𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚘 𝚁𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚕𝚎'𝚜 𝙿𝙾𝚅

☞ 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟔

"She's finally sleeping." Draco groaned as peace fell over us. The time showed two in the morning when Y/n finally began sleeping peacefully. For the past two hours, the girl had been screaming at the top of her lungs, tears streaking down her eyes. None of us had the foggiest idea of what was happening, how it began, if this was a regular thing or how to calm her down. In the end, I held her hand tight, talking to her, is what calmed her.

I stared down at the girl who had been recking her vocal cords over this dream she was having. Her delicate hand no longer held mine in pure terror, it now just laid limp perfectly cupped in my palm. I fear that her hanging around Potter all this time has left her battling these nightmares of all the traumatic memories she has endured. Potter is the one who's meant to suffer, he's the one at the centre of it all. Y/n is just an innocent bystander who doesn't know any better when choosing her friends.

"What on earth was she dreaming about?" Blaise muttered, astonished by the events that had just transpired. "I mean, I've never heard a more horrific scream, ever." Blaise looked between us, his eyes widened with fear.

Looking around I could tell we were all worried for her. "Let's just go to bed, none of us are in the right mind to properly process and deal with this." I sighed, missing the feeling of her warm hand in mine as her fingers fell from my clutch. The boys agreed, all of us clambering into bed, our minds still running wild.

In the darkness, I could hear heavy, deep and panicked breaths. From the warmth the bed blanketed me in, I could make out a dark figure sitting up in the bed to my left. Y/n. She's awake. I slowly sit up, being bombarded by the chilling air as the duvet falls from my chest.

My eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness as my eyes landed on her once again. Her soft skin was lit by the blue moonlight, her hair messily falling down the sides of her cheeks and ending around her chest. I had to fend off lustrous thoughts that threatened to consume my mind as I asked: "Why are you awake?"

"Nightmare." She tiredly replies, her hands softly rubbing away the sleep in her eyes. "I can't seem to remember what... however my throat hurts." Y/n mumbled, most likely talking to herself. I watched as her hand reached her throat, rubbing the skin hoping to ease the discomfort. I'm surprised she hasn't lost her voice.

I sighed at the look on her face, one of pain. I stood and took up the space beside her, taking her by surprise as her hand flew back to support her. I grabbed the stray gauntlet that had been left by her bedside and used a simple charm to fill it up with cool water. "I figured. You had been screaming for hours not too long ago, we were all so worried." I mumbled to the girl as the cup began to fill.

I stretched the cup out for Y/n to take. "Please, Y/n. Take the cup, you need to drink." She gave me a blank stare, I could tell she was thinking too much about her dream and me informing her about her screaming session at midnight. I hummed, pressing the cup against her plush lips. My thumb found its way to her jaw, using force to pry open her dainty jaw.

The water slowly pooled into her mouth, her eyes looking deeply into mine. My mind began to wonder, thinking about other ways I could get her in this position with the same half-lidded eyes doing not-so-innocent activities. Stop, Mattheo, you're being weird and pathetic. This is not an appropriate time, she needs your help.

"There." I smiled, feeling satisfied that I managed to get her to drink the liquid. Usually Y/n is a rather stubborn girl, her willingly letting me help her like this is an unusual sight. Yet, she's been acting weird all week, I feel as though I've done something to offend her. She doesn't act the same around me as she once did and I fear that I'm losing her. I can't lose her, I'd be left with nothing.

"T-thank you." Y/n stutters on her words, quickly pulling away from me as she faced the room. Fuck. Did I do something? Did I cross a boundary while trying to help her? Was what I did too informal? Before I could help it an angry sigh forced its way through my teeth, my fingers pulling at the roots of my hair.

My eyes widened when Y/n asked me what was wrong. I should be asking her the same thing.

"Nothing. It's just..." I began, not wanting to have this conversation so late at night, but there's no avoiding it now. If I want any chance of keeping her close to me, I must be honest with her. "You seem to be so scared of me lately and I'm worried that I've done something wrong. The last thing I want is to have offended you, because you mean so much to me. You never look me in the eyes anymore, you are always so nervous and stuttering your words, and you are always so tense around me." I let out my frustrations that's been weighing on me since the quidditch match. It felt almost freeing, until the sinking dread of ruining things with my confession set in.

