Elio had always thought that the scariest day of his life would be the one when he died. The one where that ticking time bomb that loomed over every living, breathing being finally came to an end and the veil of death would be placed over his eyes for eternity. Up until the ripe age of twenty-three, he never thought that there could be any day more terrifying than that.

Until tonight.

Things were going so well. As well as they could, at least. Yes, Annie was the sister of James Riddle (and therefore the daughter of the Dark Lord—a matter he wasn't even allowing himself to think about yet for the very real possibility that he would shit himself in the middle of a ball). But James hadn't killed him on the spot and Annie seemed to have the miraculous ability to reason with him so that seemed taken care of. Yes, Annie found out about the things he said in jest the night of the Malfoy Ball but he'd felt her enter his thoughts with the gift he hadn't even realized she had until he learned who her brother was—the second most skilled Legilimens in the world. She'd seen with her own eyes—well, mind—that he loved her and that he wasn't playing her. So while he would spend the rest of his life regretting those few words, at least he hadn't lost her over them.

He hadn't realized that he could lose her another way.

He was in the middle of allowing James to look in his mind. He hadn't realized that the sensation felt different depending on who was doing it. Whereas Annie's mind felt light and warm, James's felt like black tar cascading over his every thought. Elio wondered if the difference was his relationship with each person, especially since James did sort of feel an awful lot like tar. A dark, sticky substance he couldn't shake no matter how much he tried, fearing constantly that it would drown him.

Then, James had seen everything. He'd seen Elio's love, yes, but he'd also seen him making said love. With his baby sister.

Not Elio's brightest moment, he would admit.

He'd never wished he was an Occlumens more than in that moment as he watched James's face contort with rage like he'd never seen. "YOU FUCKED MY BABY SISTER!" He roared with newfound anger. "YOU TOOK MY SISTER'S VIRGINITY YOU FUCKHEAD! YOU'RE DEAD!"

And while he and James had always had somewhat of a joking rivalry, Elio didn't doubt it at that moment.

The moment had seemed so slow yet so fast at the same time. At the time, he'd almost felt like he was underwater. Watching the fish swim past him while helplessly drowning beside them.

James had reached into his trousers and taken out his wand, pointing it at Elio as he shouted, "Sectumsemptra!"

Elio prepared himself to be dead (at best), stiffening his body so he at least didn't look like a coward in his last moments.

But as the green light came toward him, he found himself being shoved out of the way. He fell onto the ground with an "oomph!"

And when he looked up, there was Annie. His angel. His saviour. His everything.

Covered in blood.

The wounds were small at first. Little patches of blood appeared all along her torso and he wondered if the curse was small yet annoying. The Paper Cut Curse or something like that.

But then the blood spread. Everywhere.

It covered her pale body, staining the light dress she'd looked so beautiful in moments ago. Annie fell to the ground before he could reach her. The resounding thud would haunt him for years to come.

Her frail body began to convulse on the ground, almost as if her heart were attempting to restart itself, to make enough blood to keep her alive. But there was too much. Elio knew there was too much.

Finally, she screamed in agony. And that was what woke Elio from his stupor and sent him into action.

"Annie! Annie, baby," he yelled as he crawled over to her. Elio grabbed her head full of curls and rested her head on his lap.

"E— El—" she attempted to stutter while her body seized. Elio felt his vision blurring with unshed tears as he helplessly watched her convulse, bleeding out on the very grass where she had stood so bravely moments before. Why? His mind wondered continuously. Why did you push me out of the way? Why?

It wasn't until her beautiful dark eyes looked up at the sky with resignation that Elio realized he didn't care what it took. Annie was fucking living. If not, he'd rather die than be in this world without her.

A veil was placed over him. A calm one, a clear one. Sometimes, in moments of pure and utter panic, our minds can't help but go still, tunneling on the right thing to do until we're alone in our rooms and finally have a second to decompress it all. That is what happened to Elio Nott. His mind emptied of everything—even emotion—until the only thing he could focus on was saving her.

"Annie, darling, I'm going to make it better," he promised. He slipped his arms around her body, cradling her tightly to his chest. She was so light—was it possible that she weighed less now? No, he refused to think about that.

He cared little about the blood seeping onto his clothes. Elio cleared his mind and prepared to apparate, still holding onto his girl as if his embrace was what was keeping her on this Earth.

