The common room hums with low conversation with all eyes focused on one person.

Julián Velasco.

Perched casually in an armchair near the fireplace, his sharp brown eyes scan the room with quiet amusement. He doesn’t speak much, doesn’t need to—his presence alone demands attention.

"So, what do we think?" Enzo asks, breaking the silence.

"I think we already have enough problems without adding the professor’s son to the mix," Draco mutters as he adjusts his sleeves.

"Jealous, Malfoy?" Mattheo smirks, twirling his wand between his fingers.

"Of what? A nepotism baby?" Draco scoffs.

"Julián Velasco isn’t just some legacy case riding on his father’s name," BIaise cuts in, voice smooth as ever. "The guy’s a prodigy in Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"Right," Theo adds, eyes flickering with intrigue. "I heard that when was in his first year, he dueled a seventh-year without breaking a sweat."

"That doesn’t impress me," Tom leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "What does is the fact that he’s already pissed off half the Gryffindors on his first day."

You look over at Julián, and he’s already watching you. The flickering light from the fireplace casts shadows across his features, making the tension in his jaw more pronounced.

"Trouble?" he echoes, a slow smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "That’s funny. I was just about to say the same about you."