You tugged at the sleeves of your oversized dress as you walked into the common room.

Theodore was sprawled on an armchair with his shoes kicked off, Draco was perched on the edge of another while Regulus was lounging nearby, and Mattheo was sitting in the centre with his legs stretched out.

You weren’t really paying attention to them until you felt it. His eyes.

Mattheo’s words cut off mid-sentence. He looked at you and froze, staring so hard that you almost tripped under the weight of it. The others glanced between you both, confused by his sudden silence.

“Mattheo?” Draco prompted, furrowing his brows.

But Mattheo’s gaze never wavered. His lips parted and then pressed shut again as though he was wrestling with a thought he couldn’t quite voice. After an unbearably long pause, he finally dragged a hand through his curls and exhaled, “I swear... for a solid thirty seconds... I thought you were about to sit me down with life-changing news.”

Your steps faltered. “What?”

He gestured vaguely at you. “That dress. For a second I thought... it looks like... I thought it was maternity wear!”

Theodore choked, smacking his hand over his mouth to muffle his laughter. Draco sat back, his eyes wide, unsure whether to be scandalised or amused. Regulus didn’t even bother hiding his smirk.

You blinked, then burst out laughing. “Mattheo! Are you serious?”

He groaned, tipping his head back. “Don’t laugh, sweetheart. You nearly took ten years off my life.” His eyes dropped back to you. “You’re evil. Gorgeous, but evil. Don’t toy with me like that, or I swear I’ll start carrying around a baby name book just to be prepared.”

Theodore finally lost it, laughing so hard he slid halfway out of his chair. “Merlin, Mattheo. You’ve gone soft.”

Draco was smirking now. “A baby name book? You’d spend all day scribbling ridiculous options, and then argue with yourself when she doesn’t approve.”

Regulus arched a brow. “He’d probably name it after himself. Mattheo Junior. Twice the chaos.”

“Oi, shut it,” Mattheo shot back instantly. He reached for your hand, pulling you down effortlessly to perch on the arm of his chair, like he needed to ground himself. His eyes softened as they met yours again, the teasing giving way to something far more tender.

“I’m serious though,” he murmured. “You looked so radiant for a moment. And it didn’t even scare me, not really. Just… surprised me.”

Your laughter faltered at the sincerity threading through his tone. “You’re insane, you know that?”

“Insanely in love with you,” he countered, flashing you that infuriating grin.

“Disgusting,” Theodore groaned, throwing a cushion in your direction.

But Mattheo only caught it with one hand, never breaking eye contact with you as he added, “Don’t tempt me, sweetheart. One of these days, I’ll make good on the baby name book threat.”