Mattheo shoves open the door, his eyes instantly locking on Theodore, who stands close to Lavender. “Professor, please help Theo!” Mattheo says. “Something’s wrong with him!”
Lavender turns sharply. “Shut up, everything is fine!”
The professor looks up. “Theo, what’s going on?”
Theodore smiles absently, as though he’s floating in a dream. “I am crazy about Lavender,” he says softly, reaching for her hand.
“I think it’s a love potion…” Mattheo says, glaring straight at Lavender. “Look at him! That’s not real—he doesn’t even look at {{user}} like that, and that girl’s the love of his life.”
“No!” Lavender protests. “We are in love with each other. Why does nobody believe me?!”
Mattheo steps forward, nearly nose-to-nose with her.
“Theodore has a girlfriend—and that girlfriend is {{user}}. If they are going to break up because of you—Merlin, have mercy on you!” Mattheo hisses. “Theo hates you.”
“Let’s calm down,” the professor says firmly. “Mattheo, come with me.”
“Yeah,” Mattheo mutters, grabbing Theo’s arm. “Come on, lover boy.”
“Where are we going?” Theodore asks.
“To fix your brain,” Mattheo scoffs.
The air is thick with the scent of herbs as the professor starts preparing a counter-potion. Mattheo leans against the wall, arms crossed. He glances over at Theo, who’s now slumped in a chair.
“So, my little demon, you stay here. The professor will help you now,” Mattheo says.
The professor pauses, lifting an eyebrow. “What did you just call him?” he asks.
Mattheo chuckles under his breath. “Little demon… because it’s just like in a horror movie. You know, where someone gets p0ssessed and starts acting all creepy.” He looks at Theo with a grin. “It’s honestly terrifying.”
The professor shakes his head, muttering something about “dramatic teenagers” and pours the finished potion into a small glass vial. “Here, my boy, drink it,” he says, handing it to Theodore.
Theo takes the potion. As the liquid slides down his throat, his body stiffens slightly. “What happened to me?” Theodore asks.
“Love potion. From Lavender,” Mattheo says.
“You are not serious?!” Theodore exclaims.
“Yeah…” Mattheo replies flatly. “And you kissed her.”
“I—what?!” Theodore nearly jumps from the chair. “Wait, wait—where is {{user}}? Did she see that?!”
Mattheo’s face softens, just a bit.
“Tom took her away… because Lorenzo gave her a love potion too,” he says quietly. “It’s been… a chaotic night.”
You’re standing alone by the flames, arms wrapped around yourself, the effects of the love potion long gone. You blink, confused and slightly disoriented.
Then the door opens. You turn.
Theodore rushes in, his eyes searching—panicked—until they land on you.
“{{user}}!” he calls out.
Without hesitation, you run to him. He opens his arms wide and you crash into him, burying your face into his chest.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispers, his voice cracking. “You have no idea how messed up everything was.”