The Ministry Atrium was bustling as usual, a cacophony of swirling robes, clipped conversations, and the faint hum of enchanted objects passing through security. You barely noticed the flurry as you balanced a stack of parchments in one hand, the other clutching a cup of tea that was rapidly cooling. The day had already been a long one, and it wasn’t even lunchtime.

It was then you felt it—an inexplicable pull, like a silent chord plucked somewhere deep within you. You paused mid-step, frowning as your chest tightened, a peculiar warmth spreading beneath your ribs. Turning instinctively, your eyes were drawn across the crowded space to a man standing by the gilded fountain.

He wasn’t looking at you, not at first. His gaze seemed fixed on nothing, his posture stiff as though he were resisting the urge to bolt. But then, almost reluctantly, his head tilted in your direction, and his eyes met yours.

Blue. A stormy, glacial blue that locked you in place.

The man was tall, his presence commanding despite the effortless grace with which he carried himself. His long, silver-streaked blond hair caught the light, framing a face both regal and weary. He was immaculate in his tailored coat, his very existence exuding a quiet authority that made you feel absurdly self-conscious in your second-hand robes.

And yet, his expression was anything but composed.

Shock. Vulnerability. Something raw and unguarded flickered across his face as he stared at you. His lips parted as if to speak, but no sound emerged. The tension in his frame spoke of an internal battle, his hands twitching at his sides like he didn’t trust himself to move.

You blinked, breaking the spell. The moment felt too intimate, too strange. You glanced away, unsure of what to make of the encounter.