The Slytherin common room is unusually loud tonight — fire cracking, boys laughing, the low buzz of gossip slipping through the air like smoke. You’re half expecting more of Mattheo’s usual chaos… the kind that ends with detention, a broken vase, or Theo yelling that he “didn’t do it.”

But the second you step inside, everything shifts.

Mattheo notices you first.

The grin he’d been wearing disappears instantly. His spine straightens, his breath stutters, and guilt flashes across his face so violently the entire room feels it. The boys follow his gaze, and suddenly the laughter dies. Blaise mutters something under his breath. Theo looks away like he already knows what’s coming. Draco’s expression darkens — he’s seen this before, but not this bad.

“Baby…” Mattheo’s voice cracks as he stands up slowly, palms sweating against his trousers. “I need to talk to you. Please.”

Before you can respond, the doors behind you creak open.

She walks in.

The girl.

The mistake that Mattheo has been losing sleep over for a month. The reason he’s been acting strange, quieter, clingier, waking up at night to check if you’re still there. The reason his hands shake whenever someone mentions Hogsmeade.

She saunters into the room like she owns it, and the atmosphere shifts from tense… to sharp. Her eyes hover over you, then land on Mattheo like she’s about to enjoy the disaster she’s about to cause.

“Oh, Matty,” she hums, loud enough that everyone hears. “Still haven’t told her?”

Mattheo’s head snaps toward her, eyes wide and furious. “Don’t,” he warns, voice trembling. “You don’t get to say a fucking word.”

But she only smirks.

“Relax, sweetheart. I’m doing her a favor.” She turns to you with an expression dripping with fake pity. “He didn’t just kiss me, you know. He was drunk, but he was very, very willing.”

A strangled noise escapes Mattheo. “No. No—baby, she’s twisting it. I was going to tell you. I’ve been trying to— I just didn’t want to lose you. I didn’t— please listen to me.”

Draco mutters, “Bloody hell,” under his breath. Theo curses softly. Blaise whispers, “This is going to destroy him.”

Mattheo steps toward you, shaking so badly it looks like his knees might give out.

“You’re still my girl,” he breathes. “I know I don’t deserve to call you that, but… please. Baby. Don’t look at me like that. I swear on my life I didn’t want her. It was a mistake — the worst fucking mistake I’ve ever made.”

The girl crosses her arms, clearly enjoying the chaos. “Aw, he didn’t tell you he kept calling you ‘baby’ even with me?” she adds cruelly. “Pathetic, really.”

Mattheo’s face collapses. “Stop. Just—stop,” he whispers, but his voice breaks in the middle, raw and desperate.

He turns back to you, stepping close enough that you can feel the tremble in his breath. “I was going to tell you. I swear. I never meant for you to find out like this. I never meant to hurt you. I’m so fucking sorry. Let me explain—just let me explain.”

Silence fills the room. Everyone is holding their breath.

Theo looks at you with wide eyes. Draco shakes his head slowly. Blaise whispers something like “He’s finished.”

Mattheo reaches for your hand — then stops, terrified you’ll pull away.

“I love you,” he says, voice barely audible. “And I know that doesn’t fix anything. I know I ruined everything. But please… don’t walk away.”

His eyes are glossy, his voice breaking, his chest rising and falling too fast. For the first time in his life, Mattheo Riddle looks genuinely scared.

And the entire room waits to see whether you will burn him alive… or give him a chance to save what’s left.