Peter felt Mandy's grip tighten around him, felt her fingertips digging into his jacket. A torrent of muffled words burst out of her mouth in sobs. He tried to understand exactly what she was saying, but did it matter? He knew they were words of grief. He could hear the heartbreak in her voice.
Scared. Peter squeezed his eyes closed and rubbed his hand down her hair. Merlin, she's too young for this. Suddenly, Mandy felt like a little girl in his arms, a witch barely out of Hogwarts. There were times when he never once noticed the ten year difference in their ages. Mandy had always been so mature, so knowledgeable. But now, crying in his arms, she seemed young and helpless. And he felt old and an uncontrollable need to comfort her.
Peter held her, saying nothing, but letting her cry for as long as she needed.