My real enemy / Mattheo Riddle

• WHAT BOUNDARIES •

"We're practically siblings," Draco quipped without looking up. The room was stifling, filled with the scent of old parchment and whatever cologne Mattheo was wearing a heady, woodsy mix that made my thoughts wander in dangerous directions. I loved it, it was one of the first thing I noticed when I met him. He smells really fucking good.

Draco finally stood up, sighing dramatically. "I'll check the library. Stay here and don't touch anything," he warned, pointing at me.

"Wouldn't dream of it," I replied dryly, watching as he put on his shoes and disappeared out the door. The second he was gone, the atmosphere in the room shifted. It was subtle but undeniable. I suddenly became hyperaware of every movement, every breath. The quiet was almost suffocating. Mattheo shut his book with a soft thud, tossing it onto the bedside table. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, his gaze locking onto mine.

"Looks like it's just us," he said, his voice low and teasing.

I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the flutter in my chest. "Don't make this weird"

He chuckled, his laughter feels warm, as he leaned back on his hands. "You're the one standing in my room, Potter."

I opened my mouth to respond but found myself at a loss for words. He had this infuriating way of disarming me with just a look, and I hated how much power he seemed to have over me in these moments. Shaking my head, I turned away and busied myself by inspecting the clutter on Draco's desk. It was a pathetic attempt to seem unaffected, and Mattheo saw right through it.

"Looking for something?" he asked, amusement coloring his tone.

"Yeah" I spat back. "A way out of this conversation"

He laughed again, but this time, it was softer then last time, almost more intimate. I risked a glance over my shoulder and immediately regretted it. He was closer now, standing a few steps away, his dark eyes studying me with an intensity that made my breath catch.

"You're a terrible liar," he said.

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way my pulse was racing. "What do you want, Mattheo?"

"Right now?" He tilted his head, a crooked grin spreading across his face. "I want to know why you're so nervous."

"I'm not nervous," I lied, taking a small step back.

He followed, closing the distance between us with maddening ease. His presence was overwhelming, the heat radiating off him making it impossible to think straight.

"You sure about that?" he asked, his voice dropping to a whisper.

I opened my mouth to reply, but the words caught in my throat. He was so close now, close enough that I could see the faint scar on his jawline and the way his lashes cast shadows over his cheekbones. For a moment, the world seemed to tilt. The air between us crackled with tension, and I found myself leaning in, not to far. I feel weirdly drawn to him, not something I want to be.

But just as we stood there with this tension, the door swung open, and Draco strode back in, oblivious to what he'd just interrupted.

"Found it!" he announced triumphantly, holding up his journal.

I jerked back, my face flaming as I turned away, pretending to inspect the pile of books on the desk. Mattheo let out a low chuckle, and when I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, he was smirking, as if he'd enjoyed every second of my discomfort.

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Mattheo Riddle

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Watching Agnes squirm under my gaze was the highlight of my day. There was something endlessly fascinating about the way she tried to hide her being nervous, her quick comebacks doing little to hide the pink that was spreading across her cheeks whenever I got too close. When Draco burst back into the room, the moment was ruined, but I couldn't bring myself to be annoyed. Not entirely, anyway. The look on Agnes's face, half embarrassment, half frustration, was priceless.

"Glad to see your detective work paid off," I said dryly, gesturing to the journal in Draco's hand.

He shot me a suspicious look, then glanced between me and Agnes, his brows furrowing slightly. "What did I miss?"

"Nothing," Agnes said quickly, her voice a little too bright.

"Absolutely nothing," I echoed, biting back a grin as I leaned against the bedpost.

Draco didn't seem convinced, but he let it go, muttering something about needing to double check his notes for tomorrow's exam. Agnes stayed silent, her focus fixed on the floor as she shuffled toward the door.

"I should get going," she said, her tone clipped.

"Leaving so soon?" I asked, unable to resist teasing her one last time.

She gave me a glare over her shoulder, but I caught the flicker of a smile before she turned away completely. Draco barely looked up from his journal as she left, but I couldn't stop myself from watching her go, the echo of her footsteps lingering long after the door closed behind her.

"What's your deal with her?" Draco asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

I glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"You've been acting weird around her," he said, narrowing his eyes. "I don't care what you do, but if you mess with her and Reg finds out, it's going to be both mine and you're problem."

I scoffed, though his words struck a nerve. "Relax, Malfoy. I'm not messing with her.'"

He didn't look convinced, but he didn't push the issue, returning his attention to his notes. I leaned back against the bedpost, my mind drifting back to the way Agnes had looked at me earlier, her eyes full of something I couldn't quite name. Whatever it was, it was enough to keep me up that night, replaying the moment over and over again in my head.

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