"Annie, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hit you—" James began but Elio cut him off with a sharp glare. He knew that it was an accident—something this horrible couldn't be anything but an accident—but right now, all his mind saw was the girl he loved bleeding out and the man who caused it. Protective instincts had flared up inside of him and until she was breathing and smiling again, they wouldn't go away.

Finally, he apparated, leaving James behind in the dust.

The kitchen smelled warm like freshly baked cookies. Perhaps if it were another night, Elio would be sneaking one out of the jar in the corner of the room. But tonight there were other things to care about.

"CASS!" He shouted into the home, not caring that it was late and he would be waking them up. "CASS!"

His aunt walked down the stairs, already tying a robe around her small frame. "Elio?" She asked sleepily, rubbing at her eyes. "What are you doing here?"

She turned the corner and gasped when she finally saw what he was holding. Or rather, who.

He watched as his aunt entered healer mode. She quickly tied back her unruly blonde curls into a messy bun before beginning to bark orders at anyone who would listen. Elio's Aunt Cass could be rather frightful when she was stern like this, even though she was only half his size.

"Put her on the table and get the fire started. She can't get too cold."

Elio's uncle chose that moment to come running down the stairs. "Elio? What the bloody hell is going on?" He turned and saw Annie, who was still seizing in his arms. Her eyes seemed to have glassed over and Elio was thankful. He didn't want her to remember this night, not by a long shot. "Oh, dear god."

"Enz, get the dittany," Cass said sharply.

Elio followed her orders, setting Annie down and lighting the fire. He stroked her hair before whispering, "You're going to be okay, sweetheart. Right, Cass?"

"Right. If she reacts okay to the dittany, she'll make a full recovery," his aunt said confidently. Then, muttering, "It just will be a miserable night."

Annie whimpered, squeezing Elio's heart into a million pieces. It should have been him on that table. It should have been him. He grabbed onto her hand and began to whisper reassurances into her ear.

"El, you might want to distract her," Cass said in a tight voice before holding out the potion bottle.

"Distract her?"

Cass ripped off Annie's dress and Elio had to swallow back a bout of nausea at the sight of the deep cuts that had been inflicted on her. He wanted to murder James at that moment. He still hadn't ruled it out.

His aunt held the clear stopped over the wounds before slowly beginning to squeeze it onto Annie's small and weak body. Annie cried out in pain, arching over the table before Cass pushed her back down. Elio suddenly realized what his aunt meant by distracting.

"Annie, darling, where do you want to holiday most in the world?" He tried to keep both his voice and his face calm and light. The steady anchor that she needed. Cass began to pour more dittany and he rushed out, "Anywhere in the world, sweetheart. We can go there."

"The beach," Annie whimpered through the pain. "I want to see the ocean."

"Okay, baby, we can see the beach. We'll go to Italy and see the crystal waters and you can put your little toes in the soft sand. Does that sound fun?" She nodded with a face scrunched in pain.

"Annie, what other dreams do you have?" Cass asked loudly before muttering to Elio, "This is going to be the worst part."

Elio quickly grabbed onto Annie's hand while his aunt prepared to do… whatever it was his aunt was about to do. "S-see the world… Get married… More p-piano."

"Well, you're going to be able to do all that, sweetheart, because you're going to be just fine." This is why Elio came to Aunt Cass. Because she was the most brilliant healer Saint Mungo's had ever seen but also because she was the brightest personality he'd ever met. He knew that Cass would be able to heal Annie and keep her spirits up.

"Elio, hold onto her."

"Yes, Aunt Cass."

Then, the blonde woman began to mutter over and over, "Vulnera Senentaur." Annie cried out in agonizing pain as Elio slowly watched her cuts close.

Elio grabbed onto her shoulders and pinned her to the table so Cass could work problem. He used one of his hands to brush her cheek before asking Annie, "What do you want to play next on your piano, pretty girl?"

"C-Clair de Lune." She moaned and normally, he'd like that sound. Not today.

Elio shifted so the only thing Annie could see was him. His confident, smiling face. Maybe it would make her feel confident too. She whimpered at his face and weakly reached up with one hand. Elio quickly came closer and kissed her forehead.

"Why do you want to play that?"

"Because emotions are harder to play and Debussy is more challenging." Her voice was slowly getting steadier as her cuts healed, though it was still light and pained.

"I have no doubt that it'll sound beautiful when you play." A weak smile graced her lips and Elio finally began to feel her spirits lift. "You want to get married?"

She slowly nodded as if that took all of her energy. "To you."

