Theo leans casually against the desk beside you, his eyes glittering with mischief as he gestures toward the steaming cauldron of Amortentia. The sweet, intoxicating aroma swirls through the air, clinging to every breath you take.

“What does your Amortentia smell like?” he asks, his tone light but his curiosity obvious.

You lift your gaze from the shimmering potion, nose wrinkling as you inhale. The scent is overwhelming, but not for the reason Theo expects. “Well,” you say pointedly, cutting a glance across the room, “I could tell you… if Riddle would kindly move away. All I can smell is his stupid cologne choking the air.”

Mattheo, who’s been leaning back lazily in his chair, immediately snaps his attention to you. His dark eyes narrow, a slow smirk tugging at his mouth as if he’s been waiting for an excuse. “Me?” he drawls, pushing a hand through his tousled hair. “That’s rich, considering this entire classroom reeks of your damn perfume. Some of us are barely surviving in here.”

A tense beat hangs in the air, the faint steam of the potion curling between you like a visible thread. Your glare meets his across the room, neither of you willing to blink first.

The rest of the Slytherin boys exchange looks—some amused, some downright entertained by the tension snapping back and forth like sparks before a storm. You can practically feel their stifled laughter pressing against the silence.

Tom finally breaks it, his voice cutting smooth and sharp through the thick air. He arches a brow at the rest of the boys. “Um… should we tell them?”

Across from him, Theo is already grinning, arms folding over his chest like he’s settled in for the best show of the year. He shakes his head, deliberately drawing out the moment before answering. “Nope,” he says, his smirk widening as he watches you and Mattheo glare daggers at each other. “It’s way too much fun this way.”

The other boys snicker under their breath, trying and failing to hide their grins. You feel heat rise to your cheeks, though whether it’s from the Amortentia or Mattheo’s infuriating presence, you refuse to admit. And from the corner of your eye, you notice he’s still looking at you—not with annoyance this time, but with something else flickering behind his smirk. Something the rest of the boys clearly see… and are choosing not to explain.