Always and forever- Matteo Riddle

Never have i ever

I didn't respond, just wrapped my arms around myself, staring off into the darkness of the garden.

A few minutes later, Draco returned, nodding toward the house. "She's arranging it now. We'll take the Floo back as soon as it's ready."

Relief flooded through me. "Thank you."

Draco just shrugged. "Let's just get out of here."

Draco and I made our way back inside, my legs still unsteady but my determination keeping me upright. Mother was waiting for us in the drawing room, her expression unreadable as she gestured toward the grand fireplace where the emerald-green flames of the Floo Network already crackled.

"It's ready," she said simply.

I hesitated, glancing toward her. She hadn't said much since I told Father everything. Part of me wondered what she was thinking, if she actually cared or if she was just trying to keep the peace.

She stepped forward, reaching out as if to fix a loose strand of my hair, but she stopped herself, letting her hand fall back to her side. Instead, she spoke softly, "Try to rest when you get back. Hogwarts may be safer than here, but you are not invincible, my dear."

I swallowed hard, nodding. "I know."

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and then, just as quickly as the moment had come, she straightened her posture and returned to her usual, composed self. "Draco, take care of her," she said briskly.

"Always," he muttered.

Without another word, I stepped into the fireplace, grabbing a handful of Floo powder. I took one last look at the grand, cold walls of Malfoy Manor before throwing the powder down and calling, "Hogwarts!"

The flames roared around me, swallowing me whole.

The spinning was disorienting, but the moment my feet hit solid ground, I stumbled forward onto the familiar stone floor of the Slytherin common room. I barely had time to steady myself before Draco arrived right behind me, catching my arm before I could fall.

The warmth of the common room was a sharp contrast to the Manor—flickering candlelight, the low murmur of students in the distance, the faint scent of firewhiskey and old parchment.

I was home.

The sound of hurried footsteps made me turn, and before I could react, someone crashed into me—arms wrapping tightly around me.

"Bloody hell," Mattheo muttered against my hair. "You're back."

I let out a shaky breath, nodding against his shoulder. "I'm back."

Theo, Blaise, Pansy, and Enzo appeared behind him, their expressions shifting between relief and concern.

"You look like hell," Theo muttered.

"Yeah, well," I sighed, pulling back slightly. "It's been a long night."

Mattheo's hands stayed on my waist, his dark eyes searching mine. "Are you okay?"

I wasn't sure how to answer that. But I was here. I was alive.

So I nodded. "I will be."

Mattheo didn't let go of me right away. His grip on my waist was firm, as if he was afraid that if he let go, I'd disappear. I didn't blame him.

Theo, Blaise, and the others hovered nearby, watching me like I was made of glass. It was exhausting—seeing the worry in their faces, knowing I was the reason for it.

I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face. "Can we not do this?" I muttered. "The whole... staring at me like I'm about to drop dead thing."

Theo raised an eyebrow. "Kind of hard not to when you almost did."