The castle was quiet in the early morning light, the usual din of students missing as the effects of the previous night's party lingered over Hogwarts. Most of Slytherin House was still fast asleep, no doubt nursing well-earned hangovers, but Lilith Nightingale had woken early, needing the solitude.

The hot water of her shower had done little to clear her thoughts, but it had washed away the remnants of the previous night—the heat of Elias's touch, the press of his body, the way he had looked at her before he had slipped out of her dormitory. She shook her head as she walked toward the Great Hall, trying to push those thoughts aside. It didn't mean anything.

Dressed in a fitted white crop top and baggy black jeans, she felt casual, comfortable—though she wasn't sure anything could truly ease the tight coil in her stomach. The halls were cool as she moved through them, her trainers softly scuffing against the stone floor.

As she made her way through the corridors, she spotted a familiar small figure up ahead. Leo, his grey T-shirt slightly oversized on his smaller frame, his black jeans a little too long but comfortable, was trudging toward breakfast, his hair still slightly ruffled from sleep.

Lilith quickened her pace, catching up to him with ease. "Morning, Leo."

The boy startled for a second before his sleepy eyes brightened. "Oh! Morning, Lilith." He yawned before rubbing at his eyes. "You're up early."

She smirked. "And you're not?"

Leo shrugged, kicking at an invisible speck on the stone floor. "I always get up early. The dorm gets too loud once everyone wakes up."

Lilith understood that sentiment all too well. "Well, I'm glad you're up. I could use the company."

Leo grinned, looking slightly more awake now, and they walked side by side into the Great Hall. It was mostly empty, save for a few Ravenclaws hunched over cups of tea and an exhausted-looking Professor McGonagall nursing what Lilith assumed was a particularly strong brew of coffee.

They took their seats at the Slytherin table, the plates already filled with warm food, steam rising off them in inviting waves. Lilith handed Leo a slice of toast, watching as he eagerly reached for some scrambled eggs.

They had barely started eating when she felt it.

That presence.

She didn't need to look up to know Elias Thorne had entered the room. She could feel him. The way the air seemed to shift, the awareness that prickled at her skin before she even turned her head.

When she did, she regretted it instantly.

Elias strolled into the Great Hall, looking far too good for this early in the morning. His black T-shirt fit just right—not too tight, not too loose—showing off the definition of his arms, the fabric slightly creased like he'd just thrown it on without a second thought. His black jeans were slightly baggy but sat low on his hips, making him look effortlessly cool, his usual confidence evident in the way he moved. His black jeans were slightly baggy but fit him just enough to look good, his usual confidence evident in the way he moved. And, of course, his hazel eyes found hers immediately.

Lilith forced herself to glance back at her plate, willing her pulse to slow.

Leo, completely oblivious to her inner turmoil, happily chewed on his toast—until Elias decided to make things worse.

"Mind if I sit here?" Elias's voice was casual, but there was an unmistakable glint of mischief in his eyes as he slid onto the bench across from them, his gaze flickering toward Lilith for just a fraction too long.

Leo swallowed his bite and gave him a suspicious look. "Aren't you supposed to sit with Gryffindors?"

Elias smirked, reaching for an apple from the platter between them. "Rules are meant to be bent, don't you think?" His eyes flickered to Lilith. "Besides, I like a change of scenery."

Lilith clenched her fork, already regretting ever stepping foot in the Great Hall. "Don't you have people to annoy at your own table, Thorne?"

Elias took a bite of his apple, chewing leisurely. "Oh, I do. But none of them are quite as fun as you, Nightingale."

Leo's eyes bounced between them, his young face scrunching up in confusion as he observed the charged atmosphere between them. He glanced at Elias, then at Lilith, then back at Elias. "You guys are acting weird."

Lilith stiffened. "No, we're not."

Leo squinted at her, then at Elias again, who, much to her frustration, was grinning like he had already won some unspoken game.

"You're both being really weird," Leo declared, stuffing another bite of toast into his mouth. "Like, really weird."

Elias tilted his head slightly, his smirk deepening as he dragged his gaze over Lilith—slow, assessing, knowing. "Maybe Nightingale's just feeling off this morning."

Lilith shot him a glare. "Maybe you should eat your apple and shut up."

Elias chuckled, far too entertained. "Oh, I don't know. I quite like making breakfast interesting."

Leo, watching them both like he was witnessing some bizarre game of chess, finally groaned. "Okay, I don't know what's happening, but I don't like it." He reached for another piece of toast, shaking his head. "You're both being very annoying."

Lilith sighed, taking a sip of her tea, trying to ignore the way Elias was still watching her, the heat lingering in his gaze, the way every word that left his mouth was laced with something more.

She needed to get through breakfast.

But with Elias here, teasing her, watching her, reminding her of everything that had happened the night before—

It was going to be a long morning.