Bound By Blood.

ch.10~ I don't care.

"I had to do it. You gave me no choice. I am sorry."

Recovered translated correspondents from Order Member Alexandra Brooks, to Death Eater Mattheo Riddle, 2004.

Hogwarts, 1997

Mattheo. 

"Oh your mad I spoke to two of your friends, I see," She crossed her arms, letting a laugh slip, "Where's Zabini? I'll gladly make it three."

The nerve of this fucking girl, was unbelievable. 

I truly cant even explain what made me approach her. 

From seeing her and Enzo completely go at each others throats this morning, her fault no doubt. To giggling with Theo. 

Giggling. 

It just made something inside me... shift. 

That was always the way with her, wasn't it?

She was like a damn magnet, pulling everyone into her orbit. It didn't matter good or bad, she just pulled and pulled. 

I would know. 

And before I could go back at her, to simply tell her to stay away from them, that she had no business with them, she walked away. 

"Brooks!" I yelled after her. 

Why the fuck am I yelling after her?!

The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them. 

I shouldn't be calling after her—shouldn't be giving her the satisfaction of knowing she had this hold over me. 

Yet here I was, playing right into her hands.

I cursed under my breath, frustration boiling inside me. 

I didn't want to yell after her, didn't want to get caught up in the web she spun. But the way she navigated between my friends, the effortless way she seemed to always be there, sent a fury coursing through me.

Why did it bother me so much?

I raked a hand through my hair, trying to untangle my thoughts. 

Brooks was chaos personified, a storm dressed in laughter and confidence, and I despised how captivating that storm could be. 

I wished I could convince myself that it didn't matter to me, her presence, her laughter, the way she could bring a room to attention, by simply entering. 

But deep down, I knew it did.

The thought of Theo hanging on her every word made my insides twist. 

I hated that he seemed so effortlessly charmed by her. It was like watching a moth flit to a flame, completely unaware of the danger. 

Maybe I was being overprotective, but I couldn't shake the feeling that she'd burn him if he got too close.

And it wasn't just him; it was Enzo too. I didn't want her chaos spilling over into their lives, crashing through the delicate balance we had spent years building. 

Our friendship felt like a fortress, and she was a wild wind that could tear through it without a second thought.

The truth was painful yet undeniable: I didn't want to want her, but I didn't want my friend to want her either.

So I would make sure, they wouldn't. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I can't fucking believe she said yes to you," Draco muttered as we walked toward Hogsmeade, kicking a pebble along the path like it was somehow responsible for this whole mess.