Babysitters

Chapter 41

MATTHEO RIDDLE

Everything happened so fast.
I couldn't even comprehend it.
Within a few seconds Theo was telling me a plan wordlessly using his legilimency and before I could comment on the sheer stupidity of his words, it was already in motion.
Enzo was the first to move. He flung a disarming spell towards my father–I know, reckless, blindingly brave, but it bought us half a second.
Theo lunged forward next, wand drawn but not raised. He threw a shield between my father and Tom. I knew the spell–it redirected any magic trying to go through it. It not only caused a brief moment of hesitation to flare up in Tom's eyes, but revealed a piece of information to me. For the small moment the shield last, I saw Tom. Not the inhumane creature from before–just my brother Tom. And at that moment I understood, or at least I hoped I did. Tom had been under the Imperiuscurse. That's why he was going along with Voldemort's insanity. It was also what had caused the dull, dead look in his eyes. I wished from the bottom of my heart this was the truth, because otherwise, I had no idea of my next steps.

What if he really had turned to a younger version of our father?

Draco didn't speak, like the rest of us. He didn't need to. The room shook with the force of his next spell, and I felt the crackle of the pure force leaving him through his wand. I felt it so strongly there was no doubt the others did too, and it caused my blood pressure to spike up even more than it already had. Maybe it was the fear. Maybe it was the hope.
Tom blinked, just once. And then I saw it in him again. For that one breath, that one moment—he looked recognizable once more.
I took my chance.
"Tom," I said, quieter now. I stepped closer, the wand in my hand slipping to my side, heart hammering against my ribs feeling like it was going to force its way through my chest soon. "Look at me."
His eyes flicked back to mine. Still guarded and cold, but he was listening.
"Don't let him make you like him," I said. "You're not him. You never were."
My father growled. Not metaphorically. The sound was inhuman, guttural, like the darkness we all knew was inside him had quadrupled. He raised his wand faster than I could react.
I felt the curse flying towards me before I even saw it coming.
And then—nothing.
Tom had moved. He'd moved.
The curse hit the wall where I'd been a second before, and I was on the floor, breathless, staring at my brother like I'd never seen him before, when indeed, I had. This was the big brother who'd advised, and, in his own way, protected me when we were growing up. And right now, he was standing between me and our father, wand out and face blank. But his hand was shaking.
"Don't," Tom said, and for the first time in my life, I heard his voice cracking. Just the tiniest break in the armor he always wore, but it was there. "Don't touch him."
My father's face contorted. "You dare defy me?"
Tom didn't move. "He's my brother."
Silence. It stretched for a moment too long. And then the spell hit. Not from Voldemort.
From Draco.
Pure white light exploded against the Dark Lord's defenses. He staggered, and that was all we needed.
Theo grabbed my arm. "We need to go," he hissed. I glanced to the side, where Enzo was already standing next to the door and was now sending the rest of us expectant glares.
"Tom," I called.
He turned to look at me slowly, his face back to being unreadable. He didn't speak, but his eyes lingered.
I knew what he was saying. Not yet. Not now. But maybe—maybe—soon.
And just like that, we ran out of the open door and into the darkness of the manor's hallways, leaving my brother alone with the man I despised the most.

TOM RIDDLE

I felt everything and nothing at the same time.
That's the part no one ever understands. When you've ripped pieces of your soul apart, it's not just the physical parts of it that's never quite whole again—it's your sense of self.
Mattheo didn't understand that, not really. He always thought I was cold because I wanted to be, but he never understood what it was like to look inside yourself and find less than what you had there the day before.
I hadn't expected him to come. And I definitely hadn't expected him to fight.
He always fought with words or fists in the corridors of Hogwarts. That was Mattheo. But today he was so very different.
When he stepped in front of me and looked at me like I was still there, like there was still something worth saving—it threw everything off balance for me. He said my name like it somehow mattered. Like I mattered.
And then Draco stormed in, and everything fractured. Spells flying. Theo and Enzo appearing out of nowhere. Shields, noise, rage, hope—all at once. It was chaos. I should have hated it.
But I didn't.
For a moment, I didn't feel empty. I felt alive.
And then Father raised his wand. I knew what spell it was before he even finished the first syllable. He'd used it on people who'd failed him. Enemies. Servants. Once, on a Death Eater who dared to fail a mission.
He was going to kill Mattheo, and I didn't think, I moved.
The spell missed by inches. Mattheo went sprawling across the floor and I stood where he'd been, wand in hand, heart thudding like it didn't belong to me.
I faced the man who gave me life, who took pieces of it back every day since.
"Don't," I said.
It felt wrong in my mouth. Weak, small. But my hand shook. My voice cracked. I hadn't meant to let that happen. I didn't let things happen.
Mattheo's eyes were on me again, and for once, he didn't look like he was begging me to be someone else. He looked like he was seeing me.
"You dare defy me?" Father's voice burned, but it was distant, like it was coming through water. I could barely hear him over the blood in my ears.
"He's my brother."
I could kill him right now. I had the power. The skill. But I didn't have the will, not yet. Not while I was still standing halfway in his shadow.
Then Draco's spell hit. White-hot light slammed into my father's front. His expression twisted into a mix of surprise, rage and disbelief. The unthinkable was happening. They were defying him.
For me.
Why?
Why would they risk everything when I'd given them nothing? Why would Mattheo stand between me and the man he feared most?
Because he was Mattheo. Because he never stopped trying. Because I was his brother.
The word echoed inside my skull, over and over like a curse and a promise.
Brother.
Theo grabbed him. Enzo ran to the door. I knew it, I felt the shift in the air. They were going to run.
Cowards. That's what I should've thought. That's what I used to think. Now, all I could feel was the heat of my father's fury behind me, and the hope within Mattheo in front of me.
Family.

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A/N:
Hello loves
Wow, it's been long. I have kind of fallen out of the fandom, but as I promised, I will finish the book. It will probably take time, but this chapter is a step forward. :) I hope at least some of you will leave some kind of feedback because even though I think I'm a bit of a better writer now, I'm feeling a little unsure of how this turned out.
Let me know if you're still interested in reading this book. Every vote and comment means a lot to me 💕
Love u all x