Lord Prince
MATTHEO
The look that Snape gave Mattheo when he entered potions the next morning told him that they would not in fact be fine. The man had been a constant presence in Mattheo's life, even before Hogwarts and during the summers, but there was no favoritism offered despite Mattheo's bloodline.
The class went smoothly, if you don't count 3 potions blowing up. Mattheo stayed true to his promise to Blaise that he wouldn't do anything to get suspended, so he didn't complete his daily ritual of blowing up Weasley's potion.
Enzo still blew up Finnegan's though, and the purple goo covering the Gryffindor's face was enough to make Mattheo forget about Snape's warning glares.
That is, until the bell rang and Snape placed a hand on Mattheo's shoulder when he started to get up.
"We need to talk," Snape said.
Mattheo only sighed and sat back down, waiting for the rest of the students to file out of the classroom.
Snape sat down on the desk in front of him and stared at him for a moment, while Mattheo only looked down at his hands.
No way is this man going to use legilimency on me. No fucking way.
Snape seemed to give up, pinching his nose and saying "Your father is agitated."
"I'll be sure to warn the muggle prime minister to brace for an attack," Mattheo retorted.
"Mattheo, you have not responded to his letter," Snape said, ignoring his comment.
"When an owlery opens up at Azkaban I'll be sure to send one." Mattheo said.
"5 points from Slytherin for your cheek. Send the letter to Riddle Manor." Snape said.
"Why? It was sent from Bellatrix. I'll be sure to thank her for my birthday card once she gets out of Azkaban" Mattheo responded, staring at his nails as he picked them, already bored of the conversation.
"You must respond to your father's wish regarding the trial of Crouch." Snape demanded.
"Yeah and like I told you, the letter was from my mother" Mattheo retorted.
"The wish came from your father, you must respond or he will send someone." Snape said, softly this time.
"Yeah well I can't exactly respond 'Fuck no dad' now can I?" Mattheo said, finally looking up at the man.
"You do not intend on fulfilling your father's wish?" Snape asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
"No, I don't. Got the message? Or do you need a clearer one for him." Mattheo glared at the man.
"Mattheo... you must reconsider. Your father is a powerful man. You will be voting regardless of your response I give him today." Snape said, again with the soft voice that Mattheo fucking hated.
"Yeah, what's he gonna do Snape? Ask you to kidnap me? Children cannot leave the castle without a guardian, and there is no fucking way I am leaving this castle with Tiberius Nott or Lucius Malfoy. He can't make me," Mattheo hated how childish he sounded but he was done with this fucking conversation.
"He will find a way, you know he will. Crouch cannot go to Azkaban," Snape insisted.
"Then I wish him the best of luck," Mattheo said, moving to grab his bag.
"You know he does love you. You are his son. He cannot bear to lose you in this castle under the enemy where he cannot reach you" Snape said, pleading for Mattheo to change his mind.
"I would be careful what you say, Lord Prince. Some delicate information can reach the... unfavorable parties... of this castle." Mattheo said, smirking as he delivered the threat to tell Dumbledore Snape's biggest secret.
There was an accusation over the summer that Snape, the spy for the Dark Lord posing as a spy for Dumbledore, was really a spy for Dumbledore posing as a spy for the Dark Lord posing as a spy for Dumbledore. Confusing, isn't it?
To prove his innocence, Snape shared with the Dark Lord his true name and magic as Lord Prince. Mattheo and Enzo had happened to be eavesdropping, and heard the whole shebang.
Snape just looked at him with a glare that Mattheo very rarely saw from the man, so he took that as his cue to leave.
"Mattheo Thomas Black Riddle I am not done talking to you" Snape shouted after him, but Mattheo escaped out of the room and into a corridor where he quickly put on the invisibility cloak in his bag that he had stolen from Potter their third year, making his way past the shouting professor.
-
"So, just to get this straight...you blackmailed our head of house and your father's potioneer." Astoria said incredulously.
"Pretty much" Mattheo responded, laying back on Blaise's bed after he recounted the conversation to his friends in the boys' dorm.
"That's some cunt girl shit I'm so proud of you" Pansy said, giving Mattheo a high-five.
"I'll get a bezoar ready in case Snape poisons you in your sleep," Blaise said, sighing and placing his head in his hands.
"Your dad's going to be pissed as hell," Draco said.
"Yeah and what's he going to do about it? It's not like he can send a howler to Mattheo." Enzo said.
"He can send my father. That would pretty much achieve the same thing" Draco said.
They all laughed, because they all knew that if Lucius took a swim in a cranberry field he would be a living, breathing howler.
As if Lucius heard them, there was a loud clanging on the door.
Blaise got up to open it, and the Malfoy owl Ulysses swept through the door and dropped a letter between all of them on the bed.
"Draco... how the fuck did your dad get an owl into a dorm room?" Theo asked.
"Probably Snape," Astoria said, picking up the letter and tearing it open.
