Delicate - Mattheo Riddle

always and forever.

My whole body shook. It's like the whole world had slowed as Enzo dropped to the ground with a thud.

I ran as fast as I could over to his lifeless body. Falling to the ground and clutching his shirt. My screams were silent as I put my hands on his face. Searching for any sign of life.

He lay in my arms, his eyes fluttering shut as his life ebbed away. I could feel his blood seeping through my fingers, staining my dress and my skin. I wanted to scream, to cry, to beg him to stay with me. But I knew it was too late.

I clutched his lifeless body, tears streaming down my face. How could this have happened? He was just a boy, barely out of his teens. He had so much life ahead of him, so many dreams to fulfill.

But now, all of that was gone. He would never graduate from Hogwarts, never fall in love, never have a future. And it was all because of this war, this senseless fight between dark and light.

I looked up at the chaos around me, the bodies of my friends and classmates lying all around. I wanted to kill the ones responsible for this, to seek revenge. But all I felt was a deep, numbing sadness.

In that moment, I knew that I would never be the same. I had lost not just my brother, but a part of myself. And I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to find it again.

But suddenly, a strong hand grabbed my arm and pulled me away from enzos body. I turned to see Mattheo, looking at me with concern and urgency in his eyes.

"We have to go," he said, his voice trembling with emotion. "We can't stay here, it's not safe."

I wanted to protest, to stay by my brother's side, and never leave him. Hug him and whisper that everything was going to be okay. but I knew he was right. The battle was still raging and we needed to get to safety. I layed a kiss on Enzos forehead. Tears falling on his perfect face as I did so. My lip trembled as I allowed Matt to lead me away quickly.

We ran through the chaos, dodging spells and debris as we made our way to the castle. Once inside, we found a quiet corner and collapsed onto the ground, both of us shaking with fear and grief.

Mattheo held me tight as I cried, whispering words of comfort and love into my ear.

I let the tears pour out. Not caring one bit if anyone saw me crying like a fucking baby. I clutched his shirt digging my fingers into his skin as I balled.

He.

Was.

Gone.

No. No. No. No.

He was there. He was there he was there I felt him. I still smelled him on me and I could hear his laugh, he was still there.

I felt mattheos arms lift off of me and someone else's pull me in tight. I recognized the familiar perfume filling my nose. And the brown hair that fell on my shoulders as she hugged me.

Hermione kissed my head and squeezed my back. "I know elle I know." I only know realized I had been crying into her shirt too.

I looked up. Her face was bloody, some scrapes and scratches along her face but she remained the beautiful girl I grew up with. Harry was standing behind her, with tears flooding his eyes. His hair was a little messy and his glasses were cracked.

"Harry?" I sniffled. Wiping my eyes a little.

"It's over Estelle. He's dead. The wars over." He crouched down and hugged me. I buried my head in his shoulder.

"Thank you harry. Oh my god." I squeezed him tight. He smiled softly and embraced me back.

After a few moments I released him and looked at Mattheo. He was looking down at his hands. A numb emotion upon his face.

"Matt." I turned my body and placed my hand on his cheek. Tilting his head up. Tears filled up my eyes once again.

"He wasn't a great dad but... he was still my dad." He looked up at me. He wasn't crying. Or had any tears in his eyes but his face told me he was feeling grief as well.

"I know." I ran my hand over his cheek, feeling the cuts and stubble beneath my finger tips.
I pulled him towards me and hugged him again. This time for him.

His scent. One I would never ever forget.

"We'll be alright Matty." I sniffled and smiled on his shoulder. Tears still streamimg onto his shirt.

"Me and you. Always and forever just like this." He tilted my face up and kissed me. Softly. And full of love.

Love. Something I didn't believe in till him.

"Always and Forever." I whispered, our foreheads touching.

A few minutes of silence passed us as Hermione and Harry left, to go comfort Ron. I took this as an opportunity to tell him.

"Matt. There's something I should tell you." I kissed him again as he murmured 'hm?'. I smiled and took his hand. Running it over the small bump on my belly.