The next morning, I woke up with a sense of dread. The events of the previous day still lingered in my mind, and I knew I had to face Mattheo again. As I got ready for the day, I tried to push the thoughts aside and focus on my classes.

The Great Hall was bustling with activity when I arrived for breakfast. I spotted Hermione, Harry, and Ron at the Gryffindor table and made my way over to them.

"Morning, Y/N," Hermione greeted me with a warm smile. "How are you feeling?"

"Better, I guess," I replied, forcing a smile. "Just trying to get through the day."

Harry looked up from his plate of toast and eggs. "Don't let Riddle get to you. He's just a prat."

Ron nodded in agreement. "Yeah, he's not worth your time."

I nodded, appreciating their support. As I ate my breakfast, I couldn't help but glance over at the Slytherin table. Mattheo was there, laughing with his friends, but his eyes briefly met mine. I quickly looked away, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was on my mind.

The first class of the day was Potions, and I walked to the dungeons with a sense of apprehension. The cold, damp air of the dungeons caused the hairs on my arms to rise. As I entered the classroom, I noticed Professor Snape had already written the day's assignment on the board. We were to brew a complex potion that required precise measurements and careful attention. It looked difficult but I wasn't too worried since back at Ilvermorny, potions had been one of my best subjects.

"Today, you will be working in pairs," Snape announced, his voice cold and authoritative. "I have already assigned your partners."

I held my breath, hoping I wouldn't be paired with Mattheo. To my relief, Snape called out, "Miss L/N, you will be working with Mr. Malfoy."

I glanced over at Draco Malfoy, who was already setting up his cauldron. He looked up and gave me a curt nod, his expression as cold as the dungeon air. I made my way over to him, now feeling a lot less relieved.

Malfoy was a tall, slender boy with sharp features. He had striking white-blonde hair and grey eyes that were cold and calculating. He was undeniably handsome, however his face seemed to be permanently set in a sneer.

"Malfoy," I greeted him, trying to sound neutral.

"L/N," he replied, his tone clipped. "Let's get started. I don't have all day."

Although this was my first time meeting Malfoy, I had already heard a lot about him from Harry, Ron and Hermione. None of what they had told me had been good. He had been tormenting them since first year, going as far as calling Hermione a mudblood. Harry had told me that this had all started because he refused Malfoy's friendship, which I found quite funny. Clearly that hurt his ego and he still hasn't gotten over it.

We began working on the potion, and I was surprised by how efficient and focused Malfoy was. He measured ingredients with precision and followed the instructions meticulously. We were already ahead of everyone else, and I couldn't help but be impressed.

As the lesson progressed, Malfoy's cold demeanor began to shift subtly. He started by making small talk, his tone a little less hostile. "So, how are you finding Hogwarts L/N?"

I glanced at him, surprised by the question. "It's different, but I'm getting used to it."

Draco nodded, adding a pinch of powdered root to the cauldron. "So why did you leave Ilvermorny anyways?"

"Oh.." I hesitated, stirring the potion clockwise. "Just family issues, stuff with my dad..."

Sensing the growing tension, he quickly changed the topic.

"Well, Hogwarts is far better than that dump of a school anyways," Draco said with a smirk.

"Oh, how come?" I questioned.

He grinned, "Well, because I'm here,"

"Oh, shut up, Malfoy" I said, playfully punching his shoulder.

Even though I thought Malfoy was rather full of himself, I was grateful he made the effort to lighten the mood.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

As we continued working, Draco's comments became more personal. He leaned in closer as we worked, his voice dropping to a low, almost seductive tone. "You know, L/N, you're quite good at this. Maybe we should partner up more often."

I raised an eyebrow, trying to keep my composure. "I'm sure you say that to all your potions partners."

Draco smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Only the ones who can keep up with me."

As we added the final ingredients to our potion, Draco's hand brushed against mine. I felt a jolt of electricity at the contact, and my heart skipped a beat. I glanced up to see him watching me intently, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips.

I tried to ignore him and continue working on the potion, but I felt a strange sense of unease. I looked over at Mattheo, his eyes were filled with something I couldn't quite place - jealousy, perhaps?

We managed to finish the potion ahead of time, and Snape even gave us a rare nod approval.

"Well done, both of you," he said, inspecting our work. "This is one of the best potions I've seen today."

"Thanks, Professor," I said, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

Malfoy smirked. "You're not completely useless, L/N."

"Neither are you, Malfoy" I replied with a small smile.

We began clearing our table, and Malfoy's hands found their way to my waist as he moved around me to reach for a vial on the table. His touch was firm yet gentle, and he let his hands linger there for a moment longer than necessary. I felt my cheeks flush, and my heart raced as I quickly stepped away, trying to regain my composure.

At that moment, there was a loud crash from the other side of the room. I turned to see Mattheo standing over a shattered vial, the contents spilling across the floor. His face was a mask of fury.

"Riddle, what is the meaning of this?" Snape's voice was sharp and filled with annoyance.

Mattheo didn't answer, his eyes moving from Draco and me down to the floor in slight embarrassment. The tension in the room was palpable, and I could feel everyone's eyes on Mattheo.

"Clean this up immediately," Snape ordered, his gaze shifting between Mattheo and the mess.

As I watched his clean up the mess, my mind was racing. Had my interaction with Draco pushed him over the edge?

And why did it matter so much to him anyways?

The rest of the day was uneventful, but I couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get even more complicated. Mattheo's behaviour was becoming more unpredictable, and now, with Draco in the picture, I had a feeling that my time at Hogwarts was about to get a lot more interesting.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

Later that day, I found myself in the library, trying to catch up on some homework. The quiet atmosphere was a welcome change from the chaos of the classrooms. I was deep into my book when a familiar voice rang from behind me coyly.

"Enjoyed your time in Potions class today?" Mattheo's voice was low and teasing.

I looked up to see him standing in front of me, his arms crossed and a smirk on his face. "What do you want, Riddle?"

"Just curious," he said, leaning against the table. "You seemed awfully cosy with Malfoy in Potions."

I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the flutter of nerves in my stomach. "We were just working on an assignment. Not that it's any of your business."

Mattheo's teasing smirk remained, but his eyes hardened. "Just be careful, L/N. Malfoy can be... intense."

"Thanks for the warning," I replied, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

He leaned closer, his dark eyes boring into mine. "I mean it. Watch yourself."

Before I could respond, he turned and walked away, leaving me more confused than ever. As I watched him go, I couldn't help but wonder what his game was. Why did he care so much about who I partnered with?

• • • •

heyy,
oooh Mattheo is starting to feel jealous perhaps? In the next few chapters will be POVs from other characters so you can know how they feel too! also, what do we think Draco is going to do?? 🤍