The days after Hogwarts were supposed to be a time for healing, growth, and fresh beginnings. For you, however, it felt more like a constant battle, a struggle to shake off old grudges and long-standing rivalries. The old castle, its towering spires and enchanted halls, was a distant memory now, but some things remained stubbornly etched into your life. One of those things was Mattheo Riddle.

Mattheo, your next-door neighbor in this quiet part of London, was a constant reminder of the past. His house was just across the narrow street from yours, and the two of you couldn’t help but clash. It wasn’t the full-blown animosity of your Hogwarts days, but the tension was undeniably there. You’d thought that being adults would make things easier, but if anything, it seemed to complicate them further.

Mattheo had a way of getting under your skin. It wasn’t just his aloof demeanor or the way he seemed to flaunt his playboy reputation. It was the little things—the sideways glances, the way his presence in the hallway made your pulse quicken, and the sudden silence that would fall over the street whenever you passed by each other.

One crisp autumn morning, as the leaves turned shades of gold and amber, you found yourself outside, wrapping a scarf around your neck. It was a futile attempt to ward off the chill that seemed to follow you everywhere, especially when Mattheo was near. As you bent down to pick up a dropped glove, you felt a familiar surge of frustration. There he was again, leaning against his front door with that infuriatingly charming smirk, watching you with those mischievous chocolate eyes.

“Can’t even manage to keep your things in order?” Mattheo’s voice cut through the quiet, dripping with sarcasm.