Descent - Mattheo Riddle

Chapter twenty-six

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, I've endured far worse. Considering we're not trudging through mountainous terrain, perilous forests, or dense undergrowth, these benches feel almost luxurious," he said, leaning back demonstratively. Despite my irritation, I couldn't argue with his logic.

As I shifted once again, Mattheo watched me intently before patting the seat next to him. "Come here. You can lean on me," he offered.

I eyed him warily. "Excuse me?"

Another soft laugh escaped his lips. "Oh, come on. We've been through too much together for this to be a problem. Besides, you didn't seem too averse when we shared a bed or when you threw yourself on me on the couch at your parents' house." He grinned, his reasoning annoyingly sound.

Reluctantly, I stood, stretched, and then settled onto the bench beside him. He immediately draped an arm around me, and I leaned against him, propping my legs up on the bench. Surprisingly, it was much more comfortable, and his warmth was soothing in the chilly night.

"You see? I can make you feel really good, sweetheart," Mattheo whispered against my hair, sending a shiver down my spine. There was an undeniable allure to him - the way he spoke, the occasional charm, and that side of him that could be so caring and gentle. The way he could be so protective. Apart from that, he was incredibly handsome. But whenever I felt like I was somehow getting closer to him, my thoughts pushed me away from him again. He had held me captive, tortured me, and hurt me deeply.

I knew he was making a serious effort to atone for his past actions, and he had begun that journey the moment he freed me from the dungeon. Since then, he had shown in various ways that he was no longer the man I had known in the cold, dim, neglected dungeons of Hogwarts.

He strove to better himself in every way, while I endeavored to allow him closer. We were now fighting together, and perhaps, together, we could actually make a difference and save the world from destruction. However, our partnership needed to be more than just functional. Yet, I couldn't help but wonder: would getting too close weaken us? Would caring for each other divert our focus from the greater goal?

But then, I realized it was probably too late for such concerns, especially the latter. A sigh escaped me, a sense of having gotten myself into quite a predicament settling over me.

"What are you thinking about?" Mattheo's words snapped me out of my thoughts, and I turned my head slightly to look at him.

"Nothing in particular," I replied, before my gaze slid to my hands. I should change the subject. "Isn't it strange that the station and the train, of all places, aren't monitored at all?"

Mattheo considered my words for a moment. "I don't know. My father sometimes has some inconsistent ways of doing things. Even though he has gained a lot of followers over the years, he doesn't have an infinite number of Death Eaters to sacrifice for such tasks. Some have already fallen, and many have been transferred abroad to secure more followers in other countries, you know, for the greater good. They've probably also moved more troops to the mountains because that's where we were last spotted, and the rest might now be more focused on controlling the villages in the area, like Hogsmeade. Perhaps some are now guarding your parents' land, or the Forbidden Forest. Or they might be investigating remote huts like the ones we were in. It's possible that some were initially guarding the station and train, but then they thought we wouldn't take that route anymore."

I pondered his words and they made sense. Mattheo knew the ways of his father and the Death Eaters better than anyone. Yet, I couldn't shake the strange feeling that lingered in the back of my mind. It felt as if we had walked right into a trap.

"I don't know," I said slowly. "It still seems strange to me... like we've walked right into a trap."

Mattheo's grip on me tightened, pulling me closer in a protective gesture. "We're smarter than them, Lucia," he said, his voice resolute. "We'll be more careful. They won't catch us so easily. They won't get you."