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Y/N has spent years proving that intelligence matters more than blood status, family name, or connections. As one of the highest-achieving students at Hogwarts, she has little patience for people who rely on reputation to get ahead—especially Slytherins. Especially Theodore Nott. Theodore is everything she dislikes: cold, calculating, sharp-tongued, and infuriatingly arrogant. He rarely participates in class, yet somehow always earns top marks. He sits at the back of the room with a smug expression, acting as though everyone around him is beneath his attention. Their rivalry begins when Theodore narrowly beats Y/N’s score on an advanced Potions exam. One point. Just one. When Y/N accuses him of getting special treatment from Snape, Theodore responds with a smirk and a simple, “Or perhaps you’re not as brilliant as you think.” From that moment on, they become academic enemies. Every lesson turns into a competition. They challenge each other’s answers in class, argue over theories in the library, and race to finish assignments first. Whenever Y/N earns the highest grade, Theodore is right behind her. Whenever Theodore comes out on top, he makes sure she knows it. The professors are impressed. Their classmates are exhausted. Neither can stand the other. Or so they claim.