It's time for their flying class, and the students had all changed into their flying gear, the breeze whipping through the Quidditch pitch as they stood waiting for Madam Hooch’s instructions. Y/N adjusted her gloves, her eyes wandering the field, observing the usual dynamics of the group. 

Out of the corner of her eye, Y/N noticed Ginny Weasley walking over to Madam Hooch, holding her expensive-looking bag tightly to her chest. Ginny whispered something, and Madam Hooch gave her a short nod, allowing her to leave. Y/N frowned as Ginny hurried away, the grip on her bag suspiciously tight, but before she could think too much about it, a loud, exasperated voice cut through the noise.

"I can’t find my phone!" Astoria whined dramatically, her arms crossed as she stood in the middle of the group. "Anyone seen my phone?"

Madam Hooch rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "You don’t need your phone to fly, Miss Greengrass," she said, her tone clipped. "Pay attention to your broomstick instead."

Astoria huffed, sulking as she glared at the empty space where her phone should’ve been. Y/N couldn’t help but smirk slightly at the scene, amused by how attached Astoria was to her phone even in a flying lesson. 

Just then, Y/N felt someone come up beside her. It was Harry, already standing in his flying gear, looking a little nervous but trying to blend in. She gave him a small nod in acknowledgment.

"Are you a confident flyer?" Y/N asked with a friendly smile.

Before Harry could respond, Draco, Theo, and Enzo strolled over, grinning like they’d found fresh prey. "Potter," Draco drawled, his smirk widening, "we still haven’t heard enough about your dad. James Potter, right?"

Theo chimed in, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "He was a legend on the pitch. You gotta tell us what it’s like having a father like that."

Enzo, ever the enthusiastic one, added, "Do you think you’re going to live up to his reputation? Or maybe surpass it?"

Harry opened his mouth to answer, looking flustered, but before he could get a word out, Mattheo Riddle joined the group, his dark curls tousled in the breeze.

"What’s all the fuss about?" he asked with a lazy grin, though Y/N noticed his eyes weren’t on Harry at all—they were on her. 

Y/N shifted uncomfortably under Mattheo’s gaze, feeling his attention linger on her longer than necessary. "We’re just talking about Harry’s dad," Draco said, his voice casual, but there was a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Quidditch player, remember?"

Y/N, trying to excuse herself from the situation, took a step back. "I’m going to check on Daphne," she said quietly, hoping to slip away unnoticed.

But Harry, clearly eager to escape the questioning, glanced at her. "Mind if I join—"

Mattheo cut him off, his smirk widening. "Not so fast," he said smoothly, stepping in front of Harry. "You’re not getting away that easily. How about you tell us whether you’ll join the Quidditch team or not? That’s the real question."

Y/N sighed inwardly, watching as Mattheo and the others kept Harry occupied. It was clear Mattheo wasn’t really interested in the conversation; his focus had shifted to her more than once during the interaction, but Y/N ignored it, turning her attention elsewhere.

Across the pitch, Pansy Parkinson had noticed something too. Daphne Greengrass sat on the sidelines, her broomstick resting beside her as she quietly drew in a small sketchbook. Pansy, always one for trouble, grinned mischievously and made her way over, plopping down next to Daphne.

"You really need to learn how to defend yourself," Pansy teased, nudging Daphne’s arm. "Y/N’s off with Potter, Astoria’s busy throwing a tantrum about her phone, and here you are—defenceless."

Daphne glanced up from her drawing, biting her lip nervously. "I don’t need anyone to defend me," she muttered, though her voice lacked confidence.

Pansy raised an eyebrow, leaning over to peek at what Daphne was drawing. Her eyes lit up when she saw the subject of the sketch—it was a detailed drawing of none other than Pansy herself. A wicked grin spread across Pansy’s face as she grabbed the paper from Daphne’s hands. "Well, well, well… what do we have here?" she mocked, holding up the drawing. "Is this supposed to be me?"

