The Ghosts Of Our Past [MATTHEO RIDDLE X READER]

N1- The black lake

4:35AM, the first night of 5th year at Hogwarts.

The sky was still pitch black when you awoke, grey clouds gently rolled over one another. You checked the watch that lay next to your bed on the counter to find the time read, 4:35AM. Sighing loudly, you dropped back into your pillow.

Sleep had been escaping you recently. Murmurs of Voldemort rising again were exacerbated by having parents who were known to be affiliated with him many years ago, and the murmurs were getting louder now- impossible to sweep under the rug like you had hoped.

You had barely been back a day, and already noticed classmates had begun to look at you differently, whispering when you and your friends walked down the corridor, eyes narrowing. Not that it bothered you in the beginning, but now people looked at you like you were a danger; and it really pissed you off.

"Parkinson. Pst, Parkinson." You whispered to the bed next to yours, where Pansy was emitting soft snores.

She didn't wake, so you turned over and tried to let sleep take you again. After tossing around and readjusting your pillow more times than you could count, you decided it was unlikely. You stuck your feet into a pair of slippers discarded next to your bed, and then threw on a sweater. Pansy was still dead to the world, and being your only roommate it was unlikely that she would notice your absence. So you quietly slipped out your dorm and headed for the common room.

Once downstairs, you surveyed. Noticing that you were the only person up at this time, which was expected. Feeling a chill rack your body, made you glad of the thick sweater you had put on. Knowing it would be even colder when you got outside, fresh air was good for you. It stopped you feeling so enclosed.

Heading for the exit of the common room, you climb the stairs and push open the heavy dark-wood door. Finding yourself in a main part of the upper level castle. It felt noticeably warmer, your goosebumps eased slightly and the hair on your arms lay a little flatter.

Dumbledore probably makes it colder deliberately. You thought to yourself, wondering why on the occasion you had been in other common rooms, they all radiated the same comfortable warmth- even when the fire had burnt out.

There was a small exit- you had discovered with the help of Fred and George in third year, that lead you through a damp tunnel lined with bricks growing black algae. The tunnel opened up a stones throw from the black lake.

"Ew, gross" you exclaimed, brushing past the narrow walls and coming into contact with the green slime. Still, you carried on until the light of the moon crept into view.

The lake was beautiful this time of night, glistening gently with the cold light. It made a beautiful place to relax. Heading for the jetty, you stared down into the inky water. You plonked down at the end, letting your feet sway over the edge.

A twig snapped from the waters edge, and your head snapped round. Standing at the waters edge not far from you, was someone you knew all too well.

"I didn't think I'd see anyone else here!" You called over the lake, your voice echoed through the air.

"Neither did I" Mattheo replied, he didn't look up as he spoke. Instead he looked into the shore line, kicking loose rocks into the water.

Your head whipped round once again, finding him standing behind you suddenly.

"Someone's gonna catch you one day" you said disapprovingly, raising your eyebrows at his use of apparition without a license.

He smirked at you, and cocked his head to the side in amusement "As if you don't use it, just as much as me." he pointed out

"I have mastered the use of my own two legs, thank-you" you replied in false pomposity. He was right, you used apparition a lot, if not more than he did- until Snape caught you appearing in the forbidden section of the library, and threatening to tell Dumbledore.

The seven of you had taught yourself the technique of apparition in 4th year, some of the attempts being worse than others. Memorably, Pansy had managed to leave her shoes and tights behind. Eventually you had all got the grip of it, and used it stealthily enough in order not to be caught without a licence.

Mattheo lowered himself down next to you, and swung his legs over the edge of the peer. He looked troubled, more that usual. Being the Dark Lords son had never been easy for him, but it was getting nothing but worse in the resent months- after Harry's supposed encounter in the Tri-Wizard maze.

"What are you thinking about" you asked him softly, as he flipped open a crinkled packet of cigarettes. He offered you one, and as always you excepted.

He light yours before his own, holding up the scratched zippo lighter long enough for the end of the cigarette to begin to brown, and create a small orange ember. You inhale deeply and feel the thick smoke in your lungs.

"You wouldn't like to know what I'm thinking about." he huffed in response, as he exhaled a stream of off-white smoke.

"You can talk to me, you know." you took his free hand in yours, and squeezed it tightly, while offering him a tight lipped smile. He returned it, his eyes softening slightly at the remark.

You leaned your head to rest gently on his shoulder, he tensed up for a second- and then relaxed into your touch. You noticed his breathing slowed slightly, calm washing over him.

"Shall we watch the sun rise?" He moved slightly to meet your eyes. You nodded in response. It had been a long standing agreement you and Mattheo had started with one another to watch the sunrise when ever you struggled to sleep- sometimes much to your annoyance he would even wake you up.

"I'd love too"