Mattheo’s mother had never been proud of him— not once. She had always favoured his brother, Thomas, and pushed him into the sidelines.

All throughout his childhood, he lived in Tom‘s shadow. No one knew him for him, rather they knew him as “Tom’s brother” or the “mistake”.— maybe those were the reasons why he had become so distant with his family.

Since being accepted to Hogwarts, Mattheo had never returned home— because his home was there. It felt like the only place where the people surrounded him felt remotely pleased with what he did— but none did the way you did.

Mattheo had tried to push you away at first, not being used to the feeling of pride being put into him. Faith wasn’t something he was familiar with either, and so when you refused to let him push you away… his walls began to crumble.

He craved your presence like it was the air he needed to breathe. He felt right around you, like he’d found his place where he belonged.— you made him feel that way, and he didn’t want to lose you.

He tried to act nonchalant about it whenever he was around you— pretending he didn’t hear your words when you praised him, or brushing you aside when you congratulated him. That was, until he could ignore it no longer.

You were the only person that had ever shown any interest in him, that went deeper than his academic and magical capabilities. You stayed because of who he was on the inside more than anything— and that was what he needed the most.

He needed you.