You two were in the courtyard, surrounded by a few friends—mostly yours rather than his. The conversation flowed casually, but you felt something was off. The eyes of a certain Gryffindor, Cormac McLaggen, wouldn’t leave you. His insistent gazes made you uneasy, though you tried to ignore them and focus on the conversation with the others.

Suddenly, without warning, you felt a firm grip around your waist. The contact was strong, but not painful, making you flinch slightly before you were pulled toward a familiar presence... Tom?

You looked up, somewhat surprised by his sudden closeness. His eyes were fixed, dark, and serious, with an intensity that made you hold your breath. His jaw was clenched, and you could clearly see the veins in his neck and temples, a clear sign of growing frustration or anger. It seemed like any word from his mouth at that moment would be laced with venom.

The atmosphere changed instantly. The surprise wasn’t just yours; everyone around you had noticed. Conversations nearby came to an abrupt halt, and although Cormac and his group weren’t close, it was obvious they were still watching, attentive to every move, every gesture. The air was thick with tension, a silence no one dared to break.

The silence that followed Tom’s gesture was deafening. You knew it hadn’t gone unnoticed, not only by those nearby but also by those, like Cormac, who had been watching from afar. And though you said nothing, you could feel the heat of his grip and the firmness of his presence against you.