You were walking toward the common room, your heart racing in anticipation. You hadn’t seen Mattheo all day, and the thought of him was enough to make your stomach flutter. As you rounded the corner, you paused, hearing laughter echoing from the room ahead.

But then you heard it.

"Honestly, I don’t even know how she doesn’t get it," Mattheo's voice drifted through the door. "I mean, her family’s reputation alone? It’s a goldmine."

A few chuckles followed. Regulus’ voice was next. “She’s so smitten, she wouldn't notice if you were using her as a stepping stool.”

"True," Theodore added, his tone light. "It’s a good play. The girl's totally blind to it."

You froze. The world felt like it had just stopped moving. The warmth of the common room, the laughter, the very thought of Mattheo… all of it suddenly felt like it was shattering around you. You pressed your back against the cold stone of the wall, your breath catching in your throat as you struggled to understand what you had just heard.

“Mattheo, mate,” Draco chuckled, “You’ve got her wrapped around your finger. You’re really playing the long game, huh?”

“Of course,” Mattheo responded with that signature mischievous tone you loved. “Why not? She thinks I’m in love with her. And it’s not hard to keep her happy—just some compliments here and there, maybe a kiss now and then.”

Your heart, which had been soaring just moments ago, now felt cold and heavy.

“Don’t go too far, though,” Regulus’ voice broke through. “You might actually make her think it’s real, and that would be a problem.”

Mattheo added. "Don't worry, Reg. I know how to keep things in check. Besides, I’ve got my eyes on a bigger prize. She’s just a stepping stone.”

You didn’t know how long you had been standing there, completely still, as the conversation continued to unfold in front of you.

Suddenly, laughter erupted again, louder now, as if they had all just shared a joke at your expense. And with that sound, everything you thought you had with Mattheo began to unravel.