Forbidden Love

An Invitation with Strings Attached

I had just settled into the comfort of my new dorm, the initial nerves of meeting Aiden and Pansy easing into a sense of calm. The day had been a whirlwind, but now, with my things unpacked and my bed claiming its spot in this new chapter of my life, I was starting to feel a little more at home. Pansy was sprawled out on her bed, flipping through a magazine, and Aiden was sitting at his desk, organizing his books, when a knock echoed through the dorm room.

I glanced at Pansy, who shrugged and called out, "Come in!"

The door swung open to reveal Mattheo Riddle and Draco Malfoy, both looking every bit the part of Slytherin royalty. Mattheo's dark, unruly hair fell over his eyes, giving him an almost mysterious allure, while Draco's sharp features were framed by his perfectly styled blond hair. They walked in with the kind of confidence that seemed to radiate from every pore.

"Evening, ladies," Mattheo said, his gaze flicking briefly to me before settling on Pansy. "We're throwing a little Slytherin get-together in the common room tonight. Figured we'd come by and extend the invitation."

Draco's eyes swept over the room, lingering on Aiden, who was still sitting at his desk, before he turned back to Pansy. "It's going to be a good night. You should join us."

Pansy perked up at the mention of a party. "Sounds fun. I could use a little excitement after today." She then glanced over at Aiden, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Aiden, what do you say? Wanna come along?"

Mattheo's expression faltered, and he hesitated for a moment. "It's kind of a small gathering... more like close friends hanging out. You sure you're up for it, Aiden?"

Pansy raised an eyebrow at him, her tone laced with mock sternness. "Mattheo, don't be ridiculous. Aiden's one of us now, right? He'll fit right in."

Mattheo quickly covered his hesitation with a grin, though I noticed the brief tension in his posture. "Yeah, of course. The more, the merrier."

Draco, however, wasn't as subtle. He looked between Mattheo and Aiden, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes, before he turned his attention back to Pansy. "We'll see you down there, then," Draco finally said, his tone clipped.

"Yeah, see you in a bit," Pansy added, waving them off as they turned to leave.

As the door closed behind them, the tension in the room eased. Pansy turned to me, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "This is going to be interesting."

Aiden, however, seemed oblivious to the unease. He turned back to his books, seemingly unbothered by the exchange. "I guess we'd better get ready, then."

But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Mattheo's reaction to Aiden joining us hadn't gone unnoticed, and Draco's clear disapproval had only added to the unease. Why did it feel like this invitation had come with strings attached? And why did Mattheo seem so intent on me being there, but less enthusiastic about Aiden?

As I stood up to start getting ready, I caught Pansy's eye. She gave me a knowing look, one that said she'd noticed the tension too.

"Don't worry, Abby," she said with a wink. "It's just a party. What's the worst that could happen?"

I smiled back, though my mind was already racing with possibilities. Something told me that tonight was going to be anything but simple. And as much as I tried to push the thoughts aside, I couldn't help but wonder what Mattheo was really thinking.