You were sitting on the edge of Mattheo's bed while the whole castle slept.

Then came three sharp knocks.

Your stomach dropped.

Mattheo’s brow furrowed, but before he could get up, you scrambled away, your heart pounding in your ears. “Who is it?” he called. You slid off the bed and ducked behind the wardrobe.

“It’s me,” Pansy’s familiar voice answered, muffled through the door.

Mattheo cracked it open just enough to lean lazily against the frame. “What do you want at this hour?”

Pansy rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “Relax, I’m not here to hex you. I just… wanted to ask you a favour.”

Mattheo arched a brow. “Go on.”

“Be nice to {{user}},” Pansy said plainly, her tone a mix of exasperation and concern.

Mattheo tilted his head, feigning confusion. “{{user}}?”

“Yes, {{user}},” Pansy repeated. “She’s got a crush on you. It’d be decent of you not to make her life miserable because of it.”

Mattheo let out a soft chuckle, scratching the back of his neck. “Really? I had no idea.”

“Of course you didn’t,” Pansy sighed, shaking her head. “Boys never do. Just… don’t be cruel about it, alright?”

With that, she spun on the spot and disappeared down the corridor, her robes swishing and her voice muttering under her breath about clueless boys.

The door clicked shut.

Then Mattheo turned the lock, his shoulders shaking with a laugh he could no longer hold back. When he spun on his heel, his eyes went straight to your hiding spot. "You can come out now, sweetheart."

Slowly, you stepped out from behind the wardrobe, biting your lip. He was leaning against the door with his arms folded and a smug smile on his face.

“So,” he drawled, “a crush, huh?”

“You already knew,” you whispered.

His smirk deepened as he reached you, tilting your chin up with the gentlest touch of his hand. “Of course I knew,” he murmured. “How could I not? You’re terrible at hiding it.”

You huffed, but before you could say another word, his lips brushed your forehead.

“Good thing,” he added, pulling back just enough to look at you, “we’re already dating. Otherwise, I might have had to do something reckless tonight.”