Theo was still bristling by the time they reached the Slytherin common room. He hadn't been this close to cursing someone since his father had dragged him to some mind-numbing pureblood event last summer.

Harry, on the other hand, seemed utterly unbothered. He flopped onto the couch, stretching out as if he owned the place, and smirked up at Theo.

"You're really mad about this, huh?"

Theo scoffed. "Weasley is an idiot. And Granger—" He sneered. "She talks like a book and thinks it makes her better than you."

Harry huffed a quiet laugh. "You're not wrong. But honestly? They're irrelevant."

Theo sat down beside him, closer than necessary. "Then why did Dumbledore put them in your path?"

Harry paused. That was a good question.

Theo continued, voice sharp. "Dumbledore wanted you in Gryffindor. Weasley and Granger? They were probably meant to help that plan. Bet he told Weasley some sob story about how you needed a 'proper' friend to guide you. And Granger?" Theo smirked. "She's a perfect little follower. She probably thought she was saving you from Slytherin."

Harry exhaled through his nose. "Wouldn't surprise me."

Theo's fingers drummed against his knee. "Dumbledore isn't going to stop. He wants something from you. He wouldn't have shown his hand this early if he didn't."

Harry didn't respond immediately. He had been thinking the same thing.

Dumbledore had been too quick to call him to his office. Too quick to nudge him toward 'proper' friendships. It was too much, too fast.

And Harry didn't like being played.

"Then we play back," Harry said finally, smirking.

Theo's eyes darkened with something like pride. "That's my serpent."

Pansy, who had been listening from a nearby chair, rolled her eyes. "Merlin, just marry him already."

Harry laughed. Theo didn't deny it.

The fire crackled in the Slytherin common room, casting long shadows across the stone walls. Harry sat lazily on the couch, legs stretched out, completely at ease. Theo, still wound tight from earlier, sat beside him, watching the flames with sharp, calculating eyes.

Pansy and Blaise were still smirking at them from the other side of the room.

"You know, Theo," Blaise drawled, "you've gone full obsessive over Potter in record time."

Theo didn't even blink. "Observation isn't obsession."

Pansy snorted. "Oh, please. You look at him like he's a particularly valuable piece of treasure."

Harry arched an eyebrow, amused. "Do I get a say in this?"

"No," Theo said immediately.

Blaise laughed, while Pansy looked between them, smirking. "You do realize the whole house has noticed, right?"

Theo didn't care. Let them notice. Let them understand.

Harry belonged here.

Belonged to him.

And if Dumbledore, Weasley, or anyone else thought they could take Harry away, they'd have to go through Theo first.

Harry, still watching Theo with amusement, nudged him with his foot. "You do know I'm not actually going anywhere, right?"

Theo's gaze flickered to him. "Good."

Something about the way he said it—calm, unwavering, and final—made Harry pause for half a second.

Then he smirked. "Merlin, you're intense."

Theo's lips curled. "You like it."

Harry didn't deny it.