Forbidden Love

The Unspoken Tension

Just before entering the Slytherin common room, Aiden gently took my hand, his grip warm and reassuring. The simple gesture sent a wave of unexpected comfort through me, but it also made my heart race. We walked into the room together, and the atmosphere hit me like a wall—thick with smoke, the scent of liquor heavy in the air. It was intoxicating and overwhelming at the same time.

Aiden remained expressionless, his eyes scanning the room as if he had seen it all before. Pansy, ever the social butterfly, went ahead to greet Charlotte and the others, seamlessly blending into the crowd. I stayed close to Aiden, feeling oddly out of place but grateful for his presence.

After the initial greetings, Blaise's voice cut through the chatter. "Umm, are we just gonna ignore that?" he asked, his eyes shifting pointedly between Aiden and me.

Caught off guard, Aiden and I quickly let go of each other's hands, awkwardly shuffling apart. I could feel my face flush as I tried to act like nothing had happened, my heart pounding in my chest. Aiden's expression remained neutral, but there was a slight tension in his posture.

Mattheo, standing off to the side, tried to play it cool, but there was a slight edge to his voice as he muttered, "Whatever."

Mellony, never one to miss a beat, smirked and teased, "Jealous, are we, Riddle?"

Mattheo rolled his eyes and flipped her off, clearly irritated. But before the tension could escalate further, Charlotte leaned in, whispering to Pansy, Mellony, and me with a mischievous glint in her eye, "God, if he does that again, I'm gonna stick that finger right up his—"

She was cut off by Enzo, who stepped in just in time, his voice smooth and light. "Okay, before this gets any more violent and before Charlotte actually beats Riddle up, let's begin. Anyone wanna play?"

Pansy raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Play what?"

The room fell silent for a moment as everyone waited for Enzo to elaborate. 

Theo stepped forward with a mischievous grin. "Anyone up for Truth or Dare?"

Pansy's eyes sparkled with excitement as she added, "How about we use Veritaserum for the truth part? That way, it'll be fun."

A wave of both curiosity and hesitation rippled through the group. Tom frowned slightly and asked, "But where are we going to get it? We're all already under suspicion."

"Suspicion?" I asked, confused.

Draco turned to me with a smirk. "Yeah, we've been 'borrowing' Veritaserum from Snape's storage, but we're already on his suspect list."

Tom's eyes narrowed as he scanned the room. "There are some people who aren't," he said, his gaze landing on me. The others followed suit, and I felt all eyes on me.

"Oh, fuck," I muttered, realizing where this was going.

I quickly added, "I'm not doing it alone. I want someone to go with me—someone who's done this before."

Pansy and Charlotte immediately shook their heads. "We went last time, so we can't," Pansy said, sounding genuinely apologetic.

Blaise smirked, looking directly at Mattheo. "Mattheo hasn't stolen it in months, so he's clear."

The rest of the group's expressions shifted from mild interest to eager encouragement. Charlotte leaned in, her eyes bright with anticipation. "Come on, Mattheo, you and Abby would make the perfect team. Think of it as a little adventure!"

Mellony chimed in, grinning. "You've been sitting on the sidelines too long, Mattheo. It's about time you got back in the game. Plus, with Abby by your side, there's no way you'll get caught."

Even Blaise joined in, his tone teasing but with a genuine nudge. "You know you're the best at this, Mattheo. Besides, Abby could use a partner who knows the ropes."

Pansy nudged him playfully. "Don't be a spoilsport. Show Abby how it's done."

Mattheo sighed, clearly feeling the weight of everyone's expectations. He glanced at me, a mix of resignation and determination in his eyes. "Fine, but if we get caught, it's on all of you."

The group cheered, clearly pleased with the outcome. I looked at Mattheo, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. This was more than just a party—it was a test, and I was about to dive headfirst into it, with Mattheo by my side.