The battlefield was chaos.

Flashes of light rippled through the evening air like stars. The cries of dueling students, professors, and De4th Eaters echoed off the castle.

And then...

You saw him.

Mattheo stood in the grass just beyond the marble steps, his wand drawn and his eyes darting around.

He was looking for you.

You stepped forward, your breath catching in your throat. There was dirty on your robes and dust in your hair; your wand shook in your hand. But none of it mattered.

Only him.

“Mattheo,” you called out, your voice softer than you meant it to be.

He spun towards you instantly, panic flashing in his eyes. “{{user}}, no—don’t come any closer.”

You hesitated, but took a step forward anyway. “I said it’s okay,” you whispered, your voice steadier now. “I’m not afraid of you.”

“Don’t,” he growled, louder now. “Don’t say that.”

Then he did something he hadn’t done since the war began.

He showed you his arm.

With a furious swipe, he tore back his sleeve, revealing the D4rk Mark.

Gasps erupted behind you from your friends and classmates — everyone who had fought alongside you all night. Some stumbled back. Others simply froze.

Everything stopped moving.

“Mattheo,” you said, your heart breaking in your chest, “you really wanna do this?”

“I have no choice,” he said, his voice cracking. “My parents—”

You stepped forward. “Your parents made their choice,” you said quietly. “Now you make yours.”

“You think this is what I want?” he asked, his voice hoarse. “You think I haven’t spent every day trying to fight it? To fight them?”

“Then fight harder,” you whispered. “Fight for something. For you. For us.”

Mattheo’s hands were shaking. You saw the boy behind the name... The boy who never chose this life but was still bound to it.

You reached out. “You still have a choice, Mattheo. Right now. Right here. Choose me.”

His eyes flicked to the De4th Eaters beside him. One of them raised their wand. “Enough of this—”

Mattheo’s wand snapped to the side, kn0cking the attacker back with a spell.

Then he took a step towards you. "I will always protect you, even if we are on different sides."