Seventh year had arrived, and everything felt different at Hogwarts. With the pressure of NEWTs, the looming war, and the constant shifts in the wizarding world, everyone seemed on edge, looking forward to the end of school but also dreading what came next.

You were part of a mixed group of friends—a collection of Slytherins who had somehow found themselves bonding over shared study sessions and late-night talks in the library. Amidst the familiar faces, you spotted Theodore Nott more often now. Quiet, intelligent, and a little mysterious, he’d never been someone you paid much attention to before. But this year, there was something different about him that kept catching your eye. Maybe it was the way he listened without judging or how his rare smiles felt like they held secrets.

One night after study hours, the two of you ended up walking back to the common areas alone, and it struck you how little you really knew about him. You decided to break the silence, wondering if this year could lead to something new—something you’d never expected.