Always and forever- Matteo Riddle

Days passed in a blur. I stayed locked in my room, ignoring the knocking at my door, the calls for me to come eat. I didn't care. I didn't have the energy to fight with my parents again, to listen to their lectures about my "reputation" or "special abilities."

The only thing pulling me out of my haze was a growing sense of panic—I was almost out of cigarettes. I had been rationing them, but it wasn't enough. The thought of being completely without them made my skin itch.

I sat on my bed, staring at the near-empty pack on my nightstand, debating what to do. Sneaking out would be risky, but I needed more. My parents had already locked away anything they thought was a "bad influence." I doubted they'd let me step foot outside without supervision.

Frustrated, I grabbed a piece of parchment and scrawled out a letter to Mattheo.

I need more cigarettes. Almost out. Can't sneak out to get them. Any ideas?

I tied the note to my owl's leg and sent it off, hoping he'd have a solution—because I sure as hell didn't.

It didn't take long for a response. My owl returned that night, a small note tied to its leg in Mattheo's familiar handwriting.

Meet me in the Manor gardens at midnight. I'll take care of it.

Relief flooded through me. Finally, something to focus on. Something to break the endless cycle of isolation.

As the clock neared midnight, I carefully pushed open my window. The crisp night air hit my skin, but I barely noticed. I climbed out, landing silently on the soft grass below. The garden was dimly lit by the moon, casting eerie shadows over the hedges and statues.

And then, I saw him.

Mattheo leaned casually against a stone pillar, a cigarette already between his lips. He smirked when he spotted me. "Took you long enough."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop the small smile that crept onto my face. "Had to make sure I wasn't being watched."

He pulled a pack from his pocket and tossed it to me. "Figured you'd need more than just one."

I caught it easily, my fingers gripping it tightly. "You're a lifesaver."

He stepped closer, studying me in the dim light. "You look like hell, Malfoy."

I scoffed, lighting a cigarette. "Gee, thanks. Just what every girl wants to hear."

His smirk softened, and for a moment, there was something unreadable in his expression. "You gonna tell me what's really going on?"

I inhaled deeply, letting the smoke burn my lungs before exhaling. "They want me to be perfect. To act like nothing happened. Like I wasn't—" My voice caught, and I shook my head. "They don't get it."

Mattheo didn't press, just watched me carefully. "Yeah, well... you don't have to be perfect with me."

Something about the way he said it made my chest tighten. I turned away, staring at the sky. "I just want to go back to Hogwarts."

"You will." His voice was steady, certain. "And when you do, I'll be right there. You're not alone in this, Y/N."

I glanced at him, my heart pounding in a way that had nothing to do with the cigarettes.

For the first time in days, I felt a little less lost.

I didn't even think—I just moved. Before I knew it, my arms were around him, holding on tightly.

For a second, Mattheo stiffened, like he wasn't used to this kind of contact. But then, slowly, he relaxed, his arms wrapping around me just as tightly.