The common room was unusually lively for a late evening. Mattheo lounged on the couch, his head tilted back, twirling a quill lazily between his fingers. Lorenzo sat in his usual chair, reading a book, while Draco leaned against the back of the couch, bantering with Pansy.

The heavy slam of the door made everyone pause. Theo strode in, his face a mask of irritation, his tie hanging loose.

“Honestly... She’s killing me,” he said, throwing his bag onto a nearby chair.

Pansy looked up from her nails, arching a brow. “What’s wrong now?”

Theo dropped into a chair, rubbing his temples. “My sister. She’s been skipping her classes for a week. A week.”

Draco smirked, running a hand through his hair. “To be honest... I’d also rather f*ck than sit through B1nns’ boring chatter.”

The room went uncomfortably still. Mattheo, who had been smirking moments ago, suddenly turned his attention to the fireplace, his jaw tightening.

Theo’s sharp gaze swept the room. “Is there anything I should know?”

Mattheo shifted in his seat, his usual easy confidence slipping. He reached for his drink, suddenly finding it very interesting, but before he could escape, Lorenzo placed a firm hand on his shoulder, pinning him in place.

"Was she with someone?”, Theo asks.

The tension thickened as Theo’s question hung in the air. The others exchanged glances, and then, as if on cue, their eyes fell on Mattheo.

“Someone,” Lorenzo said, his intense brown eyes locking on Mattheo, who flinched.

Theo froze for a moment, then slowly turned to Mattheo. His face shifted from confusion to shock, then to pure anger. “Oh, you’re f*cking kidding me!” He pushed off his chair, storming out of the room, the door slamming behind him.

The silence was deafening.

Pansy broke it first, her voice dripping with disbelief as she turned to Mattheo. “His sister? Seriously?”

Mattheo sighed, running a hand through his curls. “This… isn’t going to end well.”