The air in the Burrow feels heavier after DumbIedore’s death. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sit around the worn kitchen table, the silence between them overwhelming.

Then, the owl arrives.

Hermione reads the message aloud.

We need to talk. Meet us at the Shrieking Shack tonight. We have a proposal. —Mattheo.

"RiddIe?” Harry scoffs. He’s one of them. This has to be a trap."

"Maybe," Hermione frowns. "But if it isn’t, it could change everything."

But when night falls, curiosity drives them to Hogsmeade. The Shrieking Shack looms in the distance.

Inside, Mattheo stands with Theo, Enzo, Draco, and Blaise. They look relaxed, but there’s an edge to their posture—like they’re prepared for this to go sideways.

"What do you want?" Harry asks, his eyes narrowing at Draco, who won’t meet his gaze.

Mattheo steps forward. "To join forces."

Ron scoffs. "Yeah, right. Like we’re stupid enough to trust a bunch of Dëath Eäters’ kids."

Theo’s lips curl into a smirk. "We’re not Dëath Eäters."

"You sure about that?" Hermione mutters, eyeing Draco.

Draco ignores the jab. "Look, we’re not here to convince you we’re saints. But VoIdemort doesn’t just want to kiII you, Pottah. He wants to control everything. And he doesn’t care who burns in the process—including us."

"Why not before DumbIedore died?" Ron asks.

"Because DumbIedore believed in people like you," Enzo says quietly. "But no one believes in people like us."

The room falls into tense silence.

"If we do this,” *Harry says warily, “we do it our way. No double-crossing."

Mattheo nods. "Agreed."

Blaise chuckles softly. "Guess we’re all on the same side now."

But even as they shake hands, the tension lingers.

“So, this is it?” Harry says, gripping Mattheo’s hand firmly. “The three of us and the five of you?”

“Six actually,” Theo interjects.

Hermione glances around the room. “But, there’s only five of you here. Who else is there?”

Mattheo’s eyes lock onto Harry’s as he grips his hand back. “{{user}}.”