War, Love, and Riddle //Mattheo Riddle x OC

Chapter Eighteen - R.A.B.

Emma stood there focusing on her heartbeat, one breath in, one breath out. Repeating her steps. If she was going to survive this, survive Voldemort then her and Harry needed to repair their fractured bond. She felt her chest tighten....she refocuses herself. Her heartbeat calming as she takes her deep breaths. The twins used to be so close, trauma bonded. Emma never believed their rip into their bond was from distances, from her being at Beauxbatons. She knew the moment that damned sorting hat yelled Slytherin was the moment the rip happened. The moment Harry deemed her unworthy of being a chosen one. No one prepares you to love someone so toxic. She felt guilty for thinking that, for calling Harry toxic. After all he's saved so many people throughout the years, was it fair to complain about him. Was it fair to call him toxic when he truly was a savior. One breath in.....one breath out. 

"Ready?" Mattheo asks her, his brown eyes watching her carefully. She takes his outstretched hand, helping her to stand, their fingers interlocking. He apparates them to Harry and the others. They appeared in front of a small, shabby coffee shop, Emma could see Harry, Ron and Hermione all sitting at a table talking. Emma felt that vice grip on her heart watching her brother. He didn't look worried....didn't seem to care that his sister was not with him. 

Mattheo watches her closely, he never wanted this for her. To see the Harry he has known for six years. An egotistical, arrogant, presumption boy. He can see the internal suffering she is going through. The struggle to keep protecting someone who didn't give her the same respect back. Mattheo wanted to hurt him, wanted to hit him until he finally noticed what he was doing to his sister. He of course wouldn't lay a finger on Harry unless she gave him the word. He would protect Harry until the end if that was what Emma wanted. Regardless how badly Harry needed a few slaps to the face. 

Hermione was the first one to see them outside the little coffee shop, she stands tears in her eyes. Emma lets out a shaky breath leading Mattheo inside hand in hand, Hermione running over to hug them both. "Your safe, thank merlin." she cries out. They hug her back, Emma's eyes never leaving Harry's shocked expression. Once Hermione let's them out of her vice grip, they walk over to sit with the boys Emma sitting far away from Harry as possible. 

"Emmy..." he starts, her hand immediately raising to stop him "Don't" she warns. His face flashing in confusion but Emma chooses not to elaborate. She didn't have the strength to fight him right now, there wasn't much time left. They needed to come up with a plan and fast, Emma could feel it in the air. There was a change in the way the wind blew, the way the sky darken. They were coming and fast. 

"What about all the people at the wedding? Do you think we should go back?" Harry asks the group. 

Mattheo scoffing his eyes narrowed on Harry. Harry glares back at him not fully understanding what his sister's boyfriends' problem was. He didn't have time to deal with Emma's emotional breakdowns and Riddle's jabs at him. "They were after the both of you. We'd put everyone in danger by going back." Ron tells Harry, the waitress comes up to them a look of complete and utter disinterested in working or taking the teenagers orders. 

She clears her throat at the five of them "Coffee?" her voice sounding agitated. 

"A cappuccino, please" Hermione tells her. The waitress looks to Ron "You?" her hand pointing at him, he turns a widen eyed look at Hermione confused. "Uh, what she said." 

Emma interrupts Harry not even giving him a chance to order for himself. "We will all take the same as her." She gives the waitress a small smile, the waitress looks at Emma with an unenthusiastic expression before turning away and back towards the counter.

"So, where do we go from here? Leaky Cauldron?" Ron asks, Mattheo shakes his head. "It's too dangerous" he tells them. 

Hermione agrees with him. "If Voldemort really has taken over the Ministry, then none of the old places are safe." she adds.