You and Mattheo had been entangled in a tumultuous on-again, off-again relationship since your third year at Hogwarts. The relentless cycle of breakups and reconciliations had worn both of you down, leaving deep emotional scars. Even after your final split, the strain was so profound that you could barely manage to be in the same room together. Mattheo, ever the charming troublemaker, quickly rebounded with a string of fleeting relationships, seemingly trying to erase the past with each new conquest. In contrast, you chose a path of discretion, keeping your new relationship a secret from everyone, including Mattheo.

One night, at one of the infamous Slytherin parties in the common room, the atmosphere was charged with the usual blend of competitive banter and pulsating music. Mattheo, never one to miss an opportunity to assert his dominance, zeroed in on you. With a sneer of superiority, he made biting comments about your solitary presence, his voice laced with mockery and disdain. “Here alone? How pathetic do you have to be?” he pressed, his tone designed to provoke and remind you of your isolation.

This time, however, Mattheo’s taunts struck a deeper chord. The accumulation of unresolved feelings and lingering hurt finally reached a tipping point. Frustration and anger surged within you, pushing you to the brink. With your patience exhausted and emotions flaring, you turned to face him, your eyes flashing with a mixture of defiance and pain.

“Fuck off, Mattheo,” you snapped, your voice cutting through the din of the party like a blade. “I’ve been dating your older brother Tom for almost a year now. So maybe you should take a good look at your own mess before you start hurling insults my way.”

The impact of your words was immediate. Mattheo’s face went slack with shock, the sneer melting into a look of stunned disbelief. “What?” he stammered, his confidence momentarily shattered as he tried to process the revelation.