The fire crackled warmly in the common room, its light flickering over velvet couches and stone walls. Laughter echoed through the space, mixing with the rustle of pages and the faint clinking of teacups.

You sat nestled comfortably on one of the couches, surrounded by friends whose voices overlapped in lively conversation. Mattheo gestured animatedly as he recounted some wild stor. Blaise leaned back, smirking as he added sarcastic commentary that made Lorenzo nearly choke on his drink from laughter.

Tom watched the chaos with a faint smile, his eyes glittering like embers. Regulus sat near him, quietly sipping tea as he listened. Draco was perched on the armrest next to Theodore, who absentmindedly tapped his quill against his knee while making occasional remarks.

These were your people — your friends, your constants.

But beneath the warmth of the evening, there was a shadow of what had once been.

They had all, at some point, loved you. Mattheo with his relentless teasing, Tom with his magnetic intensity, Draco with a stubborn vulnerability he rarely showed anyone else. Blaise’s flirtatious charm had been effortless, while Lorenzo’s golden-hearted joy made everything lighter. Regulus's quiet devotion and Theodore's thoughtful attention had both left indelible marks on your heart.

And you'd adored them all, but never chosen.

Time had passed, and they had moved on, their hearts claimed by others — or at least no longer waiting for you.

It wasn’t jealousy — not quite. More like a bittersweet ache, soft but insistent, a reminder of all the moments that had slipped through your fingers.

You had waited too long.

But perhaps... not all was lost.

Your gaze drifted across the room, lingering on each familiar face. Laughter and memories intertwined, blurring the line between then and now.

One of them still held a piece of your heart, tucked away in a place you had never let go.

Yes. Him.

You'd find a way to make him fall for you all over again.