My real enemy / Mattheo Riddle

• TELL ME I'M WRONG AGNES •

Alex pulled away from Draco with an exasperated sigh, her face flushed. "We'll go, we'll go," she said, waving me off as she grabbed Draco's hand.

Draco smirked at me as they passed, and I rolled my eyes. "Have fun," I muttered sarcastically, earning a laugh from Alex as they disappeared out the door.

Finally alone, I kicked off my shoes and changed into something more comfortable. A loose t-shirt and my favorite pair of flared yoga pants. I still wanted to look somewhat presentable, even if I wasn't planning on seeing anyone. After feeding Milo and grabbing a plate of pesto pasta from the Great Hall, I returned to my room and settled in for a quiet evening. The food was comforting, the kind of simple meal that made everything feel a little easier, even if just for a moment. Once I'd brushed my teeth and gotten Milo settled in his bed, I tried to sleep. I really did. But my mind wouldn't shut up. Images of the game, of Mattheo sitting beside Evelyn, of the way his eyes had lingered on me for just a second too long, it was all swirled in my head, refusing to let me rest. With a frustrated sigh, I threw off my blankets and slipped on a pair of shoes. If I wasn't going to sleep, I might as well clear my head.

The Astronomy Tower was quiet, the cool night air wrapping around me as I stepped out onto the stone platform. The sky was clear, stars scattered like diamonds against the velvet black. For the first time in what felt like forever, I was alone. I leaned against the railing, letting the silence settle over me. The weight in my chest began to ease, the tension in my shoulders softening as I stared out at the endless expanse of night. This was what I needed. A moment to breathe, to think, to just exist without the noise of everything else.

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I had been sitting on the Astronomy Tower balcony for a good ten minutes when the rain started, soft at first, barely noticeable. I didn't move, just let it wash over me as I stared into the stars. But it didn't stay soft for long. Within minutes, it turned into a full downpour, the kind of rain that soaked through everything in seconds. My shirt clung to me, my hair dripping water down the sides of my face. I shivered, goosebumps rising on my arms as the cold seeped into my skin.

"This is just perfect," I muttered, pushing myself up to leave.  I turned quickly, heading toward the doorway to get back inside, but I barely took two steps before I smacked right into something. Or rather, someone.

My body froze for a moment as I looked up, my heart skipping a beat when I saw who it was. Mattheo. Of course. I stepped back instinctively, but not before I caught the warmth of his chest against mine. It was solid, and his height made me feel weird in a way that both frustrated and thrilled me. My head barely reached his chest, and the way he loomed over me made my stomach twist in ways I didn't want to think about.

"In a hurry, darling?" he asked, his voice low and teasing, his hands settling on my shoulders to steady me.

I felt my cheeks flush, though I wasn't sure if it was from the rain or the way he was looking at me. His dark eyes scanning my face like he was trying to figure out what I was thinking.

"Yes," I said sharply, trying to step around him. "I would love to get out of the rain."

But of course, he didn't move. Instead, he shifted just enough to block my path again, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Why would you want to do that?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. "The rain's nice."

"Not when you're completely soaked," I shot back, crossing my arms over my chest.

He didn't answer right away. Instead, his gaze dropped, trailing down to where my wet shirt clung to me. I realized too late what he was looking at, the soaked fabric had turned practically transparent, revealing the red lace of my bralette underneath.