always built walls and distanced himself from everyone, was allowing himself to breathe easier. It wasn't a drastic change, but it was a shift, and Y/N could feel the tension between them begin to dissipate further.

"I guess I'm just not used to it," Mattheo said quietly. "Being... comfortable, I mean. I'm always on edge. It's kind of what I do, you know?"

"I know," she said softly, her voice steady and reassuring. "But you don't have to keep doing it, Mattheo. It's okay to feel something other than tension and defense."

He looked at her, his eyes searching hers as if trying to understand the sincerity behind her words. She saw the way his usual sharp gaze softened just slightly, the slightest tremor of vulnerability that flickered in his expression. He wasn't used to being given permission to feel something other than his habitual cool detachment. But here he was, letting the walls come down, bit by bit.

After a long moment, he nodded slowly, as if accepting the unspoken truth of her words. "You really do have a way of making things sound easier than they are," he said with a faint smile.

Y/N chuckled softly. "I don't make it easier. You're the one doing all the work. I'm just here to help when you need it."

His smile widened just a fraction. It wasn't much, but it was enough to make Y/N's heart skip a beat. Mattheo Riddle, the untouchable Slytherin, was allowing himself to care. And that meant everything.

Later that evening, after they parted ways and Y/N headed toward the library to catch up on some readings, she couldn't help but reflect on the moment. Mattheo had always been the kind of person who kept his cards close to his chest. His emotions were like a locked chest, hidden away from the world. But she had slowly managed to crack open that chest, piece by piece, not through grand gestures but through simple acts of kindness, understanding, and patience. The bunny had been the catalyst for this change, yes, but it was more than that. It was the way they were learning to communicate without the walls that had once separated them.

Days turned into weeks, and Y/N found herself spending more and more time with Mattheo, both in the common room and in the dorms, studying together or simply talking. Their conversations, once awkward and strained, now flowed easily. They could discuss anything: the latest wizarding news, their childhoods, the future—nothing was off-limits anymore. Mattheo was slowly but surely showing her sides of himself that no one else had ever seen. And with each passing day, she could feel him pulling her closer, allowing her into parts of his heart that had long been guarded.

One evening, after an intense study session that had lasted several hours, Mattheo stood up, stretching his long frame. He had the bunny beside him on the couch, and Y/N couldn't help but notice that it was no longer just a strange, oversized gift. It had become an almost integral part of his space. The way he casually leaned against it, the way it sat near him on the couch—it had grown into more than just a stuffed animal. It was a symbol, in some ways, of the change that had taken place between them. And Mattheo seemed to recognize this, even if he didn't say it outright.

"Are you heading back to your dorm?" Mattheo asked, his voice quieter than usual.

Y/N glanced at the clock on the wall. It was late, but she didn't want the evening to end. Not yet. She was just starting to feel like they had finally found a comfortable rhythm with one another, and the thought of leaving made her reluctant to part ways.

"I could stay for a little longer," she said, her voice soft.

Mattheo looked at her, and for the first time, she saw something entirely different in his eyes. It wasn't just a fleeting moment of softness—it was something real, something steady. He seemed to hesitate for just a moment, as though weighing his options, before he nodded. "Okay," he said quietly. "Let's stay a little longer."

Y/N smiled, feeling a warmth flood her chest. "I'm glad," she replied, stepping closer to him.

As they settled back into their comfortable positions, the massive bunny nestled beside them, Y/N realized that it wasn't just about the big moments, the grand gestures. It was about the quiet ones—the moments when Mattheo simply let her be near him, without walls, without defenses, and without hesitation. Those moments were the ones that truly mattered.

The bunny, now standing in its place beside them on the couch, was no longer just a ridiculous gift. It was a symbol of everything they had built together—something soft, something comforting, and something they both desperately needed.

And so, as the fire crackled softly in the background and Mattheo's hand brushed against hers, Y/N felt the deep satisfaction of knowing that they had both come a long way. The journey had only just begun, but for the first time in a long time, it felt like they were both ready to face whatever came next. Together.

