Mattheo

The Yule Ball was just another excuse for everyone to show off. Show off their dates, their clothes, their money. The whole thing was laughable.

"Cheer up, mate," Enzo nudged me as we stood near the bottom of the staircase, just outside the Great Hall. Theo snickered beside him, already sipping a drink he'd managed to nick.

"I'm fine," I grunted, tugging at the stiff collar of my black dress robes.

"Sure, you look thrilled," Theo drawled, adjusting his tie. His dark green robes had silver embroidery that shimmered with every movement—flashy, but it suited him. "You'd think you're about to sit for exams, not waltz around a ballroom with pretty girls."

I shot him a glare. "I'm not waltzing anywhere."

Enzo snorted. "Keep telling yourself that. Wait till some girl drags you onto the floor. My galleons are on Ariana."

I froze. The name cut through my thoughts like a knife.

"What?" I asked sharply.

Enzo grinned, shaking his head. "Don't pretend, Riddle. I see how you look at her."

"Shut it." I turned my attention toward the stairs. Enzo and Theo's teasing was bad enough, but the last thing I needed was—

My thoughts stopped dead.

A hush fell over the crowd gathered near the staircase, and I knew why before I even looked up.

There she was.

Ariana Pucey.

Walking down the stairs, her emerald gown pooling around her feet like she was floating. The fabric shimmered in the soft light, layers of green cascading like water, embroidered with gold that gleamed like fire. It was the kind of dress that made the room disappear. Her dark hair was swept back, curls framing her face, and that snake pendant at her neck caught the light.

Enzo elbowed me hard in the ribs, but I barely felt it.

"She looks—" Theo started, but words seemed useless.

She looked untouchable. Unbelievable.

My jaw clenched as Miles stepped up to her, his smile plastered across his face like he'd just won the lottery. I couldn't hear what he said, but I saw her smile faintly in return.

My hands balled into fists at my sides.

Adrian walked beside her like her shadow, his usual confident stride never faltering. When Miles stepped in front of them, Adrian side-eyed him—cool, calculating—but said nothing.

He let her go.

And Miles led her toward the dance floor.

I felt Theo watching me, waiting for a reaction. I shoved my hands into my pockets and looked away, my voice low. "Fucking Pathetic."

Ariana

The Yule Ball was a dream come to life. I hadn't expected the lights, the snow, or the way the entire Great Hall looked like a winter wonderland. I also hadn't expected how the weight of everyone's eyes would feel as I walked down the stairs.

But I kept my chin up. It's what Adrian always told me to do.

I could feel Mattheo's gaze somewhere in the crowd, though I didn't look for him. Miles stepped in front of me halfway down the stairs, his expression caught somewhere between awe and smugness.

"You look incredible, Ari," he said, offering me his hand.

I hesitated. For a brief moment, I glanced at Adrian, who gave Miles the kind of look that could have turned him to stone. But he didn't say a word.

"Go on," Adrian murmured.

I let Miles take my hand, allowing him to lead me into the Great Hall. The music swelled around us as couples danced in every direction.

"You're the most beautiful girl here, you know that?" Miles said, trying to be smooth as he twirled me on the dance floor.

"Thanks," I said, managing a small smile. I wanted to feel flattered, but something about it felt off. His words were too practiced, his grip too proud.

And I knew why. He wanted people to look.

I hated that I noticed it.

As he spun me again, I caught a glimpse of Mattheo standing in the shadows. He wasn't watching the crowd. He was watching me.

Our eyes met, just for a second.

And suddenly, it felt like the whole room had shrunk to that moment.

After the first dance with Miles, I slipped away, claiming I needed a drink. The heavy weight of the emerald gown and the eyes lingering on me were starting to make my skin itch.

At the refreshment table, I grabbed a glass of punch and sighed in relief when I finally stood alone—until I heard snickering nearby.

"Enzo, you absolute menace."

