Chapter 11: The Breaking Point
rose 's words hung in the air, sharp and clear. The crowd, which had been buzzing with anticipation, fell into a heavy silence. Theo's eyes narrowed, his expression twisting with anger as he took a step toward her.
"You don't get it, Weasley," Theo spat, his voice low and venomous. "This isn't just about you and scorpius. It's about everything you two represent. Gryffindors think they can just take whatever they want, destroy whatever they touch, and expect the rest of us to fall in line."
rose felt her pulse quicken, but before she could respond, scorpius stepped in front of her, shielding her from Theo's rage. "This has nothing to do with house rivalry or family legacies, Theo," scorpius said, his voice calm but firm. "You're just using that as an excuse because you can't stand that I've made a choice that doesn't fit your narrow idea of what Slytherin should be."
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Theo's expression darkened, his fists clenched at his sides. For a moment, it seemed as if he might draw his wand right there in front of everyone. rose could feel the tension escalating, and her own hand instinctively moved to the pocket where her wand lay.
"You've been brainwashed by her," Theo hissed, his voice rising with barely controlled fury. "She's the reason you're weak, scorpius. You've turned your back on us, on everything that matters."
scorpius's face hardened, but he remained steady. "I haven't turned my back on anyone. I've just stopped letting people like you tell me who I should be. rose doesn't make me weak—she makes me stronger."
The words hit rose like a warm rush of light. She felt a surge of gratitude, of love, for scorpius, standing up for her, for them, even in the face of such hostility. But she could also see that Theo wasn't going to back down.
"I'm done talking," Theo snapped. His hand moved toward his wand. "If you won't listen, maybe it's time to show you what happens when someone betrays their own house."
The crowd gasped as Theo brandished his wand, his face a mask of fury. rose 's heart pounded in her chest. She knew that a duel was inevitable now. Her own wand was in her hand in an instant, but scorpius held out an arm to stop her.
"I've got this," he said quietly, giving her a reassuring look before stepping forward to face Theo.
The courtyard was deathly still. Every eye was on scorpius and Theo as they squared off, wands at the ready. Theo's friends circled behind him, ready to jump in at the slightest provocation. But scorpius stood tall, alone, his focus unwavering.
"Are you sure about this, Malfoy