The air crackles, thick with anger and frustration.

Tom, his face tight with defiance, steps closer, his voice low but intense. “I saved your life… twice.”

You clench your fists, the anger bubbling up from deep inside. “Because you put it in d4nger twice! Why can’t you just do something decent for once?” The words slip out, sharp and bitter, laced with years of pent-up resentment.

Tom’s eyes flash, a fire in them, but there’s something else too. “Because my own brother tried to k/II me.”

You exhale slowly, the weight of the truth almost making you flinch, but you don’t back down. “We’ve all tried to k/II you. And you’ve tried to k/II most of us.” Your gaze pierces through him. “How do you think that you deserve my friendship when you’ve done nothing to earn it?”

Tom’s jaw tightens and his usual cocky arrogance faltering for a brief moment. “I will not have my hand forced by you or anyone else!”

You laugh bitterly, turning away, your shoulders stiff with frustration. “What is wrong with you? I’m reaching out to you despite everything that you have done, and you still can’t get out of your own way. I feel sorry for you.” You don’t even look back, the finality of your words hanging in the air like a verdict.

Tom’s face twists with something close to desperation. “Don’t turn your back on me!”

You don’t hesitate this time. “I should have turned my back on you ages ago!”

Behind you, the others—Mattheo, Tom’s allies, the rest of the group—stand frozen, watching the scene unfold. Lorenzo leans against the doorframe, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Regulus shifts on his feet, glancing between you and Tom, his face tense. Theodore, Draco, and Blaise remain silent, each watching the conflict.

The silence that follows is suffocating. Tom’s hand clenches into a fist, his breath ragged. You stand tall, not looking back, every inch of you telling him that you’ve said your piece.

And still, the weight of everything between you both remains, thick as ever.