I turned toward the voices and found Theo and Enzo huddled near the table. They were bent over it, whispering like two children plotting mischief. Theo held a flask in his hand, his usual smirk plastered across his face.

"What are you two up to?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Enzo spun around so quickly he nearly knocked over the punch bowl. "Ariana!" His grin was wide, almost suspiciously so. "Nothing. Nothing at all."

Theo shook his head, looking far too innocent for someone who had clearly been caught red-handed. "We were just... enhancing the refreshments. Giving the professors a little more entertainment tonight."

"You spiked the punch?" I asked flatly, giving them both a pointed look.

"Spiked? Us?" Enzo placed a hand dramatically on his chest, pretending to look offended. "How dare you accuse us of such slander."

I rolled my eyes, fighting back a smile. "You two are insufferable."

"Charming, though," Theo added with a wink.

"Hardly."

"Come on, Ari," Enzo said, leaning against the table. "It's a party. Stop frowning and have some fun for once."

"I'm not frowning," I shot back, but they ignored me.

Enzo grabbed my hand, pulling me away from the drinks. "Let's dance."

Before I could argue, Theo grabbed my other hand. "No way, she's dancing with me first."

They didn't give me a choice. I laughed as the two of them dragged me toward the dance floor, spinning me between them like I was some kind of trophy they were fighting over. "You're both ridiculous!" I said breathlessly as they twirled me faster and faster.

"Ridiculous but lovable," Enzo corrected.

Theo grinned. "You're having fun, admit it!"

"Fine! I'm having—" I started to say, but then they both gripped my hands and spun me so quickly that I lost my footing.

"Oops!" Theo said, far too cheerfully.

"Oops, indeed," Enzo added with a smug look.

And just like that, they let go.

I stumbled forward, trying to catch my balance. Strong hands grabbed me before I fell, steadying me with surprising ease.

I looked up—straight into the dark eyes of Mattheo Riddle.

Mattheo

I'd been watching her dance with Enzo and Theo from the shadows. The two of them were idiots, spinning her like they were at some children's festival. I told myself I wasn't watching because I cared. I was watching because I wanted to see them make fools of themselves.

But when they let go, and she went flying toward me, I didn't hesitate to catch her.

Her hands gripped the front of my robes as she steadied herself, her face tilted up to look at me. Her cheeks were flushed, strands of hair falling loose from her curls.

For half a second, neither of us moved.

"You two did that on purpose!" she called out over her shoulder, glaring at Theo and Enzo.

"Not at all," Enzo replied innocently, his grin betraying him.

"We would never," Theo chimed in, pretending to adjust his tie. "Happy accident, really."

Ariana rolled her eyes, muttering something under her breath before looking back at me. "Sorry about that."

I smirked, my hands still resting lightly on her waist. "No complaints here."

Her expression faltered for a moment, like she wasn't sure what to say. I could feel Theo and Enzo's eyes on us, practically burning holes into the back of my head.

"You're lucky I didn't spill punch all over you," she finally said, stepping back.

"Wouldn't have mattered," I replied smoothly, my voice low enough that only she could hear. "You'd still look better than anyone else in the room." Fuck why would I say that I need to say something like "You'd still be the ugly one here"

Her eyes widened slightly, and then—there it was. A faint blush creeping up her neck.

Before she could respond, Enzo's voice cut through the moment. "Riddle, if you're done swooning, we'd like our dance partner back."

I shot him a glare, but Ariana laughed softly. "You two are going to have to wait."

She turned back toward the refreshment table, leaving me standing there. I shoved my hands in my pockets, ignoring Theo's smug grin.

"Pathetic," I muttered under my breath.

But I was smiling anyway.

Theo & Enzo

The moment Ariana disappeared back toward the refreshments table, Enzo and Theo exchanged a glance.

"That," Theo began, watching Mattheo from across the dance floor, "was interesting."

"Very," Enzo replied, a sly grin tugging at his lips.

