The Gryffindor dormitory was quiet, save for the faint crackle of the fire in the hearth. Lewis and Charles were out for the evening attending extra Herbology lessons. Lando paced nervously by his bed, his thoughts tangled after what he had just seen. The Glamour charm that had always masked Carlos' true appearance had slipped momentarily, revealing far more than Lando had ever imagined, and he had only seen for mere seconds. The scars crisscrossing Carlos' arms and torso were deep and jagged, each one telling a story of pain and survival. But what stood out most were the cursed veins, black and twisted, snaking up from his hands to disappear beneath his sleeves. They pulsed faintly, as if alive, a stark contrast against his pale skin. It was a sight that had left Lando speechless, his heart heavy with concern.

Carlos sat on the edge of his bed, his back to Lando, fiddling with the hem of his sleeve. He didn't need to look up to feel his gaze boring into him. "I told you not to follow me," he muttered, his voice hoarse.

Lando stopped pacing, his hands clenched into fists. "Chili, I didn't mean to... I just- what's really happening to you? I know Alonso said but- there's clearly more."

"No hay nada más," Carlos replied sharply, though the tremor in his voice betrayed him. "Just drop it."

Lando wasn't having it. "You're doing it again. You haven't noticed but you only speak Spanish to me when you're hiding. You're barely eating, you look exhausted, and now this-" He gestured vaguely toward Carlos, frustration bleeding into his tone. "You can't keep brushing me off like this."

Carlos stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "What do you want me to say, Lando? That I'm fine? That everything's normal? Because it's not!" He turned to face him, eyes glinting with something between anger and desperation. "But I can't explain it to you because you wouldn't understand."

The tension in the room was suffocating, but Lando refused to back down. "Then help me understand. I'm your friend, whatever's going on, I want to help you."

For a moment, Carlos' expression softened, but it was quickly replaced by a grimace as he doubled over, clutching his chest, coughing harshly. A low groan escaped his lips, and Lando rushed to his side, steadying him before he could fall.

The cursed veins were spreading. Thin black tendrils crept further up Carlos' neck, their edges glowing faintly with a sickly green hue. His breathing was shallow, each inhale labored as if the air itself was fighting him.

"It's not going away," Carlos admitted through gritted teeth, his voice strained. "It's- ever since the lake it's been getting worse, Nando doesn't know what to do anymore."

Lando's eyes widened in horror. "Why didn't you tell me it was so bad? We need to get you to Madam Pomfrey."

Carlos shook his head, straightening despite the visible pain. "No. There's nothing she can do. This... this is my problem."

"It's killing you," Lando said, his voice cracking. "You can't just ignore it and hope it goes away, even Alonso said it was feeding on you."

"I don't have a choice!" Carlos' outburst echoed in the small room, and he immediately winced, clutching his side. "The Chamber... it's tied to all of this. If I don't figure it out, this thing will kill me."

Lando hesitated, his mind racing. He wanted to argue, to demand that Carlos prioritize his health over the cursed mystery they were entangled in. But the fear in Carlos' eyes stopped him. This wasn't just about solving a puzzle or uncovering a secret. For Carlos, it was a fight for survival.

"Then let me help, please," Lando said softly. "We'll figure this out together."

Carlos looked at him, his shoulders slumping as the fight drained out of him. "I don't want you to get hurt because of me."

"I'll take that risk," Lando replied firmly. "You don't get to push me away, not this time."

Carlos' fists tightened at his sides, his face twisting in frustration. "Simplemente no lo entiendes! You've seen what's under this stupid Glamour." He paused, his voice trembling with bitterness. "Fine. You want to see the rest?"

Before he could respond, Carlos grabbed his wand from his bed and aimed it at himself, waving it in a circle dispelling the Glamour completely. Lando gasped audibly as Carlos' full appearance came into view. The blackened veins stretched further than Lando had realised, spidering across his chest and neck. Jagged scars ran along his arms, some faded and old, others newer and red, as though they had barely begun to heal. He took off his shirt to reveal the marks along his ribs and shoulders, deep and jagged, and even a long scar trailing up to his collarbone. It was as if every inch of him bore the evidence of a war he had fought alone. There was a haunted look in Carlos' eyes, a mixture of defiance and anguish.

"There," he said bitterly, spreading his arms wide. "This is me, Lando. All of it. Are you happy now?"

Lando was too stunned to speak at first. His gaze swept over him, taking in the extent of the damage as he felt a pressure behind his eyes. "Carlos..."

"Don't," he snapped, his voice breaking. "Don't pity me."

"I'm not pitying you," Lando said firmly. "I'm worried about you. You've been carrying all of this alone, haven't you? I- how...?"

Carlos clenched his jaw, his eyes darting to the floor. "It doesn't matter. None of it matters if we can't figure out the Chamber. That's what's important."

Lando stepped closer, his voice soft but resolute. "You matter, Carlos. Your life matters. You matter to me. And I don't care how many scars you have- you're still my best friend. Nothing changes that. I-" He stopped himself, but he had to ask. "You didn't do it to yourself, did you?" He whispered.

He knew what Lando was implying, no, he hadn't, he wasn't the wolf, he couldn't let it take control of him. "Never." Carlos looked up at him, his expression crumbling. For a moment, the weight of his fear and frustration threatened to overwhelm him. But Lando's unwavering presence was enough to anchor him. His shoulders shook as he choked back a sob. "You're the first person who's ever seen me like this," he whispered. "Not even my parents..."

Lando's heart twisted at the raw vulnerability in his voice. He reached out, placing a steady hand on Carlos' shoulder. "You don't have to hide from me, Chili. Whatever happens, I'm here. I promise."

Carlos' knees buckled, and Lando guided him to sit on the bed, both of them overcome with emotion. Tears streamed down Carlos' face as he buried his head in his hands. Lando sat beside him, silent but steady, as the weight of the moment settled over them both. Neither spoke for a long time, their unspoken understanding filling the silence.

Finally, Carlos whispered, "I'm scared, Lando."

He tightened his grip on Carlos' shoulder. "I know. But you're not alone anymore."