Moon Dust | Mattheo Riddle

Chapter 35: Nothing's ever gonna be the same again

Nova was frozen on the spot, unable to look away from Cedric's lifeless body as she clamped a hand to her mouth. A pair of arms wrapped around her, steadying her from behind and she turned around, burying her face into Mattheo's chest.

He cradled her head, looking up at Regina with wide eyes as she glanced down at the scene below them in horror. The Ravenclaw's attention steered toward the stands then, specifically toward Magnolia, who was trying to push out of the twin's arms, crying uncontrollably. With a harsh swallow, Regina looked over at Mattheo and he nodded, pulling Nova further into his chest as her soft sniffles muffled around them.

The blonde took off toward the staircase and Mattheo turned his head back toward the entrance of the maze. Dumbledore, who was now on the ground floor, was trying—and failing—to pull Harry from Cedric, while Ron and Hermione stood behind them, trying to get past Snape who was holding them back.

Nova cried into Mattheo's chest, her whole body trembling as small sob's fell from her lips. He rubbed his hand over her head, burying it in her hair as the other snaked up her back, shushing gently in her ear before a distressed voice sounded behind them.

"Matt!"

Mattheo turned around, furrowing his brow as Draco came running up to him, out of breath and full of concern as he wiped a hand through his platinum hair. Taking a second to furrow his brow at the close proximity between the pair, Draco blinked, then grabbed onto the older boy's arm, attempting to drag him away. Mattheo pushed him back with one hand, gripping Nova tighter with the other one as she looked up with tear-stricken eyes.

Draco grunted under his breath. "They're saying it was... they're saying it was your father that did this Matt," he whispered, glancing around at the on watching students before widening his eyes purposely. "It's not safe for you here."

"I don't care, I'm not leaving her," he replied, motioning down to the girl in his arms. Draco pulled a face, looking at Nova with a disgusted expression before rolling his eyes as Mattheo snarled at him.

Before the blonde boy could speak up again, Nova pulled back from Mattheo, rubbing at her cheek. "No, he's right... If people think it was your father they'll target you... go with him, I don't want anything to happen to you."

He shook his head hastily in response, only tightening his hold on her, but Nova gripped the back of his neck, bringing him in for a hug. "Go, Theo. I have to be with Harry, I need to go down there, and you have to get out of here," she whispered in his ear, hugging him closer before pulling back.

With a heavy breath, Mattheo glanced down at her, carefully wiping the tears from her cheek. "I'll come find you after all this is done, I promise," he whispered, placing a kiss on her forehead before taking a step backwards toward his cousin.

Draco pulled a face, raising his brows wildly before Mattheo roughly pulled him away, shoving him outside the stadium. The dark-haired boy glanced back, briefly, offering Nova a sweet, sympathetic smile and she bit her lip in response, nodding at him. "I'll see you soon."

As Mattheo and Draco disappeared out of the stadium doors, Nova moved toward the staircase at the side of the aisle, grabbing onto the railing as she practically threw herself down it. Snape moved to stand in her way as she rushed onto the field, but Ron suddenly trampled on the teacher's foot, causing him to grab it with a yelp and turn toward the ginger boy with unforgiving eyes. Nova swept right past them, not stopping till she hit the ground right beside Harry.

"He's back, he's back," the Gryffindor boy cried incoherently, pushing at the headmaster as he tried to force Harry up to his knees and away from the scene, but he refused to move.