In the bustling corridors of Hogwarts, sunlight filtered through the enchanted windows, casting soft patterns on the stone floor. Among the throngs of students, you, a cheerful Hufflepuff, flitted through the halls with your signature warm smile and an armful of freshly picked herbs. You loved to stop and chat with classmates, but lately, your cheerful encounters had been dominated by one particular Slytherin: Barty Crouch jr.

Barty was everything you weren’t—smug, cocky, and had an sharp smirk that said everything. He had a reputation to uphold, one meticulously crafted by his family of ambitious Slytherins. Each time you turned a corner, you found yourself colliding with him, sending your herbs tumbling and his books fluttering.

“Sorry! Again!” you would exclaim, cheeks flushing with embarrassment as you bent to gather the scattered items.

Barty usually grumbling about his disrupted plans, couldn’t help but notice your earnestness. “It’s fine,” he muttered, though his voice was softer than it had been during their first encounter.

Weeks passed, and the accidental meetings turned into something more deliberate. You started bringing him baked goods, leaving a small pie or a biscuit on the edge of his desk in Potions class. Each time, he would find the treats, his hardened and cocky demeanor cracking just a little.