"Do you think Snape met with our parents yet?" Pansy asked.
"It's almost midnight, so probably" Blaise responded after glancing at his watch.
Astoria began to read the owl out loud, mimicking Lucius' high pitched voice and making them laugh, only mildly softening the blow of what she was about to read.
"Dear children,
This new rebellious behavior is not acceptable, and evidently this has not been made clear enough to you. I have arranged with Professor Snape for Lord Nott and I to visit you. All of your parents are upset with the disloyalty that has become apparent. Your positions as heirs to the Sacred Twenty-Eight families require proper behavior, and this defiance sacrifices the reputation of our families. I advise you all to reconsider recent actions of defiance. We will visit tomorrow morning. Do not miss the meeting.
Lucius Malfoy"
Astoria finished reading, balling up the letter in her fist and throwing it in the fire.
"Well fuck," Enzo was the first to speak, looking up at Mattheo.
"That felt very targeted against you Mattheo, do you think they didn't like what you did?" Pansy asked, adding some humor into the room.
"I don't know Pansy, do you think ghosting his parents would be considered defiance?" Theo said, playing along.
"Nah, no way." Mattheo responded.
One of the 7th year Carrow twins walked up into the dorm then, "You received Lord Malfoy's letter?"
"Yeah, what's it to you?" Enzo said, shooting him a glare.
"I was asked to witness that it was read in entirety" Carrow responded.
"Well it's on fire now so let's just say your job's done," Pansy retorted.
"You are to be in Professor Snape's office tomorrow at 09:00." The elder boy sighed.
"Aye-Aye Sergeant, now get the fuck out" Enzo responded.
"Insulting the Head Boy is not keeping your head low, Enz," Blaise said once the Head Boy left.
"Shit, that dunce got Head Boy? Damn," Enzo said in disbelief.
"Just to be clear, we are not in fact going to the Death Eater Recruitment/Kidnapping of Mattheo meeting right?" Pansy said.
"We all have an arithmetic exam tomorrow at 9:30 and once we start no one is allowed to leave for 3 hours so we just have to get into that." Draco said.
"Never thought I would actually look forward to an arithmetic exam," Enzo groaned.
"I'll help you review," Blaise sighed.
Mattheo just continued staring at the ceiling. Why was this his life?
-
9 came and went as the 7 Slytherins hid out in the Room of Requirement, skipping 1st period. Theo had suggested they play Poker, which was never a good idea with them.
Enzo and Mattheo had gotten into a fist fight 7 minutes in, and Blaise had to break it up with the threat that he'd make them both fold.
It was 09:27 and the arithmetic classroom was just down the corridor. Astoria kept watch on the Marauders Map that Mattheo had also conveniently stolen from Potter, and watched as Professor Snape, Filch, Lucius, and Tiberius ran around the castle.
They all finally got up when no one was in their wing, and arrived at the class exactly on time.
Mattheo smirked at his brother Enzo as they picked up their quills and began their exam, the door locking behind them.
As Mattheo finished the second question he heard a commotion in the hallway, but Professor Septima only cast a silencing charm on the door.
Ha, if they want to wait three hours they can feel fucking free, there were no exceptions to the Hogwarts testing policy.
-
Mattheo and the others very slowly packed their bags.
Very slowly.
Mattheo could see a furious Snape out in the hall, but hey the test was worth it. It prolonged the meeting 3 hours. 3 hours was a long, precious time to be free of Snape, Lucius, and Tiberius.
"Ah, shall we then" Lucius said as they exited the room.
Snape gripped Enzo's shoulder with his left hand and Mattheo with his right, and they shared a look of disdain as the Death Eaters led them to Snape's dungeon bat office.
Snape sat with his hands folded, patiently waiting for one of them to speak. None of them were going to speak, that is until Enzo decided to open his fat mouth.
"I think for the first time in my years at Hogwarts I passed an arithmetic exam" Enzo said nonchalantly.
Mattheo glanced over at Blaise, who looked to be in extreme pain at Enzo's words.
If the three Death Eaters weren't visibly pissed before they most definitely were now.
"17th rule in the book of Young Wizard and Witch Proper Conduct?" Snape said, breaking the silence that followed Enzo's comment.
None of them answered.
Aunt Narcissa had made Mattheo, Theo, Draco, and Enzo read that book a long time ago, and they hadn't actually read it. Instead, they made the pages into enchanted paper planes.
"No one? I see. Rule number 17 is to maintain appointments" Snape said.
"Ah, we knew that one right guys?" Enzo said.
"Yeah, thats why we just had to go to our arithmetic exam-" Mattheo began.
"To maintain our appointment" Pansy said, finishing Mattheo's sentence.
"We're quite good at following rule number 17" Enzo added.
The adults did not speak for a while.
Lucius began slowly, "If you would like to remain at the castle tonight, I suggest you cease talking and listen to what we are about to tell you."
