Hogwarts Adventures

Chapter 11: Late to Class

It was Monday, and Jenna was running late. She had woken up later than expected, and now she was rushing through the hallways of Hogwarts, her books clutched tightly against her chest. She had barely had time to dry her hair, and it now hung in damp, messy waves over her shoulders. There was no way she was going to make it to Professor Lupin's Defensive Against the Dark Arts class on time.

As she hurried down the corridor, the sound of her shoes clicking against the stone floor echoed through the empty hallways. The castle was quieter than usual, almost as if it were holding its breath for the beginning of the week. She could hear the faint murmur of students in the distance, but she had no time to slow down. Her stomach was already churning with the stress of being late.

When she finally reached the classroom, she pushed the door open quickly, hoping it wouldn't be too noticeable. "Sorry I'm late, Professor Lupin! I overslept," she said, slightly out of breath.

Professor Lupin looked up from his desk, his face calm but with an amused smile playing on his lips. "It's all right, Miss Albright. Take a seat, please."

Jenna nodded quickly, her cheeks flushed as she hurried to find a spot. As she scanned the room, her eyes landed on the empty desk next to Mattheo. She couldn't help but feel a slight knot in her stomach. Of course, it was him. Of all the empty spots, why did she have to sit next to him?

Mattheo looked up at her with a smirk as she approached. "Good morning, Jenna Albright," he said, his voice low and amused. "Are you always this punctual?"

Jenna shot him a glance, surprised by the teasing tone in his voice. She felt a little embarrassed but managed to give him a half-smile as she dropped into the chair beside him. "No," she muttered, trying to hide her irritation. "I'm just... running late today."

Mattheo chuckled softly, clearly enjoying the situation. "I can see that. Maybe you need to set an alarm next time, Albright."

She rolled her eyes, trying to shake off the embarrassment. "Thanks for the advice, Riddle," she said, not meaning to sound quite as sharp as she did. "Now, can we just focus on class?"

Mattheo's eyes gleamed with amusement as he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Of course. But if you ever need tips on how to wake up early, I'm happy to help."

Jenna glanced over at him, now slightly annoyed but also wondering why he seemed so laid-back about the whole thing. As the class began, she focused on Professor Lupin and tried her best to ignore the teasing undertone in Mattheo's voice. But deep down, she knew she couldn't help but be a little curious about the guy sitting next to her.

Mattheo's Perspective

The class began, but I couldn't focus on a single word Professor Lupin said. Every time I tried to concentrate on the lesson, my mind kept wandering back to the girl sitting next to me — Jenna Albright.

Her presence was... distracting.

Not because she was particularly loud or attention-grabbing, but because there was something about her. Maybe it was the way her damp hair caught the light as it draped over her shoulders. Or maybe it was the faint scent of her — something sweet and familiar, mixed with the distinct smell of parchment and ink that seemed to follow her wherever she went. It was the kind of scent that clung to your memory long after the moment had passed.

I shifted in my seat slightly, trying to shake off the overwhelming distraction. The lecture droned on, but I was hardly absorbing anything. My gaze kept drifting to her — the way her brows furrowed when she was thinking, the way she absentmindedly twirled a strand of her hair between her fingers when she wasn't paying attention. Even when she was ignoring me, I found myself fixated on her.