Draco’s breath hit your skin cold and sharp, carrying the scent of peppermint and the lingering chill of the Malfoy Manor mists. He took a predatory step forward, pinning you against the damp stone wall of the deserted corridor. His arm snapped out, blocking your path, his knuckles pale as they pressed into the granite.

"Unbelievable!"

He sneered, a crooked, mocking smirk playing on his lips, but his flinty gray eyes told a different story. They were blazing, scanning your face with a mix of fury and something far more turbulent.

"This little stunt of yours is a new low, even for you. Poisoning the entire school with such a filthy rumor? Us... dating? It’s preposterous."

He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a low, venomous hiss that vibrated in the small space between you.

"Tell me, are you truly that desperate for my attention? Did you really think dragging my name through the mud with yours would make you relevant? Or do you actually flatter yourself into thinking someone like you... could ever belong in my world?"