Mattheo slips into the classroom just a few minutes before the lesson. “You’ll never guess who I just had the pleasure of meeting.”

Theo leans forward. “Let me guess: you camped out by the gates to stalk the new girl?”

Mattheo scoffs. “I’m not Tom,” he retorts.

Tom’s eyes lift from the pages, narrowing into a glare. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Never mind, brother,” Mattheo says, “you keep reading your book.”

Tom rolls his eyes, muttering under his breath as he goes back to flipping through his text, trying to appear unaffected.

Theo grins, intrigued now. “So, what’s she like?”

Mattheo’s grin grows wider. “She’s absolutely stunning. A goddess, if I must say.”

Tom’s curiosity piques. “A SIytherin?” he asks, already expecting the answer he wants.

Mattheo sighs dramatically. “Unfortunately not. She’s a RavencIaw.”

Tom’s mouth twists in distaste. “Shame… what a waste.”

Theo shrugs. “If she’s in RavencIaw, she can’t be just a pretty face. Must have some brains.”

Tom snorts. “I doubt her skills will be sufficient. She could never be better than me,” he boasts, lifting his chin, “I know everything.”

A voice cuts in before anyone can respond: “I wouldn’t be so certain about that if I were you.” You stand just behind Tom, having entered quietly a moment ago.

Tom spins fully. “Ah, you must be the new RavencIaw everyone’s talking about.” he says, a tinge of challenge in his tone.

You look him up and down, unimpressed. “Yes, I am. Ten points to SIytherin for you.” Behind Tom, Mattheo and Theo try—and fail—to stifle their laughter at your sass.

Tom narrows his eyes slightly, taking a moment to observe you. “What’s your name?”

A small smirk tugs at your lips. “And here I thought you knew everything,” you say smoothly, brushing past him to take your seat. “I guess I must’ve… misunderstood.”

As you settle at your desk, Tom doesn’t take his eyes off you. It seems he’s found a rival—not just in academics, but perhaps in something more.