You had been gone for three years—three years in the non-magical world, away from everything you had ever known. But now you were back.

And so was he.

Mattheo stood in the courtyard, talking to Theo and Draco. The moment he turned and saw you, the world seemed to freeze. His smile faltered, his breath caught, and for a heartbeat neither of you moved.

Then, the hesitation melted away. A slow, disbelieving smile stretched across his face, soft and radiant in a way you had only ever dreamed of seeing again.

You didn't think - you just ran, your heart pounding louder than the whispers that had already begun to ripple through the students around you. Mattheo barely had time to react before you crashed into him, your arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

"You're back," he breathed against your hair, voice rough with emotion. His arms locked around your waist, holding you as if he’d never let go again.

"I never stopped missing you," you whispered.

He pulled back just enough to look at you, his eyes searching yours as if to make sure you were real. Then, without warning, he tilted his head down, gently nuzzling his nose against yours, his breath warm against your skin. "Neither did I."

A few feet away, Ron, Hermione, and Harry stood in stunned silence.

"They’ve always been like this, haven’t they?" Ron muttered, eyes wide.

Hermione crossed her arms, shaking her head with a knowing smile. "Oh, absolutely. They just refused to see it."

Harry chuckled. "Guess some things never change."

Mattheo softly kissed your nose. "Don't you dare leave me again," he murmured. His fingers brushed a strand of hair from your face, his nose grazing yours once more, softer this time.

You were home. And so was he.