Moon Dust | Mattheo Riddle

Chapter 3: You don't know me

The bell chimed and all the students started to stagger up from their seats until Snape yelled at them to sit back down.

"Is he always like this?" Nova asked under her breath and Mattheo nodded with a small groan, "it's excruciating."

Snape then motioned toward the door with a nod and the class started to exit in a more calm manner.

Nova smiled at Mattheo and grabbed her books, moving to step beside him as they left the room.

"So I have Herbology class next, care to show me the way?" she mused, and he hummed in consideration, "what's in it for me?"

Nova laughed and squinted her eyes, "the satisfaction of making the new girl feel welcome?" she said.

"Doesn't sound like an even deal..." he teased, then relaxed his shoulders. "That's on the way to my next class anyway, so come on," he breathed, turning to head towards the corridor.

As soon as they stepped outside of the classroom, however, Cedric Diggory suddenly leaned against the wall and raised an eyebrow at Mattheo, looking from the Slytherin boy to Nova suspiciously.

Mattheo's eyes hardened into a frown and he grunted under his breath. "On second thought, Diggory can show you the way... I've got... things I need to do," he grumbled, reaching for his pack of cigarettes and turning away before Nova could retaliate.

She tilted her head as he walked away, watching him with a frown before Cedric linked his arm around hers.

"Riddle ay? he's not the best tour guide," he hummed with an undertone of worry lacing his voice. Nova shrugged and followed Cedric toward the stairs. "Snape sat me next to him, what's his deal anyway with the whole, damaged and broody visage?" she asked.

Cedric stopped walking, peering around before pulling Nova away from the other students. "Don't you recognize the name Riddle?" he whispered and Nova scrunched up her face questionably, "am I supposed to?"

Cedric swallowed nervously and nodded, "yes it's the last name of... he-who-shall-not-be-named... Mattheo is his son."

Nova widened her eyes.

It made sense now why Mattheo had been so closed off. Why he'd assumed she'd want to move desks and was so reluctant to start a conversation with her.

Nova had heard about he-who-shall-not-be-named before. She knew all too well the misery the name caused. Her father didn't talk about the war much, he lost so much and it was a sore subject, so Nova avoided bringing it up.

After a few seconds, Cedric gently touched her arm, pulling her out of her daze.

"Well, yeah okay that's.. wow, but it doesn't mean Mattheo is like that," she whispered.

Cedric shook his head, "he gets in fights all the time, mostly keeps to himself unless he's with his bully of a cousin Draco... and just the way he acts, it's like he's plotting something... just be wary around him."

Nova nodded nonchalantly; Mattheo may have seemed that way, but to her it felt like he wanted to keep people away on purpose, and that's why he acted like that. He was funny, smart, and she was curious to know more about him.

Nova had always been more of a don't judge a book by its cover type of person, anyway.

-

A few classes later, the bell rang, signalling it was time for lunch, Cedric had to leave for another Quidditch practice, but he made sure to show Nova the way to the cafeteria first.

She smiled at the light-haired boy, waving as he turned the corner, then sheepishly walked away from the cafeteria, heading towards her father's office instead.