you're still young, that's your fault
Mattheo was surprised when instead of going to Malfoy Manor for the holidays, he was taken instead to Slytherin Castle. It was a great Gothic building with spires and turrets, obviously built to withstand a siege. He was curious as to how it managed to fall into his father’s hands but reminded himself quickly that his father takes what he wants and apologizes to no one.
Regulus had come to the train station to pick up Mattheo. He hadn't bothered with a glamour, which surprised Mattheo but he assumed Regulus must have met with the Wizengamot to get her his inheritance reinstated.
“Regulus, are you once more the heir to The Most Ancient and Noble House of Black?” he asked as they walked away from the platform.
Reg smiled back at him, straightening his lapels in a boastful manner and smiling smugly, “Of course I did. Black money goes a long way with the Wizangamot. Especially when the minister is trying to ignore the resurgence of Death Eater activity. The man is a ponce.”
Mattheo shook his head laughing and patted Regulus on the back. Despite frequent letters, he missed Regulus’ constant presence. Of course, he’d had Evan with him but it wasn't the same without Reg and his disapproving glares.
“Will I see you during the holiday or are you abandoning me with Papa Voldy?”
Regulus chuckled, “Don’t let him hear you call him that. I’ll be around, you can always visit me at the manor. ”
Mattheo shook his head in amusement before responding, “Oooo the manor, you're all fancy now that you're back in the motherland. No more dorm rooms for you.”
“Of course not, Kreacher still hasn't come by, I'm afraid he might have died while I was gone.” Regulus’ voice lowered to a murmur by the end of his sentence, obviously saddened by the idea that his true caregiver might have perished in his absence.
“The elf?”
Regulus only nodded back to him, grabbing his hand and apparating away to the castle. A sense of foreboding had hovered over Mattheo as soon as they stepped through the doors.
His father was waiting in the entrance hall for him and looked displeased. Not that Mattheo had ever seen him happy before.
“What's this I hear about you befriending a mudblood?” Mattheo thought it unsurprising that he hadn't asked how the school term was. He scoffed, “I didn't realise you had time in your busy schedule of world domination to worry about who I befriend”
“My time was interrupted with news of discord in the Slytherin common room.” His father was scowling now, Mattheo’s face hardened his eyes flashing gold unbeknownst to him.
Mattheo spoke through gritted teeth, “I took care of it.”
“See that you have, I don't want to hear about any other problems on behalf of a filthy mudblood Mattheo.”
He scoffed at his father's tone and presumptuous attitude, he didnt need his father to tell him to take care of it. He’d survived years at Drumstrang, Hogwarts politics was nothing in comparison. “Your father was a muggle, wasn't he? That’s little better than being a mudblood”
“Watch your tone, Mattheo” The almighty Lord Voldemort was visibly tense, his jaw ticked in irritation at Mattheo’s lack of respect.
“Or what? Are you going to crucio me? Oh wait, you've already done that. Is it going to be an avada this time? How do you think hell is this time of year? I hope it's tropical. Want to come with me?”
His father was pulling at his hair in frustration at this point, taking deep breaths. Mattheo wondered what held Voldemort back from punishing him, he’d already been tortured at this point. Mattheo scrutinized his father, knowing that it wasn't out of affection. The only people who might’ve received that were either dead or missing. No, he must want something. If not now then soon.
“What's going on between you and the girl?”
“Oooo are we going to paint our nails and do facial masks? I know a couple of spells for that. Probably help with that snake face you let slip every now and then.”
“You're trying my patience, Mattheo. I'm trying to be civil.”
“You're butting your noseless face in my business is what you're doing”
His father huffed indignantly “I have a nose Mattheo it's right here on my actual face. The snake face is a glamour.”
“No, it's a representation of who you are on the inside projecting on the outside,” Mattheo responded soberly. “I’m not romantically interested in her if that's what you're asking.”
“I’d hope not. Your children will be purebloods.”
“Ugh, you're so tiresome with the blood purity. There's no one else here, don't you get tired of spouting the same banal rhetoric? You can't actually believe in blood supremacy, you're too intelligent for that, at least I thought you were.”
“I believe in power, certain magical abilities are only found in pureblood lines Mattheo, like parseltongue. These abilities lend credence to blood supremacy.”
“Honestly, how much has speaking to snakes helped you? Besides that lovely python you've got roaming the castle of course.”
“Basilisk, in the chamber of secrets at Hogwarts.” His father raised an eyebrow, obviously proud he had a comeback for Mattheo’s snipe.
“No one told me of a chamber,” he responded with a gruff.
Father replied in a singsong voice, “That's because it's a secret.”
“Well, divulge! I’ve got nothing better to do than listen to your tales of the olden days, Grandpa.” Mattheo pulled out a cigarette, lighting it with a snap of his fingers.
“Did you… did you just call me Grandpa?”
“Seriously, you're old enough to be my grandparent, aren't you? Super weird about the age gap between you and mom, by the way. Cradle robber.”
“She was of age when I began courting her.”