They both turned their attention back to Mattheo, who had taken up his usual post in the shadows, hands shoved in his pockets, pretending to look disinterested as always. But they weren't buying it—not after the way he'd looked at her just now.

"Do you think he knows?" Theo asked, his voice low.

"Knows what?"

"That he's completely gone for her."

Enzo snorted. "Not a chance. Riddle's as clueless as they come."

Theo hummed thoughtfully. "Still, you've got to admit, Ari looked pretty... well, hard to miss tonight."

"Mate, that dress could've floored Dumbledore," Enzo agreed, shaking his head. "She looked...breathtaking"

Theo nudged him. "Careful. We're the ones trying to push those two together, remember? Don't start falling for her yourself."

"Relax. She's a sister to me. Besides, I'd rather die than get in the middle of that."

They shared a laugh, but it quickly died when two familiar redheads wandered over, curious smirks plastered on their freckled faces.

"Having fun, are we?" Fred Weasley asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Plotting something, I'd wager," George added, crossing his arms. "We can spot troublemakers a mile away."

"And yet, you two manage to cause ten times more trouble than the rest of us combined," Theo shot back, grinning.

Fred looked unfazed. "True, but at least we're good at it."

Enzo leaned in, lowering his voice. "Alright, fine. We might be... observing a situation."

"Observing?" Fred repeated.

George's grin widened. "Ah. Let me guess—it involves a certain Miss Pucey and Mr. Broods-in-Corners."

Theo smirked. "So you've noticed?"

"Yeah we've noticed" George replied, looking entirely too pleased.

Fred looked between the three of them, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Alright, spill it. What's the game here?"

Enzo leaned casually against the wall. "No game. Just a friendly... bet."

Fred perked up. "Bet?"

"Who's going to fall first," Theo clarified. "Mattheo or Ariana."

The twins exchanged a look that only they could understand before bursting into identical grins.

"You two are betting on Ariana, aren't you?" George guessed.

Enzo and Theo shared a smug look.

"Obviously," Theo said. "Ari doesn't stand a chance. Mattheo's got that mysterious brooding thing going for him. It's irresistible."

Enzo nodded. "And she did fall into his arms tonight. Literally. If that's not foreshadowing, I don't know what is."

Fred shook his head, chuckling. "You two are thick. I'm telling you, Riddle's the one who'll fall first."

George clapped a hand on his twin's shoulder. "Agreed. The guy's already halfway there, whether he knows it or not."

Theo raised an eyebrow. "You're serious?"

"Dead serious," Fred said. "Mark our words—Mattheo Riddle will be a goner before Ariana Pucey even considers it."

"Well," Theo replied, smirking, "care to make it interesting, then?"

Fred and George didn't hesitate. "Done. Ten Galleons says it's Mattheo."

"Ten says it's Ariana," Enzo shot back.

They all shook hands to seal the deal.

"Pleasure doing business," Fred said cheerfully. "We'll see you at the finish line."

As the twins walked off, Theo turned to Enzo, his expression more serious. "You sure about this, mate? Riddle's stubborn."

"So's Ari," Enzo replied, grinning. "But when it comes to these things? I'd never bet against her."

Theo laughed softly. "Fair point."

They turned their attention back to the dance floor, where Ariana stood with a drink in her hand, chatting with a few Ravenclaws. Mattheo was still lingering in the shadows, his eyes darting to her every few seconds when he thought no one was looking.

Theo elbowed Enzo. "This is going to be fun."

"Best bet we've ever made," Enzo agreed.

Ariana

The courtyard was still—so still it felt like another world, untouched by the chaos and noise of the Yule Ball inside. The only sound was the faint whisper of the wind and the crunch of snow under our shoes. Snowflakes fluttered lazily, catching in my hair and melting against my skin, but I didn't shiver. Not with Miles' hand wrapped around mine.

He hadn't said much since leading me out here, and for once, I didn't feel the need to fill the silence. It was comfortable. Safe. Like the space between us didn't need words. Still, the quiet gave me too much time to think—to feel the way his thumb traced small circles against my knuckles as we walked, the warmth of him despite the bite of winter air.

