𝐍𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭

21. The Fallen

Mattheo

My mother rushed over to me after about a minute of me screaming. She dropped to her knees. Another woman followed close behind, her mouth covered quickly by her hand. She let out a strangled cry. It was Cordelia's mother.

"My baby!" she sobbed.

"Is she-" My mother looked at me with pleading eyes.

"No! She's just out cold. I can still feel her heart beat. It's faint 'though, very faint. We need to get her medical assistance. Now!" We all got to our feet. I cradled Cordelia in my arms as I picked her up, one arm under her legs and the other supporting her back. Her head rested against my chest as we ran through the rubble of the castle. Our mothers pushed open doors for me as we ran down the corridors. Eventually we made it to the Great Hall where everyone seemed to be situated. I scanned the crowd of sad faces until I saw Leon at the far end of the hall. His eyes lit up before looking down at the girl in my arms. He immediately started shaking his head. I rushed forward, placing her down on the floor. "Madame Pomfrey!" I screamed. "We need you!" She came running over as quickly as she could, her gown grubby with dirt from the castle ruins.

She coughed. "What's happened?"

"I-I I don't know, it all happened so quickly. A spell ricocheted off of a wall and hit her in the stomach. She fell down and hit her head hard on a rock. She's bleeding... a lot." I chocked on the last words.

"Alright, I'll see what I can do. You just hang tight." She worked her magic with her wand, scanning Cordelia's body and cleaning up the blood at the back of her head. I turned towards Leon who's eyes were puffy and soar. His arms wrapped around me instantly, as we sobbed into each other's shoulders.

"She'll be okay." he whispered. "She's strong."

"This is all my fault. I should've been persistent that she doesn't get involved."

"Hey, no. This is not on you mate. Please understand that." He pulled away, holding my shoulders at arms width. I sighed, wiping my eyes. I looked past him at the others. They'd all managed to get out of the dungeons and were now sat on benches to the side of the hall. Venus was sat crying into the shoulder of her mother who sobbed back. Flynn stood holding Alizia in his arms, Tristan by her side. I pushed past Leon, looking at the crying faces of all my friends.

"What? What's happened?" I asked quietly. Enzo exchanged a glance with Theo who was stressfully running his fingers through his hair. He then stood up, sharing a glance with Venus who began to cry harder.

"Urm... it's Georgina. Venus' younger sister." he said sadly. "She's... gone." Gone? I hardly knew the girl but it still shocked me.

"Yeah," Leon said. "And, I can't find my dad either," he chocked on his words letting more tears slip down his cheeks. Enzo pulled him into his chest and they hugged, neither one of them being the first to pull away. Pansy sat beside Lexi who offered me her hand. She pulled me down beside her, snaking her arms around my waist in a comforting hug. My arms fell around her shoulders.