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

Chapter Twenty Three - From This Day Until My Last Breath

Hogwarts didn't feel like home anymore, it was cold and dark. Beautiful magic once filled the space, students' laughter echoing from each corner of the rooms, it was warm and full of life. Pansy could feel her tears falling freely as Theo held onto her tightly. Hogwarts was no longer a safe place to stay. It felt like a shadowy concentration camp that Dementors now surrounded. Snape the new Headmaster stands at the top of the Quad watching the students left being marched through the entrance courtyard. Watching the world the Slytherin group once knew and loved become a dark nightmare was heartbreaking. Enzo was terrified that this would be life as they know it, if Emma and Harry failed to beat the Dark Lord.

Fleur spent most of the evening after Dobby's funeral tending to Emma's wounds both physical and mental. The damage Bellatrix inflicted on her was almost too difficult to comprehend. Mattheo hovered causing Fleur to curse at him in French. She was pleasantly shocked when he spoke back to her in her native tongue. "Emma picked a good man." She smiles, still concentrating on healing Emma. 

Mattheo's chest tightened at her words. "I wouldn't say that..." he mumbled, causing Fleur to raise a questioning brow at the curly-haired boy. She's...she's laying here because of me." His answer surprised her. 

"Mattheo, this is not your fault." Her accent thick. He shakes his head not believing Fleur, while finally taking the seat next to an unconscious Emma letting her have the space she needed to mend. 

"Loving me.....it's going to kill her. They know now. They know that I would do anything to protect her. They will kill her to hurt me.....to break me." The room stays silent at his words. 

Bill walks slowly in overhearing their conversation. "Don't let them win." He pauses kissing the top of Fleur's head before returning to look at him. "You are not your father. I've seen the way you protect her, the way you love her. You Mattheo are not your father. Let your love for her break away any fear or doubt. Let that love be the force that protects her." He nods at Bill's words letting it sink into him. Once Fleur was finished mending Emma as much as she could, Mattheo carried her to their room for the night. Sleep overcame him faster than he expected.

Emma woke with a panic, Mattheo jumped up his wand ready as he searched the room. His sleep tonight was anything but peaceful, her screams echoing in his mind. When he realizes their room was empty of any threat, he sits back down next to Emma. His arms wrapping around her, it wasn't long before Harry barges into their room. "He found it" Emma's voice was quiet. Mattheo looks between the twins, their faces were paled and filled with worry. 

"Who found what?" He questioned them. 

Emma's light green eyes finding his in the dark room. "Your father....he has the elder wand." Dread fills his stomach. He didn't think today could get any worse, but it did. 

The next morning Mattheo and Emma woke to the sound of waves crashing to the shore through their window. It was comforting to listen to. "This place is beautiful." Her voice filling his body with warmth. 

"Not as beautiful as you." He whispers, kissing her forehead. 

"Mattheo, you know it wasn't your fault. What happened to me." Her words piercing his heart, tears start to fall from his cheeks. She turns to wipe them away her eyes searching his face with concern.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't there to protect you." His voice cracking with emotion. 

"The snatchers would have gotten me whether you were with me or not. This isn't your fault Matty. You saved me." She tried to comfort him but he was a mess of guilt. 

"I felt so helpless watching my Mother hold a knife to your neck. Her cruelness knows no bounds, she could have easily slit your throat without blinking. I was terrified. Terrified that I was going to watch you die right in front of me. I won't........won't survive losing you. It felt like something broke inside me yesterday." He buries himself in Emma's neck needing to feel her, to touch her, to make sure she was truly there with him, alive.