HIDDEN REFLECTIONS

THIRTY-SIX

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

As I step cautiously into Mattheo's dimly lit room at Malfoy Manor, a shiver of anxiety courses through me. The opulent decor, rich with dark woods and gilded accents, feels stifling, as if the walls are closing in with every passing second. My heart pounds in my chest, each beat echoing the dangers that lie beyond this sanctuary. The air is thick with unspoken words, the silence hanging heavy with secrets.

And then I see him. Mattheo stands by the window, silhouetted against the faint glow of moonlight spilling through the heavy curtains. Relief washes over me as our eyes meet, the tension in his features easing slightly. "You made it," he whispers, his voice barely a breath, tinged with disbelief, as if he can't believe I'm standing there.

"I had to see you," I reply, my words rushing out as I cross the threshold into his space. "I was worried about you," I say, and it's partly true. Despite everything, concern for the boy before me sinks into my heart.

He runs a hand through his dark hair, a gesture that betrays his barely contained anxiety. "You shouldn't be here," he says, his eyes flicking anxiously toward the door as if he expects someone to burst in at any moment. "It's dangerous."

"I don't care about the danger, Mattheo," I say, stepping closer, the sincerity in my voice firm. "I came because I needed to be with you." The words taste bitter on my tongue, but I force them out, even as guilt slams into me for lying.

His gaze softens at my words, but the worry still clings to him like a heavy shroud. "You really shouldn't have come," he replies, his voice strained. "Bellatrix has been on edge, and I can't let anything happen to you. You mean too much to me."

My heart twists at his concern. "What's going on?" I press gently, sensing the tension coiling within him, but I don't want to push too hard, afraid he might pull away.

"Just... it's complicated," he says, avoiding my gaze.

I move to sit beside him on the bed, feeling the palpable tension between us start to dissolve. The worry etched on his face does something strange to me; suddenly I want to reach out and ease his burdens. "I'm here now," I murmur slowly, glancing into his eyes, searching for the boy I knew beneath the weight of his circumstances. "I just, uh, wanted to see you."

He studies me for a moment, as if weighing the consequences, before he sighs deeply, his shoulders slumping. "Can you just... lay with me?" he asks, his voice tinged with vulnerability that makes my chest ache. "I don't want to think about everything that's happening right now."

I nod, my heart swelling with a mix of affection and sorrow for him despite the chaos surrounding us. Without hesitation, I lay back against the pillows, allowing the plush comfort to envelop me. As I nestle against him, our bodies fitting together, I can feel the tension slowly ebbing away.

Mattheo's strong arms wrap around me, pulling me closer, and I can't help but revel in the warmth radiating from him. My fingers trace absent patterns against his shirt as I listen to the steady rhythm of his breathing. With every breath, he seems to melt into the moment, losing himself in the sanctuary we create together.

"Leah," he murmurs, his voice thick with sleepiness, "I love you so much."

I press my cheek against his shoulder, feeling a rush of conflicting emotions. My heart aches for him, knowing he's carrying so much on his shoulders, yet I feel a flicker of guilt stirring within me. I'm not entirely honest with him. My heart is still tangled in unresolved feelings, but the urgency of confronting Theodore claws at the edges of my mind.

As Mattheo's breathing deepens, signaling that he is drifting off to sleep, I tighten my grip around him. I can't bring myself to pull away—not when he needs me so desperately. I can feel his warmth seep into me, grounding me in this moment of serenity.