James Riddle considered himself to be a reasonable man. Perhaps he wasn't a likable man but in his mind, he was at least reasonable.

He did well in school, earning top grades and taking Slytherin House to the top spot as Keeper. He was an ideal son to his parents—now spending his adult life learning the ins and outs of his father's position. When Tom Riddle was ready to retire, James Riddle would be more than ready to step in. Annie would have been ready, too, if she showed an interest in it. Tom had offered to teach both of his children—because he may be a psychopathic murderer but at least he wasn't sexist—but Annie declined several times and, to be honest, James couldn't imagine his sister doing even a fraction of the work he was doing, at least not without tears in her eyes.

He was a good brother to his baby sister, always keeping an eye on her and watching out for her, even when she didn't know it. A timid, quiet girl with no way to stand up for herself could have been a bully's dream but with James around, everyone knew to leave Annalise Riddle alone. He adored his sister more than anything. She was the reason he hadn't moved to his own apartment—because being away from her sounded horrible. He loved her. More than anything.

Yes, James Riddle considered himself to be more than reasonable.

Until he realized that the boy Annie was enamored with was that fucker, Elio Nott.

James's mind immediately flashed back to the Malfoy ball, where he saw Nott acting like an asshole (as usual) with his cousin. A sister, you say? Why have I never met the lovely creature? Thank you, James. I look forward to making her acquaintance. I look forward to making her acquaintance several times.

Was this some kind of petty revenge for their years of butting heads? Leading on poor, sweet Annie and then breaking her heart?

Well, James wouldn't stand for it. He wouldn't stand for it one damn bit.

He didn't give a fuck about whatever promise he'd made to Annie. That was a promise made when he thought the boy was anyone but Elio Nott.

This was how it all went down. James was speaking with his cousin, Scorpius, about Quidditch—as young wizards do, of course—when Annie came up to him and tugged on his suit jacket. He'd looked down at her and instantly melted—because who wouldn't melt at his sister's sweet face? Her soft features, from her heart-shaped face to the slight pinkness of her cheeks, were the things of angels.

"Jamesy, are you ready to meet him?" She'd said in a nervous voice. He didn't want to meet whatever prick she liked but when she looked at him like that—dark eyes full of wonder and hope—he couldn't even imagine saying no.

"Fine," he sighed, knowing that he would regret this later.

He was right.

"He's just over there by the window!" Her voice was excited as she grabbed onto his hand. He mentally groaned but followed anyway.

And that was when his eyes locked onto Elio fucking Nott.

Elio seemed to realize as quickly as James did, his scared eyes flashing back and forth between James and Annie. He'd felt his anger rise within him tenfold. All he could think about was years of Elio Nott getting wasted out of his mind while fucking practically any girl that was breathing. Any girl but Annie.

Was this some sort of sick conquest of his—his way of finally bedding every decent girl? Or was this part of their rivalry?

Either way, James knew that Elio's feelings weren't even close to genuine. He'd taken sweet Annie and preyed on her naivety.

"No," he seethed in a deadly voice. James could feel his jaw clench tightly from the curses he was avoiding saying. His sister didn't need to hear words like that."No, no, NO!"

Elio held up his hands. When he spoke, his voice was panicked. "James, old sport, I swear I had no idea she was your—"

James punched his rival as hard as he could. It felt fucking fantastic. From the moment the little asshole was born, James had hated him. He could sense something about this boy that he didn't like. They were born enemies, forced to act civil only by the friendship of their parents.

But their parents weren't there. There was nothing saving Elio from James's wrath.

Before James could lay another hit, a flash of blond hair appeared in front of him. "Move, Scorpius!" He boomed, fist poised to strike again.

"You are in the middle of a fucking ballroom," Scorpius hissed. "Pull yourself together. Both of you."

"Scorpius, if you don't fucking move—"

Scorpius turned and gave him a harsh glare before his face softened. He must have been looking at Annie, who was probably terrified. At the moment, James didn't care. He could make it up to her later with those brownies she liked so much.

"You are my cousin." He turned to Elio. "And you are my best friend. I'm not taking sides in this ridiculous feud that has gone on for far too long. But you are making a scene in the ballroom so if you aren't mature enough to quit it, then at least take it outside."

James's grey eyes narrowed into a deadly glare. "Stay inside, Annie."

"No! I'm coming with you."

He turned and flashed her a dark look. "I said stay inside."

But to his surprise, Annie flashed an identical glare right back. At that moment, she'd never looked more like their parents. "And I said no."

She darted over to where Elio was bent over as he tried to control the blood dripping from his nose. "Are you alright?" Annie attempted to whisper but James was so accustomed to her quiet voice that he could hear her easily.

"I'm fine, cara mia. Why don't you stay inside? It's cold out."

She frowned. "I want to be with you."

James had to hold back his vomit when Elio kissed her cheek. "I know, cara mia, but you don't need to see this."

