PLEASE VOTE AND COMMENT

It was late in the Slytherin common room, the kind of night where the fire crackled softly and the low murmur of voices was replaced with tired yawns and half-hearted conversations. The usual gang was sprawled out around the room: Theo Nott, Enzo, Blaise, and Mattheo, who were lounging on various couches and armchairs, the scent of lingering parchment and ink heavy in the air.

Y/N, exhausted from a long day of classes and some tedious errands, had curled up on one of the plush armchairs near the fire. Wrapped in a thick blanket, her face was relaxed as her chest rose and fell steadily with deep, even breaths. She had always found peace in the common room at night, when the world was quieter, and it was a rare moment where she could let go of everything—especially with Mattheo beside her.

Mattheo, who had been reading a book, glanced over at her, his gaze softening as he watched her sleep. A smile tugged at his lips, and he quietly closed his book, not wanting to disturb her. But as he leaned back in his chair, his attention was quickly diverted to Theo, who had been eyeing Y/N from across the room.

Theo's mischievous grin stretched across his face, and Mattheo immediately knew what was coming. He watched as Theo silently stood and crept over to where Y/N was sleeping, clearly planning to mess with her. Enzo noticed as well and raised an eyebrow, sensing trouble, but said nothing, knowing that Mattheo would handle it.

"Watch this," Theo whispered to Enzo as he tiptoed toward Y/N.

Theo crouched next to the chair, grinning like a cat who'd just found a mouse. Slowly, his hand reached out toward Y/N's side, aiming to poke her and see how she would react. He was so focused on his target that he didn't notice Mattheo, who was now standing up from his chair, eyes narrowed.

The moment Theo's finger was about to touch Y/N's side, Mattheo's voice rang out, firm and cold.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Theo?"

Theo froze, his hand hovering just above Y/N's side. Slowly, he turned around to face Mattheo, trying to play it off with a smirk. "Relax, mate. Just messing with Y/N. She won't even notice."

But Mattheo wasn't amused. His face was calm, almost too calm, and the tension in the room shifted instantly. "I don't care if she notices. She's sleeping, Theo. Don't wake her up," Mattheo warned, his voice low and carrying an edge.

Theo, ever the troublemaker, chuckled. "It's just a joke, Riddle. What's the harm?"

Mattheo's eyes darkened, his temper simmering just beneath the surface. He stepped forward with quiet, controlled movements, his gaze never leaving Theo's face.

The moment Theo made a move to poke Y/N's side, Mattheo moved like lightning, shoving Theo back with one powerful push. Theo stumbled, eyes wide in surprise, before Mattheo's fist connected with his nose with a sharp crack.

Theo gasped, stumbling back against the armchair, his hands flying to his face as blood poured from his nose. "What the hell, Mattheo?!"

The room fell into an eerie silence as the boys watched in stunned disbelief. Blaise raised an eyebrow, Enzo let out a quiet whistle, and even Draco couldn't suppress a smirk. But Mattheo was a stone wall of fury, his chest heaving as he glared at Theo, who was now nursing his broken nose, still in shock.

"You don't get to mess with her, Theo," Mattheo growled, his voice ice cold, each word punctuated with authority. "Next time, I'll do more than just break your nose. Understand?"

Theo's expression turned to one of disbelief mixed with frustration. He wiped the blood from his nose, still seething. "You're mental, mate. All I did was poke her. What's the big deal?"

Mattheo took a step forward, his presence overwhelming. "The big deal is that she's mine, and you don't touch her, mess with her, or wake her up for some stupid joke. If I see you do anything like that again, I won't just stop at a punch." His voice was chillingly calm, but the malice in his eyes left no room for argument.

Theo, glaring at Mattheo, bit back a retort. He opened his mouth to speak but thought better of it, knowing full well Mattheo wasn't in the mood for another fight. He huffed in frustration, wiping his nose again, still wincing at the pain.

"Fine," Theo muttered, clearly not happy but not wanting to escalate things further. "I get it. Won't mess with your precious Y/N again."

Mattheo didn't take his eyes off him, his jaw clenched tight. "Good."

Theo finally turned and sat down, crossing his arms over his chest, glaring at the floor.

Blaise leaned back in his chair, chuckling under his breath. "Well, that was one way to get him to back off."

Enzo shrugged, his grin wide as he looked at Mattheo. "He won't mess with her again. That's for sure."

Mattheo didn't even acknowledge them, his attention now fully back on Y/N. He sat down beside her gently, careful not to wake her. His fingers brushed a strand of hair from her face, and his gaze softened. "You're lucky she sleeps like a rock," he muttered to himself, relieved that she hadn't woken up during the entire scene. He pulled the blanket up a little higher around her shoulders, watching her with tender affection.

He looked back up at his friends, his expression softening ever so slightly. "If any of you try to mess with her, I'll do worse than punch. Got it?"

The boys nodded in unison, a mix of amusement and respect in their eyes. They knew better than to test Mattheo when it came to Y/N.

Mattheo's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he leaned back in the chair, wrapping his arm around her protectively. He sighed, closing his eyes for a second, allowing the peace of the moment to settle over him. The boys, sensing the shift, settled into a quieter mood, giving Mattheo and Y/N their space.

It wasn't long before Mattheo's hand found Y/N's, his fingers lightly brushing against hers, feeling the steady rhythm of her breathing as she slept. He leaned his head back, settling in, knowing that no one would dare disturb her while he was around.

And with that, the common room fell back into silence, the crackling fire the only sound that filled the room.