Rylin Riddle: After The War

chapter twenty six

July 10, 2000 (Sunday)

The goodbyes of this morning weren't easy. I hated leaving them after having not seen them all for so long. Enzo decided he'd drop me off at home before he went home himself.

"Are you ready to go?" Enzo asked, grabbing a handful of floo powder. I nodded and grabbed my own handful, watching Enzo burst into the green flame of the channel. I stepped in behind him. "Riddle Manor."

I stepped out to Enzo waiting for me in the living room. "I'll see you soon. It was nice to have you back there again." Enzo smiled and made sure I had my bag.

"I liked being back. Careful, I might never leave you guys alone now." Enzo titled his head.

"It's not like it hasn't happened before. I should go."

"Bye, Berkshire."
"Bye, Riddle."

As soon as Enzo left, I went upstairs to unpack my things. It was almost dinner time already. I'm sure Mattheo knows I'm home, assuming he's still here. I don't know why he wouldn't be.

I finished unpacking and went back downstairs to the kitchen. Worst case I can make something quickly to eat. I turned into the kitchen and I saw the familiar mop of brown curls leaned over the island reading.

"I figured you'd still be here." I said, coming up to my brother. "You're back. I didn't know if you were still coming today." I squinted at him, giving him a look of annoyance.

"And I was going to tell you how I was happy to see you."

Mattheo smiled and went back to reading. I rolled my eyes and sat next to him, taking a minute to rest.

"So how was it?" He asked, not looking up even once. "It was nice to see everyone. You wouldn't believe who's house I ended up being dragged to."

"Yeah? Who's house?"

Still not looking up.
I swear he can be the biggest ass ever.

"Our lovable cousin." Mattheo whipped his head to face me so quickly, I thought it might snap off his neck.

"How the hell did you end up there? Did she kidnap you?" Mattheo asked quickly, his voice rising in shock.

"Luckily no. She was at the Berkshire's house dropping off a cake yesterday morning. She brought up how I still had shit at her house and how we disappeared. Then Enzo made this big deal over just going over there to see what she had. He came with me."

"You and Enzo went over there?" Mattheo asked, shutting his book and sliding it across the counter.

"Yeah. There was no way in hell I was going to go alone. He promised to stay with me in case she tried to pull anything." I explained.

Mattheo nodded as if he understood what I meant. He knows Bellsy so he knows how unpredictable she can be.

"Smart. I wouldn't want you to be stranded in France and then have the other Gaunts show up. I'd hate to have to come rescue you from that group of people."

Imagine a family reunion happening like that. It'd be a mess at the least.

"I would've cried if everyone showed up. I think Enzo deterred her for the most part. Except he did leave the room at one point and it got pretty heated. We argued like idiots." Mattheo narrowed his eyes at me and waited for an explanation.

"It was about stupid death eater stuff. Nothing important. Enzo came back and broke up the fight and took me back to the Berkshire Manor." I ran my hand through my hair and contemplated if I should've explained the argument.