Being back at Hogwarts was a relief, a breath of fresh air in comparison to the rigid formalities Y/N had to endure at home. Here, she wasn't expected to be prim and proper, to mind her manners quite so meticulously, or to carry herself with the kind of poise that her father constantly drilled into her. No, at Hogwarts, she could simply exist, and that was a freedom she cherished more than anything.

The first Hogsmeade weekend of the year had arrived, and this one was particularly special—it was their very first time visiting the village. None of them knew quite what to expect, but the excitement was palpable. Y/N had spent the past week speculating with Pansy about what it might be like. Would Honeydukes be as overwhelming as the older students described? Would The Three Broomsticks truly serve the best butterbeer in existence? There were so many unknowns, and that only made the anticipation all the more thrilling.

Blaise, Theo, Crabbe, and Goyle, however, had their sights set on Ben's Boundless Brooms, a brand-new shop that had just opened and was apparently all the rage. While the boys were eager to elbow their way through a crowd of broomstick enthusiasts, Y/N had wisely suggested to Pansy that they skip it this time. The grand opening meant chaos, and frankly, she wasn't in the mood to be jostled about like some first-year trying to catch a glimpse of the Firebolt display. It turned out Draco and Mattheo had come to the same conclusion, meaning the four of them would be sticking together.

"Now that everyone is ready!" Professor McGonagall's voice rang through the chilly morning air, "let us head to Hogsmeade."

The students began their trek to the village, crunching through the snow-laden paths. The air was crisp, the sky a pale grey, and Y/N could already see tiny flakes beginning to drift lazily from above.

Pansy, ever the fashionista, was already voicing her complaints.

"Why couldn't we have taken the Floo?" she moaned, arms folded tightly across her chest.

Draco scoffed, side-eyeing her with his usual air of superiority. "Perhaps if you'd worn something sensible, you wouldn't be moaning before we've even left the grounds."

"They're new!" she cried, pointing at the booted heels she'd been gifted for Christmas. "How else am I supposed to break them in?"

"All I'm saying," Y/N teased, smirking, "is that maybe you could've picked a different occasion to debut them—perhaps one that doesn't involve trudging through snow?"

Pansy rolled her eyes dramatically, linking arms with Draco as they fell a few paces behind, still bickering good-naturedly. That left Y/N walking beside Mattheo, the cold air biting at her cheeks as she shoved her hands deeper into the pockets of her cloak.

"You're awfully quiet," she noted, glancing up at him. "That's not like you."

Mattheo smirked, his dark curls tousled from the winter breeze. "Just enjoying the peace before we inevitably get thrown into whatever mischief you and Pansy have planned."

"Oh, so now we're the troublemakers?" she quipped, arching a brow.

"Without a doubt."

Y/N scoffed. "Please, as if you and Draco don't get up to your own brand of chaos. Don't think I didn't hear about the incident in Potions a few weeks ago."

Mattheo chuckled, eyes glinting with amusement. "To be fair, I maintain that was entirely Blaise's fault."

"Oh, of course. Always someone else to blame."

"Exactly. I'm innocent."

She snorted. "As innocent as a Niffler in a jewellery shop."

He laughed at that, the rich sound somehow making the cold seem less biting. "Alright, fair. Maybe not entirely innocent."

They walked in companionable silence for a few moments, the distant hum of the other students' chatter filling the space around them.

Mattheo nudged her playfully. "So, are you you excited to be back?"

Y/N feigned an expression of deep thought. "Well I don't know, since your here it's really quite taking away from the effect of being back."

He placed a hand over his heart, mock-offended. "You wound me."

"You'll survive."

"Are you saying that I take away from the effect? Are you so drawn to me that I take away the magic of Hogwarts because Im just so important tha-"

"don't twist my words Riddle"

"Wouldn't dream of it"

Their banter continued, easy and familiar, and for the first time in a while, Y/N felt something close to content. No expectations. No watchful eyes. Just a simple walk through the snow with friends, the promise of a perfect first Hogsmeade day ahead.

—

Hogsmeade was beautiful, just as Y/N had imagined. The cobbled streets were lined with quaint little shops, their windows glowing invitingly against the thick snowfall that blanketed the village. Snowflakes tumbled through the crisp air, clinging to rooftops and gathering in soft mounds along the edges of the pathways. The atmosphere was nothing short of magical, with students chattering excitedly as they explored the village for the first time.

Y/N had dressed warmly for the occasion, donning a long black cloak fastened with silver buttons that perfectly complemented the Malfoy necklace her mother had gifted her a few years prior. Underneath, she wore a snug black turtleneck tucked into a dark green short skirt, the colour subtly hinting at her Slytherin heritage. Thick black tights shielded her legs from the cold, and her favourite black winter boots crunched against the snow as she walked. To top it off, she pulled a black beanie over her ears, ensuring that not even the sharp winter air could chill her. She wasn't one to fuss over fashion, but today, she felt effortlessly put together.

