harry's creature inheritance

panic

Trigger warning!!!
This chapter will contain a panic attack.
If you don't like it or don't want to read it, don't.

Enrico POV

I'm walking through the hallway on my way to transfiguration when I hear someone shouting. It's Ronald Prewitt, and he sounds mad. Angry, even.

I stop and turn around. He's still shouting, and it's scaring me. I start to panic. This is how Uncle Vernon acted when I did something bad.

Suddenly, a thousand thoughts swirl in my mind. What if I'm the reason he's mad? What did I do wrong? Is he going to hit me?

I can't breathe, I can't move, I can't see. I try to suck in air, but I can't. The room is spinning, my face and hands feel numb. The next thing I know, Luna is in front of me.

Luna POV

I'm walking to transfiguration when I see Ronald and Ric. Ron is shouting, screaming. Ric is hyperventilating. I summon my patronus, a hare, and send it to Ric's mates. I shout at Ron, and he runs off. I run to Ric and stand in front of him. I show him my hands and speak in a soft, whispered tone.

"Ric, it's okay. You're okay. Vernon's not here. You're safe. It's only me here. Your mates are coming. Breathe for me, bro, you're okay."

I can see his breathing start to get slightly better.

"Ric, I need you to tell me four things you can see."

"The door, you, the floor, and the window."

"That's really good, I'm so proud of you. Can you tell me three things you can touch?"

"Your arm, my bag, my head."

"You're doing so well, keep going. Two things you can hear?"

"Your voice, and people running."

"Good. Now one thing you can smell?"

"My mates."

Just then, his mates come running over. Art and Luc run to Ric, and Sev comes to talk to me.

"What happened?"

"I was walking to transfiguration and heard screaming and shouting. It was Ronald Prewitt. He was yelling at Ric; I don't know what about. Ric was hyperventilating—it looked like it had been happening for a while because he was rocking back and forth. I yelled at Ron, and he ran off. I don't know where he went, my priority was Ric. I ran to him and managed to calm him down with 4-3-2-1. He's still struggling to breathe, though."

"Thank you, Luna. 100 points to Ravenclaw."

I notice Ric looks calmer, cuddled up to Luc and Art.

Ric POV

As Luna finishes 4-3-2-1 with me, my mates come running in. Sev starts talking to Luna, and Luc and Art run to me.

"Baby, you okay? What happened?" Art asks.

"I don't know. Ron started yelling, I couldn't breathe. Next thing I know, Luna's here and does 4-3-2-1 with me, then you're here."

"We are so proud of you, baby. You did so well. We love you so much."

"Thank you. I love you too."

They pull me into a hug, which I gladly accept. My breathing is slower now, my heart still pounding but starting to calm. Art's arms wrap around me tightly, like they're holding all my worries away. Luc's soft fingers gently stroke my hair, grounding me even more.

Sev kneels down beside us, his voice low and steady. "You did amazing, Ric. That was really tough, but you handled it so well. We're here, and we're not going anywhere."

I lean into their warmth, feeling tears prick behind my eyes—not from fear anymore, but relief. Relief that I'm not alone. Relief that I have mates who understand and support me, no matter what.

Art wipes a tear from my cheek and whispers, "You're so strong, baby. We're so proud of you. And you don't have to face anything alone. We're a team."

I nod against their chest, my hands clutching their robes. "Thank you... for not leaving me. For helping me breathe."

Luc smiles softly. "We'll keep helping you, every step of the way. Whenever you feel like this again, just call us, okay? We'll always come."

Sev presses a gentle kiss to my forehead. "You're safe here, Ric. We love you."

I breathe in their scent—warm, familiar, safe—and for the first time in a while, I believe it. I'm safe. I'm loved. And I'll get through this.

edited - 5/7/2025