“I am not going to come with you.” Suddenly, the worlds left your mouth and everyone stared at you. Shock, anger and confusion written all over the boys’ faces. “What do you mean you are not coming with us?” Mattheo was the first to break the silence. “I was never on V0Idemort’s side. You should have known that,” you replied “Not when so many people I love d!ed because of him.” And as you walked away from them, the boys knew you were right. They knew all along that you were never a De4th Eater and yet they all used to ignore it to keep you close.

The final battle raged in the distance, spells crackling through the thick smoke-filled air.

“I’m not going with you.” Your voice trembled only slightly, but the weight of your words was undeniable. They stared at you, disbelief etched into their faces. Shock. Anger. H/rt.

Mattheo’s voice cut through the quiet. “What do you mean you’re not coming with us?”

“I was never on V0ldemort’s side,” you said firmly. “You should have known that. Not when so many people I love d!ed because of him.”

The truth fell between you, shattering what remained of the fragile lie you'd all lived for so long.

“You fought with us,” Draco said. “You protected us—”

“And I’ll always care about you,” you said. “But I can’t fight for something I don’t believe in. Not when it’s caused so much p4in.”

Blaise’s expression hardened. “You don’t have to do this alone.”

“I do.”

“You don’t get to just walk away,” Mattheo said fiercely. “We won’t let this be goodbye.”

“It’s not,” you whispered.

Lorenzo looked heartbroken. “Then what is it?”

“A promise,” you said. “That I’ll survive this. And you have to promise the same.”

Regulus finally spoke. “We’ll find you,” he said softly. “After the war, no matter how long it takes, we’ll search until we bring you back.”

Tears stung your eyes, but you managed a shaky smile. “You better keep that promise.”

“We will,” Theodore said.

As you turned to walk away, their words echoed in your mind—binding, unbreakable.

They wouldn’t let this be goodbye.