☞ 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 1𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫, 1996

Yesterday began as an innocent trip with my friends, our day spent in the quaint town of Hogsmeade. It ended with yelling, tears and broken appendages.

After the girls and I noticed Cormac's deathly glare, we quickly left and headed back towards the castle as quickly as possible. Despite our excessive speed walking, Cormac was hot in our trail, calling, no, yelling after me. He demanded I give in to him. He demanded that I apologise for rejecting him. He demanded I face the consequences of my actions.

Suddenly, someone else began yelling. "I'm going to fucking kill you!". He said. "Stay the fuck away from Y/n." He said. "Come and face me pussy!" He said. Suddenly I was running towards him. Mattheo had yanked Cormac back, gripping the back of his robe, and threw a heavy-handed punch straight into Cormac's cheek.

Shocked Cormac stumbled a few steps back and turned to see Mattheo standing tall with a deathly glare in his eyes. Cormac's eyes narrowed as he threw himself at Mattheo. As they began to fight, tears began to brim my eyes watching the fury in Mattheo's eyes as he took punch after punch. I watched in fear, as Hermione tried to push me away and lead me back to the castle. I refused.

Soon Cormac was on the floor, and hit after hit Mattheo punched his face in until it was raw with blood. Blaise finally managed to pull the Slytherin off the Gryffindor and mutter words to his friend that were not acknowledged. Quickly I approached Mattheo, asking him to calm down and come back to the castle with me. His eyes locked with mine, and he slowly nodded as his breaths began to even.

As a consequence, roughly 16 hours later, you will find myself, Draco, Blaise and Theodore gathered around a bed in the hospital wing, looking down at our friend who was deep in slumber.

"What an idiot." Blaise tutted while shaking his head. He stood right beside Mattheo's head, looking at his broken nose and bandaged knuckles. Theo sat in a chair beside Blaise, also looking at Mattheo with a frown. Draco and I sat on the other side of Mattheo, next to each other.

"I agree." Draco huffed as he sat back in his chair, his hands rubbing his lower thighs and knees. "He's never one to get into fights... without a very good reason." Draco added with a smirk, his head turning towards me.

I slowly turned my head towards him with a pointed look. "Don't make me feel worse about this, Malfoy." I grumbled while turning back towards Mattheo. He looked so, so peaceful while sleeping, even with dried blood under his nose and staining his bandages. His undereyes were blue and green with bruises from his broken nose. With his eyes closed, I could see his long lashes and the more I stared the more I envied them. "I shouldn't have humiliated Cormac." I sigh as my head falls into my hands, my eyes never leaving Mattheo.

"What! Y/n you must be joking. He deserved what happened, the humiliation and the beating." Theo argued as he waved his hands around, emphasising his point. Draco agreed with him with a hum as he rubbed my upper back in comfort.

"Exactly. So try not to feel guilty over everything, Mattheo chose to fight him. He wouldn't want you feeling so down." Blaise smiled slightly at me, his words easing the pain in my chest slightly. I nodded, accepting their words and tried to let the guilt wash away.

"We'll see you later, Y/n. Blaise and I have to attend Ancient Runes." Malfoy huffed as he and Blaise began to leave. I waved them goodbye and turned back towards Theo, to see him grabbing his bag too.

"I'm going to take a nap." He smiled and bid me goodbye. I waved him off and turned back to the sleeping boy beside me.

I began to contemplate what should I do. Stay here and hope he awakens? Head to the library and read a book to take my mind off things? Find Astoria and spend time with her? I rummaged through my bag, in hopes of finding some form of entertainment, and I found the astronomy book I was reading under the willow tree. The one Mattheo took an interest in.

I smiled at the memory as my hands trailed the cover of the book. Seeing as I have yet to finish the book, I decided to stay put and read. As I flipped through pages and pages of constellations, my eyes landed on my favourite. Lyra. The harp constellation. When I was younger, my father had taught me how to play the harp, to keep myself occupied and hoping it would prevent me from wanting to explore the castle without a guardian to watch me... it did not. Yet, some of my fondest childhood memories are of my father and I playing the harp. My father. I have yet to speak with him about quidditch! I'm sure he'll be delighted when I tell him, I am rather excited to tell him.

As I decided to speak with my father after dinner, I heard a groan from beside me. My eyes quickly left the book sat in my lap, as my eyes watched Mattheo begin to stir awake. Closing my book, and placing it on the bed, beside his legs, I lean forward and reach for his arm.

