Forbidden Love

Divided Loyalties

Aiden, Pansy, Mellony, and Charlotte sprinted down the dimly lit corridors, the echoes of their hurried footsteps bouncing off the stone walls. They exchanged worried glances, the tension of the night still lingering in the air.

Charlotte slowed her pace, holding out a hand to stop the others. "Mellony, come with me," she whispered, her voice steady but urgent. "Pansy, Aiden—you two go find Abby and comfort her. We'll be right back."

Pansy nodded, her expression determined as she and Aiden took off in search of Abby. The hallway seemed to stretch on forever, every shadow playing tricks on their minds, but finally, they found her. Abby was sitting on a stone bench in a secluded alcove, her shoulders hunched as she wiped away angry tears.

"Abby," Pansy said softly, kneeling down in front of her. "It's okay, we're here."

Aiden sat beside her, his presence calm and reassuring. "He didn't mean it, you know," he said quietly, his eyes filled with concern. "Mattheo...he's just got a short fuse."

Abby shook her head, her voice trembling. "It's not just that. He doesn't understand...he doesn't care how his words hurt."

Pansy reached out and squeezed Abby's hand. "You don't have to deal with this alone. We've got your back, no matter what."

Meanwhile, back in the Slytherin common room, Charlotte and Mellony stormed in, their expressions fierce. Mattheo, Draco, and Tom were still there, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife.

"What the hell was that, Riddle?" Charlotte snapped, not giving Mattheo a chance to respond before she continued. "You crossed a line."

Draco scoffed, crossing his arms defensively. "Oh, please. Abby's overreacting. It's not like we haven't used that term before."

"That doesn't make it right!" Mellony shot back, her eyes blazing with anger. "You have no idea what it's like for her. You think just because you're in Slytherin, you can say whatever you want without consequences?"

Tom, who had been standing quietly in the background, finally stepped forward, his face twisted with annoyance. "Mellony, don't act so self-righteous. You're in Slytherin too. You know how things work around here. If you can't handle it, maybe you're in the wrong house."

Mellony's eyes widened in disbelief. "What the hell is that supposed to mean, Tom? You think it's okay to throw around slurs because we're Slytherin? That's just a pathetic excuse for being a bully."

Tom's expression darkened, his voice dropping to a cold, dangerous tone. "Don't preach to me, Mellony. You're not some saint. Don't pretend you're better than the rest of us."

Mellony stepped closer, her voice filled with venom. "Hermione is like a sister to me, and Harry and Ron are like brothers. How would you feel if I called your brother a Mudblood, Tom? Would you just stand there and shrug it off?"

Tom's eyes flashed with anger, and he took a step forward, his voice harsh. "You don't know anything about me, Mellony. Don't bring my family into this, or you'll regret it."

The tension in the room reached a boiling point. Mattheo, who had been silently fuming, clenched his fists and stepped between Tom and Mellony. "That's enough. We're not doing this."

But Mellony wasn't backing down. "No, Mattheo. He needs to understand that words have consequences. You both do."

Charlotte crossed her arms, her voice dripping with disappointment. "No, we're not on the same side. Not if you think it's okay to throw around slurs like that."

Mattheo, who had been silent until now, clenched his fists, his expression conflicted. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words died on his lips. He knew he had gone too far, but his pride wouldn't let him admit it.

Mellony stepped closer to Tom, her voice low and dangerous. "If you want to keep tearing people down, fine. But don't expect us to stand by and watch."

Tom, trying to regain control of the situation, snapped back, "This isn't your fight, Mellony. Don't make it one."

But the damage was done. Mellony's words had struck a nerve, and the division within the group was palpable.

Just as the argument was about to escalate further, Blaise, who had been watching the scene unfold, raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Alright, enough. This isn't getting us anywhere. Let's just cool off and deal with this tomorrow."

Charlotte and Mellony exchanged a look, their anger still simmering, but they reluctantly nodded. Without another word, they turned and left the common room, leaving the boys to stew in their own guilt and frustration.