Bound By Blood.

ch.68~I waited.

"Merry Christmas, Riddle.

In another life, it's a happy day.

In another life, today didn't bring this.

See you there."

Recovered Translated Correspondents between Order Member Alexandra Brooks, to Death Eater, Mattheo Riddle, 2003.

Hogwarts Ruins, 2003.

Alexandra.

I've been shaking since I sent him that owl.

Would he meet me?

Would he know where to find me?

Its Christmas Eve, does that mean anything to him?

No. No. No.

I wouldn't over think.

I've been on some physiological high since I spoke to Sirius. Hence, why I even sent Mattheo an owl.

I told my self if he could find me, then it was meant to be.

I was meant to find him, and have this discussion.

And if he didn't.... then it simply wasn't.

So I stood here, on the top of the astronomy tower, shivering from the bitter chill, and holding my breath.

He'll come.

He'll come.

I repeated over and over to my self.

What was I thinking?

It was reckless to send that owl.

I had laid everything on the line, and for what?

I should have known better.

Perhaps he wouldn't come.

I wanted to turn on my heel and disappear into the castle shadows.

Just as I was about to step away from the ledge, the soft sound of footsteps echoed through the cold air behind me.

My breath caught.

I turned around just in time to see him appear.

He came.

"I must have walked all over this fucking school, I don't know how I didn't check here first," he said, his breath forming little clouds in the frigid night.

He looked slightly out of breath, tousled hair framing his face, and an expression of surprise mixed with relief washed over his features.

I couldn't help but smile, even just a little bit, the tension in my chest easing.

"So, you came," I said softly, disbelief flooding my tone.

"You wrote." he replied, stepping closer, his gaze serious.

"I almost left. I thought..."

"Don't think. It's dangerous," he interrupted, a slight smirk curling at the corners of his mouth. But then his expression hardened, almost contemplative. "You wanted to talk, right? So let's talk."

I can't read him.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself as I prepared to voice the thoughts that had been swirling in my mind ever since that fateful night when everything had gone wrong.