You lean against the edge of the table, crossing your arms. “I am not into Serpentines… too much drama, not enough remorse.”

Lorenzo tilts his head slightly and lets out a soft chuckle. “You are a Serpentine too,” he says.

“Still,” you reply, tilting your chin, “I wouldn’t date anyone from my own house.”

Regulus raises one eyebrow, the smirk playing at his lips just enough to suggest he’s entertained. Barty scoffs loudly from across the room, shaking his head in exaggerated disbelief, while Evan merely sighs, running a hand through his hair as if to say, here we go again.

From the corner, Theodore’s voice cuts through the chatter. “That’s housing discrimination.”

You laugh softly. “I call it self-preservation."

Mattheo tilts his head. “And I call it a challenge,” he says.

“Sounds more like a lost game to me,” you counter smoothly, raising an eyebrow and letting the words hang in the air like a challenge.

Draco, standing just behind Mattheo, crosses his arms. “Not liking us is stupid,” he scoffs.

“You don’t have heart,” you reply, your eyes narrowing slightly.

Mattheo leans back. “We don’t need hearts when we turn heads…”

You smirk. “Is that a warning?”

Theodore glances at you again. “You should learn to make exceptions.”

You raise an eyebrow. “I won’t, Theo.”

Mattheo laughs again. “Not yet,” he murmurs, as if this game has only just begun.

Theodore’s eyes narrow. “You shouldn’t have said that,” he replies.

Lorenzo steps closer. “You seem very confident in your choices,” he remarks smoothly.

“Confidence isn’t the same as stubbornness,” you reply, shifting your weight slightly, your eyes darting briefly to Regulus, who tilts his head and smirks knowingly.

Barty scoffs again, louder this time, clearly exasperated. “Why do you even bother? They're impossible.”

Evan shakes his head, muttering under his breath, “And yet here we are.”

Draco scoffs. “Impossible? That’s harsh. We’re charming, intelligent, talented…”

“And insufferable,” you add with a grin, cutting him off before he can continue.

Mattheo leans in. “Insufferable and irresistible. Don’t pretend you don’t notice.”

You chuckle. “I notice plenty. Just don’t mistake observation for interest.”

Theodore’s gaze lingers on you, teasing. “You really should reconsider,” he murmurs. “Rules are meant to be bent sometimes.”