The shadows of the Great Hall stretch long and cold as Mattheo stands at its center, surrounded by whispers and wary stares. His dark curls hang messily across his face, his once vibrant eyes now dull, hardened by the chaos within him. The boy you once knew—the boy who laughed, teased, and swore you were all he wanted—has vanished.

You watch him from a distance, heart aching at the sight. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. You pushed him away to protect him, to save yourself, but instead, you created something you can’t recognize.

“All I wanted was you,” he had once said, his voice trembling with the weight of sincerity. “You’re all I have, and you’re all I want.”

But that wasn’t enough for you then. You pushed him further and further until something inside him snapped.

Now, Mattheo Riddle is a name that strikes terror into the hearts of others, even those who proudly bear the mark of his father. He walks through the castle like a storm, his very presence an unspoken warning. He’s become a fearless follower of his father’s army, a shadow of the Dark Lord himself—a monster that you helped create.

You watch as a student stumbles back in terror, muttering apologies, a smirk curling at Mattheo’s lips, his eyes, however, remain empty.

You step forward, your breath shallow. “Mattheo…”

His head turns, and for a moment, something flickers behind those cold, dead eyes—something that remembers you, the person who meant everything to him.

“Careful, love. I might not be the same person you remember.”

You thought you were saving him, but instead, you pushed him to become exactly what you feared. A monster—a fearless, untouchable creature who has nothing left to lose.