The garden of the castle was bathed in soft golden sunlight, casting a warm glow over the rows of students gathered for the lecture on hippogriffs. The majestic creatures stood tethered nearby, their wings twitching slightly, and their proud heads held high.

You weren’t paying much attention to the lesson, though. Your eyes were drawn, almost against your will, to Draco.

It wasn’t fair how he could look so smug and self-assured all the time, especially when he knew exactly how to get under your skin. For all his bravado, though, you knew the truth: he was just as affected by you as you were by him. The tension between you wasn’t just rivalry—it was something more, something unspoken. He was your constant sparring partner, your nemesis in public, and your secret crush in private.

Determined to get the upper hand today, you strolled toward him. As you approached, his eyes flicked to you, a spark of challenge already lighting in them.

“Hey, Draco,” you began, tilting your head just enough to feign innocence. “If beauty was a crime, you’d be innocent.”

His smirk deepened instantly, as if he’d been waiting for your comment. “I know it,” he drawled with that familiar air of superiority. Then, a flicker of realization crossed his face, his eyebrows knitting together. “Wait—”

You didn’t give him a chance to finish. With a mocking grin, you spun on your heel and darted off, laughing as you heard him shout behind you.

“Get back here, right now!” Draco’s voice rang out, tinged with both amusement and irritation. “I will catch you!”

You raced through the rows of students, weaving between them to avoid his pursuit. In your haste, you found yourself near the hippogriffs, their large, curious eyes tracking your approach. Thinking quickly, you scrambled up onto the back of one.

“Oh no,” you whispered. “Please… don’t fly!”

The hippogriff had other ideas. With a powerful leap, its wings extended wide, and it took off into the sky.

Below, you heard Harry’s voice, sharp with alarm. “{{user}}!”