His sister stood with a harsh look in her eyes. In any other circumstance, James might have been almost proud. But his anger toward the boy she was defending overshadowed any pride would have felt.

Fucking Elio Nott trying to stick his dick in my little sister. The thought made his fists curl again.

"Nott," he growled. "Outside."

James needed to leave the ballroom before he killed everyone in it. Everyone but Annie, of course. His little darling.

The Riddle boy stalked out into the garden, creating a path of terrified pureblood wherever they walked. He'd never looked more like the Dark Lord's son than in that moment when his mind spun, thinking about all the ways Elio deceived his sister.

Annie was so inexperienced that it was surely all this relationship was, at least in James's mind. Nott probably saw her as nothing more than a challenge and poor Annie would think it was love. Well, it was time that James put a stop to it.

Elio followed behind, flanked by Annie and Scorpius. Little traitors. His sister looked terrified while his cousin looked amused.

Nott must have fixed his broken nose between the walk from the ballroom to the Parkinson garden, which was filled with blooming lilies despite the fact that it was January. Perfect. Nott won't have to go far to have his funeral flowers, he thought with a dark smirk.

"James, please—" Elio began but James cut him off.

"No. You don't get to fucking talk. The only reason you're not dead where you stand is because I promised my sister I'd behave."

"James! Elio is trying to have a mature conversation about this and you're acting like a jerk," Annie scolded. She sounded so much like their mother that James almost rolled his eyes instinctively.

"I'm the jerk?" He asked incredulously. In what world was he the jerk? Elio Nott was the biggest asshole he knew and somehow James was the bad guy for defending his sister from such a heathen? "Annie, he's drunk half the time and fucking a random girl the other half. Do you seriously want to be just another notch on his bedpost?"

"Don't call her that," Elio growled but James ignored it.

Annie put her hands on her hips and glared. "Yes, he has an unsavory past—" James watched Elio wince, which made him smirk. That's right, Nott. Your plan is foiled. Until Annie continued speaking. "But he's changed. He's kind, he's smart, he's loyal. He cares for me, James. He loves me."

James scoffed. "Do you truly believe the lie he's spun? Are you that gullible?"

Annie flinched and for a moment, James felt bad. He hadn't meant to hurt her feelings. But she wasn't listening to him and he didn't know how to make her take this seriously. If Elio Nott could fool her like this, what if one of their parents' enemies did the same?

"If you don't stop fucking talking to her like that, I'm going to come over there and return the gift you've graciously given me." Elio's voice was dark and menacing as he pointed to his nose, such a stark contrast from the unserious boy he'd always been.

"Oh shove off, you fuckhead," James barked back. He turned to his younger sister, who was now even closer to Elio. She stood slightly in front of him as if that were going to shield the Nott boy from James's wrath. "Annie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that."

Her lip quivered. "Yes, you did. You think I'm being nonsensical."

"I do think you're being nonsensical but that doesn't mean you are nonsensical. Nott can be very persuasive." His eyes zeroed in on where Elio was rubbing her back. "Don't fucking touch her or I'll change my mind about killing you."

"Right," Scorpius said as he clapped his hands together awkwardly. "You three seem to have this handled. I'm going to go inside for a drink."

He was muttering under his breath as he walked away. Something about a "ridiculous rivalry over a damn girl". James just glared at his git of a cousin.

"I don't care what's happened between you two in the past," Annie said softly. "What's done is done. I care about the future and I want a future with Elio."

"Not him. You can date whoever you want, Annie, but not him."

She narrowed her eyes. "You seem to be missing my point, James. I don't want to date 'whoever I want' because who I want is Elio."

The Nott boy smiled softly before kissing the side of her head. Reflexively, James's hand went to his wand, where it stayed.

"Annie, but he doesn't want that with you. I know him. I've known him for much longer than I've cared to. He doesn't think of futures. He's playing you. He just wants a good time."

To James's surprise, Annie's face portrayed nothing but hurt. She stepped back as if he'd wounded her. "Is that really the only reason you think someone would want me? For a good time?"

"No, no, Annie I—" He was cut off by Elio moving closer to Annie, standing behind her as if he were her shield, her support. Suddenly, James didn't feel like this fight was between him and Elio any longer.

It felt like a fight between him and Annie.

And that pissed him off.

How dare the Nott boy come in between the Riddle siblings? They'd never fought, not even when they were little toddlers. And now they were all of a sudden?

It was that damn boy's fault and he'd had enough of it.

"No, I believe that because it's what he said. When did you meet him?"

"At the Malfoy ball."

James smirked. Bingo. The evidence he needed. "Look at what he said just moments before you two met them."

Then, he showed her the memory.

James had just arrived at the Malfoy ball and was making his way over to the refreshments table to get Lottie a glass of punch. Scorpius was there, standing with Elio Nott, James's archenemy since before he even knew what an archenemy was.

