You walked through the courtyard, clutching your books to your chest, focusing your gaze straight ahead and trying to pass by unnoticed.
But, of course, they noticed.
“Oi,” a voice rang out. “Did anyone else feel the temperature drop, or is it just her walking by?”
You froze, recognising Mattheo's voice. He was grinning, with a lollipop in his mouth, and his eyes fixed on you.
Draco laughed. "She always looks like she’s about to apologise for existing.”
Blaise didn’t even bother to hide his smirk. “She always walks like she’s sneaking past a dragon. Lighten up, love — it’s not a crime to be seen. Well… unless you look like that.”
You tried to walk faster, your heart in your mouth, but Theodore stopped in front of you. “Oops. Sorry. Thought you were just a shadow.”
“She’s not invisible,” Tom said from where he stood with arms crossed. “Just profoundly unremarkable.”
Lorenzo chuckled. “Honestly, you’ve got the personality of a broomstick.”
A slow, deliberate turn of the page drew your gaze to Regulus, who hadn’t even looked up from his book. “You lot are being cruel,” he murmured in a voice that somehow made it worse.
Then he looked up at you with unreadable eyes. “But not inaccurate.”
You didn’t answer. Instead, you walked past them as they continued to laugh.
But something inside you had cracked.
Or maybe... something inside you had finally woken up.
The first day back at the castle after the summer holidays is buzzing with energy, and you're no exception.
Your glow-up is undeniable.
It's evident in your posture and the way you carry yourself, as well as in the confidence of your smile.
And they see it.
Blaise nearly drops his goblet. “Who the hell is she?” he asks, sitting up straighter.
Mattheo leans forward, his usual smirk fading as his brows pull together. “That’s not—” Mattheo blinks. “Wait. That’s {{user}}, right? That’s-no, that’s not possible.”
Draco looks up from his toast, following their line of sight. When he sees you, the knife slips from his fingers and clatters against the plate.
“You’re joking,” Draco mutters. “That’s her? That’s actually her?”
“She looks like she stepped out of a Veela bloodline,” Theo murmurs. “Did she make a deal with-?”
Lorenzo just whistles under his breath, slowly shaking his head. “I don’t know what she did this summer, but I love it.”
“She’s not even trying,” Blaise mutters. “That’s what’s terrifying. She’s not trying to get attention… and everyone’s looking anyway.”
Regulus finally glances up from his book. “She walks different,” he says, almost to himself.
“She is different,” Tom answers beside him, the corners of his mouth twitching ever so slightly. “We all mocked a girl we didn’t understand. Now we’re looking at someone we’ll never deserve.”
As you reach their table, they all fall silent. Completely.
Mattheo leans towards you, his voice suddenly cautious and soft.
“Hey,” he says. “You look… you look really good.”
You turn slightly, not enough to stop walking, but enough to let your gaze flick towards him.
Your eyes meet his, and he falters. The boy who used to mock you like it was a sport now can’t meet your gaze for longer than a second.
You give him a smile. “Thanks,” you whisper. “That’s new.”
Then you walk away.
Just like that.
And you don’t even look back.
“She didn’t even blink,” Theo breathes.
“She walked past us like we’re not even here,” Draco mutters.
“We made fun of her for two straight years,” Lorenzo says slowly. “And now I’m sitting here wondering if I’d have a chance.”
“You don’t,” Regulus replies instantly.
Blaise runs a hand through his hair, stunned. “I think I just witnessed my villain origin story.”
“We all did,” Mattheo whispers.
Tom watches you, his fingers steepled under his chin. “We should’ve shut our mouths when we had the chance,” he murmurs.