As my fingers wrapped around his flesh, and took notice that his soft skin was comfortingly warm and his bicep was strangely hard. I forced my mind to focus on anything other than our small skin-to-skin contact, as my eyes turned to focus back on his face. His angelic face.

Mattheo had a small frown on his lips as he mumbled incoherent words. "It's okay, I am right here." I squeezed his upper arm and spoke softly in hopes of calming him, although he could not respond. His eyes fluttered open a moment later, and his hazel eyes which I missed ever so much found mine. I smiled brightly at the boy, who smiled in return.

"You're here." His voice was no louder than a whisper, as his gaze flicked between my two eyes. I nodded and laughed at his response. He looked so shocked to see me here, as though he expected someone else, or perhaps he expected no one.

"Of course I'm here, Mattheo. You fought Cormac to save me, I am forever indebted to you. Being here for you is the least I can do." I responded to the boy, who still looked baffled at me. I stood and walked around towards his side table, where a jug of iced water and an empty glass sat waiting for him. I poured him a cup, and handed him the drink, while taking a seat on the bed, carefully avoiding sitting on top of him.

He thanked me and took a large gulp of water, his head falling back in relief as the water hydrated his coarse mouth. He then leaned over and placed the glass back on the table. Mattheo's eyes found mine again. "I just was not expecting anyone to be here, that is all. Thank you." I waved off his words, to me it sounded ridiculous not to wait for your friend to wake up in the hospital wing if your schedule allows you to do so.

"Again, it's the least I can do. I should be thanking you." I laughed as Mattheo smiled at me. As my laughter slowed, I noticed his eyes flicking back and forth between my eyes and lips. My cheeks turned red at the small gesture.

"It's the least I could do for you." Mattheo replied, with the most honest voice one has ever uttered to me. My chest tightened as my body suddenly became more aware of itself, and him. I hoped to Merlin he truly meant that. I hoped to Merlin he wasn't being dishonest to me. I hoped to Merlin that Mattheo Riddle was feeling the same tightness in his chest as I am feeling in mine.

I quickly laughed off his comment, forming the most sincere laugh I could muster at that moment. "But for Merlin's sake, never do it again!" I lightly hit his arm, pretending to scold Mattheo.

"I cannot promise that. I get protective over people I care about." Mattheo chuckles as his attention is pulled away from me when Madam Pomfrey approaches him to check his wounds and supply him with medicine.

The pair's conversation is drowned out by my inner screaming thoughts. He cares about me. He cares about me. He cares about me. Emphasising a different word in the same sentence changes the entire meaning of said sentence. Yet, no matter how you say it, each way makes my stomach sick with nerves. Does this answer my question, of whether or not he sees me as a friend, or not?

"Miss Snape." Madam Pomfrey spoke to me, breaking me from my thoughts. I nodded in response as my eyes flicked to her in a flash. "It's time you leave now, hunny. You may visit Mr Riddle tomorrow." I nod, a small frown playing on my lips as I grab my bag to leave. "It's good to see you again, Y/n. It's even better to see you here healthy, and not the one bloodied up in the beds as usual." Madam Pomfrey added with a cackle, she was quickly pulled away by another student just after I promised to visit more without needing to be attended to.

"I'll see you later, Mattheo." I smiled as I gave him a little wave goodbye. I slung my bag on my shoulder as I began to walk away.

"Thank you for being here, Y/n." He smiled as I watched him disappear behind a curtain. I felt purely awful leaving him here, in that state, however, I trust that he's in good hands. "Y/n!" He called for me again, making me jump and panic that something bad had happened. I quickly stepped forward, my eyes wild trying to find where he had hurt himself. "You left your book." He slowly pointed towards the astronomy book I had left by his knees.

I smiled down at the book, and then to him. "Keep it for now, Mattheo. Merlin knows how bored you will get while recovering in here." I laughed. I finally took my leave with a grin on my face, as I headed down to the Great Hall for lunch.

As I took a step into the luxurious hall, my eyes landed on my best friend, who sat alone on the Slytherin table. I quickly walked towards her, sliding into the seat opposite her. "Where have you been!" She began to scold me, however, she noticed the unwavering grin on my face, and her eyes widened slightly as a smile rose on her lips. "What's happened? Why are you smiling?"Astoria smirked at my expression.

