My real enemy / Mattheo Riddle

• JUST A MISTAKE •

"Sir, we were just—"

"Save it, Miss Potter. Twenty points from Slytherin..... Each."

"Each?" I gasped, but he was already turning on his heel.

"Follow me. Now."

We followed in silence, walking behind him like two guilty children. 

When we finally reached the entrance of the Slytherin common room and he swept off down the hall back again without a word, Thomas turned to me and burst into laughter. And I did too. God, I laughed so hard I nearly cried. The kind of laugh that shakes out all your nerves and leaves you breathless. It was like the old days. Before everything.  And for a second, it felt so warm. Like slipping on an old hoodie that still fits perfectly, even if it smells like the past. But then I caught myself. Because deep down, I knew... This wasn't where I was supposed to be. Or maybe it is? 

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Mattheo Riddle

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The halls were quiet now. Too quiet. Most people had gone to bed after the chaos. Some were still out sneaking around the castle or going to their friends dorms, but for the most part, the castle was asleep.

I had come down from the dorms for something simple, my lighter. I'd left it on one of the chairs in the Slytherin common room earlier, and I couldn't sleep without it. It was stupid, really. Just a beat-up silver lighter. But I liked the way the flame clicked. The way it gave my hands something to do when my thoughts ran too fast. Or they way I craved a cigarette right now, after whatever happened with Agnes earlier. I couldn't decide what to do but for me that was a later problem. 

I walked down the cold stone stepps but then I saw them. Agnes and.....him. Thomas and whatever his fucking last name is.

They were standing by the corner of the stone wall near the fireplace, low light flickering across their faces. She was laughing in that quiet. That rare kind of laugh that's so real, she doesn't even try to hide it. Her hand grazed Thomas's arm lightly, and he leaned in just enough that his shoulder touched hers.

I stopped walking. My jaw clenched.

She touched him so carefully, so gentle. That made it o much worse, a part of me wanted to be him, not to be there instead of him but to be him. I wanted whatever that is so wrong with me to not exist, I wanted to be someone my hole life but now... I want that more then ever. 

I didn't realize I was staring until Tomas looked up and met my eyes. His smile faltered for half a second, but not out of guilt. It was more like... smugness.

And that sent my blood boiling.

"What's funny?" I said, my voice low and sharp as I stepped closer.

Agnes turned, startled. Her smile dropped the moment she saw my face. I was pissed, and I knew it showed. My hands were curled into fists inside my sleeves, and I could feel my pulse ticking in my throat.

Thomas didn't even flinch.

"Relax, Riddle," he said coolly, "We were just talking."

"Didn't look like talking." I took another step. Close now. The kind of close where you could see the way someone's jaw flexes when they're holding something back.

He didn't blink. And for a second, I think the whole castle held its breath.

The tension between us was heavy, like the few inches of space could catch fire at any moment. My heart was pounding, but not from fear. From something darker. Jealousy, maybe. Rage. Something primal I couldn't name.