Inside Honeydukes, the warmth was immediate, the air thick with the heavenly scent of chocolate and sugar. Shelves were stacked high with brightly wrapped sweets, each more tempting than the last. Y/N carefully selected a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, a packet of chocolate frogs, and a brand-new confection she had never seen before—tiny pastel-coloured sweets that, when eaten, would allow the consumer to mimic the sounds of various animals. Each piece was a mystery, and she made a mental note to "accidentally" slip one to her twin at some point.

Next, they ventured into Zonko's Joke Shop, where chaos and laughter reigned supreme. The shelves were stocked with an assortment of mischievous delights—fake wands, nose-biting teacups, sneakoscopes, and stink pellets. Y/N's attention was drawn to a peculiar treat called the hiccuping honeycrisp apples, a candy that, when eaten, would cause relentless hiccups for hours on end. The sheer potential for mischief made it an easy purchase, and she gleefully added it to her growing collection of sweets and tricks.

Finally, they arrived at The Three Broomsticks, the pub buzzing with warmth and chatter. The scent of spiced drinks filled the air, and Y/N wasted no time in ordering a round of butterbeer along with a shot of gillywater, curious to try it for the first time.

"This is absolutely fantastic," Pansy muttered, taking a satisfied sip.

Y/N raised her own mug to her lips, the steam curling into the air as she took her first taste. The warmth of the butterbeer spread through her instantly, filling her mouth with the rich, velvety taste of butterscotch and warm spices. It was smooth, sweet, and left a lingering caramel-like flavour on her tongue. She let out a contented sigh, her cold fingers curling tighter around the mug as the drink warmed her from the inside out.

"Merlin, this is brilliant," she murmured, taking another sip. The butterbeer was unlike anything she had ever tasted before, and she made a mental note to return for more whenever she had the chance. Between the comforting heat of the pub, the laughter of her friends, and the first sip of butterbeer, she couldn't remember the last time she had felt so at ease. Their first trip to Hogsmeade had been nothing short of perfect.

—

Draco, ever the one for dramatics, was sick and made sure everyone knew about it. He spent two days holed up in his dorm, lamenting loudly about how close to death's door he was. Y/N, being the ever-suffering best friend, had taken it upon herself to bring him food from the kitchens and fetch potions from Madam Pomfrey when he claimed he "couldn't possibly" walk due to his severe illness.

Meanwhile, she still had to juggle schoolwork, keep an eye on her insufferable yet beloved brother, and stay up-to-date with the student drama—an exhausting but necessary duty. The latest bit of gossip? Hermione Granger, Hogwarts' very own Muggle-born encyclopaedia, had quit Divination. Supposedly, she'd whacked one of Trelawney's glass orbs straight off the table before storming out of the classroom. Whether or not that was true, Y/N neither knew nor particularly cared, but the way people were whispering about it, you'd think she'd hexed the professor and set the North Tower ablaze.

Dragging herself to double Potions with the Gryffindors on a Friday morning was already an act of suffering. As she stepped into the dimly lit dungeon, she exhaled sharply. Just the thought of spending the next hour and a half listening to Snape drone on while incompetent students inevitably melted their cauldrons made her want to fling herself into the Black Lake.

She scanned the room quickly. Pansy was missing—probably still making up that History of Magic test she'd been moaning about for days. And Draco, obviously, was still dying. That left her partnerless.

"Oi, princess," a voice drawled behind her.

She turned to see Mattheo Riddle lounging against one of the workbenches, his usual smirk firmly in place. "Looks like you're out of luck today. Pansy's off playing scholar, and Malfoy's busy writing his will, so it's just you and me."

Y/N arched a brow. "Lucky me."

He pressed a hand to his chest in mock hurt. "You wound me."

"Not yet," she muttered, dropping her bag onto the table with a loud thud. "But there's still time."

Mattheo chuckled, sliding onto the stool beside her as Snape flicked his wand towards the board. The instructions for today's potion—something simple, probably meant to be idiot-proof for the Gryffindors—appeared in neat, curling script.

"Wiggenweld Potion. Christ, could he be any more predictable?" Y/N grumbled, scanning the list of ingredients.

Mattheo leaned in slightly, close enough that she could smell the faint trace of his cologne—something dark and expensive, with the kind of scent that lingered long after he was gone. "Cheer up, princess. You could've ended up stuck with Weasley."

"Merlin forbid," she muttered, grabbing a knife to start chopping the Horklump juice pods. "Besides, I wouldn't be stuck with him for long. Accidental poisoning is always an option."

Mattheo let out a bark of laughter, earning a sharp glance from Snape at the front of the room. He raised his hands in silent apology before turning back to Y/N, eyes gleaming with amusement. "You know, I think you and I might actually make a good team."

Y/N snorted. "That's the biggest load of bollocks I've ever heard."

He leaned in, smirk widening. "Oh, come on. We both know I'm brilliant, and you're only marginally less brilliant. Put together, we could probably outdo half the idiots in this class without even trying."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the corner of her mouth from twitching up. "Fine. But if you fuck this up, you're explaining it to Snape."

Mattheo grinned. "Deal."

And with that, they got to work, bickering the entire way through but—much to their surprise—proving to be an exceptionally effective pair.

