Faer • Mattheo Riddle

5.0

I woke up slowly, my eyelids heavy and my body still wrapped in that disorienting fog of sleep. The sun filtered in through the thin curtains, casting a soft glow over the room that felt both comforting and painfully bright. 

As I shifted slightly, the previous day's events began to seep back into my mind, like a slowly unfolding nightmare I couldn't escape.

I glanced around the room, the familiarity of it striking me. It was the same space I'd woken in before, Dracos room.

 My heart sank as I remembered the overwhelming rush of tears, the suffocating pain of vulnerability, and the way Draco had held me while I shattered.

I rubbed my eyes, trying to dispel the remnants of last night's anguish, but it was no use. 

The memories clung to me like a heavy cloak, and as I caught a glimpse of my arm, a sickening wave of disgust washed over me. 

The Dark Mark stood out starkly against my skin, a cruel reminder of the choice I hadn't made, of the path I was now forced to tread.

 It was a brand that would never fade, a physical embodiment of my shattered composure.

Just as I turned my gaze away, I caught sight of Draco entering the room, his expression a careful mask of neutrality. 

Our eyes met, and in that fleeting moment, an unspoken understanding passed between us.

 Yesterday would not be spoken of. It couldn't be. 

The weight of it hung in the air, thick and suffocating, but we both knew that pretending it didn't exist was the only way we could keep moving forward.

"Everyone's gone," Draco said, his voice low, breaking the silence. "Just my mom and Mattheo downstairs." He paused, running a hand through his hair, a nervous habit I had come to recognize. 

"We need to head back to Hogwarts after breakfast."

The thought of facing the others, of pretending everything was normal when I felt anything but, made my stomach churn. 

But I couldn't let him see that. 

I couldn't let anyone see how much I was struggling. So I nodded, pushing the emotions down as far as they could go.

"Okay," I managed to say, my voice steadier than I felt.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood, the sudden movement causing my head to spin for a moment. 

I quickly steadied myself, willing my heartbeat to calm as I forced myself to focus on the task at hand—getting ready. I needed to conceal the remnants of yesterday, the cracks in my facade that threatened to spill over if I didn't act fast.

As I made my way to the small bathroom attached to the room, I caught Draco watching me, a flicker of concern crossing his face.

 I wanted to tell him I was fine, that I could handle it, that I wouldn't break again. But the words caught in my throat, and instead, I simply offered a small, tight-lipped smile—one that didn't reach my eyes.