TORMENT

bad choices.

"We have chosen two prefects -male and female- from 5th year to 7th year. These students have been very hard-working and we believe that they will perform their duties exceptionally well." Dumbledore explained, gazing around at all the students who were tensely speaking to each other inaudibly. Cathy was hoping that she would be chosen.

"From 5th year, Gryffindor. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger."He shouted and they went up to where the teachers were gathered, given a badge each.

"Slytherin, 5th year. Clover Diggory and Mattheo Riddle." He smiled and the two of us looked at each other angrily. We had an interaction on the train ride and it wasn't a good one.

We both walked down the hall together and he whispered, "Have you thought about it?" I knew exactly what he meant and ignored him while Dumbledore gave us the badges. Mattheo looked confused and Cathy seemed pretty jealous. To be honest, all my friends looked somewhat jealous which cause me to rethink everything.

"Yes." I murmured as we neared the table, "I'll join your gang but I get to be the leader."

"Fine." He seethed, "We don't really have leaders but whatever you want."

I walked past my friends and sat down with Draco and Mattheo. Timmy gave me a weird look and I mouthed, 'I'm sorry.'

He turned back around to talk to Cathy then the three of them glared at me. I turned around to Mattheo who had noticed how much my 'old friends' were peering at me. I already hated this a lot and exactly when I thought matters couldn't get any worse, Brandon burst through the entrance of the hall. Very late.

He paced very slowly, taking a few looks at our table and his eyes finally landed on me then Mattheo. I could tell that they loathed each other will a passion. The way their eyes became dark and wicked as they captured each other. Draco was also very interested in looking at the green-eyed boy who I realised was in Slytherin uniform and was walking over to sit with Cathy.

Mattheo grabbed my shoulder to stop me from facing him and I nervously complied, remembering what I had agreed to. I had already planned everything out and the two of us becoming prefects would make this plan of mine much easier.

"What's up with you two?" I questioned Mattheo and he finally quit gawking at Brandon, finding my eyes with a timid look plastered on his features.

"Family problems," Draco clarified for Mattheo. I had completely forgotten he was sitting with us.

"Much more than that," Mattheo grumbled, glancing at Draco who was leaning against his hand. It felt awkward sitting with them and having my friends staring at me the whole time, Brandon too, was keeping his eyes on me and Mattheo as if he was waiting for me to do something.

•

Dinner ended after endless awkward interactions with my new group, well they weren't speaking about death and harming people so it wasn't as bad as I presumed it would be.

Draco had left me and Mattheo alone to go about our prefect duties. It was even awkwarder then before, especially after that unusual dream of mine I didn't feel like immersing in conversation.

We went through a long corridor that seemed to go on forever and Mattheo looked exceptionally bored.

"The prefects' bathrooms are nice." He muttered, "I suppose it's the only decent thing we get out of this, other than being able to roam corridors at any time."

"I don't think I've been in there before," I admitted and silence filled the air once again.

We didn't see anyone walking through the hallways past curfew and it felt like we were there for no reason.