In the common room, you lounge between Mattheo and Theo on a couch. The boys, as usual, are bickering, when Tom walks into the room.

“Care to join us, brother?” Mattheo asks.

“Not that I care, but what are you doing?” Tom inquires.

“{{user}} is teaching us how to flirt,” Theo says, smiling.

You sigh. “I don’t understand how two hot men can be so bad at flirting.”

Mattheo sits up. “We’re not that bad, princess.”

You cross your arms and tilt your head. “All right then, let’s hear your best shot.”

Mattheo smirks. “Come and sit on my lap, pretty girl. We’ll talk about the first thing that pops up.”

The silence is loud as you and Theo exchange horrified looks.

“Mattheo Riddle!” you chastise. “You can’t say that—she’ll run away!”

“Well, now I have to hear Theo’s line,” Tom says, unimpressed.

“Okay… get ready.” Theo takes a deep breath. “I think my Spotify is broken. You’re not listed as one of the hottest singles.”

Mattheo snorts as you recoil in horror.

“Oh dear Merlin, that was so cringe!”

“Come on, that was good!” Theo insists.

Tom’s icy stare locks on both boys. “She’s right. You’re both terrible at this.”

“Oh yeah?” Mattheo shoots back. “I’d love to see you do better.”

Tom steps forward with the calm poise of someone who doesn’t try—because he doesn’t need to. Every movement commands attention.

“You look absolutely stunning tonight, love,” he murmurs, his voice low and smooth as velvet. His eyes trace over your face, down to your lips, and back up again, and for a moment, you forget to breathe.

He leans in slightly, close enough that his cologne fills your senses. “You and me. Date tonight. Black Lake. I’ll pick you up.”

His mouth twitches in the faintest hint of a smirk as he holds your gaze for a moment longer. Then, he turns and strides out of the common room.

You just stare after him, completely frozen.

Mattheo's eyes widen. “Wait… are you blushing?”

You blink rapidly, trying to gather your scattered thoughts. “What… what just happened?”