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Enzo is having a hard time sleeping.
He’s used to having a hard time staying asleep. Nightmares and stress make a bad combination for a good night's sleep, but falling asleep isn’t something he usually struggles with. Tonight, though, he tosses and turns and can’t seem to find a position that doesn’t feel like his blanket is rubbing his skin off. He’s glad he thought to cast a silencing spell on his bed curtains so his roommates can’t hear when he lets out a choked sob. He’s embarrassed that all it takes to get him to cry is a few nights of no sleep and a little overstimulation, but he kicks off his blanket and pulls off his shirt, pressing his back to his cold headboard, and he cries. He cries because he’s so tired that he can’t help it, and he cries because he keeps getting in trouble in class because he can’t keep his eyes open, and he cries especially because his fifth year at Hogwarts is dampened by an impending choice; join his parents as filthy death eaters, or die trying to be something better.
He cries alone until he can’t take it anymore, and he pulls his shirt back on and sneaks out of his bed and across the room to Mattheo.
Peeking inside of Mattheo’s bed curtains he finds Mattheo asleep. He’s glad, at least, that his half brother can sleep at a time like this. Enzo considers shaking him awake, but watching him sleep so peacefully makes him decide against it. Instead he climbs into the bed as quietly as possible, closing the curtain behind him, and curls up at Mattheo’s side on top of his blanket. His knees are lightly pressed to Mattheo’s ribs, and his head finds a place tucked next to Mattheo’s shoulder. He lets Mattheo’s soft breathing lull him into an uneasy sleep, closing his eyes for longer than a few minutes for the first time in days.
When Enzo wakes up he’s underneath the blanket, and Mattheo is sitting criss-crossed beside him, looking down at him. Enzo blinks until the early morning stops blocking his vision. Mattheo has his chin propped up on one of his hands, and when he notices Enzo looking back at him he smiles slightly.
“Morning, sunshine,” Mattheo coos softly. Enzo can tell by how quiet it is that Matteo has cast the same silencing spell that Enzo did. Mattheo reaches out to ruffle Enzo’s light brown hair, a stark contrast to Mattheo’s own dark curls. Looking at them, you would never guess they were related, let alone siblings, “How’d you sleep?”
“Better than I have been,” Enzo smiles sheepishly. “Sorry for intruding on your space without asking first. I just….”
Mattheo shakes head, laying down so they’re both laying, shoulder to shoulder, staring up at the ceiling, “You can always come here, especially right now. Especially with everything going on.” He turns his head, looking at Enzo’s side profile, “You don’t have to deal with all of this by yourself, Enzy.”
Enzo turns his head too, locking eyes with Mattheo. He smiles sadly, “Thanks, Mattheo,” he sighs, brows furrowing. He doesn’t notice himself crying until Mattheo’s own small smile slips and he reaches out to thumb away a stray tear on Enzo’s face.
“It’ll be okay,” Mattheo promises, “somehow. I’ll make sure it’s okay.”
Enzo chokes back a sob, flipping onto his side completely, “But you can’t know that, you’re not even sixteen yet, Mattheo, how can you expect to—”
“I will do anything—no— everything to protect you, Lorenzo,” Mattheo flips on his side and grabs Enzo’s hands, holding them tightly, “ Nothing is going to happen to you. I’ll keep you safe, I promise. I’d make a Vow.”
Enzo blinks, eyes widening, “A Vow?” he whispers, eyes flitting over Mattheo’s determined face, “That’s— you can’t do that. Not for me.”
“If I was ever going to make a Vow, it would be for you. You’re the only…” Mattheo’s squeezes Enzo’s hands tighter, “You’re all the family I have , Enzo, I can’t lose you. If I failed to protect you… the consequences of a Vow would be all I deserved.”
“Don’t say that,” Enzo shakes his head, “You have other people to protect too. Theo, Draco… We both know they’ll need help. They’re not strong enough to fight back. They’ll need you.”
“And I need you ,” Mattheo retorts. Enzo laughs lightly.
“I guess we’ll all have to stick together then.”
“I guess so.”
Enzo lunges forward, wrapping his arms around his older brother. Mattheo holds him in return, tucking his face against Enzo’s neck.
“We’ll be fine.”
“All of us?”
“All of us.”