Daphne’s face turned beet red as she reached out to grab it back. "Give it back, Pansy!" she pleaded, her voice shaking.

Pansy held it just out of reach, a cruel laugh escaping her lips. "You’ve got a crush on me, don’t you, Greengrass? That’s adorable," she taunted, waving the drawing in the air. Daphne’s eyes filled with tears, and she lunged forward, trying to snatch the picture from Pansy’s hand.

But Pansy, not paying attention, backed up right into Blaise, who was walking by with a drink in hand. The collision sent the bottle flying, spilling all over the picture and soaking Daphne’s bag in the process. Blaise cursed under his breath, glaring at Pansy, while Daphne let out a small sob, staring at the ruined drawing.

Pansy just laughed harder, clearly finding the whole situation hilarious. But her laughter drew the attention of everyone nearby.

Y/N’s heart dropped when she saw Daphne’s tear-filled eyes. Without thinking, she rushed over to her, kneeling down beside the younger girl. "Hey, it’s okay," Y/N said softly, putting a comforting arm around her. "Don’t worry about them."

But before Y/N could say anything more, Mattheo had appeared beside them, always quick to step in during moments like this. With a nonchalant look, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a crisp hundred-pound note, holding it out to Daphne. "Here, Greengrass," he said casually, waving the money in front of her. "Get yourself a new bag."

Y/N’s jaw tightened as she looked up at him, her tone sharp. "Mattheo, you can’t just throw money at every problem. It doesn’t fix things."

Mattheo shrugged, his smirk never faltering. "Why not? Seems like an easy solution to me."

Y/N glared at him, frustration boiling beneath the surface. "That’s not the point," she muttered, helping Daphne to her feet. "Come on, let’s go find a professor who can help with this."

Daphne nodded, sniffling as she clutched her soaked bag. Pansy, still grinning, didn’t seem the least bit remorseful, while Blaise gave her an exasperated look, shaking his head at the mess she’d made.

As Y/N led Daphne away, she could feel Mattheo’s eyes on her, but she didn’t turn back. This wasn’t a situation that could be fixed with money or arrogance, and she wasn’t about to let him or anyone else dismiss Daphne’s feelings like that.

"Don’t worry," Y/N said softly to Daphne as they walked. "We’ll get this sorted. And next time, don’t let Pansy get to you. She’s just looking for attention." 

Daphne gave a small nod, still upset but grateful for Y/N’s support. Y/N glanced over her shoulder, catching sight of Mattheo watching them from across the pitch, his usual smirk replaced with something more thoughtful.

Y/N gently guided Daphne through the corridors of Hogwarts, heading toward Professor McGonagall’s office, but they were abruptly stopped by the familiar voice of Professor Snape. 

"Miss Y/L/N, Miss Greengrass," Snape drawled, his black robes sweeping as he approached. "The sixth years are to meet in the Great Hall now. Head back immediately." His dark eyes flicked between them, leaving no room for argument.

Y/N exchanged a quick glance with Daphne, who still looked shaken from the incident with Pansy, but there was no choice. With a nod, Y/N turned them around, leading the way back toward the Great Hall. Daphne remained quiet, clutching her damp bag, and Y/N gave her a reassuring smile as they walked inside.

When they entered, they immediately spotted Mattheo, Theo, Draco, Enzo, and Blaise gathered in one corner. Y/N and Daphne made their way over to the nearest bench and sat down, relieved to see a familiar group. Astoria quickly appeared as well, her usual confident stride interrupted by a huff of annoyance.

"I still can’t find my phone!" Astoria exclaimed, her tone drenched in frustration. She reached Draco and promptly made Enzo move aside, pushing him out of the way with a dramatic flourish. Enzo just rolled his eyes as he shifted seats, used to Astoria’s antics.

"Can’t say we’ve heard that before," Enzo muttered under his breath, earning a small chuckle from Blaise.

