All The Lies You Tell - MATTHEO RIDDLE

Chapter 26

        A pounding on the door shakes me from my trance. I actually think it's been going on for several minutes, but I'm just now hearing it. I notice I'm wearing the same outfit from yesterday. That's strange. When I stand up off my bed an unusual person stares at me from the other side of the room. I take a step closer towards the person. I lift my hand up to touch my face while the stranger mimics me. I soon realize that the person is me and I'm just looking at my reflection in the mirror. I hadn't recognized myself. My hair is messy from not being brushed and my eyes are oddly puffy and red. I'm not sure what could've caused that. It was possibly the uncontrollable sobbing from last night.

At the sound of another harsh knock at the door, I finally make my way over and open it. I'm greeted with a familiar face this time. The only problem is, I have no interest in seeing them. The person studies me with confusion. They must think my appearance to be just as weird as I do. I don't say a word and neither do they. Inevitably, they speak.

"Hermoine, What's wrong? Are you okay?", they ask.

I look down and almost laugh. Am I okay? What a funny question. Do I not look okay? Why would they ask a question like that.

"I'm fine", I croak.

"You weren't in class this morning. I was worried."

"Well don't be."

With my last statement I close the door in the face of the person. I make sure to turn the small golden lock before I calmly tread back to my spot on the bed. I pull the covers all the way up over my head and curl into a ball with my knees against my chest. The air is warm underneath the thick blanket. Soon all the air will be gone and I'll no longer be able to take a breath. Honestly, I wouldn't mind that one bit.

I didn't like looking into the eyes of Mattheo just then.

I have nothing anymore. No friends, no Mattheo, no where to feel safe. I've lost everything in the span of a day. What am I going to do?

I need to get out of this place. I need to be far, far away from here. I have no where else to go. I can't go home. I can't go see Ron or- Harry. I can go see Harry. I know he'll always let me in even if he doesn't really want to. I hate to intrude and be somewhere I'm not wanted, but I'm desperate. I need to be around people I trust.

***

Knocking on the door of the old cabin was difficult. I didn't want to, but at the same time I felt I had no choice. I waited a few moments before I heard footsteps getting closer. A latch was unlocked and then the door was pulled open. In front of me stood Ginny. Wow, it's been so long since I've seen her.

"Hermoine!", she exclaims, pulling me in for a hug.

"Hey", I mutter while muffled into her shoulder.

"What are you doing here?", she asks, releasing me.

"I- I don't actually know. I just needed a break from Hogwarts, you know?"

She looks at me with sympathy. Great, now I'm being viewed as pathetic. I'm sure Harry has told her all about the depressing letters and my confusing request for the resurrection stone.

"Yeah, of course. Please, come in."

She leads me into the small house. The front door leads straight to an open kitchen with two doorways on either side of the room. I assume one leads to the bedrooms and the other towards the sitting area. It's not a very big home, but I guess Harry is used to living in small spaces.

The landscape of the house is quite nice, though. It sits near an open lake, they have no neighbors, and the amount of privacy makes up for the lack of space in the home. I think I may prefer small houses, actually. I doubt I'd mind living here myself.