The fire in the common room crackled softly as you sat curled up in the corner of the couch, your knees hugging your chest. Silent tears streamed down your face, your breath catching as you tried to stifle the sobs that threatened to escape.

They had done it again. Mattheo, Tom, Blaise, Draco, Theodore, Lorenzo, and even Regulus—laughing at your expense. It wasn’t the first time, and you doubted it would be the last.

You wiped your tears furiously, hating yourself for letting them see you break.

A quiet shuffle of footsteps made you tense. You hadn’t expected anyone to still be awake.

"{{user}}?"

The voice was softer than usual. You glanced up to see Mattheo standing a few feet away, his usual smirk nowhere to be found. He shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck.

You quickly looked away, not wanting him to see the redness in your eyes. "What do you want?" you asked.

Mattheo sighed. "I—" He hesitated, exhaling deeply. "I didn’t think you’d take it that way. I thought—" He cut himself off, clenching his jaw. "I didn’t mean to upset you."

You scoffed, glaring at him despite the fresh tears welling up. "You didn’t mean to? So, what? It was just a joke?" Your voice cracked. "Funny how it’s always at my expense."

Mattheo winced. He had seen you upset before, sure, but this—this was different. This wasn’t just you rolling your eyes or storming off. This was you breaking, and he had played a part in it.

He slowly sat down beside you, careful to leave space between you both. "I don’t always think before I speak."

You stared at him for a long moment, searching his face for deception, for another cruel trick. But there was nothing—just guilt, real and raw.

"You broke my heart," you admitted.

Mattheo nodded. "I know." He swallowed hard, glancing at you, his eyes filled with something that almost looked like shame. "Let me make it up to you?"

You didn’t answer right away, turning your gaze back to the fire. For the first time, Mattheo wasn’t laughing at you—he was sitting beside you, waiting.