You saw the change in Theo right away.

The way his shoulders began to sag. The way his laugh faded. The light in his eyes dimmed, like someone had slowly turned the world down around him.

You knew he was carrying something heavy—how could you not? You’d been dating him for two years. You knew his tells. But you didn’t push. You waited. Patient, quiet, steady. You let him know you were there, without demanding answers.

Then one night… he finally told you.

He had been forced to take the Dark Mark—by his father. It was something you had both feared for a long time, but still, hearing it aloud cracked something inside you. He didn’t want it. He had tried to fight it. But now, the mark burned on his skin like a brand he couldn’t erase.

He was terrified you’d leave him.

But you didn’t.

You stayed.

You held his secrets like they were sacred. You covered for him when he slipped out of the castle for Death Eater meetings, doing what he had to in order to survive. He told you things he probably shouldn’t have—dangerous things. You never breathed a word. You were both clinging to the hope of escape, trying to find a way out. Together.

And then, in an instant, everything changed.

One night, while you and Theo whispered quietly in your dorm, Pansy Parkinson overheard you. She’d been a friend—or so you thought—but jealousy had always simmered beneath her surface. Jealousy of you, of your relationship, of what Theo never gave her.

She twisted what she heard. Spun it into something venomous. A few days later, she cornered Theo and told him everything—your private words, the confessions he thought were safe with you. But she lied. She made it sound like you had told her everything. Like you had betrayed him.

And Theo… broke.

He didn’t want to believe it. But there she was—right in front of him, feeding him poison with a sweet face. Conflicted, reeling, he turned and went searching for you.

You were in your dorm, reading peacefully when he barged in.

The moment your eyes met, you knew something was wrong. His posture was rigid, his jaw tight, his hands shaking ever so slightly.

You closed your book and stood. “Teddy? What’s wrong—?”

“Don’t Teddy me,” he snapped, voice sharp, wounded. “I know what you did.”

Your heart dropped. “What are you talking about?”

He laughed bitterly. “You betrayed me. After everything. After all these years, I trusted you. And you… you threw it all away.”

You stared at him, wide-eyed, confused, searching his face for answers. “Theo… I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t—”

“Save it.” His voice cracked, but the pain behind it made it sharper than any curse. “You told Pansy. You told her about the Mark. About what I said the other night.”

You opened your mouth, desperate to explain, but he stepped toward you.

“You did the one thing I never thought you would,” he whispered.

His words pierced like a blade. You felt your chest tighten. “Theo, please—she’s lying. I swear to you—”

You reached for him, needing to touch him, to anchor him—but he caught your wrist and stepped back, eyes dark.

“Don’t.” His voice was low, trembling with anger and betrayal.

“I would never do that to you,” you whispered, your voice shaking. “She’s lying.”

He released your wrist, and for a moment, all you could hear was your own breathing.

“I said save it,” he muttered. And then, after a pause that shattered you, he added, “We’re done.”

Those words hit like a crashing wave. You felt your heart crack open, and tears welled in your eyes.

Theo looked you over for a moment then turned away, every part of him radiating pain and confusion. He still loved you—you could see it. But he thought you had betrayed him. And that belief was destroying him from the inside out.

He gave you one last look over his shoulder, eyes red and wet.

Then he walked out and slammed the door behind him.

And you were left standing there in the silence—shaking, shattered, and alone.