Scorpius grinned. "Well, I'll be damned. Elio fucking Nott at one of these stupid things."

Elio chuckled and shook his friend's hand, not noticing James's presence. "Mummy dearest wants me to find a wife."

"And you want?"

"To have some fun and get my dick wet." The two boys laughed loudly until James stepped in.

"What a charming notion, Nott," he drawled. "I'm sure the ladies here would love to know that's what you think about them."

Elio grinned. "Now, James, old sport, don't be angry just because you haven't been laid. Maybe if you took my advice, you wouldn't act like you have a stick up your ass."

James's anger flared up, as it always did when Elio was around. James fucking hated him. Always had, always would. He thought graduating would give him a reason to never see Elio again but apparently, he was wrong.

"Why are you even here?" Elio asked.

"Mum insisted on all of the cousins coming," Scorpius said.

James sneered. "That's right. And I'm keeping an eye on my sister so people like you stay far away from her."

"James, you idiot," Scorpius mumbled under his breath.

But Elio's eyes were already widening with a mischievous glint that pissed James off to no end. "A sister, you say? Why have I never met the lovely creature? Thank you, James. I look forward to making her acquaintance. I look forward to making her acquaintance several times."

James growled at the idea of his sweet little sister in Elio's claws. "You stay the fuck away from her. You got it, Nott?"

"Well..." he drawled.

But James didn't accept that. He'd die for his sister. He'd kill for his sister. "I mean it, Elio. If you so much as breathe near her, my father will make sure you regret it for the rest of your miserable life. She's a daddy's girl so you will endure not only my wrath but his."

"Alright, no little sister. Got it," Elio grumbled with his hands in surrender. James sneered at him once more before leaving.

When he pulled out of the memory, James's face was smug. Now Annie would know the truth. Her eyes were wide as she looked back and forth between him and Elio.

"Is that true? Did you really say that you wanted to 'get your dick wet' and 'make my acquaintance several times?'" Her lip again and James wished that she would have listened, that he didn't have to take measures like this and hurt her feelings anymore.

Elio cupped her cheek and kissed her forehead. "Yes, I said those things but I was joking, topolina. I had no idea you were James's sister until moments ago and I love you. You are so much more than I ever thought you could be and I regret saying those things but I don't regret finding and falling in love with you."

Annie stared at him for a few long minutes before smiling at him, grabbing his hand and running her thumb along the back of where it rested on her cheek. "I believe you."

"Good, because you can look through my mind if you don't and find out the truth if you don't."

Annie's eyes widened. "Elio, that's it! You're a genius!"

"I am?" He asked with disbelief. Then, his eyes widened too. "I am."

He turned to look at James with newfound confidence. "Look through my head. I know your family can do that creepy legilimens stuff so you can look through my head and see that I really love Annie more than anything."

James scowled. He didn't want to do that. He didn't want to give Elio any benefit of the doubt. He didn't want to see if he was telling the truth. He just wanted the fucker to stay away from his sister. No way was he going to—

"James," Annie pleaded with a soft voice and those damn puppy dog eyes he couldn't stay no to. "Please."

He stared long and hard at his sister. He watched the way she clutched to the boy, the way she begged with her eyes for him to give Nott a chance. He watched her hope. Ugh. How could he take all of that away from her?

James Riddle was a reasonable man. He wanted to keep his sister safe but, more than anything, he wanted her to be happy.

"Fine," he bit out sullenly. He turned to stare at Elio before muttering, "Legilimens."

Hordes of memories came rushing into James's head. He watched as Elio met Annie for the first time, as she ran from him, as he found her again, as he kissed her, as he broke into her room, as he—

"YOU FUCKED MY BABY SISTER!" He roared with newfound anger. "YOU TOOK MY SISTER'S VIRGINITY YOU FUCKHEAD! YOU'RE DEAD!"

James quickly grabbed his wand from his trousers and pointed it directly at Elio. The next moment, all five of James's senses seemed to be moving in slow motion.

Touch: The feeling of his wand shuddering as a bright green curse emerged from the jagged wood. Sectumsemptra. The Sword Curse. The one his father taught him.

Sound: James yelling "Sectumsemptra!" with fury in his voice. Then, there was the sound of Elio Nott desperately shouting, "NO!" Just as Annie screamed in terror. Then, a scuffle.

Smell: The bitter iron scent of blood. A stark contrast to the soft floral scent of the gardens. It permeated his nostrils long after he left.

Taste: If the blood smelt bitter, the regret in James's mouth was even worse.

And finally, sight: Crimson gore soon dropping to the ground in waves, staining the grass as it continued to fall from the body. Only it wasn't Elio's.

It was Annie's.

Cliffhanger! I have been waiting to write this chapter for so long and I'm so happy it's done and out there. I know you all have been waiting for the James and Elio confrontation and we finally have it. Next chapter will be dramatic too (obviously) lol. Hope you all like the storyyyy 3