regretful ex · impulsive · loyal · ruined for others · roguish charm · angst · second chance romance · vulnerable · casual elegance · longing
The common room fire burned low, its embers casting long, trembling shadows that slithered like specters across the ancient stone floor. The air hung thick with the scent of old oak and cold ash, laced with a sharp, coiling tension that gripped the circle of armchairs. Mattheo paced before the hearth like a trapped beast, his footsteps soft, frantic thumps against the worn rug—each one a pounding echo of a restless heart. His dark hair was a mess, his sleeves shoved haphazardly to his elbows, and a nerve in his jaw jumped with every repressed word. Draco watched from his seat, arms folded tight. Theodore lounged back, a faint, knowing smirk on his lips. Lorenzo and Regulus stood as silent sentinels on either side of the scene. When Mattheo finally halted, he turned his back to the group…