War, Love, and Riddle //Mattheo Riddle x OC

Chapter Thirty - Always

For one brief, selfish moment, it felt as though the war no longer existed.

Emma could still feel Mattheo's heartbeat beneath her hands. Could still taste tears and relief on his lips as he held her against him like he was terrified she might disappear if he loosened his grip for even a second. Around them, the people they loved crowded close, each of them desperate to touch her, to reassure themselves that she was truly standing there and not some cruel illusion conjured by grief.

It would have been easy to stay in that moment.

Easy to forget the bodies scattered throughout the castle.

Easy to forget the screams still echoing through the corridors.

Easy to pretend they had already won.

Then Harry's voice cut through the chaos.

"Emma."

Something in his tone immediately made her turn.

Her brother stood several feet away, chest heaving from exertion, dirt and blood streaking his face as his green eyes swept across the room. There was relief there. Relief so profound it nearly broke her heart. Yet beneath it sat something else.

Urgency.

The kind that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

Harry's gaze drifted briefly toward Mattheo before settling on the others gathered around them.

"We don't have much time."

The overwhelming relief that had filled the corridor only moments before began to drain away as everyone slowly took in the look on Harry's face. Around them the battle still raged through Hogwarts, distant explosions rattling the ancient stone walls while screams, curses, and collapsing masonry echoed from somewhere deeper within the castle. Yet despite the chaos surrounding them, an uneasy silence settled over the small group gathered in the doorway. It was the kind of silence that came when everyone instinctively realized they were missing something. Harry wasn't looking at Emma the way a brother looked at a sister he had just gotten back from the dead. He wasn't looking at any of them with relief. He was looking at them like someone carrying a burden he desperately wished he didn't have to say aloud.

Emma felt Mattheo's arm tighten around her waist as Harry's eyes briefly found hers. Whatever was coming, her brother already knew she understood.

"Voldemort isn't mortal."

The words landed heavily between them.

For a moment nobody spoke. The relief that had been holding them together cracked, allowing reality to seep back into the room. Theo's expression darkened immediately. Pansy's brows furrowed in confusion while Enzo stared at Harry as though he must have heard him incorrectly. Emma felt her stomach sink before Harry even continued because somewhere deep down she already knew what he was about to say.

"What do you mean he isn't mortal?" Enzo demanded.

Harry dragged a hand through his dark hair, exhaustion evident in every line of his face. He looked older than he had only hours ago. Older than any eighteen year old should ever look.

"Because there's still one Horcrux left." Emma spoke. 

The realization struck everyone instantly.

Nagini.

The name echoed through their minds before Harry ever spoke it aloud.

"The snake," Harry confirmed quietly. "As long as Nagini is alive, Voldemort can survive."