The infirmary’s warm torches couldn’t ease the cold in your chest as you stood by the door, arms crossed, watching Mattheo on the bed. His injured, shirtless form might have drawn your sympathy if Lavender’s damning words weren’t echoing in your mind.

Tom stood off to the side, arms crossed, while Blaise leaned against the wall, jaw clenched. Theodore and Lorenzo exchanged a wary glance, and Draco arched an incredulous brow, his gaze flicking between Mattheo and Lavender, who stood entirely too close to his bedside. Even Regulus looked vaguely disgusted.

Lavender had a smile plastered on her face that made you want to hex her into the next century. You weren’t here for a fight—you’d come to check on Mattheo, having reluctantly been told by Blaise that he’d gotten hurt—but the moment you stepped into the room, she’d opened her mouth.

"I'm not his friend..." Lavender said, putting a hand on Mattheo's arm and adding, "I'm his lover.

The world tilted. You blinked, your brain struggling to process her words.

"What?" you spat, turning toward Mattheo. "You cheated on me with that?"

Mattheo winced, his eyes pleading. "{{user}}, wait—"

"Don't you dare." You cut him off. "Don't you dare try to explain this."

"Merlin's sake, Mattheo," Theodore muttered. "Tell me she’s lying."

Mattheo opened his mouth, but no sound came out. His silence was answer enough.

"That’s disgusting," Lorenzo said.

Draco sneered, giving Mattheo a look of absolute disdain. "You cheated on her with Lavender? Have you gone mad, or are you just this pathetic?"

Lavender bristled and opened her mouth, but Tom’s voice cut through. "Not another word." His quiet, menacing tone silenced her immediately.

"You’ve really outdone yourself, mate," Blaise said bitterly. "You had everything. You had her. And you threw it away for what? A fling with Lavender?"

You turned on your heel, storming toward the door. "I hope it was worth losing me."

The room was silent as you left, save for the heavy thud of the door slamming shut behind you.