Part 6: The Gift of a Mini Bunny

The days after the heart-to-heart they'd shared had been full of small, subtle changes. For the first time in a while, Y/N felt a true sense of ease with Mattheo. They spent their days together, not always talking, but comfortable in each other's presence. The bunny had become a symbol of that shift—a reminder that Mattheo was opening up, allowing himself to be less guarded, less closed off. But there was still so much more beneath the surface that Y/N was only just beginning to understand.

One chilly afternoon, as autumn deepened at Hogwarts and the trees outside the Slytherin common room swayed with the brisk wind, Mattheo walked in after a particularly grueling set of classes. His usual aloof air was still there, but there was a softness to him now, as if he'd learned to let himself relax around her. Y/N had taken to spending more time with him in the common room, and today was no different.

She was curled up in one of the large armchairs by the fire, her book abandoned beside her, and her mind wandering, as it often did. It was nearly time for dinner, and the common room was quiet, save for a few students scattered around, but Y/N's thoughts were on Mattheo. She wondered where he had been all afternoon—had he been thinking about her, about their time together, or had his mind been preoccupied with the same things it always was?

Suddenly, the door to the common room creaked open, and Mattheo stepped inside, shaking off the cold. His dark eyes met hers immediately, and for a moment, everything around them seemed to fall away. It was as if, in that brief exchange, the rest of the world disappeared, leaving just the two of them in a bubble of warmth and quiet.

"Hey," he said, his voice a little lower than usual, his hands shoved into the pockets of his long cloak.

"Hey," Y/N replied, setting her book down and sitting up straighter. There was something in the way he was standing, something more purposeful, and it caught her attention right away. "What's up?"

Mattheo hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering to the large plush bunny resting in the corner of the room. It stood there, as absurd as ever, but it had become part of their shared space—a constant reminder of the fragile but real connection between them.

"I've got something for you," Mattheo said, his voice quieter now, almost shy. The usual confidence he carried in every other aspect of his life seemed to have dimmed slightly. Y/N blinked, momentarily surprised.

"For me?" she asked, sitting up straighter in her chair, her curiosity piqued.

Mattheo nodded, though his usual smirk was nowhere to be found. He looked almost... unsure. "Yeah, I thought it was time."

With a quick flick of his wrist, he pulled something from under his cloak and held it out toward her. Y/N's eyes widened in surprise as she saw the small, miniature version of the six-foot bunny he had kept in his dorm. This one was a fraction of the size, but still strikingly similar in shape, with its long ears and plush, soft body. The tiny bunny's floppy ears barely reached Mattheo's waist, and yet, it carried the same gentle, comforting presence as the larger one.

"I figured you could use a little bunny of your own," Mattheo said with a barely perceptible grin, his voice suddenly warmer, more genuine. "You know... since the big one's kind of become my thing."

Y/N's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected this. Not only had he thought to get her something, but he had remembered how the large bunny had become such an important part of their dynamic. He had remembered.

Her fingers brushed the soft fur of the small bunny as she took it from him. "Mattheo..." she started, her voice thick with emotion. She didn't know what to say. The simple thought behind the gift was enough to overwhelm her. He wasn't just giving her a silly stuffed animal—he was acknowledging something deeper, something between them that was still growing.

"I know it's not much," he continued, his voice growing quieter, almost self-conscious. "But... I thought it'd be nice for you to have one too. So, you know... you can keep it with you." He hesitated before adding, "If you want."

Y/N looked up at him, a gentle smile spreading across her face. "I love it," she said softly, her heart full. "I'm not sure you know how much this means to me."

Mattheo shrugged nonchalantly, but there was an almost imperceptible glint in his eyes, as though he was relieved to see her so happy. "It's just a bunny, Y/N. Don't make it into something it's not."

"I'm not," she said, her voice tender. "But... I think it means a lot more than you realize."