He couldn't help be feel warm and fuzzy all over, even in the circumstances. A smile spread over his face before he nuzzled her nose. "Whenever you want, topolina, we can make that dream come true. And I'll spend the rest of our lives showing you the world."

"Done!" Cass exclaimed before cupping Annie's cheek with a smile. "You, my dear future-niece-in-law—" She gave Elio a pointed look, and to his surprise, he felt himself blush. "—need to rest. Elio can bring you upstairs and put you in Andie's old room. Sleep tonight and you'll feel much better in the morning."

"Thank you," Annie said softly.

Cass smiled. It lit up her face. "Of course, sweetheart. It seems you're family now."

Enzo came over and wrapped his arm around his wife's face before kissing her head. He led her up the stairs before calling out, "Goodnight kids. I'll make waffles in the morning."

Elio silently cheered at those little words before turning to Annie with a cheeky grin. "He makes the best waffles."

"He's your uncle?"

"Yup. That's my Uncle Lorenzo—my mum's brother who I'm named after. Well, middle name. My actual name is after my dead aunt. My dad's sister, Elia." Annie nodded. "And the healer was his wife, Cass. They have two daughters but they're grown and married and have kids of their own so they don't live here."

With ease, Elio placed his arms under Annie's small body and lifted her up. He carried her up the stairs and into his cousin's room before gently depositing her on the bed and tucking her under the covers.

"Thank you," Annie whispered, grabbing at his hand. "You saved me."

"It's my fault you're here." Well, actually, it was James's fault but Elio couldn't help but feel a tremendous amount of guilt over it, like his petty rivalry with the boy led to Annie almost losing her life.

Annie shook her head. She looked like she wanted to say more but her eyes were closing of their own accord. He smiled and kissed her forehead. "Sleep, Annie darling. You need to rest."

"S-stay."

"I'm not going anywhere."

While Annie drifted under, Elio grabbed a chair from the corner of the room and pulled it by the bed. He wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms but he didn't want to risk hurting her so he resigned himself to a night in the chair. At least it was a comfy one.

But before Elio fell asleep, he looked over in the corner and noticed a dark figure.

He jumped in his seat as James Riddle came from where he was lurking in the shadows. "Bloody hell, mate, how long have you been there?"

"A long time." James's voice was raspy and laden with torture. He sounded like he was the one who went through hell, not Annie.

Elio was going to berate him for tonight—for hurting Annie and not helping out after when he was apparently here—but when he studied James's face, he noticed the streaks of tears accompanied by the dark circles. James looked like he might cry at any moment as he looked at his sister sleeping next to the moonlit window. Elio figured he didn't need to scold the boy. He'd done it enough himself.

"You saved her."

Elio scoffed. "Of course I saved her."

"She would have died if you weren't there." That was probably true. James didn't seem to react after Annie had been hit by the curse. He'd been too frozen in shock.

Elio frowned before looking up at James, at the unreadable expression on his cold face. "You can kick me out in the morning if you want but just let me stay with her until I know she's okay."

Now, James was the one who was frowning. "You really love her?"

"Yes," Elio replied without hesitation.

"But it's only been a week. You can't love her already."

He shrugged. "I guess I don't know that. I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on love. I've never been in love before so I don't know how long it takes—if it's a week or a month or even years. All I know is that from the moment I met her, she's been my entire world. And when I see her, everything looks a little bit brighter and I feel a little less alone. If that's not love, it's damn near close."

Elio looked down at Annie before smiling to himself. "Plus, anyone who spends three minutes with that girl would find themselves as enamored as I am."

James sat down at the edge of the bed and looked at his sister. "She has… a way to her. She can say nothing and yet completely draw you in. I've never met anyone like her in all of my travels."

"Me neither." Elio's smile widened as he thought about the way his world stopped when he'd lain eyes on her. She was just so… perfect. Literally. Even the flaws she thought she had, he adored entirely. For so long, Elio had lived without knowing her and now, he didn't know how he would live without her.

Elio was torn. One part of him knew that Annie was probably better off without him. Look at what had happened to her now just because of him. What if something worse happened? What if she really died? He wouldn't live in a world without her. He'd rather leave now and shatter his heart than have her ever get hurt again.

But the other part of him was selfish. The other part of him couldn't imagine a life without her walking the halls of the Nott estate. He couldn't imagine not showing her the world—his Italian home, Paris, Greece, all of the places she would love. He couldn't imagine a future where he didn't wake up every morning with her sweet face next to his and go to sleep every night holding her in his arms. He wanted to cook for her—even though he couldn't cook at all. He wanted to spend every penny he ever earned on her. He wanted to love her.