"Well, you don't need it for flying, so it’s not like it matters," Y/N teased gently, but Astoria ignored her, still sulking about her missing phone.

Before any more could be said, the doors to the Great Hall opened, and Snape entered, followed by Professor Dumbledore, whose usual serene expression contrasted with Snape’s ever-present scowl. The room quieted immediately as they took their places at the front of the hall, all eyes now on the Headmaster.

Not long after, Pansy, Ginny, and Hermione walked in, making their way toward the seats near the front. Harry was the last to enter, and Y/N saw the shy grin spread across his face when he spotted her. He quickly crossed the room and slid into the seat beside her.

"Hey," Harry greeted with a smile, causing a ripple of curiosity to spread across the room. Pansy and Ginny both glanced over, their eyes narrowing slightly. It was no secret that they weren’t fans of Y/N, but they seemed intrigued by Harry.

"Oh, now this is interesting," Pansy whispered to Ginny, her eyes darting between Y/N and Harry. Ginny just crossed her arms, glancing at Y/N out of the corner of her eye, clearly bothered.

Y/N smiled back at Harry, feeling slightly awkward under the sudden attention but trying to shake it off. Before anything could be said, Dumbledore cleared his throat, commanding everyone’s attention.

"Good afternoon, students," Dumbledore began, his voice calm and warm as always. "I’ve called you here today to discuss a matter that has caused some disruption as of late. We’ve noticed an increased dependency on mobile phones, and after careful consideration, we’ve decided to implement a new policy."

There was an immediate chorus of groans from the students, as if they had already guessed what was coming next.

"From this day forward," Dumbledore continued, "phones will be banned during school hours. They will still be allowed after classes and on weekends, but we feel it is necessary to remove distractions during the academic day."

Draco, who had his arm draped lazily around Astoria, raised an eyebrow. "Banned? You’ve got to be kidding me," he muttered under his breath, earning a small laugh from her.

At that moment, Cedric Diggory, the current Head Boy, stood up from his seat, a wide grin spreading across his face. "I’ve actually prepared a presentation on how this will benefit us all!" he announced with enthusiasm, holding up a neat stack of papers.

Mattheo rolled his eyes, leaning back in his chair. "Oh, great," he said sarcastically, shooting a teasing look at Cedric. "Leave it to Diggory to get excited about taking our phones away. What’s next? A speech on the joys of waking up early?"

Theo snickered next to him, nudging Mattheo in the ribs. "Bet his presentation has charts and everything."

Y/N tried to suppress a smile, busying herself by looking at the parchment in front of her. But Mattheo, ever observant, wasn’t done. He leaned over slightly, his voice lower but clearly directed at her. "What do you think, Y/N? Going to miss your phone, or are you one of those people who can survive without it?"

She shot him a sidelong glance, trying to stay focused on what Dumbledore was saying. "I’ll manage," she replied, her tone nonchalant, hoping that would end the conversation. But Mattheo just grinned, clearly enjoying her attempt to ignore him.

Before he could press further, Mattheo’s attention shifted to Harry, who had been sitting quietly next to Y/N. "What do you think,?" Mattheo asked with a smirk. "Think your dad would’ve survived this ban?"

Theo burst into laughter at the jab, clearly enjoying the subtle teasing. "Yeah, wasn’t your dad all about Quidditch? Bet he wouldn’t last a day without messaging the team."

Harry went red but managed a small smile, trying to stay composed. "I’m sure he’d have found a way to cope."

On the other side of the hall, Ginny sat up a little straighter, her hands smoothing over her brand-new designer bag. "Well, I don’t care about phones. Look what I got over the summer," she said proudly, holding up the bag for everyone to see. It was sleek, expensive, and stood out among the other, more modest bags in the room.

Pansy raised an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing slightly as she examined it. "Oh, look at that," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Didn’t realize Weasleys could afford things like that."

