All The Lies You Tell - MATTHEO RIDDLE

Chapter 16

I feel my heart beat in my throat as I run full speed down the once bustling, now barren corridors. No sound is heard but the echo of my feet slapping the stone. My breathing picks up as I start to lose stamina and grow tired. "No no no", I mutter. I continue to sprint down the halls when I finally see my destination. All that's left for me to do is to round the corner. I go to execute my plan when suddenly as I am turning I feel the rubber bottoms of my flats start to glide against the floor. My feet slip out from under me as I go tumbling against the hard ground. The books I was once holding fly open and slam onto the floor. A squeal slips out my throat when my hip bone makes hard contact with the stone.

Sliding my torso up by my elbows I use my right hand to massage the injured part of my side. Lifting up my uniform I see a red spot already forming and I know it's going to be purple in the morning. I groan loudly at the same time I see a figure appear on the opposite side of the hall to me. It's Mcgonagall.

My heart sinks. This is heavily embarrassing. I was running because I was late to class. It's unlike me, I know, but due to my bad dreams and everything else happening to me recently, my schedule has been interrupted. I'm not behind on any classes. I've just been late a few times. Well, more than a few. I didn't want to be late again seeing as this is on my record.

I can only imagine what Mcgonagall is thinking right now. She stopped walking as soon as she saw me. A puzzled look clouds her face. I must look insane. I'm laying collapsed on the floor gripping my hip as all of my items lay scattered around me.

"Hermoine? Are you quite alright dear?", Mcgonagall says, finally speaking up and walking closer.

I quickly start to gather myself. I use my palms to stand up and pick up my books. I dust off the top of my Dark Arts textbook.

"Yes, I'm alright", I say sheepishly. "I just wasn't looking where I was going and took a tumble on my way to class."

It looks like she's trying not to laugh. "Oh of course. This rushing wouldn't have anything to do with your stacked amount of tardies, would it?"

I freeze.

Mcgonagall simply smiles. "Well it's actually nice that I've caught you, even if it was under unfortunate conditions. I've been meaning to talk to you."

"What's wrong?"

"It's about the Riddle boy."

"Oh?", any potential words get caught in my throat.

She nods. "Im not sure what you've done, Hermoine, but he's really improved. His grades have raised tremendously and he hasn't gotten into any trouble for weeks. Excellent work Hermoine. I've made sure the ministry has heard of this."

I blush at her praise. "Oh it's nothing I assure you."

"But the ministry does still have concerns... They wanted me to issue a real caretaker. Someone who's main focus is on Mattheo alone and not have any interruptions. They just want to make sure he doesn't cause any trouble. Plus they were hoping their new watch-person could keep an eye on the other war crimi- the others involved in the war as well. But I made sure they knew how good you were doing and that was unnecessary. They agreed on no extra eyes as long as you spent more time with Mattheo."

That's a lot to take in... They want more restrictions on Mattheo. He would hate that if he found out. Besides I'm doing just fine. I'm doing great, actually. I need to take this opportunity to prove to the ministry how much of an asset I am. I plan to be working there in less than a year. But what did they mean by they want me to spend more time with Mattheo? I already spend the majority of my time with him anyway. I would prefer to cut down on my hours with him if possible.