Chapter 11

Y/n felt as if the ground beneath her feet was giving way. Mattheo - the Mattheo she had let into her heart more and more over the last few weeks - was the son of the most feared wizard the world had ever known? It was as if all the tension between them had suddenly found a new, much more dangerous reason.

The silence was heavy as Regulus still stood there, his piercing gaze fixed on Mattheo. He was obviously not surprised by what had just happened, but the way he crossed his arms spoke of dissatisfaction.

"And now?" Regulus asked calmly. "Do you want to tell her the truth and risk putting her in danger? Or was that just an impulsive mistake you just made?"

Mattheo clenched his fists, his face a mixture of guilt and anger. "It wasn't a mistake," he said quietly but firmly. "Y/n has a right to know who I am. She has a right to know the truth."

"Mattheo..." Y/n finally managed to say something, even though her voice was uncertain. "I... I don't know what to say."

He looked at her, his eyes full of emotions he couldn't put into words. "I understand if you don't want anything to do with me," he murmured. "It would probably be better that way. You could be safe. But, Y/n... I didn't want you to become just another victim of what my father made me into."

"Victim?" Y/n was stunned. "Do you really think I see you as... a monster just because your father is Voldemort?" Her voice rose, and she found her fear slowly giving way to determination. "You're not like him, Mattheo. You're not."

Mattheo's jaw clenched. "You don't know that. I don't even know who I really am. And the risk that I might become like him after all... the risk is real."

"You are not. You make your own choices, Mattheo. You are not like him." She spoke with a conviction that surprised even herself, but the truth of her words was clear to her.

Regulus, who had been watching the conversation, snorted quietly. "That may be. But Y/n, the reality is that his name is a target. If the wrong people find out you are close to him... you might regret it."

Y/n turned to Regulus, her eyes sparkling. "I can decide for myself, Regulus. And I am not afraid of what his name means. If I regret something, it is not because I trust someone I care about."

Regulus raised an eyebrow. "How romantic. But what if you lose trust in Mattheo one day? Believe me, Y/n, this world can be cruel."

Mattheo interrupted him with a harsh tone. "Stop, Regulus. That's enough."

"As you wish." Regulus raised his hands in a placating gesture, a mischievous smile on his lips. "But remember, Y/n – big decisions often have even bigger consequences." He turned around and slowly disappeared into the shadows, leaving an uncomfortable silence behind.

Y/n turned her gaze back to Mattheo. The uncertainty and pain in his eyes were almost unbearable for her. She knew that what stood between them was now more complicated than ever – but her heart refused to let go of him. She took a step closer until they were only a breath away from each other.

"Mattheo," she began gently, "I know that none of this is easy. But I will not leave you alone in this fight. You can push me away as much as you want, but I know what I want - and I don't want to give up."

Mattheo closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, as if he wanted to calm all his inner turmoil for a moment. "You should be careful what you wish for, Y/n," he whispered. "I don't know if you're ready for what might come."

"Maybe not," she admitted. "But I'm ready to find out. With you."

For a brief moment, there was nothing but the connection between them, and for that one breath, it felt like everything else around them had disappeared. But deep in her mind, Y/n knew that what she had just decided could change the world at Hogwarts forever.

The weeks passed in a strange mix of intensity and secrets. Y/n and Mattheo continued to move around each other, their eyes full of tension and unspoken words. But as their feelings for each other deepened, Y/n struggled with a decision she dared not explain to him.

The truth was that she could not stand by and watch Mattheo crumble under the weight of his last name. She saw him tormented by guilt and fear, struggling to protect their connection by trying to keep her away from his dark world. But Y/n was no longer willing to stay on the outside. She had decided that if she really wanted to be with him, she had to share the darkness with him.

And so she secretly searched for a way to become part of that world - a path Mattheo did not want to face, but one she would take for him. She wanted to prove herself. Earn the respect of those who had forced Mattheo into his inner conflict. And above all, she wanted to build a bridge to him, whatever the cost.

It started with quiet research. Pansy had mentioned it by chance one evening when they were lying in the dormitory: "There are rumors that Regulus is in contact with people. You know - with the Death Eaters. Mattheo would never tell you, but he deliberately avoids these meetings."

The thought had stuck in Y/n's head. Regulus was the key. If she wanted to gain access to this dark world, she had to turn to him.

A secret meeting with Regulus

One afternoon, when the sun was low over the grounds of Hogwarts, Y/n pulled Regulus aside. He was surprised, but his usual cool expression changed to a thoughtful smile when she made her request.

"You want to become a Death Eater?" He looked at her appraisingly. "Do you even know what that means? Or do you think you can just walk around with a little dark wand and fit in?"

"I know it's dangerous," Y/n said firmly. "But I want to help Mattheo. I want to understand what he's going through."

Regulus shook his head and laughed softly. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into. But... you're brave, I'll give you that." His gaze became more serious. "If you really want this, you'll have to pass tests. They won't accept you so easily. And Mattheo must never find out about it."

"He won't," Y/n promised. Her heart raced at the thought of what she had to do, but her determination outweighed her fear.

Secret meetings and lies

The next few weeks changed gradually. Y/n sneaked out of the castle to meet those Regulus had put in touch with in remote forests or dark estates. She learned the symbols and rules of the Death Eaters, practiced dark magic, and listened to their fanatical speeches about loyalty and power. With each meeting, she was drawn deeper into their world - a world that was both fascinating and frightening.

But every time she returned to Hogwarts, she had to look Mattheo in the eyes and hide the truth. He noticed that something was different about her. She was more absent, her hands were sometimes dirty from the earth, and her thoughts sometimes seemed far away.

"You're hiding something from me," he said one evening as they sat together by the lake. The moon reflected in the water, and she felt his gaze that didn't take off her.

Y/n held her breath. "I wouldn't hide anything from you, Mattheo," she lied, even though it almost broke her heart. "I'm just... confused. Everything has become so complicated."

He studied her face, looking for clues as to whether she was telling the truth. But then he nodded slowly, even though skepticism remained in his eyes. "If you need help, talk to me, okay?"

She smiled weakly. "Promise."

The ordeal

One night, after another meeting with the Death Eaters, Y/n found a strange sign near her dormitory - a letter that was clearly not meant for her. She opened it hesitantly and immediately recognized Mattheo's handwriting. It was a message to Regulus, in which he expressly ordered him to stay away from Y/n and not to drag her into anything.

Her heart raced as she read the letter. He knew she was talking to Regulus, he knew she was going down dangerous paths - and yet he had remained silent, probably hoping that she would give up.

But there was no turning back. Y/n knew that the truth would come out at some point. But whether Mattheo would still want her by his side after that was another question.