They stood there for a moment, the space between them charged with something unspoken. It wasn't just about the gift anymore. It was about the growing comfort they found in each other's presence, the small, quiet ways they had begun to care for one another without even realizing it. The bunny, both large and small, had become a symbol of their connection—something that had started with a silly gesture but had blossomed into something more meaningful than either of them had expected.

Y/N cradled the mini bunny in her arms, feeling its softness against her skin. She glanced up at Mattheo, who seemed to be watching her with a mixture of curiosity and something else—something softer, more vulnerable. She could feel the weight of his gaze, and for the first time, she didn't feel the need to fill the silence with words. The bunny between them was enough to speak for them both.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice full of warmth. "I'll take good care of it."

Mattheo nodded, his lips curling into the smallest of smiles. "Good. I'm glad."

It was a simple exchange, but it held more significance than anything they had shared before. This wasn't just about the stuffed bunny—it was about the way they had come to trust one another, the way they had both opened up to something that neither of them had expected. Mattheo, with all his walls and armor, was letting her in, piece by piece, and she was doing the same for him. They didn't need grand declarations. They didn't need anything more than moments like these—quiet, meaningful, and filled with unspoken understanding.

As they sat down on the couch, Y/N carefully placed the mini bunny next to her. The fire crackled softly in the background, its warmth filling the room as Mattheo settled beside her. The stuffed animals—both the large one and the miniature version—were a reminder of how far they had come. They had started as two individuals, each carrying their own burdens, their own pain, but now, they were learning to share that space, learning to be there for one another in ways that mattered.

Mattheo leaned back against the couch, glancing at the small bunny beside Y/N. "It's strange," he mused, his voice low. "How something so ridiculous can mean so much."

Y/N smiled, her fingers gently brushing the bunny's ears. "It's not ridiculous. It's meaningful. You made it meaningful."

There was a long pause as they sat together, the weight of their shared silence heavy in a way that felt comfortable, familiar. Eventually, Mattheo spoke again, his voice softer than before.

"Maybe I should start getting used to... this," he said quietly. "This... being comfortable. With you. With everything."

Y/N's heart swelled as she turned to face him. "I'm glad you're starting to. You deserve it, Mattheo."

He met her gaze, and for a moment, it felt like the world outside the common room had faded entirely. There was only the two of them, sitting together, their shared understanding growing with every passing second.

He exhaled slowly, his gaze soft. "Yeah. Maybe I do."

And as they sat there, side by side, the large and mini bunnies standing quietly in the room, Y/N realized that, just like the stuffed animals, their relationship had grown—slowly, quietly, but surely. And this was only the beginning. They were finding comfort in each other's presence, a bond that no longer needed to be rushed, no longer needed to be forced. It would come in its own time. And for now, that was enough.

Part 7: A Quiet Confession

The chilly winter months at Hogwarts always had a way of bringing everyone closer. The darkening sky, the crisp air that seemed to bite at the skin, and the constant reminders of the upcoming holidays made everything feel just a little more intimate. It wasn't just the cold that brought them together; it was the warmth that was beginning to emerge between Y/N and Mattheo, a slow-burning connection that neither of them could quite name yet.

It had been a few weeks since the gift exchange with the miniature bunny, and while the initial excitement of the present had worn off, something deeper had settled between them. Y/N had found herself spending more and more time in Mattheo's private dorm, her books scattered across the floor as they worked together. There was always a sort of comfortable silence between them now, a shared understanding. They no longer needed words to fill the space between them; their presence alone was enough.

Tonight, however, felt different. The air seemed heavier, filled with anticipation. Mattheo had invited Y/N over to his dorm after a particularly exhausting day of classes, and Y/N had agreed without hesitation, feeling a deep pull toward him. It wasn't just that she enjoyed his company—it was something else. Something that was becoming clearer with each passing day.

She had just entered the dorm, greeted by the familiar, comforting warmth of the fireplace crackling in the corner. The large stuffed bunny, which had long since become a permanent fixture in Mattheo's room, sat on the couch, its soft ears drooping as if to greet her. Y/N smiled at the sight, a soft laugh escaping her lips. It had become such a ridiculous yet endearing symbol of their connection.