Before my anxious thoughts could snowball into more and more intense thoughts, a chuckle paused my racing mind. She was.. laughing? My eyes narrowed at the girl who was now having a full giggle session beside me, I tried to work out and understand why she found the situation so amusing. After many attempts at explaining herself, Y/n soon forced herself to stop, noticing my stare growing more confused and serious. I could feel the anger rising within. Did she seriously think so little of me that she can't take my feelings seriously?

Y/n quickly apologised, her demeanour snapping into a serious one, something I appreciated. "I'm going to be utterly vulnerable and honest with you, Riddle." She began, my heart tightening as my last name fell so perfectly from between her lips. In this light, she looked so peaceful, soft, and delicate. I wish I could stare at her all day if only she knew how I felt if only I could tell her... if only she felt the same way.

"Don't you dare be a twat about it." Y/n added, shooting me a warning look. My heart raced wondering what she could be ready to share with me. I leaned forward, ready to take whatever the girl had to throw at me. "I can't look you in the eyes because they're too beautiful and kind and I always feel like you can see right into my soul. I tense when I'm around you bws sue I become hyper-aware of my actions as I do not wish to make a fool of myself around you. And I can't seem to face you as when I do my heart becomes an uncontrollable rapidly beating mess." The words slowly poured out of her, her eyes looking down at her lap as she spoke, her fingernails taking the brunt of her attempt to control her nerves.

What. I could feel my heart race as my breaths began to grow heavy. I watched as her eyes shut, her head hanging low. I wasn't expecting her to say this. What does this mean for her? What does this mean for us?

"What I mean to say is, I believe you are the one I smelt in my Amortentia. And I'm telling you all of this as I do not want to lose you.." A small sigh followed her monologue as her hands began to shake. My mind couldn't believe what was happening, Y/n Snape was a blushing mess right in front of me, because of me. This is something I've only dreamt of, since first year this girl has- and she's-

My jaw was on the floor with shock and an overwhelming feeling in my heart that I can only describe as pure euphoria. "What..." is the only thing I could get out, my eyes focused on her blown-out eyes.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything!" Y/n frowned, a panic alighting in her eyes. "I didn't think- I thought if I was go test then you might not hate me because then you would realise that I don't hate you but now I've made you uncomfortable." She rambled on, slowly turning away from me as her hand covered her face.

"No, I'm not uncomfortable!" I quickly get out, knowing and relating to her issues as I was thinking the exact same thing. "Y/n, I'll be honest too... I-" I began to speak, I could feel my cheeks heating up.

"No!" Y/n interrupted. Confused I went to speak, I needed to speak, I needed to say- "Please, say no more. I am not asking for an answer, I understand that you do not feel the same way." She spoke calmly, slumping into herself as her hand reached for her uniform.

What was this girl talking about? I respect that she doesn't want an answer but all I wanted to say was- "Wait, but I-" I tried to speak once again, reaching for her arm in hopes she'd stay and let me say my peace. Y/n pulled her arm away, I sighed, knowing there was no use. Her stubborn side was back at least, and she was doing anything to avoid getting her heart hurt. If only she'd listen to me...

"Seriously Mattheo, please don't say anything. I understand, I just don't want to lose your friendship, that's why I told you, to be honest about who I am and my feelings. I owe you that, transparency." She smiled, however, it didn't reach her cheeks. Transparency. I wish I could be transparent with you, darling. Although I fear you'd hate what you'd find.

"I'll see you later today at dinner, I've got quite a busy day." She laughed, before quickly leaving the room. All I wanted to say was... I smelt you too... in my Amortentia.

Baffled, I take a look around the room and my eyes widen looking at the sight before me. All my friends were awake, and by the looks on their faces, were equally as surprised as me. "Did she just..." Blaise lowly spoke, being the first to break the silence. I nodded, not finding the words to answer him.

"Did she just confess?" Draco yelled, his jaw hanging open as his eyes flicked between me and the door. I nodded again, still having no words.