James was right. It had only been a week. That was a blink of an eye in relationship time.

But that week had been the best one of his life.

He hadn't realized the tar-like feeling encapsulating his mind until he broke from his thoughts and felt James inside of there.

"How long have you been doing that?" Elio shuddered as he attempted to block him out. Thank Merlin he wasn't thinking about anything worse.

"Long enough." James winced. "I don't like you."

"I know."

"But…" Elio felt his heart lift. "I believe you love her. Or at least think you love her. You make her happy and you clearly keep her safe."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I don't like this at all… but I'm not going to stop it either."

Before Elio could even think, his arms wrapped tightly around James's body. He couldn't help the smile that came to his face. Then, as he realized what he was doing, he pulled away with an awkward cough. "Thank you."

James scrunched his face before muttering to himself, "Merlin, I'm already regretting this." Then, he faced Elio with a sharp look. "I don't care what you told my sister. You're not marrying her—"

"But—"

"No," James said darkly. "You haven't met my parents, she hasn't met yours. No."

"That sounds more like a 'not yet—'"

"It'll be a 'not at all' if you keep interrupting."

Elio's eyes widened and he nodded his assent. James sighed and rubbed his face. "I really fucking hate this. But you need to spend more time with her. Maybe she'll wise up and drop your ass."

"Or maybe you'll wise up and fall in love with me too," Elio teased before slapping his hand over his mouth and keeping it there. Why did he have to be such a dumbass sometimes? He said through his hand, "Sorry. Not interrupting."

"I will help you spend time with her only with the hopes that she will leave you as soon as possible. But if she does that, it'll be of her own accord. Or my father's." James grinned wickedly. "If there is a 'you' to leave when he's through with you."

Elio nodded but forced himself not to speak even though he felt like he was flying.

"If you don't stick to the rules, you're dead. If you hurt her, you're dead. If you mess around with another girl, you're dead. If I get wind that you're doing unsavory activities with her, you're dead."

So in Elio's mind, that meant unsavory activities—smirk—could continue but that James just couldn't hear about it. He could work with that. It wasn't like he was going to get a pint and discuss his sex life with the bloke.

"If you propose before I and my father allow it, you're dead. If she is home even one minute late, you're dead. If she is feeling generous and allows me to kill you, you're definitely dead. Got it?"

Elio nodded but still kept his hand over his mouth so he didn't say anything dumb. James sighed and pinched his forehead. "You may speak."

When Elio removed his hand, he let out a large breath as if he had been choking himself. In reality, he'd been choking back all the stupid thoughts he had. He forced himself to think before speaking. "What rules do you have?"

That seemed like a sensible question. He was rather proud of himself.

"You may see her at balls. You may spend time with her with an adult present." Well, Elio was an adult so that seemed like an easy enough loophole. James could be such an idiot sometimes—not that Elio wasn't either.

"Can I spend the night?" Annie mumbled sleepily. "I like it when he holds me."

"Bloody hell," James whispered with actual pain in his voice. "Yes. But only if his parents are home because you sure as hell aren't doing it at our estate. And Elio better keep his hands above the waist."

He nodded the whole time. He was fine with keeping his hands above her waist. Because James didn't say that his dick had to follow that rule.

Oh, this was lovely. This was working out so well.

"Go back to sleep, topolina," Elio calmly said with a smile before kissing the hand that he was holding. "We'll be here to chat in the morning."

She nodded. "Jamesy, please don't be unreasonable. Think about you and Lottie." Then, she was back asleep, even through James's groaning. Elio wasn't sure what meant about James and Lottie but whatever it was, it seemed to have work.

"Don't make me regret this."

"I can't promise that." Mainly because James was probably already regretting this.

He rolled his eyes. "Just be good to her. Take care of her."

"I will. That's the one thing I can promise." Elio smiled before holding out his hand. "Friends?"

"Not a chance," James replied. But to his reply, the older boy shook it anyway.

Both boys looked over at the girl lying in the bed. The girl who had somehow managed to bring two enemies together for the first time in twenty-three years.

Annie.

Ahhh, this chapter had action, drama, everything hehe. Hope you liked it. Things will start getting a little more spread out from here, like dinner with Theo & Aria, meeting some people their age, etc. But we still have Mister Tom Riddle hanging over us so the drama is far from over.

Let me know if you have any predictions, any wishes that you want to see, any thoughts, etc. :)))