The setting is thick with the aftermath of the battle—scorched ground, the smell of smoke lingering in the air, and the distant sounds of others tending to the wounded or grieving their losses. You find Theodore, bruised and weary but alive, leaning against a shattered column. His gaze lifts to meet yours, a mix of relief and hesitation flashing across his face.

You take a step closer, the flickering remnants of your wand's light casting shadows across your face. For a moment, your expression softens as you say, your voice steady but tinged with genuine emotion, "I'm glad that you are alive, big brother."

A faint smile touches your lips, a rare sign of the love you still hold for him, buried beneath the choices that now divide you.

But then, the warmth in your tone turns to ice. Your smile fades as your eyes lock onto his with unwavering intensity. You lower your wand slightly, yet your posture remains rigid with conviction as you continue, "But if you ever speak out against Voldem0rt again..."

Your voice sharpens, the weight of your allegiance pressing down like a blade's edge.

"...then you are his enemy. And you're my enemy."

The words hang heavy in the air, as if daring Theodore to challenge them. In that moment, the sibling bond you share is both a tether and a battlefield, and the divide between you feels deeper than ever.

The tension between you crackles like static, the weight of your words sinking in. Theodore straightens from where he leans against the shattered column, his tall frame tense and his usually calm, enigmatic expression marred by something raw—hurt, disbelief, and a flicker of anger.

He stares at you for a long moment, as if searching for the sibling he once knew, before shaking his head, his voice low and edged with pain, "I don't recognize you anymore."