Right beside you T.N · Y/n story by @Yahirasarcive

The Slytherin common room was warm, alive with the crackle of the fire and the low murmur of voices. It was the kind of evening that felt endless—homework abandoned, Quidditch talk drifting from the couches, and the smell of butterbeer mixing with the faint, earthy scent of the dungeons.

Pansy Parkinson

—and I swear, Greengrass, if you don’t stop letting Blaise win at Exploding Snap, I’m going to start questioning your loyalty.

Daphne Greengrass

rolling her eyes He cheats. It’s not my fault you’re blind.

Blaise Zabini

grinning I don’t cheat. I’m just better.

Lorenzo Berkshire

snorting from the armchair At what, exactly? Because it’s certainly not at keeping your mouth shut.

The banter washed over the room, familiar and warm. And you—you were tucked into the corner of the sofa, a book open on your lap, but your eyes kept drifting to the others. Watching them. The couples, the easy affection, the way Pansy leaned into Draco without thinking, the way Blaise’s hand found Daphne’s knee like it belonged there.

Theodore Nott

quietly, so only you can hear You’re staring.

His voice was low, a little rough from disuse. He’d been quiet all evening, content to just exist near you. But he couldn’t let you sit there, looking at everyone else’s love like it was something you couldn’t have.

Theodore Nott

tilting his head They’re not going anywhere. The book’s more interesting, anyway.