Ginny’s smile faltered for a second, but she quickly recovered. "I saved up for it," she replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

Draco, always one for a cutting remark, snickered. "Blaise, you should’ve spilled your drink on that bag instead of Daphne’s earlier. Would’ve been a real shame, huh?"

Astoria let out a soft laugh at Draco’s comment but then glanced over at her sister, who still looked upset, her eyes downcast as she fiddled with the strap of her ruined bag.

Y/N noticed too and squeezed Daphne’s hand under the table, offering her a supportive smile. "Ignore them," she whispered softly. "We’ll get this fixed."

Across the room, Cedric had launched into his presentation with gusto, but most of the students were already tuning him out. Mattheo leaned back in his seat, clearly bored, but every now and then, Y/N could feel his gaze flicker over to her. Meanwhile, Harry, sitting quietly beside her, was clearly trying to work up the courage to say something, his eyes occasionally darting to her doodles in her notebook.

And though Y/N was surrounded by the usual chaos of Hogwarts, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was beginning to shift, especially with the way Mattheo and Harry both seemed drawn to her, each in their own way.

Y/N tried not to notice, keeping her focus on her notebook, doodling absentmindedly as Cedric droned on. Beside her, Harry fidgeted, clearly trying to work up the courage to say something. His eyes darted to her sketches, lingering on them for longer than he probably realized, but he remained quiet, too shy to speak up. Y/N’s attention drifted, her gaze wandering across the room. She noticed Pansy sitting a few rows away, her usual smug expression firmly in place as she half-listened to Cedric. But something was off. Pansy’s phone buzzed softly in her lap, barely noticeable amidst the dull chatter of the hall. Y/N watched as Pansy glanced down at her phone, her lips twitching into a smirk before she quickly tapped out a reply. Her fingers hovered over the screen, then she locked it abruptly, her body tensing as she fidgeted with the hem of her skirt. It was subtle, but Y/N had always been good at picking up on small details, and Pansy’s sudden shift in demeanor piqued her curiosity.

Just as Y/N’s mind started piecing things together, her gaze shifted to Ginny Weasley. Seated toward the back, Ginny had her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her expression unnervingly stiff. Her usually carefree demeanor seemed replaced by an anxious sort of energy. What really caught Y/N’s attention, though, was how Ginny was deliberately avoiding looking at Astoria. Her eyes were darting anywhere but in the blonde’s direction. Even when whispers started around the room, Ginny stared at the floor, her fingers gripping the strap of her expensive new bag so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Y/N frowned, something clicking in her gut. Ginny wasn’t the type to flaunt new things or act evasive, and it was clear from the way she clutched her bag that something was bothering her. But before Y/N could give it any more thought, the click of the projector stole everyone’s focus.

A bold question flashed across the screen: "Who is Astoria Greengrass?"

The room fell silent. Even Cedric paused, bewildered, as whispers spread like wildfire through the hall. The air was thick with anticipation and confusion, and Y/N’s heart sank. Something wasn’t right.

The first image appeared on the screen, showcasing Astoria in her typical, glamorous form. The boys reacted instantly, some letting out low whistles as usual, but Y/N noticed Ginny shrinking even further into her seat, her eyes glued to her lap. Pansy, on the other hand, leaned forward slightly, her earlier fidgeting gone as she now seemed intent on watching the scene unfold. Astoria, sitting confidently beside Draco, raised a perfectly arched eyebrow but shrugged it off, her usual poise intact. She was used to attention—thrived on it, even.

The next slide, however, hit differently.

The screen changed again, this time showing a side-by-side photo comparison: a younger Astoria with her natural black hair and her current blonde look. The caption underneath read, "Born with black hair but dyed it blonde to look like her sister, Daphne Greengrass."

Astoria’s composure cracked, her expression faltering for a split second. The room erupted in gasps and hushed voices as the next slide followed quickly.

