Always and forever- Matteo Riddle

Never have i ever

His expression was guarded, but there was something else beneath it. Something raw. "You scared the hell out of me," he admitted. "And I hate that I didn't see how bad it was."

I swallowed hard, guilt settling in my stomach. "I didn't want anyone to see."

Draco sighed, shaking his head. "Well, too late for that."

We stood there in silence for a while, the cold air biting at my skin. For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn't thinking about Father. Or Hogwarts. Or the nightmares.

Just the stars above us, the quiet hum of the wind, and the fact that—despite everything—I wasn't alone.

I let out a shaky breath, staring up at the sky, my arms wrapped around myself as if that would somehow hold me together.

"I just..." My voice faltered, and I swallowed hard before trying again. "I just want to be normal." The words felt fragile, like glass ready to shatter. "I don't want everyone to worry about me all the time. I don't want to be this—this thing people have to constantly look after."

Draco was quiet, letting me speak.

I hesitated before admitting, "But if I'm honest... I'm scared too."

Saying it out loud made it real.

I wasn't just scared of the nightmares or the memories. I was scared of myself—of how close I had come to completely falling apart, of how much worse it could get.

Draco sighed, running a hand through his hair before turning to face me fully. "You think I don't get that?" His voice wasn't harsh, but there was something firm in it. "You think I don't know what it's like to want to be normal? To wish I didn't have to deal with—" He gestured vaguely. "—all this shit we were born into?"

I looked at him, really looked at him, and for the first time in a long time, I realized how exhausted he was too.

"It's not fair," I muttered, shaking my head. "None of this is fair."

Draco let out a humorless laugh. "Yeah, well, life doesn't give a damn about fair, does it?"

I sighed, rubbing my arms as another gust of wind sent a chill through me.

Draco hesitated before speaking again. "You don't have to do this alone, you know."

I glanced at him, and he shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "I mean it. You're not some burden, and you're not weak. You're my sister. And I'd rather you tell me you're scared than pretend you're fine and... and end up in the hospital wing again."

I bit my lip, looking away. "I don't know how to just... talk about it."

"You just did," he pointed out.

I let out a quiet, tired laugh. "Yeah. I guess I did."

Draco nudged my shoulder lightly, a rare, small smirk on his face. "See? Progress."

I rolled my eyes but didn't pull away.

I exhaled slowly, the cold night air stinging my lungs. As much as I hated being at the Manor, I hated feeling weak even more.

I turned to Draco, my voice quiet but firm. "Can we go back to Hogwarts?"

He studied me for a long moment, his brows furrowed in hesitation. "Are you sure?"

I nodded. "I don't want to stay here. I just... I just want to go back. Pretend everything is normal for a little while." Even though we both knew it wasn't.

Draco sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You're still barely standing."

"I'll manage."

He gave me a skeptical look but didn't argue. "Fine," he muttered. "I'll talk to Mother. She'll make sure we can leave without Father stopping us."