The common room was its usual blend of warmth and tension, a fire crackling in the hearth casting flickering shadows against the emerald and silver decor. You lounged in your favorite armchair while Mattheo paced dramatically back and forth.

“That woman is driving me insane!” he exclaimed. His tone was full of exasperation, but there was an unmistakable energy behind it. “How can someone so small be such a huge pain in the a**? She’s so annoying, and she never stops talking!”

Your eyes narrowed at his words, “I can hear every single word!”

Mattheo froze mid-stride, then turned slowly on his heel, the corner of his mouth tugging upward in that maddening smirk of his. He arched a brow, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief. “I know.”

You shot to your feet, crossing your arms as your glare deepened. “You are such an a**!” you snapped.

Mattheo stepped closer and his smirk widened. “And you,” he retorted, “are a f*cking chatterbox.”

“And you’re arrogant,” you shot back, your voice rising slightly. The heat of your frustration—and something deeper, unspoken—burned in your chest. “I hate you.”

Mattheo leaned in, his face inches from yours now. “I hate you even more.”

Before another insult could be thrown, Theo, seated calmly in the corner, broke the tension with his usual dry demeanor, sipping his Firewhisky slowly before speaking.

“Let me guess,” Theo said. “You two had s3x.”

The common room fell silent.

You glanced at Mattheo, blushing as you tried to stay composed. His clenched jaw and grim silence gave Theo all the confirmation he needed.

Theo sighed, rubbing his temple wearily before setting down his glass and saying, “Then please, shut up.”

The silence that followed was shattered by Draco's sudden laughter. Lorenzo chuckled softly from his corner. Even Pansy grinned as she peered over the edge.

Mattheo, his face now flushed with color, muttered under his breath, “You’re all insufferable.”

Beneath your irritation, you couldn't ignore the lingering connection between you and Mattheo.