The tension in the Slytherin common room is palpable as Mattheo and Tom face off, their argument heating up quickly.

“Things just aren’t the same here anymore,” Mattheo says, his voice dripping with bitterness.

“Exactly. Let it go,” Tom replies, a hint of finality in his tone.

Mattheo scoffs, “Yeah, because you’re an expert at that.”

Sensing the escalation, you try to intervene, but Mattheo cuts you off. “No, no, see, this is the crap that he always pulls. When things aren’t perfect, instead of trying to fix it, he just decides to throw it away.”

Tom glares at Mattheo, his eyes darkening. “Mattheo, don’t.”

But Mattheo continues, his anger raging. “And it’s not just Hogwarts. You did the same thing to {{user}}, too.”

Tom’s voice is low and threatening. “Shut up, Mattheo.”

You feel a wave of devastation wash over you as you listen, but you know it’s Mattheo’s anger speaking. “Don’t use me to get at Tom,” you say quietly before turning to leave.

Tom watches you go, then turns back to Mattheo. “Real classy, Mattheo.”

Mattheo’s eyes flash with fury. “You’re such a prick, do you know that?”

“Oh, grow up, Mattheo,” Tom retorts, exasperation clear in his voice.

“I did grow up!” Mattheo snaps back.

Tom sneers, “So what do you want? A medal?”

Mattheo’s voice is filled with pain and frustration. “You know I looked up to you every day of my life? And when people said that you were better than me, I wouldn’t mind because I believed them, too. But you’re not. Now I finally see you for what you really are.”

Tom’s expression is icy. “Yeah? And what’s that?”

“A coward,” Mattheo says, his voice cold and final. “You’re not someone to look up to.”

Tom’s face hardens, but he says nothing, the room filled with a tense silence.