"Fucking finally!" Theo said, falling back onto his bed. "Why didn't you say anything back, Mattheo!" He grumbled, his eyes glaring at me. My brows furrowed looking at the boy, shocked by his reaction. Is he mentally okay? Why ask that if you just witnessed what had just happened?

"Leave him be, he didn't have the chance. The poor girl was too overwhelmed by what happened. I don't think she's fully grasped what just happened herself." Blaise spoke up, now standing at my side. "But seriously mate, she handed that to you on a silver platter and you sat there like a fucking idiot catching pixies in your mouth!" Blaise fumed at his friend, waving his hands around dramatically.

Despite the dramatics, Blaise had a point behind his crazed words. I just sat there and took what she was saying, listening to her, willingly abiding despite my deep desire to share my own feelings and finally ask her- the point is- I never tend to just agree to what others say without much thought.

As the time neared six in the morning, we began to change and head down to the great hall, the only thing that hadn't changed was the lingering bewilderment that stayed with us since Y/n and I's conversation. Although we chose long ago to move on from the topic, I could tell something about it was bugging their brains.

We take a seat in the Great Hall, the others taking small amounts of various food items spread across the glossy wooden surface. I couldn't bring myself to eat, instead, my eyes scoured the ceiling above, watching the warm glow cascade down on us from the flickering flames of the swaying floating lights.

Suddenly my eyes locked with the same beautiful pair that had me in a chokehold. Y/n entered the hall, her shy smile oh so prominent on her face. I watched as her gaze bounced between the boys and myself. "Do you reckon she knows we know?" Draco muttered in my ear as we broke our gazes, the girl heading towards the Gryffindor table.

"Absolutely not. She didn't look in any of your directions for even a moment. However, she would be an idiot if she didn't suspect that you knew. Considering how smart she is, I think she has an idea that you know by now." I replied, my eyes remaining trained on the back of her head. Draco's lips pulled out into a line, and with a shrug of his shoulder, he went back to eating.

"Oh look at him. It's like he's back in first year the way he can't stop staring." Theo chuckled, my face fell in horror at the absurd comment! Sure I've always found Y/n interesting but I have the ability to not look at her if I want to. I just don't want to.

After the boys finished their food, and since we had nowhere else to go, we headed to defence against the dark arts earlier than usual. Earlier than usual for us to be on time. Walking in and seeing the room half full we realised that if we got to our lessons at the time we were meant to we could choose our seats.

"Finally these seats are free! I've been eyeing them up all year but fucking Dean Thomas has always been here first!" Draco smiles, throwing his stuff onto the back table in the right-hand corner of the classroom. Not having much preference to sit anywhere else, Theo, Blaise and I shrugged and followed suit. Draco and I sat together while Blaise and Theo sat together.

Not a moment later she walks in, smiling alongside Granger. "Here we go again." I hear Draco whisper to the boys behind, however, I paid no attention. As she walked by, our eyes met, and she smiled at me. A smile. So simple, so pure. Yet it was the most satisfyingly beautiful moment as that one smile calmed the raging storm of stress that had been brewing in my mind since this morning.

Throughout the lesson, I noticed that Y/n had been distracted. She never once picked up her quill to take notes or doodle on her parchment, she never once fought back when her father was being a bit too harsh on the Gryffindors, her eyes never left the table in front of her. Granger kept looking back at Potter and Weasley, the trio discussing her behaviour now and then, unknown to what caused it. She didn't tell them?

When Snape dismissed the classroom, I prevented my friends from throwing their shit together and escaping this bore of a classroom as I noticed Y/n and her friends weren't rushing. A moment passed and Y/n and Granger were walking past to leave the room when Theo suddenly threw himself into the isle, pretending to do his laces.

Our eyes met once more, something I could never grow tired of. Her smile lit up my world, I could tell I looked utterly pathetic, and I could tell she was confused by me. She quickly turned to face Theo, who was still in the middle of the aisle. "Move out of the way, Nott." Y/n spoke with a sigh that screamed she was fed up with the boy. Her foot began to impatiently tap on the ground as she waited for him. Draco, Blaise and I exchanged amused glances with each other, eager to see what this man would do.