—

The rest of the day, as it turned out, was spent together as well. Herbology was next, and the moment they stepped out to the greenhouses, Y/N immediately regretted everything.

"Fucking hell," she muttered, hugging herself as the cold wind bit at her skin. She'd left her coat in the common room, an absolutely brilliant decision on her part.

Mattheo glanced at her, rolling his eyes before shrugging off his own coat. "Here."

She blinked. "What?"

"You heard me. Take it." He held out the coat, looking slightly uncomfortable but determined nonetheless.

Y/N smirked, slipping it on. "Didn't think you were such a gentleman, Riddle."

"Don't get used to it," he muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets as they entered the greenhouse.

Professor Sprout greeted the class and immediately launched into an enthusiastic lecture on Chinese Chomping Cabbages.

"These little buggers," Sprout explained, "can be excellent in a fight. If thrown at an opponent, they will chomp and latch on, providing a rather effective distraction."

Mattheo nudged Y/N. "Can't wait to chuck one of these at Draco."

She grinned. "I'll help."

By the time Herbology ended, they were both covered in dirt, slightly frozen, and laughing more than either of them had expected. It had been... fun.

Dinner rolled around, and instead of splitting up, they found themselves seated next to each other, still chatting away. For once, they weren't bickering but actually enjoying each other's company, something neither of them had really considered before.

And then, their final class of the day—Astronomy, up in the tower.

The night was crisp, the stars spread across the sky like scattered diamonds. As they set up their telescopes, Mattheo elbowed Y/N. "Alright, what are the chances of you actually paying attention tonight?"

She huffed. "Higher than yours, probably."

He smirked. "Debatable."

Professor Sinistra wandered over, her flowing midnight-blue robes trailing behind her as she clasped her hands together, surveying the students diligently—or not so diligently—taking notes. She paused by Mattheo and Y/N's telescope station, arching a curious brow.

"How's the note-taking coming along?" she inquired, her voice warm yet expectant.

Mattheo, who had been leaning on the edge of the tower, twirling his quill between his fingers, immediately straightened up. With an air of confidence, he tapped a finger against his star chart and declared, "Oh, it's going brilliantly, Professor. The Winter Triangle constellation is visible tonight, and Sirius is shining especially bright, which means..." He dragged out the sentence, flicking his eyes lazily over the parchment before continuing, "Which means this winter is more likely to be a snowy one rather than a wet and rainy one."

Professor Sinistra's face lit up with enthusiasm, and she clapped her hands together in delight. "Precisely! Five points to Slytherin."

Y/N turned her head so sharply it was a wonder she didn't get whiplash. She gaped at Mattheo, eyes narrowing with disbelief. "I thought you said you weren't paying attention?"

"I wasn't," he replied smoothly, offering her nothing more than a lazy smirk.

Her expression soured, eyes flicking to the open notebook beside him—filled to the brim with notes. Notes that she, incidentally, had none of.

"Well, in that case..." Without warning, Y/N reached for his notebook, snatching it up before he could react.

"Oi! Hey!" Mattheo protested, standing fully now, his smirk replaced by a look of utter betrayal as he watched her begin scribbling furiously in her own notebook, copying his notes word for word.

"That's cheating!" he accused, scandalised.

"It is not," Y/N shot back, unbothered, quill scratching against parchment. "I'm simply using my resources."

Mattheo narrowed his eyes, setting his jaw. "Give it back."

"Not a chance."

He lunged forward, reaching for the notebook, but Y/N twisted away at the last second, holding it out of his grasp. He tried again, quicker this time, but she was just as fast, yanking the notebook away with a triumphant laugh.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake," he muttered under his breath before making a final, more determined grab.

Unfortunately for both of them, neither accounted for the fact that Mattheo's grip would actually catch the notebook—or that Y/N, still stubbornly holding onto it, would be pulled right along with it.

In an instant, she was yanked forward, losing her balance completely as the force of the pull sent her tumbling straight into him. There was a brief moment of chaos—a mix of flailing limbs, an indignant yelp, and the unmistakable sound of bodies colliding—before they both crashed onto the floor.

Y/N landed unceremoniously on top of Mattheo, her hands braced against his chest to stop herself from fully crushing him. For a second, there was silence.

Then, Mattheo let out a low chuckle, his hands resting on either side of him as he lay sprawled beneath her. "Well, darling, if you wanted to get on top of me, you could've just asked."

Y/N's face burned instantly. "Shut up."

"Make me."

She shoved him—not hard enough to actually hurt, but enough to make her point—before scrambling off him, hastily collecting the scattered notes and parchment from the floor. Mattheo, still grinning like the smug bastard he was, leisurely sat up, dusting himself off as if this was all just another normal Tuesday for him.

"I'm keeping the notes," Y/N declared firmly, clutching the notebook against her chest as she shot him a glare.

Mattheo smirked, leaning forward slightly. "We'll see about that."

—

Sorry luvs, this is more of a filler chapter I just got my ears pierced with my cousin and its just been a busy week but I'll have another part out ASAP dont worry luvs.

Clarence