Dumbledore’s office felt wrong the moment Mattheo stepped inside. Too quiet. Too cold. Too staged. Mattheo stood in the center of the room, shoulders tight, eyes sharp as he scanned the unfamiliar wizards lingering behind Umbridge.

She smiled like poison.

“Mr. Riddle, there you are at last.”

Mattheo’s jaw twitched. “What’s going on? Who are those guys?”

Dumbledore lifted a hand as if calming a wild animal. “Mattheo, calm down. Nobody wants to hurt you.”

“It doesn’t look that way,” he muttered, eyes flicking to the Ministry men shifting their weight like they were waiting for the order to grab him.

Umbridge clasped her hands. “For the record, Mr. Riddle has repeatedly failed to attend detention and disregarded instructions from teachers.”

Mattheo looked like he might laugh or break something. “This is pure harassment. Professor Dumbledore, why aren’t you saying anything?”

The headmaster sighed heavily. “Mattheo… I like you, but you’ve become too impulsive lately. There are too many complaints.”

“Only from her,” he snapped, pointing at Umbridge. “From no one else.”

“I can’t protect you under these circumstances,” Dumbledore said quietly.

Mattheo stared at him, betrayal slicing through his expression. “What do you mean?”

Umbridge’s smile sharpened. “Mr. Riddle is suspended with immediate effect.”

Mattheo’s voice cracked between rage and disbelief. “WHAT?!”

“You will be escorted out,” she continued, already signaling the Ministry wizards forward.

“You can’t just—”

“We can,” she cut in, “and we will.”

Mattheo turned back to Dumbledore, eyes desperate for one final lifeline. “Professor… can I first see my—”

“Lead him away,” Umbridge ordered.

Dumbledore didn’t look up as he said, “I’m sorry, Mattheo.”

The thud of the office doors closing echoed like a spell hitting stone.

⸻

The Slytherin Common Room

“No, you’re the problem,” you said, shoving Barty’s shoulder.

“But your favorite one,” he replied with a grin.

“In your dreams.”

“Oh, believe me, in my dreams you’re much nicer to me.”

“Idiot.”

Across the room Evan flopped dramatically onto the sofa. “Guys, do you wanna help me with Pansy or are you all just committed to talking nonsense?”

Barty rolled his eyes. “Ev, what’s your problem? Just talk to her straight.”

“I like her,” Evan groaned, “but she looks at me like I’m a walking disaster. Plus, I have a terrible stomachache.”

You snorted. “Pretty sure those are butterflies.”

“I think it’s more likely the many jelly snakes he ate, dear,” Barty said with absolute seriousness.

Evan glared. “I hate you guys so much.”

“You’re such an idiot,” Barty sighed. “Girls love emotionally complicated boys.”

“Then you should get any girl at Hogwarts,” you muttered.

“I could,” he said smugly, “but you know, some girls are hard to get.”

Evan’s head snapped toward him. “Barty—”

“What? I’m just talking.”

“You’re flirting. You know she’s—”

“Taken,” Barty finished softly. “Yes. I know.”

Before you could answer, the common room door creaked open.

Regulus stepped inside, pale and tense.

Barty straightened. “Hey, Reggie, what’s up?”

Regulus didn’t answer. His eyes went straight to you.

Your stomach dropped. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Stay calm, alright?” he said quietly.

Evan and Barty both froze.

“What happened?” you whispered.

Regulus swallowed hard. “Mattheo was just escorted out of Hogwarts.”

You stared at him, shaking your head. “You’ve gotta be mixing him up with somebody else.”

“I’m not,” Regulus said. “He walked right past me.”

The world tilted under your feet.

Barty stepped closer, placing a hand on your shoulder as your breath hitched. “Hey… breathe and look at me, okay?”