"Oh, sorry, Y/n, Granger." He winked at Hermione, her cheeks burning a blushing red. "I didn't see you there." He smirked, slowly standing, taking his sweet time to move. Y/n sighed, rolling her eyes and shoving the boy back into his seat.

"Yes, you bloody did." I heard Y/n mutter, a deep annoyance in her voice. Hermione glanced at Theo with a confused expression yet still smiled at him regardless. The four of them soon disappeared, and I took that as our cue to make our move too. However, something prevented that, or rather someone. Snape. Professor Snape, stood beside us, his eyes looking directly at me.

"Here." His voice droaned. "It's from your father." He added, before swiftly exiting the room. My father? I glanced at the boys, whose faces had turned pale. None of them looked like they were just laughing a moment ago, no, they looked like they had been starved of sunlight their entire lives.

"I-" don't know what to say... "We-" need to find a safe place to open this. "No one can hear this..." we cannot head to the dormitory, what if Y/n walks in? We cannot use the party room too many people know about it. "Think, lads. Where can we open this?" I stressed, kicking back a table.

Astronomy Tower, Draco suggested. "Too open, too cold." I replied. Forbidden Forest, Theo suggested. "Too dark, too creepy." I replied. This went on for a while, from the Shrieking Shack to Hagrid's Hut we failed to think of one place that would work.

"How about the Vanishing Room?" Blaise commented, dumbfounding all of us. "You know, the Room of Requirements as Y/n calls it. Where she attended Potter's club before it got disbanded." Blaise unessecarily added. Theo was still in shock that Blaise managed to suggest anything decent, while I mulled the idea over.

"Yes, we know what you mean, Blaise!" Draco scoffed, his arms crossing as he looked at Blaise with small eyes. I bet he's jealous he didn't think of it first. "Well, Riddle? Yes or no to the Vanishing Room?"

"Yes."

Marching along the corridors of the seventh floor, desperately looking for... well we weren't quite sure what we were looking for, but we knew we'd know when we saw it. The only slight clue we had to help us locate the blasted room was when we helped bust Potter's little army with Umbridge. I'm rather relieved that's not a thing anymore.

"I found it! Over here!" I hear Theo's voice echo from down the hall. Turning the corner I find Theo, Draco and Blaise looking at a rather large doorway down an otherwise empty corridor. I walk up towards them, moving between their bodies and standing before the door.

My fingers graze the polished wooden structure, a small tingle lighting inside. With a heavy shove, the door swings open, revealing a cluttered collection of nicknacks, antiques and other oddities. From small coins, lost jewellery, and broken brooms to a pile of wooden chairs that reached the ceiling. This place had it all.

"Stick together. This place looks like a maze. We need to get a decent way in, not too far that we end up spending the rest of our school days here." I speak to the boys, who all nod at my words. Once in agreement, we ventured inward.

Eventually, we found ourselves in a place that resembled a child's fort built out of old furniture. Talk wardrobes and suitcases walled off a corner, with a makeshift archway allowing access through the two walls. The other corners were open, allowing us to see further down into the room.

A few sofas which didn't seem too torn sat up against the walls, with a coffee table beside them. In the other corner was a large item covered in dusty old fabric, which concealed what was underneath. Many lamps, a few candles, pillows and chests littered the area, despite that it didn't take away from the open feeling the makeshift room offered. "Perfect." I muttered, amazed by our luck in finding such a homely place in an otherwise confusing and foreign room.  Blaise and Theo had already made themselves comfortable on the sofa while Draco walked away to further investigate the large covered object.

"What's perfect." A soft voice sounds from behind me, making me jump out of my skin. Draco cries a loud curse word, while Theo jumps to his feet and Blaise lets out a rather pound and high-pitched scream.

"Y/n? What are you doing in here?" My eyes are wide as I slowly slip the letter clutched in my hands up my shirt and secured with the rim of my trousers.

"Well I was just chilling in here until the room began to swirl and change around me, till suddenly I was staring at a pile of brooms that could supply the whole country, muggles included!" I rambled with a small smile as she went a took a seat beside Blaise on one of the sofas.

"Right... and why were you in the room of requirements?" I ask, my arms crossing over my chest. She mentioned she had a busy day, so what's so important that she's in this room, and why is