"Well, I spent the day with Mione, Ginny and Luna yesterday in Hogsmade. While drinking in the Three Broomsticks, I saw Cormac." Astoria's face fell into hatred as her fist tightened around her fork. "Before you get angry, let me finish." I grinned at the girl who nodded in response and allowed me to continue. "We all quickly left as he had a rather unpleasant look on his face, to say the least. He followed after us yelling for me, until Mattheo began to yell after Cormac, threatening him to stay away from me."

Astoria's mouth dropped in shock with her head also dropped in shock. Her eyes were wild with disbelief as I nodded with a smile. "I know right!" I laughed at her expression. "That is not all, when Cormac continued to chase after me despite Mattheo's words. So, Mattheo punched the shit out of him. They are now both recovering in the hospital wing, Cormac is still sleeping while Mattheo woke up about an hour ago."

"I-" Astoria's words seem to get lost in her puzzled mind. Her brows furrow and her mouth shut. Astoria sits back, and her head tilts down and glares at her plate. "Why would he?" Now I looked confused at my friend as I encouraged her to continue. Astoria stood and began to leave the hall, calling me after her to follow. I quickly glanced at the beautifully cooked meal my stomach aches for, and sighed, following after Astoria.

"It's Mattheo Riddle. He is self-centred, incredibly rude, unbelievably angry at anyone that isn't him or his friends, who are just as bad as him!" She rants on with a raised voice as she hurries down towards the Slytherin common room.

"He was... but he has changed, they all have." I smile and try and calm the girl down. She huffed at my response and pulled me aside, now standing in the middle of the dungeons.

"Y/n, sweetie." Astoria frowned with her arms crossed as she spoke to me with a passive-aggressive tone. "They are vile and cruel, so it is better that you stay away. They are not who you think they are." She began to walk away, leaving me the one who was now shocked.

"And how do you know what they are like?" Astoria stopped in her tracks at my words and turned around with an angry look. I stood there with a glare and I tried to stand strong, not wanting to seem weak in the eyes of my best friend.

"Excuse me?" She spat, as she slowly walked back towards me. A shuffle could be heard down the hallway, making Astoria jump as she suddenly looked behind her. I paid no attention to the strange noise and continued.

"You heard me. They are my friends and I will not have you speak ill about them. They have been nothing but kind and welcoming to me, especially this past month when I felt the most alone I've ever felt. You do not know them like I do, your judgment is clouded by their past actions. I've spent one-on-one time with each and every one of those boys and they are just the sweetest, and I know they will despise that I am saying that about them. Despite that, it is the truth." Astoria stood there flabbergasted at my words. Before she could get another word out I stormed away. My feet carried me to the only place I needed to be at this moment. My father's quarters.

My knuckles drummed on the wooden door until I heard a faint deep voice calling me in. I slowly opened the door and found my father sitting on his sofa opposite the fireplace with a cup of tea in hand.

"Hello, dad." I sigh as I take a seat beside him. My head falls back onto the cushions behind me as my body melts into the furniture. I noticed a fruit bowl and decided to take something, as my stomach was paining for something to digest.

"Hello dear, what's on your mind?" His voice droned out with a hit of concern in his tone. I sighed again and turned to look at my father, who was already looking at me with a curious look.

"Cormac began to chase after me while yelling at me in Hogsmeade yesterday." I began, making my father boil with anger. He placed his teacup aggressively against the side table and stood up.

His eyes twitched with rage as he tried to keep a cool composure. "Go on." His voice was stern and deep as he emphasised each syllable. I looked up at him, and continued.

"And Mattheo beat the living daylights out of him for doing so." My words seemed to end my father's rage instantly. Just like Astoria had reacted before, my father's eyes widened with shock and disbelief.

"What?" He asked, his voice still as firm as it was before. His tone suggested as though he misunderstood me, that he couldn't fathom that Mattheo Riddle would do such a thing. To beat up someone for reasons that did not involve him in any way.

"It's true. That's why they are both in the Hospital wing. Cormac has been planning on getting revenge on me for weeks now, brewing bottle after bottle of Amortentia in hopes of poisoning me with it." I continued as my father slowly walked away from me. Despite not being able to see his face, or read his mind, I knew his inner voice was mulling over what Mattheo did.

My voice grew quiet as I realised he was no longer listening. He suddenly turned around, and I sat in anticipation waiting for something. A lecture, a bombshell of questions, a silent disapproving stare. Anything.

"I heard you made the quidditch team?" He turned to me with a smile. "I'm very proud of you, sweetheart." I stared at him in disbelief after completely convincing myself I was in for an hour-long lecture. This is strange. He is strange. Why?