Mattheo scoffed, "Barely,”
“Go to your rooms, I can't deal with you anymore this evening. My brain is melting out of my ears from this banal conversation.”
Mattheo left the room, opting to wander the castle, marvelling at the macabre decor and opulence he found there. The library was incredible if you were into that kind of thing. Personally, he preferred paper that could be rolled up and smoked. He wondered how pissed his father would be if he tore a page out of one of Salazar’s journals and used it to roll a fag. Mattheo thought he’d probably have a coronary if he was human, or at least mortal, and didn’t have horcuxes as a failsafe. But as it was, he would probably get crucio’d or some kind of obscure curse placed on him.
___________
Tom turned to the windows facing the gardens, taking deep breaths. He had no doubt Nadine would come back from the grave just to kill him if he harmed their son. Any more than he already has, that is. He had to admit to himself it was quite entertaining at times to converse with someone who wasn't afraid he might kill them.
He was left exasperated by his son more often than not. Despite being a Slytherin Mattheo put none of those self-preservation skills to use when dealing with him. He wondered briefly if he was too easy on the boy but then brushed that thought away.
He felt the wards quiver and allowed entry, he walked to his office, no doubt whichever of his loyal followers was visiting, would probably be waiting outside his study.
“Severus, I’m surprised to see you here already, weren't you to have a meeting this evening with the Order?”
Severus dipped his head, “Yes, my Lord, I left early to check on a development you may find interesting.”
“Hmm, this better be a very interesting development if it caused you to turn away from your task,” he put a bit of accusation into his tone, reminding Severus of his place in this organization.
“I figured you would like to know because of the person it pertains to. It seems as though the Potter and Weasley boy have cut ties, in a sense, with the Granger girl.”
“And why would they do that?” He was curious but knew it probably had to do with her burgeoning friendship with his son.
“They fear her disloyalty, due to her close friendship with Mattheo.”
“What think you of the girl Severus? You are around her the most out of all of us, who knows who she MAY be, except for maybe Evan.”
“Do you intend on informing Mattheo soon my Lord?”
“Why would I do that? For now, I can use her as leverage over the boy. I need all the help I can get. Merlin knows I wasn't meant to be a parent, let alone a single one. Come sit Severus, I wish to have an honest discourse with you. No need to stand in ceremony.”
Severus sat across the desk from him, Tom could tell that he was heavily occluding, and wondered what he was trying to hide from him. Severus took a deep breath before looking at him, and answering his earlier question, “It would be easier to show you, my Lord, I am not a kind man, I do not wish to colour your impression on a girl who may be your child.”
Tom thought on his response for a moment before nodding, he stood and opened the door off of his office which housed the pensive and shelves upon shelves of memories. He didn’t need to tell Severus to come for him to trail into the room, he motioned for the cart full of empty vials waiting impatiently for Severus to finish filling them.
“I will watch the memory of this evening first, and peruse the others at my leisure. We will watch together.”
They plunged into the memory, Tom listened to the interactions but studied the faces of the senior order members. Dumbledore looked slightly concerned at the dismissal of the girl as did Mad-eye, who was sending glares to Dumbledore.
“Why would Dumbledore care about their treatment of the girl Severus, if she's not my daughter?”
“She's the brightest among them and has kept those boys alive by sheer will and brainpower. No doubt Dumbledore means for her to support Potter in his fight against us my Lord.”
“What about Mad-Eye?”
“I cannot presume to know what he was thinking, my Lord.”
The memory changed and they found themselves watching Severus arrive at her home, her dishevelled appearance once again shocking. “This is the girl my son is fighting other Slytherins for? She’s a mess.”
“Yes, well, I never said she was emotionally stable, just that she's intelligent.”
“She should learn some self–preservation instinct, would do her well.”
“I believe so as well, my Lord, though she seems determined to preserve Potter’s life above her own.”
“Unfortunately for her, it will lead to her demise.”
Severus turned ready to leave, but Tom noticed the girl walk back into the room, and rushed to grab her cat from Severus. His eyes widened at the implication of Severus’ movements.
“Ahh you always have had a soft spot for mudbloods haven't you Severus.”
Severus cleared his throat before answering, “Yes, my Lord.”
They came back to the study of Slytherin castle, “I trust that the memories from the vials will be sufficient. Keep an eye on the girl, if something happens to her Mattheo will blame me for it. Her death or injury would serve me no purpose at the moment. Perhaps, I should encourage the friendship with Mattheo, and allow her other friendships to unravel completely. She won't be so eager to help the Potter boy then.”
Severus dipped his head and left the room, wards rippling at his disapparation.
Later that evening Tom perused the memories, watching as the girl was particularly fervent in class. He could see her desperation to prove herself and had felt the same when he was in his first few years at Hogwarts, before he found out he was a Gaunt and the last heir of Salazar Slytherin.
She was book smart, he could admit that, but that didn't make her an asset, not on its own. If he did want to use her at some point she would need to be cultivated, moulded into a soldier for his benefit.