The room was quiet except for the faint sound of rain tapping against the windows. You and Theo were curled up on the couch, his arm slung casually yet protectively around your shoulders.

"Do you remember how we met?" you asked.

Theo's lips quirked into that familiar smirk, a soft, teasing spark lighting up his face. "How could I forget? It’s probably the only time I willingly played hide-and-seek in my life."

You gave him a playful nudge, and his smirk melted into something gentler. His arm tightened around you, and he tilted his head slightly, his gaze growing distant as he pieced together the memory.

"You were standing by yourself in the corner of the playground," he began. "Draco was off yelling at Blaise about something—probably a fight over a toy, knowing him. You were just… watching, like you didn’t know if you should step in or stay away."

You chuckled softly. "Sounds like me."

"Yes," Theo agreed. "I was sitting on the swings when I saw you. And I don't know what it was, but you looked... lonely. So I went over and asked you if you wanted to play hide-and-seek."

You smiled at the thought, imagining your younger selves darting around the playground together. "And you found the best hiding spot," you said, nudging him again. "I couldn’t find you for ages!"

He let out a low chuckle. "What can I say? I’ve always been good at disappearing when I want to."

There was a pause, filled only by the sound of the rain outside. Theo's expression softened, and he glanced down at you. "But you didn’t get frustrated. You just kept looking. And when I finally came out, you didn’t seem mad at all. You just smiled."

His words lingered between you, heavy with meaning. "You’ve always been good at finding me," Theo said softly, his smirk fading into something much more vulnerable. "Even when I didn’t know I needed it."

"And you’ve always been there when I needed it," you whispered back.

Theo’s eyes held yours for a long moment, and then he leaned his head against yours, letting the silence say what words couldn’t.