The Slytherin common room is unusually tense, the fire crackling just loud enough to fill the pauses neither of them wants to acknowledge.

Tom breaks the silence first, irritation sharp and effortless.

“Ugh. That girl you’re dating is insufferable. Honestly, Mattheo, how do you even deal with that?”

Mattheo’s head snaps up immediately, annoyance flashing across his face.

“What’s your problem, Tom? Your girl’s annoying anyway. Attitude, drama, all the damn time.”

Tom lets out a humorless laugh, leaning back like this is all mildly entertaining.

“Well, Cinderella only had to take off one shoe to find love.”

Mattheo narrows his eyes, already bracing himself.

“But your girl?” Tom continues smoothly. “She took everything off for everyone and still couldn’t.”

For half a second, the room goes completely silent.

“What the—”

Mattheo is already on his feet, magic humming under his skin, fury rolling off him in waves. Tom remains seated, perfectly calm, watching him like he just tipped over the first domino and is waiting to see how hard the rest will fall.

The fire flares brighter.

And for the first time in a long while, Mattheo realizes Tom didn’t say that to be cruel.

He said it because he knew it would hurt.

And because hurting people has always come far too easily to a Riddle.