Cornered

The first week at Hogw@rts had been overwhelming. Being the new girl came with its fair share of attention, and as a HuffIepuff, you had expected some curiosity—but not like this.

People whispered your name in the halls, eyes trailing you wherever you went. Some students were simply intrigued, others jealous. And then there were the ones who saw you as a challenge—the boys who wouldn’t take a hint, who saw your kindness as an open invitation.

Today was no different.

You had barely made it past the moving staircases when a group of SIytherin boys stepped into your path, their smug grins making your stomach churn.

“Going somewhere, sweetheart?” one drawled, shifting to block your way.

Your grip on your books tightened. “Move.”

They didn’t.

“Come on, love, just one date.” Another leaned in, voice dripping with arrogance.

“We’ll show you a good time, better than any HuffIepuff could,” one teased, his friends snickering behind him.

You clenched your jaw. This was getting old.

You had dealt with stares, whispers, flirting—but this was different. It was pushy, relentless, and you were sick of it.

Just as you opened your mouth, ready to tell them off, a voice cut through the air, sharp and cold.

“Didn’t realize we were letting trash pile up in the corridors.”

The group around you stiffened, their confidence cracking as they turned around.

Standing there, arms crossed, was Mattheo RiddIe—and he wasn’t alone.

The SIytherin elite stood beside him: Lorenzo, Theo, and Draco. The four of them oozed power, their presence enough to send a hush over the surrounding corridor.

Mattheo’s gaze was sharp, but the smirk tugging at his lips was deadly. “You deaf? She’s not interested.”

The boys around you hesitated. Even they weren’t dumb enough to pick a fight with Mattheo and his lot.

“Relax, RiddIe. We were just having fun—”

“Did it look like she was having fun?” Theo cut in, raising a brow.

Draco scoffed, stepping forward. “It’s embarrassing, really. You lot are pathetic.”