Always and forever- Matteo Riddle

Lies

"Shhh," I hissed at them, glancing back to make sure no professors were lurking in the shadows.

Mattheo walked beside me, smirking as if getting caught would be more of a thrill than a problem. "Relax, darling. We've done worse."

Draco, ever the cautious one, scowled. "If we get caught, I'm not taking the blame for any of you."

Pansy looped her arm through his. "Oh, please. You say that every time, and yet here you are."

We reached the stairs leading up to the Astronomy Tower, and my heart pounded as I climbed. It was weird—just hours ago, my mind had been spiraling, but now? Now I felt... free. Like I had control over something, even if it was just this reckless moment.

Once at the top, Mattheo pulled out the fireworks he had somehow managed to get his hands on. "Ready?" he asked, looking at me.

I grinned, the excitement starting to drown out everything else. "Always."

He lit the first one, and within seconds, it shot into the sky, exploding in a brilliant burst of green and silver. The others cheered, lighting more as the colors danced above us.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn't thinking about the past. I wasn't thinking about my nightmares or my powers or the weight of everything on my shoulders.

I was just here. With them. Laughing, celebrating, and causing chaos.

As the fireworks continued to explode above us, filling the night sky with shimmering green and silver, I leaned against the stone railing, taking it all in. The cool breeze carried the scent of smoke and the faint sound of our laughter through the tower.

Theo passed me a bottle of Firewhisky, grinning. "You deserve a drink after today."

I took it without hesitation, tipping my head back for a long sip. The warmth burned down my throat, spreading through my chest, grounding me.

Mattheo watched me with that knowing look in his eyes, the same one he always had when he could tell something was off. I met his gaze briefly before looking away, focusing instead on the fireworks.

Draco, arms crossed, sighed. "We should leave before Filch catches on."

"Oh, come on," Pansy groaned. "One more round."

Enzo was already lighting another, and before anyone could argue, the firework shot up, exploding in a massive burst of emerald light that reflected off the Black Lake in the distance.

I smiled despite myself. It was reckless, and we would definitely be in trouble if we got caught—but right now, I didn't care. For once, it felt good to just exist.

Mattheo moved to stand beside me, his shoulder brushing against mine. He didn't say anything, just passed me another cigarette. I took it, lighting it with a flick of my fingers, and exhaled slowly.

I leaned my head on Mattheo's shoulder, exhaling a slow stream of smoke as I let my eyes drift shut for a moment. The warmth of him beside me, the distant crackle of fireworks, and the buzz of alcohol in my veins made everything feel a little lighter.

"Thank you," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

Mattheo didn't say anything at first, just let out a small breath and reached for my hand, giving it a light squeeze. "Anytime."

One by one, everyone started heading off to bed. Pansy was the first to go, stretching with a yawn before giving me a soft pat on the shoulder. "Get some rest, yeah?" she murmured before disappearing up the stairs.