[CHAPTER 38]

───🦋･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.🦋───

───🦋･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.🦋───

TITLE : "YOU'RE INSUFFERABLE"

ELLIE WAS NEVER THE type to wake up early, but when the first rays of the sun peeked through the Slytherin dungeon window, she stirred, blinking blearily. She shifted slightly, only to feel a familiar warmth beside her.

Mattheo.

Her heart fluttered as she took in the sight of him. He was sprawled beside her on the couch in the Slytherin common room , still fast asleep.

His Quidditch jumper was slightly rumpled, his usually messy hair even more disheveled. One of his arms was tucked beneath his head, the other draped protectively over her waist, as if even in sleep, he was making sure she wouldn't leave.

Ellie smiled, warmth blooming in her chest.

Last night, after the celebration for their latest Quidditch victory, the two of them had snuck away from the noise, claiming the couch by the fireplace.

They must have dozed off somewhere between talking about everything and nothing at all—whispering jokes, reminiscing about their fake-dating disaster, and tracing absentminded patterns on each other's arms.

She reached up, running a hand through his unruly hair, her fingers combing gently through the strands. He hummed softly but didn't wake.

"You're staring," his voice was rough with sleep, his lips curling into a lazy smile.

Ellie huffed, cheeks warming. "I am not."

He finally cracked one eye open, looking at her with that knowing smirk. "You totally were."

She tried to roll away, but his arm tightened around her waist, pulling her closer until she was practically nose-to-nose with him.

"You're impossible," she muttered, hiding her face against his chest.

Mattheo chuckled, the sound rumbling through his body. "And yet, you love me."

Ellie paused for a second before tilting her face up to meet his gaze. "I do," she admitted softly.

His smirk faded, replaced by something softer, something real. His fingers traced gentle circles against the small of her back. "Good," he murmured, voice barely above a whisper. "Because I'm absolutely mad about you."

Ellie exhaled a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "Then do something about it," she teased.

Mattheo didn't hesitate. He leaned down, pressing a kiss to her forehead first, then her nose, before finally capturing her lips in the softest, slowest kiss.

It wasn't rushed, wasn't desperate—just them, savoring the moment, completely wrapped in each other.

Ellie sighed happily as she pulled away, resting her forehead against his. "You taste like sleep."

Mattheo laughed. "You taste like sugar quills."

"You steal them from me all the time," she pointed out.

"Only because you like feeding me," he shot back, grinning.

She rolled her eyes but didn't move away. "You're insufferable."

"And yet," Mattheo whispered, brushing his lips against hers again, "you love me."

She smiled against his mouth. "I do."

And that morning, tangled together in warmth and whispers, nothing else mattered.

The Slytherin common room was quiet for once, with most of their housemates either asleep or elsewhere in the castle.

The fireplace crackled softly, casting flickering golden light across the red and gold décor. Ellie sat curled up in an armchair near the fire, a book resting on her lap, though she hadn't turned a page in the last ten minutes.

Her mind was somewhere else—on the boy currently stretched out on the couch across from her, looking half-asleep.

Mattheo had his head resting against the back of the couch, his arm draped lazily over his stomach, his Quidditch sweater slightly oversized and hanging loosely off his frame.

Ellie smirked to herself before closing her book with a soft thud. The sound made Mattheo crack one eye open.

"Something on your mind, love?" he murmured, his voice deep and slightly raspy from sleep.

Ellie simply shrugged before standing up and walking over to him. Mattheo raised a brow as she approached, his lips curving into a lazy smirk. "Gonna read me a bedtime story?"

Instead of answering, she surprised him by climbing into his lap.

Mattheo let out a startled chuckle, but his arms instinctively wrapped around her, steadying her as she settled herself comfortably. "Oh? This is new," he mused, his hands automatically finding their way to her waist.

Ellie sighed, pressing her forehead against his. "I just wanted to be close to you."

Something in Mattheo softened at that. He tilted his head, his nose brushing against hers. "You know you can always do this, right?" he whispered, his voice laced with warmth.

She hummed in response, her hands trailing up his chest before she wrapped her arms around his neck. Mattheo grinned, leaning back slightly so he could look at her properly. "Comfy?"

Ellie gave a slow nod before resting her head against his shoulder. "Mhm."

He chuckled, rubbing slow circles against her back. "You're ridiculous."

"And you love it."

Mattheo pressed a kiss against her temple. "I do."

For a while, they just sat there—bodies tangled together, warmth surrounding them like a cocoon. Mattheo's fingers lazily traced patterns along her spine, his other hand resting against her thigh. Ellie could hear the steady beat of his heart beneath her cheek, strong and comforting.

"Mattheo?" she mumbled after a while.

"Hm?"

"I like it here," she murmured sleepily.

He smiled, his grip tightening slightly. "Where? My lap?"

She smacked his chest lightly, making him laugh, but she didn't deny it. "With you," she clarified instead.

Mattheo's laughter faded into something softer. He tipped her chin up, pressing a feather-light kiss against her lips before pulling her even closer. "Good," he whispered against her mouth. "Because I'm never letting you go."

Ellie sighed contentedly, burying herself further into his embrace. And in that moment, in his arms, everything was perfect.

───🦋･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.🦋───