A half-circle of couches had become the center of gravity for the night, half-empty bottles of whisky and beer strewn across the table.

You were curled up with a drink in hand, your cheeks flushed and your gaze slightly unfocused from the alcohol.

Draco, lounging beside you with his legs stretched out, leaned closer. “Come on, {{user}}… are you tipsy already?”

You turned your head toward him with and then, without hesitation, you said. “Smash.”

The room burst into laughter.

Draco blinked, then grinned, genuinely pleased. “Well, I wasn’t expecting that level of honesty, but I’ll take it.”

Pansy, curled on the armrest beside Theo, gasped through her laughter. “Wait, wait. What about Tom?”

Everyone turned towards the corner where Tom was sitting. He sipped slowly from his glass and met your gaze lazily.

You stared for a beat. “This is making me question things about myself...” you murmured.

A pause. Then you lifted your drink. “But... smash.”

Even Tom arched an eyebrow at that.

Theo let out a low whistle.

You turned slowly to face him, your eyes narrowing as a grin spread across your face. You raised two fingers. “Double smash.”

Theo’s smirk deepened. “Double? I didn’t even know that was an option.”

“It is now,” you said, sipping your drink.

Theo laughed and turned the tables. “Alright, alright. What about Pansy?”

Pansy leaned in, posing dramatically. “Be careful with your words, {{user}}.”

You tilted your head, giving her an appreciative once-over. “She’s cute, I’ll give her that…”

Pansy beamed.

“But… pass.”

Pansy gasped. “Excuse me?”

“Not in a bad way!” you added.

She huffed, but her smile lingered. “You’re drunk and have no taste.”

Your gaze shifted across the room again. First to Lorenzo, who was leaning back against a chair with one hand on his jaw, watching you with lazy interest. Then, just behind him near the fireplace, you saw Regulus. He was composed and detached, his eyes shadowed in thought, but he was still watching you.

You pointed at them both in succession. “Smash. Smash.”

Lorenzo gave you a lazy, amused smirk. Without looking up, Regulus raised his glass faintly in acknowledgement.

And then, the common room door creaked open.

Mattheo stepped inside. His curls were a mess, and a grin that was all his own ghosted across his lips as if he knew he was walking into trouble.

Before he could even speak, your eyes lit up and you pointed at him like he was a revelation.

“Smash. Smash.”

Mattheo blinked. “What the—?”

He looked around at the others for some kind of explanation.

Theo, still chuckling, shrugged. “We’re just witnessing the most chaotic round of Hot or Not that the castle has ever seen.”

Mattheo ran a hand through his hair and laughed. “Merlin! You need water. Don't even think about touching another drink.”