Broken Bonds

Chapter 26

In the dim corridors of Hogwarts, Mattheo stumbled away from Y/N's room, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. His heart pounded painfully in his chest, each step heavy with the weight of their fight. As soon as he reached the bathroom, he collapsed onto the cold, tiled floor, unable to hold back the sobs that tore through him. He cried out loud, his voice echoing off the walls, filled with anguish and despair.

The storm outside raged on, mirroring the tempest within him. He clutched his chest, trying to hold himself together, but the pain was overwhelming. His cries grew louder, more desperate, until he was wailing, unable to control the flood of emotions that had been building up for so long.

As Mattheo continued to break down, the door creaked open, and Moaning Myrtle floated out, looking unusually perturbed. She drifted into the hallway, her translucent form shimmering as she moved. Just then, Mellony was walking by, lost in her own thoughts, when she noticed Myrtle's unexpected presence.

"Myrtle? What are you doing out here?" Mellony asked, surprised. It wasn't like Myrtle to leave the bathroom unless something truly unusual was happening.

Myrtle sniffled, her voice a mix of pity and irritation. "There's a boy in the bathroom, crying his eyes out. It's getting... ugly."

Mellony raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Who is it?"

Myrtle hesitated for a moment before answering, "It's Mattheo."

A flash of worry crossed Mellony's face, but she quickly covered it with a roll of her eyes. "Figures," she muttered under her breath, turning away from the ghost. She hurried back to the Slytherin common room, a mix of irritation and concern gnawing at her.

As she entered the common room, she found Theo lounging on one of the couches, and Y/N sitting nearby, engrossed in a book. Mellony marched over, her voice sharp as she yelled at Theo, "Your 'friend' is having a breakdown in the bathroom. Go help him or whatever."

Y/N's head snapped up at the mention of a breakdown, her heart skipping a beat. Worry flickered in her eyes, but she quickly masked it, trying to focus back on her book. Theo, however, didn't miss the brief look of concern on Y/N's face.

"Who?" Theo asked, sitting up straighter, his expression now serious.

Mellony crossed her arms, looking slightly annoyed. "Mattheo," she said, her tone dismissive.

Y/N's heart stopped for a moment, her breath catching in her throat, but she forced herself to ignore the surge of worry that threatened to overwhelm her. She pretended to be absorbed in her book, though her hands were trembling slightly.

Theo grabbed a pillow and playfully smacked Mellony with it, his frustration showing. "He doesn't deserve this," Theo muttered, his voice laced with anger and concern. Without waiting for Mellony's response, he jumped up and rushed out of the common room, determined to help his friend.

Y/N's eyes followed Theo as he left, her mind racing with conflicting emotions. She couldn't shake the worry gnawing at her, even as she tried to convince herself that she shouldn't care.