran a hand through his hair, pacing for a moment. “Okay, uh…did you take anything for it? Potions? Heat charm? Or were you just going to lay here and let it kill you?”