?~HEARTS OF SLYTHERIN~?

~The first meeting~

"You've even got the Ravenclaws falling for you, Riddle. Beauty and brains-a dangerous combo," Lorenzo drawled, flashing a teasing grin.

Mattheo smirked, leaning back with a self-satisfied air. "Well, what can I say? One of my many talents-making girls go head over heels for me."

Draco scoffed, crossing his arms dismissively. "Sure. Meanwhile, I've got better things to do than run around the school snogging half the female population."

Mattheo raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Oh, come on, Malfoy. Be honest-have you even had your first kiss yet?"

Theodore let out a low chuckle, while Draco's expression hardened. "I'm saving it for someone worth it," Draco shot back, his voice dripping with haughtiness. "Unlike you lot, who waste every ounce of your charm on trash."

"Hey, hey, let's not ruin the vibe," Lorenzo interjected in his usual peacekeeping tone. "It's fine if you haven't had your first kiss, and it's fine if you snog half the school. Everyone's got their thing."

Draco's smirk deepened as he turned back to Mattheo. "Speaking of firsts, has your brother even looked a girl in the eye before? Wait, don't answer-I already know. Nope. Not a chance."

Mattheo opened his mouth to fire back, but Lorenzo cut him off with a laugh. "Honestly, Mattheo, at this rate, your brother might end up a saint."

Across the room, Tom Riddle didn't so much as glance up, completely engrossed in the thick, ancient library book in his hands, as though the entire conversation was beneath him.

Theo chuckled quietly, while Lorenzo leaned back, grinning from ear to ear. "You've got to admit, it's kind of impressive how much he doesn't care."

Then, Theo's attention flickered to Lorenzo, who leaned toward Draco and murmured something in his ear. The blonde boy followed Lorenzo's gaze, his sharp features twisting into a sly smirk as his eyes settled on the approaching group of girls.

Theo shifted his focus, scanning the familiar faces of Pansy Parkinson and the Greengrass sisters. But then, his gaze stopped. Among them was someone unfamiliar. A girl he hadn't seen before.

Her presence was magnetic in a way that caught him off guard. She wasn't like the others-there was something striking about her. Her deep, innocent eyes held a quiet strength that clashed beautifully with the polished perfection of the Greengrass sisters and Pansy's overconfidence.

Who was she?

Theo watched as his best friend, Draco, rose from the top of the table he had been casually perched on, his movements deliberate and calculated. Draco tilted his head slightly, his piercing gaze locking onto the new girl.

~~~~~

You hesitated, your steps faltering for just a moment. Theo caught the slight shift in your posture-a nervous reaction, though you quickly masked it. It wasn't surprising. The weight of the room's energy, dominated by Draco's commanding presence and the unspoken tension among the Slytherin elite, was enough to unsettle anyone.

Yet, despite the nerves, you didn't shrink away completely. Theo's sharp eyes noted the way you straightened your shoulders, as though bracing yourself against the palpable intimidation swirling around you. Interesting, he thought. Most people crumbled under Draco's scrutiny. But not you-at least, not entirely.

Even the quiet and enigmatic Tom Riddle turned his gaze toward the girls, his dark eyes sharp as if sensing the tension building up in the room. Theo noticed the slight twitch in Tom's expression, a rare acknowledgment of interest, which only added to the weight of the moment.