“Multiple plastic surgeries: nose job, boob job,” the next slide read, accompanied by invasive before-and-after photos. The photos, no doubt taken over the years, showcased a younger Astoria, starkly different from the one everyone knew now. The beauty she had always flaunted was suddenly under a harsh spotlight, and not in the way she preferred.

Y/N's heart sank as she glanced at Astoria. The girl who always held her head high, confident in her appearance, now sat frozen, her eyes wide as she stared at the screen. The room had gone from admiration to stunned silence, whispers growing louder as the secret exposed itself to everyone.

Draco, who had been leaning back with a smirk just moments ago, straightened up instantly. His arm slid off the back of Astoria’s chair as he looked over at her with concern, his brows furrowing in confusion and anger.

Y/N’s mind raced. The photos, the information… whoever had stolen Astoria’s phone had leaked all of this. And judging by the smug looks around the room, many of the students were enjoying the spectacle, finding amusement in her humiliation.

Astoria’s hands clenched into fists on her lap, her face paling before turning a furious shade of red. Without a word, she stood up abruptly, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. The sudden movement snapped Draco out of his shock.

"Astoria—" Draco began, but she didn’t respond. She stormed out of the room, her head held high, though Y/N could see the tremble in her shoulders as she fled.

Draco wasted no time in following her. He shot a dangerous glare around the room, his eyes lingering on the boys who had whistled earlier, daring them to say something now. Without a word, he pushed past a few students and hurried after Astoria.

The atmosphere in the Great Hall shifted, the excitement dying down as students realized the severity of what had just happened. Even Cedric, who had been oblivious moments earlier, now looked awkward, unsure of how to proceed.

Y/N’s gaze fell on the projector screen, still displaying one of the invasive slides, and her stomach turned. This wasn’t just cruel—it was a violation. She couldn’t believe someone had done this to Astoria, no matter how superficial she could be at times. No one deserved this level of public humiliation. And then, Mattheo’s phone buzzed.

Y/N, who had been glancing around the room in search of answers, noticed the sudden tension in Mattheo’s posture. He was leaning back, appearing as casual as ever, but when his phone lit up, she saw his hand freeze for a moment. His jaw clenched as he unlocked it to read the message. Whatever was on the screen seemed to rattle him—his normally laid-back expression disappeared, replaced by something Y/N couldn’t quite read.

His eyes darkened as they flicked from his phone to the room around him, then briefly toward Y/N before he quickly put his phone away. He looked shaken, his usual air of confidence now disrupted.

Y/N caught the flicker of unease in his eyes, and her gut told her that this wasn’t a coincidence. The timing of the text, right after the humiliating slideshow, was too precise.

Something was going on. Something much bigger than just the stolen phone. And now, Mattheo—usually so composed—seemed to be caught in the middle of it.

Y/N’s heart pounded in her chest, her thoughts swirling. She glanced once more at Pansy, still sitting smugly despite the chaos around her, and at Ginny, who had yet to meet anyone’s eyes. But it was Mattheo’s reaction that unsettled her most. Whatever message he’d received, it had shaken him in a way she hadn’t seen before.

As the whispers continued, Y/N leaned toward Daphne, who was sitting silently beside her, looking horrified. "It must’ve been whoever stole her phone," Y/N whispered urgently, the weight of the situation settling in her chest.

Daphne’s eyes widened, her hand flying to her mouth as she realized the same thing. "I—I didn’t think…"

Before they could speak further, Professor Snape stood up abruptly, his expression dark. "Enough!" His voice cut through the chatter like a blade, and the room instantly quieted.

"We will investigate this matter immediately," Dumbledore added, his tone still calm but laced with authority. His eyes swept over the students, but there was no anger, only disappointment. "Whoever is responsible for this will face consequences."

Y/N leaned back in her chair, her mind still spinning from what had just happened. As the teachers began to shuffle the students out, she couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling that this year at Hogwarts was only going to get more complicated.