pretend

after

It has now been a week since the battle, Mattheo hasn't left his dorm. Everyone is,of course, distraught over the news of Tom. Theo feels as if he has lost two brothers, because one is dead and one is no where to be seen. Mattheo hadn't even talked to Olivia, who is healing in the hospital wing. "Hi" Blaise said as he sat on the couch opposite Theo. "Hi" Theo said. It was hard to talk to anyone, Blaise had been the bravest. Blaise would greet everyone, smiling as if nothing ever happened.

He had struggled on his own, he too lost alot of his friends. It was nearing Christmas but there was no spirit. No one studied, the professors decided they don't need anything too much right now. Olivia wakes up now and then, but it's hard for her. The wound on her abdomen seemed to have hit an organ, and she needed a lot of time to heal.

Draco has tried to talk to everyone, but it's hard for him. His father left as soon as he refused to cross sides. His mother writes him often but not a lot of kind words, only news about the deatheaters.

Lorenzo and Pansy and Astoria mourn the death of Daphne but Lorenzo mainly missed Olivia. He was so scared the day he rushed into the common room that he forgot Daphne died and only worried about Olivia, he knew he needed to make things right.He had missed a lot of time in their friendship and he needed to make it up to her.

Mattheo sits in his room, watching the ceiling. The room smelt of vanilla perfume because that seemed to be the only thing that made him happy.He wanted to see Olivia, tell her what Tom said but he didn't want to until she was awake and could process it better.There was a knock at the door, it was Theo. Theo shut the door and sat on his bed. "Are you okay, mate?" He asked. Mattheo thought, and sat up on the other side of the bed, so their backs were facing eachother.

"When I say this, I don't want you to be mad." Mattheo asks, "Of course not." Theo says. Mattheo sighs. "The seconds before Tom died.." Mattheos voice breaks "He told me something that I had not realised." He takes a deep breath. "He told me that he's given me life and love." He says. Theo furrows his brows. "Love?" He asks. "Via. He gave me Olivia.He gave her the push to come to my dorm the first night." Mattheo let's put. Theo turns around and rubs Mattheos back. Mattheo puts his head down and tries not to cry.

"I want you to do this, Matt." Theo says, "I know you love her and I know she loves you. Please tell her." He asks. Mattheo is relieved that he has Theo's approval. He nods and wipes his face before turning around and giving Theo a hug. They sit in eachothers company and embrace for a few minutes before Theo asks him something. "The group and I are going to see this mirror thing later. Do you want to come? It's okay if you don't want.." He is cut off , "Mirror of erised?" Mattheo says. "That's the one! Are you coming?" Theo says, excitedly. "Yes" Mattheo says.

After an hour or two, Theo decides they should go to the common room and meet everyone. Mattheo couldn't hold back the tears as soon as he sees his friends. Blaise with cuts on his head, Draco with a broken wrist and, and..? No Tom. They all share a hug and begin to make their way to the mirror. "How did you find it?" Mattheo asks. "Well I couldn't sleep one night and.." Draco begins before being nudged by Blaise and laughing. "I found clues in an old book from the restricted section." Blaise says.

The group shared a laugh for the first time since before the battle. He was happy. They arrive at the mirror and Blaise pulls the white sheet of fabric off it, revealing a gold and detailed frame, containing a mirror in perfect condition. Almost as if it has been cleaned perfectly, unlike the sheet that protected it. "Who's first?" Theo asks. "Obviously me." Blaise says, as he stepped in front of it and the boys move away. "What do you see?" Draco asks. Blaise smiles and a tear falls, "Hogwarts, unbroken. I see all the students playing outside and I see brooms flying." Blaise says, eyes darting to either side of the mirror.

Blaise moves out the way and let's Draco go next. Draco smiles warmly and purses his lips, trying not to cry. He saw his parents, holding his shoulders from either side in front of the Malfoy Manor. He saw the proud face that his father presented and the warm smile of his mother. "What do you see?" Theo asks him. "My house." Draco didn't want to tell them. Not that they'd make fun of him but because it was his special memory. Draco steps away, giving Theo his turn.

Theo smiles, contently. He saw him and Olivia sitting in their room playing chess. Alice by the door watching them and their father observing the game. He grinned as he won the game, making Theo chuckle. "We're playing chess, me and Olive." Theo says, the group smiles and Mattheos heart aches at the mention of her name. Finally, Theo stepped aside, giving Mattheo his turn.

Mattheo lifted his head and saw the contents. He saw him next to Olivia. He had a child in his arm and so did she. They are all stood infront of a warm cottage and forestation with flowers and the sun peaking through the leaves. He smiled at the sight "I see a home, with a loving wife and children." Mattheo said. Theo's eyes light up as he watches Mattheo smile at the mirror, knowing he saw his sister.

The group decides to get back to the common room and say goodbye before going to their dorms. They all share a hug and leave. Mattheo lays awake in his bed once again thinking about Olivia.It has become a routine for him, she is his bedtime story. He is excited to tell her about his vision in the mirror of erised and hold her in his arms again. He thought so much of Olivia he forgot about the mirror, and what was in it. He had completely wiped the fact it's his desires and not his future from his mind.