Mattheo
Mattheo Riddle was rocking in his chair like an absolute idiot. Letting a slight chair squeak fill the class. His eyes were wandering in between the many sleeping students and the black board were hundreds of dates and words were written. He sight as he scribbled one of them on his parchment.
Despite the fatigue Professor Binns was giving him, he knew how important History of Magic was if he wanted to continue his Auror studies. At least Snape knew it since it was him who forced him, a few days ago, to register for the course. I refuse that you spend your time loitering on the quidditch pitch Riddle, he said with his awful tone that day. He slapped with one hand the cheek of his friend.
“What was that for?” Theo murmured stroking his face were a small reddish mark was now showing itself.
“You were snoring. And I was bored.”
“Cause human slap each other when they’re bored of course…”
Suddenly, a hand came on Mattheo’s shoulder.
“Not human, just men” Pansy whispered behind them.
She sat down on a wooden chair between the two young men. Mattheo quickly checked if his intervention hadn't been noticed by Professor Binns before murmuring.
“Are you mad? It’s not even your class silly.”
“Calm down Matt, I’m just visiting...Anyways it’s not as if he will notice anything.”
“She’s kinda of right...He’s not even alive.” Laughed Theo.
Mattheo moved his shoulder, leaving Pansy scoffing and calling him names. He tried to take notes of some new annotations but quickly lost interest as Pansy was explaining them Draco’s new love for the Dark Arts.
“The woman is a nightmare but Draco says she’s fun.”
“We wonder why” Laughed Theo.
Mattheo smiled.
“Yeah I guess… But anyways have you met her yet ? Dark Art must be important in your Grade…”
“Course it’s important Pansy, it’s practically the only subject we really have to take…” He checked the front of the class before continuing “But no, not yet. When is our first class though ?”
Theo was looking for his schedule in his stuff as the door of the back of the class opened slightly. From where he was standing, Mattheo could see the gigantic wall of painting that decorated the History of Magic Class. War scenes, Portraits of grand Wizards as well as old Journals were facing him like eyes. A small wooden door had been placed in the middle of it. He was always hearing the complains of the first year on how small that door was. Actually it was very logic for him since the teacher didn’t even used it and walked through the walls. He was a Ghost after all...
“Yep, first class is tomorrow morning at eight...That’s gonna be wild” Said Theo right next to him.
The door opened a slight more, followed by a figure he had never seen. As much as he hated the idea of it, Mattheo Riddle had to take care of his little reputation. Taking care was a big word since he was feared by most of the people who didn’t knew him and adored by half of the others. Fanatics, fools and sometimes friends. But this same reputation lead him to know everyone. And walking in a corridor without having to wave to this person or give a fancy wink to another was no surprises for him. He knew everything about everyone, and everyone from everywhere in this gigantic school of Witchcraft.
Obviously, when the mysterious figure turned out to be a student whose name or face he did not know, he felt his ego turn in his stomach.
“Who the hell is that” He murmured.
Pansy and Theo turned their gaze to the brunette girl who had just entered the class. He recognized her red and yellow sign on her chest as she sat on a chair in an empty table. Another Gryffondor student turned immediately towards her. The three friends were too far away to hear anything they said to each other but the unknown Gryffondor waved to her and mouthed something like “Later” or “After”.
“What did she said?” He asked to Pansy who had moved her chair to hear their conversation.
Apart from the Bell girl and the three of them, no one had noticed her arrival. Too busy sleeping or pretending to listen to the course.
“Weird. Katie Bell said Hi and told her to stop the Professor so he could welcome her but she said I’ll do it after the class” She observed the girl with a furious gaze also.
“She’s new”
“No one is knew to Hogwarts Theo, especially in the sixth year.” Muttered Mattheo as he turned away from the girl who was reading the blackboard.
He already regretted his words as he had just notice her brand new books standing next to her feet. He had heard of few student who arrived late on their first day or even miss the ceremony like those morons of Gryffondors in their third year. But nobody arrived at Hogwarts after years. That was not possible.
The teacher dismissed the class with a wave and few student rushed to the door as others woke up their friends. Mattheo took his book with one hand and the parchment in the other. He walked few steps to the door, waiting for his Slytherin friend as he observed the girl once more. She was now speaking to Binns, her back facing the class. Even Binns is shocked, he said to himself as the Ghost placed his hand on his hips. He wrote some numbers on his blackboard as the brunette rushed to write them down then simply smiled as she face the door again. She was quite small for her grade. Or perhaps it was her long hair that failed to compliment her height. Or her slight face. Or her rosy cheeks. She stopped in front of him suddenly.
“What?” He abruptly ask as he leaned to get closer.
“You’re standing in front of the door.” She said pointing with one finger the corridor behind him.
“Ah. Yes sorry.” He moved with shame as she disappeared.
What an extraordinary guy, said Mattheo to himself pitifully, really interesting and so very friendly… He was quickly followed by his friend next to him as they walked on the marble stone of the left wing.
“So, what’s her name?” Asked Theo.
“Dunno”
“When did she arrived?”
“Dunno”
He was getting tired of their silly questions and started to walk in front of them both. Yet he could feel their curious eyes on his back.
“We didn’t even talked, so please stop the interrogation. I’m sure Draco will have plenty of stuff to tell us about her so we can hate yet another Gryffondor”
In short terms; he had better things to worry about than that arrogant girl. His mind was focused on the Quidditch try out that was going to happen tonight. He always thought that having to “try out” his skills every first week of the year was the dumbest thing ever. If Mattheo Riddle was good, he stayed good. Sadly, he had to put on a little show and follow the instructions of Graham Montague, the captain of the Slytherin team. As the only (and best) keeper the team had since several years, he didn’t worried much except for having to put up with his teammates attitude as always.
The year had just started few days ago, yet the amount of homework that was accumulating frightened him. From the papers about Potions to essays for Charms, he always thought that passing his O.W.L would be the synonym of freedom. Yet another year of tough revision had already started and as Pansy just added, he hadn’t met their new Dark Art teacher.
They quickly arrived to the Great Hall were the grayish windows reflected the bright light of the morning. It was still pretty early but Theo and Matt couldn’t waste any time on their busy schedule.
“Don’t you have class Pansy ?” He asked as they approach the Slytherin table
“Probably” She whispered as she slid onto the bench.
“It’s your O.W.L year you must be careful this time...”
As Matt served himself some carrots from the plate that had just appeared in front of him, Theo paused their conversation and turned his attention to a conversation that happened in front of them.
“You’re both idiots, that’s what I have to say” Said the shrill voice of the Potter boy near the Gryffondor table.
Mattheo couldn’t bring himself to sit back near Theo as the scene continue in front of him. Harry Potter was once again arguing with those dumb faces that Draco called friends. The last time he saw Potter, there were all standing in the Great Hall, mourning the death of Cedric Diggory. The last time he talked to Potter, he was promising him to keep a secret. And as he sat back to eat his pancakes and his carrots, he exchange a cold eye contact with him.