Moon Dust | Mattheo Riddle

Chapter 5: Not Friends

Nova stared up at the ceiling, mesmerising clouds covered it to help the students fall asleep, but that wasn't the case for the brunette. She'd dozed off now and then, but still, it was a little past three and she was still staring at the ceiling.

Beside her Cedric wriggled around, deep in a dream, she smiled softly at the boy and then leaned onto her side.

A few beds over, Harry Potter was also awake, staring at his hands nervously. Nova squinted her eyes empathetically and cleared her throat to get his attention.

The teachers had been making rounds through the halls and would be back in another twenty minutes or so. If they spotted the pair awake, then it probably wouldn't be good for them, Nova kept an unconscious eye out for the staff as she tried to get the younger boys' attention.

Harry finally turned toward Nova and leaned on his side, trying to hide the frightened eyes behind his glasses.

"Are you okay?" she whispered, and he nodded, but the way he was nervously shuffling about suggested otherwise.

Nova frowned at him, "no you're not," she mouthed and he turned back around to look at the ceiling.

Nova hummed disapproving then glanced around, making sure the coast was clear before she grabbed her sleeping bag and stumbled over to him, stepping past students quickly and almost stamping on Ron's head.

Harry chuckled at her and moved over to give her some space, she slumped down beside him and leaned up to face the younger boy. "Spill it Potter" she pouted playfully, and he laughed at her.

"It's nothing..." he mumbled, and she narrowed her eyes.

"Remember when I said we were cousins?" Nova whispered, and Harry nodded.

"Our parents were friends," he hummed.

Nova shook her head. "It's more than that, well more than you know... we really are family," she said and his head shot toward her. "What do you mean?" he asked, furrowing his brow.

"My dad didn't think I should tell you yet, in case it just upset you but I think it would be good for you to know... I've been wanting to tell you since we met," she started to ramble as he sat up on his elbows with a sorrowful look.

"What?" he said, interrupting her eagerly.

Nova smiled, letting her eyes glow a meekly blue for a slight second.

Harry furrowed his brow but didn't question it further, too desperate to know what she had to tell him.

"Your parents were my godparents," she breathed out and his mouth fell agape slightly. 

"We're family, Harry, maybe not by blood but by spirit... and family always has your back. So tell me what's bothering you? Is it Sirius Black?" she asked, and he nodded.

"He's after me..." Harry gulped.

Nova scouted closer to him and wrapped her hand around his. "He won't get to you... no one's going to allow him to. Family always has your back," she repeated, squeezing his palm.

He smiled back, letting out a nervous breath and pulling his sleeping bag closer.

"So you and Riddle?" he hummed after a few moments and she exhaled loudly. "There's no me and Riddle," she breathed, but he gave her a pointed look.

"I like him... liked him... I sat beside him in potions and we really clicked, I thought maybe we could be friends... I was wrong."

Harry scoffed under his breath in agreement, "Mattheo doesn't really click with anyone, he's just a bully like his cousin... like his father."