Detention
“This is ridiculous,” Draco says, slamming both palms onto the table, “they said my request to have Mattheo transferred was declined.”
Theo’s eyes widen, his mouth is stuffed with food. “Did they say why?” he asks, using a napkin to dry off his mouth.
“Only that if anything, now there’s an even better reason for him to stay, so that we can resolve our issues,” Draco scoffs, sitting himself down on the bench next to Blaise.
“Oh wow,” Enzo mumbles to himself, “did not see that one coming.”
“It’s ridiculous,” Draco says with a frown. Suddenly Theo gets an idea. His face lights up, but his mouth is full so instead of taking time to chew, he downs a whole glass of water. “Charming,” Enzo says, eyes wide and face full of disgust.
“I have a splendid idea.” Theo ignores what Enzo said and begins explaining himself instead. “Now that we’re all already in detention for the rest of the week. How about we play a prank on some of the professors?”
Blaise’s eyes light up. “Wonderful idea Nott! I’m in!”
“But what would we do?” Draco asks, seeming a bit skeptical.
“I heard one of the professors talking about Hagrid bringing in a bunch of Nifflers for the Care of Magical Creatures class,” Theo says, “I bet you they’d be cheeky to let out.”
“But we like Hagrid,” Enzo replies, “I don’t want to prank him.”
“Then we don’t,” Blaise chimes in, “there’s an assignment tomorrow morning for DADA. We could let them into the classroom to take the piss on Professor Snape.”
“That has to be your best idea yet,” Theo smiles, putting his hand up for Blaise to give him a high five.
“Okay so tonight at 12?” Enzo asks, receiving nods from his friends.
“Oh and let’s try not to wake Mattheo,” Theo adds, “the last thing I want is for him to rat us out.”
Draco sighs as a response to Theo, then goes to stand up. “Let’s go lads, we’ve got detention to attend.”
Once the group makes it to the potions classroom, Mattheo is waiting for them by the door. He is leaning his back against the wall and his arms are crossed across his chest.
He doesn’t say anything as they approach. He just heads through the open door and into the classroom.
Yesterday, Mattheo never made it to detention, because he was held back by Dumbledore. “Do you understand what kind of trouble you are in Mr. Riddle?" he’d said, his eyes serious as he stood there glaring at him. “If you are to cause any more trouble at this school, I will have to send you home.”
This set something off inside Mattheo. The absolute last thing he wanted in this world was to return to his home. “Please don’t,” Mattheo pleaded, “you cannot make me go back there.”
Mattheo wasn’t much of a beggar, but when it came to avoiding his father, he would do anything.
“I will not have to, if you follow our rules.” Dumbledore replied, not even the slightest of emotion in his voice.
That day, Mattheo swore to himself that he would not break another rule.
“You will start by cleaning all of the bottles and pots thoroughly,” Professor Snape says as soon as the boys get into a line in front of him, “I doubt you will have time to finish other tasks, so you may begin. I will let you know when you are finished.”
Snape walks to the corner of the room, sitting down at a desk. The boys look at each other in confusion, then begin cleaning.
“Merlin this is vile,” Blaise says, a look of disgust plastered across his face as he empties a bottle full of some brown substance with big lumps in it. “Is this what the first years are doing?” Theo asks, using his fingers to pinch his nose shut as he dramatically moves a bottle of the same substance as in Blaise’s from one place to another.
“I hope so,” Enzo says quietly, “because if this is someone who’s supposed to have more experience, they might want to reconsider their life choices.”
Draco snorts at that comment, his hands using a sponge to clean up a large pot.
Enzo finishes what he’s currently working on, then sees out a large pot on the floor a few feet away. “Uhh Professor?” he asks, “are we supposed to clean that as well?”
Snape barely removes his eyes from the paper he’s reading, instead he just nods.
Enzo sighs loudly, then tries to lift it. It is way heavier than it looks, and just as he’s about to give up, Mattheo comes to help. He grabs one of the handles on the side, looking Enzo in the eyes before nodding to the pot. Enzo grabs the other handle. “1, 2, 3.” they manage to lift it onto one of the tables, before letting go.
“I think I’ll take it from here,” Theo interrupts, shimmering his way in between Enzo and Mattheo. Theo stares at Mattheo until he surrenders and flees to do something else. Theo turns to Enzo who simply shrugs. Together they begin cleaning the pot.
No one knows how long has passed when Snape excuses himself to leave for a moment. He makes it clear that they are to continue with their work while he is gone.
The moment the door closes behind him, Draco lets out a loud sigh. “I cannot take another moment of this.”
“Well then you’re in luck princess,” Theo replies, “you merely have three days left.”
Draco dramatically bangs his head into the table, making his friends laugh. Enzo uses this as a distraction to head over to where Mattheo is seated. He’s sitting down on a chair, a few feet away from the rest of them, cleaning smaller bottles off with a cloth.
“Hey,” Enzo whispers, pulling out a chair to sit opposite of Mattheo who shoots him a small smile before looking down at the table again. “Why’d you help me before?”
Mattheo looks up, finally meeting his eyes. “Don’t want any trouble I suppose.”
“No I get that,” Enzo frantically explains, keeping his voice low, “it’s just, with the fight and all that?”
“Just tell me if you don’t want me to help you again,” Mattheo replies, looking at Enzo through glossy eyes, “and I’ll stop.”
“That’s not what I mean-,” Enzo gets cut off by Theo grabbing his arm. “Enz, we need you to talk about our-,” Theo stops mid sentence, looking oddly at Mattheo before shaking his head and continuing, “our plans.”
Mattheo meets Enzo’s eyes. “What plans?”
Theo eyes Mattheo up and down, his eyebrows raised in surprise. “None of your concern.”
Mattheo lets it go, quickly realizing that he doesn’t want to pick a fight with Theo. Enzo sighs but eventually turns away with Theo, returning to Draco and Blaise.
It is almost midnight when Blaise pokes Draco’s side as he lays asleep in his bed. Blaise signs for Draco to be quiet just as he is about to cuss Blaise out for waking him up. Enzo and Theo are already up and dressed in black, waiting by their beds. Enzo glances at Mattheo’s bed, but he seems to still be asleep.
Once Draco is ready, Blaise motions for them to leave. Every step they take towards the door makes the old floorboards creek. “What are you guys doing?” They all freeze in place, none of them daring to turn around. Mattheo lights a candle, making it easier for him to see the four boys trying to sneak their way to the door.
Mattheo rubs his eyes as Enzo turns around to face him. “Don’t worry about it,” he says, “we’ll be back in 30 minutes.”
Theo elbows Enzo’s side, making him wince. “I told you it was none of your concern, didn’t I?” Theo says, standing up straight, crossing his arms.
Mattheo’s eyes widen and his mouth falls slightly open. “My apologies, but if my dorm mates are sneaking out past curfew, I am going to be concerned,” Mattheo scoffs, “so I guess I will ask you again. What are you doing?”
Lorenzo and Theo look at each other, debating what to say. Theo closes his eyes in a moment of thought, but opens them in shock of what Enzo says next. “Get dressed.”
Before Theo can protest, Draco is already at it, grabbing Enzo’s arm. “What the hell mate?”
“Mattheo is coming with us, but only if he promises not to say anything about what happens tonight.” Enzo explains, looking from his friends to Mattheo who is still sitting on his bed, looking very confused. “Do you promise?”