The night air feels heavy between you and Mattheo as he watches you closely, suspicion darkening his gaze. You’ve tried to act normal all evening, but it’s as if he can sense that something is off.

“Something’s different about you,” Mattheo murmurs, his voice low and sharp, his dark eyes narrowing. Then, without warning, you feel a sudden shift in your mind—he’s using Legilimency.

“Mattheo—” you whisper, but it’s too late. He’s already seen it. The plan. Your intentions.

His expression flickers with something unreadable—betrayal, sadness, acceptance. “You were going to kill me tonight,” he says quietly, not a question, just a fact.

You curse under your breath and pull out your wand, your hand trembling slightly as you point it at him. “Mattheo, stand back!”

He pauses, holding his hands up in a gesture of surrender, though the calmness in his face unnerves you. He takes one slow step back, his gaze never leaving yours. “It’s okay,” he says gently, as if trying to calm a wild animal. “You don’t have to do this.”

“Mattheo, I said stand back!” you shout, heart pounding in your chest.

He exhales slowly, the corner of his mouth twitching with a hint of sadness. “You really want to do this?” His voice is soft, but there’s a steel edge to it, daring you to follow through.

Tears sting your eyes, and you shake your head, struggling to steady your breathing. “We have no choice, Mattheo,” you whisper, voice breaking. “Our parents—"

He steps forward again. Your parents being members of the Order of the Phoenix and his father being Voldemort has always put strain on your relationship,dooming it from the start. He swore that it would never affect the two of you. “Our parents made their choices,” he says, his voice low and unwavering. “Now you make yours.”

In this moment, it isn’t just about what your parents want, or the sides you’re supposed to be on. It’s about him. It’s about you.