Theodore Nott stood in the dimly lit hallway, his silhouette outlined against the soft glow of the sconces that lined the walls. His hands were stuffed deep into the pockets of his trousers, and his posture betrayed a hint of restless tension. It had been months since the forced arrangement had begun—living together under the same roof, the only two occupants of a sprawling ancestral home that seemed to amplify the echoes of their shared past.

Theo glanced down the hallway, his gaze landing on the figure approaching from the opposite direction. You, his childhood nemesis turned reluctant cohabitant, walked with a measured pace, your steps echoing lightly on the polished floorboards. As you neared each other, the air between you crackled with unspoken words—years of rivalry, pride, and the weight of familial expectation.

"So," Theo began, his voice cool and deliberate, a mask of detachment that barely concealed the roiling emotions beneath. "Another lovely evening in our charming little abode, I see."

You raised an eyebrow, a habitual response to his passive-aggressive tone. "As lovely as ever, Theo," you retorted, the faintest hint of sarcasm lacing your words.

He smirked, a flash of amusement dancing in his eyes as he leaned casually against the wall, studying you with a gaze that was both calculating and unreadable. "Still taking great pleasure in avoiding my attempts at civil conversation, I see."