[CHAPTER 27]

───🦋･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.🦋───

───🦋･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.🦋───

TITLE   : A CHANCE TO REDEEM HIMSELF

ELLIE SPENT THE ENTIRE night tossing and turning, Mattheo's words echoing in her head.

"Just give me a chance to fix this."

She hated how much those words lingered.

How much he lingered.

She pulled the covers over her head, groaning in frustration. She shouldn't be thinking about this. About him.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the way he had looked at her. The desperation in his voice. The way he had grabbed her wrist—not forcefully, but as if letting go would mean losing her forever.

And the worst part?

For a brief moment, she had wanted to stay.

Ellie sighed, rolling onto her side. Maybe she needed another opinion.

Maybe she needed to talk to Lorenzo.

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L

orenzo  was sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace, flipping through his Potions textbook when Ellie found him.

"Hey," she greeted softly, sitting beside him.

He glanced up, eyebrows raising slightly. "Hey. You okay?"

Ellie let out a tired chuckle. "Not really."

Lorenzo  shut his book, turning to face her fully. "What's wrong?"

She hesitated, then sighed. "It's Mattheo."

Lorenzo's face darkened instantly. "What did he do now?"

Ellie shook her head. "Nothing. Or—well, not this time." She exhaled, tucking her knees to her chest. "I ran into him yesterday. He...he apologized."

Lorenzo's expression didn't change. "And you don't believe him?"

Ellie chewed on her bottom lip. "I don't know. I mean, I want to believe him, but it's just...he ignored me for weeks, Lorenzo. He acted like I didn't exist. And now, suddenly, he wants to fix things?"

Lorenzo  leaned back against the couch, studying her carefully.

"And you're scared to let him back in," he stated.

Ellie sighed. "I don't know if I can."

Lorenzo  was quiet for a moment before he spoke again, voice softer this time.

"I think you should give him a chance."

Ellie's head snapped up. "What?"

Lorenzo  sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "Look, I hate how he treated you. I really do. But Ellie..." He hesitated. "I saw how miserable you were when you weren't talking to him. And I saw his face when you were crying in the library. He cares about you, even if he's a bloody idiot about it."

Ellie swallowed, looking away. "I don't know if that's enough."

"It's not," Lorenzo  admitted. "Not yet. But if he's serious about fixing things, you should at least let him try."

Ellie played with the hem of her sleeve, her thoughts swirling.

Could she really do that?

Could she really let Mattheo back in?

Lorenzo  nudged her shoulder. "Look, if he screws up again, I'll punch him in the face for you."

Ellie let out a surprised laugh. "You'd do that?"

Lorenzo  grinned. "Of course. Someone's got to keep him in line."

Ellie smiled, but it was hesitant.

Could she really risk getting hurt again?

She wasn't sure.

But maybe—just maybe—she could try.

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E

llie didn't make the decision lightly.

Even after talking to Lorenzo , even after tossing and turning all night, her mind still waged a war against itself.

What if he does it again? What if he disappears the moment things get tough?

But another voice—one she hated to acknowledge—whispered back.

What if he doesn't?

It was that voice—the hopeful, infuriatingly stubborn part of her—that finally convinced her to give Mattheo one chance.

Just one.

───🦋･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.🦋───

E

llie found Mattheo exactly where she expected him—on the pitch, tossing a Quaffle between his hands.

His hair was wind-tousled, his shoulders tense, but the moment he noticed her standing at the edge of the field, he froze.

"Ellie?" His voice was cautious, like he wasn't sure if she was real.

She took a deep breath and walked toward him. "Can we talk?"

Mattheo stared at her for a second before nodding, tossing the Quaffle aside. "Yeah. Yeah, of course."

They stood there in silence for a moment, the crisp evening air settling between them. Ellie dug her hands into the pockets of her robes, shifting her weight from foot to foot.

"I..." She hesitated, then forced herself to meet his eyes. "I'm giving you a chance."

Mattheo's breath caught. "You are?"

Ellie nodded. "But just one."

Something in his expression shifted—relief, disbelief, something else she couldn't quite place. "Ellie, I—"

She held up a hand, stopping him. "I'm not saying everything's fine now. I'm not saying I've forgotten what happened. But...I'm willing to try."

Mattheo nodded, swallowing hard. "That's all I'm asking for."

Ellie sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Okay. Then let's start with something simple." She tilted her head. "How about a walk?"

Mattheo blinked, like he hadn't expected that. Then he nodded, a small, hesitant smile tugging at his lips.

"I'd like that."

It started awkwardly.

Ellie wasn't sure what to say, and Mattheo—who was never one for unnecessary words—seemed equally unsure.

But as they walked the outskirts of the pitch, it became easier.

They talked about small things at first—Quidditch practice, upcoming exams, the fact that Daphne  nearly hexed a hufflepuff for mocking Slytherin's last game.

And then, somewhere between casual conversation and hesitant glances, Mattheo sighed.

"I really messed up, didn't I?"

Ellie stopped walking. Mattheo did too, turning to face her.

She studied him for a moment before nodding. "Yeah. You did."

Mattheo let out a breath, raking a hand through his hair. "I don't even know why I did it. I just—I was scared."

Ellie folded her arms. "Of what?"

He hesitated, then exhaled. "Of...this. Of feeling things I wasn't supposed to feel."

Ellie's heart skipped, but she forced herself to keep her voice steady. "And ignoring me was your solution?"

"I know," Mattheo groaned, looking frustrated with himself more than anything. "It was stupid. I thought that if I just stayed away, if I convinced myself that we were only pretending, then—" He cut himself off, shaking his head. "But I couldn't."

Ellie's stomach twisted, but she kept her expression neutral.

"And what do you want now?"

Mattheo met her gaze, eyes serious.

"I want to make it right."

Ellie held his stare for a moment, searching for any hint of hesitation, any trace of doubt.

She didn't find any.

She sighed. "Okay."

Mattheo blinked. "Okay?"

Ellie gave him a small smile. "Yeah. But don't screw it up, Riddle."

A slow, genuine grin spread across his face.

"I won't."

───🦋･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.🦋───

I like this chapter!! Well ofc your crush can become your go to comfort person if you'll are confused how Lorenzo (her crush) became her bestie