"The Dark Lord is placing further... securities... to protect his assets within Hogwarts" Tiberius said, staring down Mattheo as he said it. I just love being referred to as an asset, really helps my self-esteem.
Mattheo continued staring at Tiberius as he spoke, wishing he could throw a knife in his eyeball. Right or left eye? Hmmm, most definitely the right.
"Any further decisions to neglect our letters will result in privileges taken away, ensured by the new role that will be placed in the school. The first privilege to be taken automatically is Hogsmeade visits, and beyond that the seven of you will be removed from the quidditch team."
They all went to protest at that, but Snape held up a hand.
"This is only if further defiance is detected. Respond to the letters and follow orders and you may maintain your privileges," Snape said.
Privileges my ass. We all fucking worked for our spots on the quidditch team. They'll be nothing without us. Plus, Mattheo thinks he might kill himself without quidditch. His friends and quidditch were the only thing that kept him going. I mean, he was fucking captain. His dad can't just make him quit.
Except, as he sat there, he realized his dad totally could. He's got his head of house with a fucking Dark Mark and sending in some new person to get Mattheo in line. Mattheo was usually an optimist in life-or-death situations. You know, for the plot. But this plot was going down fast.
"Mattheo," Tiberius said, interrupting his thoughts.
"What?" Mattheo asked, his voice cracking as he said it.
"You are going home with Enzo on the 25th of this month to see your mother when she comes home, and you will place your votes in Crouch's trial as Lord Black Apparent on the 27th," Tiberius said.
"No I'm fucking not," Mattheo muttered under his breath. He hated this. He hated how they referred to it as his mom coming come. She wasn't just 'coming home'. She was breaking out of a fucking prison. His psycho insane mother.
"What was that?" Lucius asked in a dangerous tone.
But Mattheo wasn't scared of him. None of these men could hurt him, not without his father's permission. And his dad would never allow them to, not out of love, but because it would look bad to his ranks if it got out that his own son wasn't following orders.
"I am Lord Black Apparent and I am not placing my votes in favor of Barty Crouch Jr on the 27th of this month at his Wizengamot trial. Got the picture?" Mattheo said.
"You are Lord Black Apparent and you are going home on the 25th of this month to see your parents. We will see then if you remain your stance. Are we clear?" Lucius said.
"Crystal" Mattheo responded.
"When is the Dark Lord's new... securities you called it... coming in?" Blaise asked.
"The Minister of Magic approved the new placement this morning while you were in your exam, and it will be here in-" Lucius checked his watch- "an hour and 27 minutes." Lucius said.
"Are there any further questions" Snape asked.
"Yeah, when's Bellatrix getting out?" Enzo asked.
"Your mother will be out soon, the exact timing is none of your concern. I believe we are finished here. Tiberius?" Lucius said, motioning to the door.
The two adults walked out while they all continued to sit in front of Snape.
"Your actions today reflected poorly on me. You may believe that you can continue your stunts as you have in the past, but the addition to Hogwarts will ensure no possibility of this. If you would like to preserve your positions within Hogwarts I suggest that you approach this year with caution. Speaking to you from the professor who has taught you for the past 6 years, and not the Lord who associates with your parents, I must advise that you reconsider your plan. Whatever you are planning before you reach the age of maturity, it would be achieved much easier if you went along with your parents' sentiments. After all, a defiant child is watched closer than an obedient one. Now get to class," Snape said, waving his hand dismissively.
Out in the hall, they all looked at each other in disbelief.
"Did Snape just give us advice on getting away from our parents?" Draco asked incredulously.
"Bro I think so," Theo replied.
Enzo just sunk down on the wall to the floor, saying "Guys I cannot see fucking Bellatrix."
"She won't be as focused on you, after all, her darling Mattheo isn't listening to his mommy" Astoria teased, ruffling his hair where he sat down next to Enzo.
"Can you believe the fucking quidditch?" Draco said, kicking the wall.
"Yeah, I can. Suck any joy out of our lives and we'll be moldable shells of humans" Theo said.
"Wow, that was almost poetic Theo" Astoria said.
"Thanks amore, you know I'm a Shakespeare at heart" Theo said.
"They can't make me vote, right?" Mattheo said.
"Nah mate. Unless they imperiused you, which they might, or if they somehow blackmailed you into doing it. Like would you vote if they threatened no quidditch?" Blaise said.
"I don't know. I just don't want them to have this power over me. It's so fucking annoying" Mattheo said, shaking his head against his knee.
"Yeah we think this is a lot, wait until we get the Dark Mark" Blaise said.
"Blaise! We aren't getting it, stop saying that" Astoria said, smacking him on the back of the head.
"Someone's gotta be realistic over here, my mom has got all of Europe under her finger. You think I can cross a border and she doesn't find out? No way in hell." Blaise sighed.
"Guys just shut up. Shut the fuck up. We'll be fine" Pansy said.
"We'll be fine," Theo echoed.