We stopped at the edge of the courtyard, where the lantern light softened into shadow. Miles turned toward me, his face faintly illuminated, and his lips curled into the smallest smile. The kind of smile that always left me off balance—like he saw something in me no one else did.

"You look..." His voice trailed off, and he shook his head as though the words wouldn't come.

"What?" I teased, tilting my head as I tried to hold back a smile. "I look what?"

Miles' gaze swept over me—over the ribbon-tied curls that Adel had fussed over, the emerald green silk cascading around my feet, and the faint glow of gold embroidery catching the light. "Like you stepped out of a dream," he murmured. "My dream."

My cheeks warmed, and I hoped the dim light hid it. "You're ridiculous."

"Maybe." Miles took a step closer, tugging me gently until I was only inches from him. "But I mean it."

I didn't move away, even as my heart thudded louder. His hands found my face, cupping my cheeks so softly it made my breath catch. He leaned closer, his forehead resting against mine, and for a moment, I forgot how to speak.

"I still can't believe you're mine," he whispered.

There was something about the way he said it—like he was afraid to break whatever fragile spell was holding us here—that sent a shiver down my spine. My chest ached, too full of something I couldn't name.

"You're so dramatic," I said, though the words barely came out above a whisper.

Miles laughed softly, and the sound was low and warm. "I'm serious." His hands drifted down, slipping to my waist, and he pulled me closer until I was pressed against him. The scent of him—cinnamon and something faintly smoky—wrapped around me, and it was suddenly hard to think straight.

"How much I..." he started, but then he stopped, like he was deciding whether to say it.

I looked up at him, searching his face. "How much you what?"

Miles' Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, and his eyes locked on mine. "How much I love you."

The words hit me like a rush of wind, stealing my breath and leaving me weightless. I blinked up at him, my lips parting as I tried to respond, but nothing came out.

"I—"

Before I could figure out what to say, Miles dipped his head and kissed me.

It wasn't hurried or rushed like the stolen kisses we'd shared in quiet hallways. No, this was softer—his lips brushing against mine like a question, waiting for me to answer. My hands slid up his chest, curling into the lapels of his suit as I kissed him back, letting myself lean into him.

His smile pressed faintly against my lips when we broke apart, just enough for me to catch my breath. "I'm never going to get enough of you," he murmured, his voice a little rough, like he couldn't quite believe I was real.

I laughed softly, breathless. "You're impossible."

"And you love it."

I rolled my eyes but didn't argue. My heart was still fluttering in my chest, and I didn't trust myself to speak. Instead, I rested my head against him, listening to the steady thrum of his heartbeat as his arms held me close.

For a long moment, we stayed like that—just us and the quiet snowfall drifting around us.

"You're freezing, aren't you?" Miles asked, his voice soft, though I could hear the smirk in it.

"No." The word was automatic, but the pink at the tip of my nose probably gave me away.

Miles raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. Without a word, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders, his hands smoothing it down my arms. It was too big, the sleeves hanging well past my fingertips, but it smelled like him, warm and familiar.

"Better?" he murmured, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

I nodded, biting my lip to hide the smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. "Better."

"Good." He laced his fingers with mine again, his grip gentle as he swayed me back and forth to the faint echo of music. "We should probably go back inside," he said, though he made no effort to move.

"Not yet," I whispered, my voice softer than I'd intended. "Just a little longer."

His lips curled into that small, easy smile that always did dangerous things to my heart. "Whatever you want."

I closed my eyes, breathing him in, and let the rest of the world fade away. For tonight—for this moment—it was just us. And that was enough.

Hope you like it. I like it. I think from here on out it's going to start to get a little darker just because of the tournament and stuff. So yeah, hope you like the little moment of Theo and Enzo with my favourite redhead twins.😁

- Love your favourite Mexican Latina Victoria(★‿★)