"Hey," she said, her voice carrying a lightness she hadn't realized was there until she spoke. She turned to Mattheo, who was sitting by the fire, his eyes glinting as he watched her approach.

"Hey," he replied, his usual smirk softening into something more genuine. "You're late."

"I was finishing up some work," Y/N explained as she walked over and dropped her bag beside the couch. "You know how it is. Homework never ends."

Mattheo chuckled softly, shaking his head as he shifted on the couch, making room for her to sit beside him. "I guess I can't argue with that."

She sat down next to him, feeling the warmth from the fire on her face. For a moment, neither of them said anything, content in the shared silence. It wasn't uncomfortable—it never was anymore. There was a sense of peace in their companionship, something that felt natural, like breathing.

Y/N glanced over at the bunny, which seemed to sit almost regally beside them, its oversized body resting heavily on the couch. It had become something of an inside joke between them, and while it had started as a simple, perhaps childish gift, it had slowly evolved into a shared bond. The fact that they could laugh about it together, even in the midst of tension or uncertainty, spoke volumes.

"Do you ever think about how ridiculous it is?" Y/N asked, her voice soft but curious, her gaze still fixed on the bunny. "The fact that you've got this massive stuffed bunny in your room and no one knows why it's there?"

Mattheo's lips curled into the faintest of smiles, his eyes narrowing slightly as he glanced at the bunny. "Yeah, I do," he admitted. "But I guess I stopped caring a while ago. It... feels right, you know? Having it here."

Y/N looked over at him, surprised by his candidness. It wasn't like Mattheo to admit something so vulnerable, even if it seemed small. She could feel her heart tugging slightly at the sincerity in his voice, and she couldn't help but smile.

"I think it's cute," she said softly, her voice light but warm. "I mean, it's not what anyone would expect from you, but it suits you."

Mattheo raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her words. "You think I'm cute?" he teased, his voice taking on a playful tone.

Y/N rolled her eyes but didn't hesitate to respond. "I think you're ridiculous, but in a good way," she said, her smile widening. "The bunny's ridiculous, but I like it. I like that it's... yours."

"Yours too now," he shot back, his voice quieter, almost as if he were teasing but also meaning it. It was subtle, the way he let his words linger, but it was there—a hint of something deeper, something unspoken that only they seemed to understand.

Y/N's heart skipped a beat at his words, and for a moment, she felt a knot form in her chest. She had known for a while now that her feelings for Mattheo had grown into something more than friendship. But hearing him speak in such a way, so casually but so meaningfully, stirred something inside her. She wanted to say something, to acknowledge what was blossoming between them, but the words felt stuck in her throat.

Instead, she glanced at him, her eyes meeting his. There was an intensity in his gaze that sent a shiver down her spine. It wasn't just his usual teasing or his guardedness—it was something different. Something raw. And for the first time, Y/N saw the vulnerability in his eyes. He was letting her in, piece by piece, and it terrified him.

"You've been quieter lately," she said gently, her voice steady but laced with concern. "Is everything okay?"

Mattheo didn't immediately answer. He seemed to be weighing his words, unsure of how to articulate what was on his mind. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.

"It's... it's weird," he started, his fingers absently tracing patterns on the armrest of the couch. "I don't know what to do with all of this. With you. With how things are between us now."

Y/N's heart raced as she leaned slightly closer, her hand brushing against his. It was a small gesture, but it felt significant. She could feel the warmth of his skin, the tension in his body, and the weight of his words.

"What do you mean?" she asked softly, her voice full of understanding.

Mattheo sighed, his shoulders tensing as he turned to face her. "I'm not used to this... feeling like I can actually trust someone. Letting someone in. I've always kept everyone at arm's length, but with you... it's different. And I'm scared. I'm scared of what it means."

Y/N's breath caught in her throat. He was being vulnerable in a way he never had before, and it made her heart ache for him. She knew how hard it was for Mattheo to open up, to admit that he needed someone. But here he