The noise and chaos of the party had finally driven you away from the crowded common room. The thumping bass and loud laughter became too much, and you craved somewhere quieter, somewhere you could breathe. You slipped out of the main room unnoticed, making your way to the Astronomy Tower—a quiet haven high above Hogwarts, where you could finally be alone.

Settling against the stone wall, you looked up at the stars, letting their quiet brilliance soothe your mind. It was peaceful here, the night air cool against your skin, and you felt the tension start to slip away. But a few moments later, the sound of footsteps broke the silence, followed by the faint scent of familiar cologne—Mattheo’s cologne, rich and unmistakable. You tensed slightly but managed a small smile as he stepped into view.

Mattheo gave you a nod of acknowledgment, his expression somewhere between curiosity and amusement. He was one of Theo’s closest friends, after all, though he had a more intense presence—a sort of effortless swagger that made him both intimidating and strangely comforting.

But before you could exchange pleasantries, the heavy sound of a door opening echoed down the stairs. You both turned, and there, silhouetted against the dim light, was Theo. His eyes flicked between you and Mattheo, his face unreadable but his gaze sharp, his jaw clenched.

You felt a pang of panic, knowing how this must look. Theo—a man who valued his control and composure above all else, someone you’d been in a careful, casual friends-with-benefits relationship with for months now—stood there, clearly piecing together his own assumptions about what was happening.

He looked at you, then at Mattheo, a flicker of something dark crossing his expression.

“What's going on?” he asked, his eyes boring into you, refusing to shift. The tension in his expression was undeniable, the usually calm facade replaced with something darker, more intense.