Purée

Victories

### Chapter: Negotiations and Revelations

"Hold up, what?" I stuttered, pointing at Draco with a mix of confusion and disbelief.

Tom nodded, his expression one of resigned frustration. "Oh shit... uh, I mean, at least you won't get any hate," I said, trying to shrug off my confusion.

"Seriously? You'd go that low?" I turned to Draco, disappointment heavy in my voice.

Draco tried to explain, but his words were garbled. "I told—"

"Mhm, no, you didn't. All you said was gibberish and how you liked to get fucked and teach them like cats," I interrupted, my tone icy. "Not in those words..."

He coughed, visibly uncomfortable. "No, because you called them slaves. But when Daddy is talking, you're a slave, so shut your mouth. Got it?"

"Shit, she ran you down," Blaise laughed, clearly enjoying the drama.

"Let your father hear about this if you want," I said, rolling my eyes. "Go ahead and tell him that you got shunned by a girl. If I were him, I'd just laugh in your face and call you a disgrace."

I stood up, feeling a surge of satisfaction at Draco's flustered reaction. Tom snickered beside me. "Break up with Hermione Granger when you see her, but that's only if her tongue isn't down Tom's throat," I said with a cheeky smile.

"Fucking hell, you sure she isn't your sister?" Pansy asked Tom, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm questioning as much as you are. Might start calling you Mattheo," Tom replied, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

I shot Tom a look. "I literally just helped you, and you're going to torment me? Should've left Draco dating her just to do it in front of you."

As if on cue, Mattheo walked in, his curiosity evident. "Heard my name?"

"Got your outfit?" I asked, glancing at him.

"Don't change the subject," Pansy smirked behind my head.

"What? She confessed she likes me?" Mattheo asked, his ego swelling.

I rolled my eyes. His ego was so inflated, it seemed like he was more concerned with himself than with anything else. "Not exactly," Pansy cleared her throat.

"What? I shunned Draco just so Tom could get with his dream girl, Hermione Granger. And you call that me liking Riddle? With his ego? My God, this school is either driving me insane or you're all just dumb. Let's go," I said, exasperated, dragging Draco with me towards the back of the castle.

Draco looked around, confused. "Brought me here because?"

"Look behind me," I instructed. "You're joining them. And next week, you'll—well, you should be able to join the team. If not, I wouldn't be surprised, but at least you tried. That's what matters."

He glanced behind me, seeing first-years learning to ride broomsticks. "I'm not an idiot," he said, turning back to me.

"I think otherwise," I replied, smirking. "Here's the deal: you join the Quidditch team, and I'll help your grades get significantly higher. Twice the help."

Draco's eyes widened. "You're helping me twice. What do you really want?"

"Honestly? To see you humiliate yourself," I said candidly. "I don't want anything that involves taking advantage of you. I'm not as mean as you think."

"Never said you were. So you want me on the team and my grades up? Why?" He crossed his arms, still skeptical.

"You can't join the team with shitty grades, for one. And two, stop wasting your time and go over there. I've already informed the teacher you'll be joining, so you'll need all the help you can get," I explained, patting him on the shoulder before walking back inside.

As I settled down, freezing in the drafty corridor, someone knocked on the door. I closed my Potions book, noticing Mattheo standing there, holding a note I'd slipped him earlier.

"Seriously?" I asked as he held it up.

"Glad you got it. Got your books?" I inquired.

"Yes," he sighed, stepping into the room.

I patted the bed beside me, shifting to make room. "Come on, sit. Let's figure this out."

Mattheo sat down with a resigned look, his earlier bravado replaced by a weary acceptance. The tension between us eased as we both settled into the familiar routine, the chaos of the day momentarily forgotten.