Purée

Questions

**Chapter Three: Shadows Within Shadows**

*Vanessa's Perspective*

Mattheo Riddle was nothing like his brother, at least not on the surface. Where Tom was cold, calculating, and distant, Mattheo had an easy charm about him—a mischievous glint in his eyes that betrayed his mother's influence. As I brushed a stray curl from his face, his hand shot out, gripping my arm with surprising strength.

"Just looking at something I need to work with. Cute. Got any girls jumping at you?" I asked, my tone laced with sarcasm, though my curiosity was genuine.

He smirked, pulling his arm away with a confidence that matched his lineage. "Most definitely, now that you're here," he replied, his voice deep but carrying a softness that caught me off guard.

I glanced over my shoulder, catching sight of a group of girls who quickly turned their heads away when they realized I had noticed them. My gaze returned to Mattheo, a sly smile playing on my lips. "My insider is one of your friends. Any other questions?" I asked, my voice taking on a more serious tone.

"Why are you here?" he asked, though the question felt more like it had come from Tom. I could hear the echo of his brother's voice in Mattheo's words, the calculated edge of an interrogation.

"Fresh start," I said simply, leaning back against the wall. "Nobody knows who I am, only what they've heard—which could be true, or could be rumors." I watched his expression carefully, gauging his reaction. Trust was something I needed to earn, and honesty was the quickest way to it.

He nodded, though his eyes remained skeptical. "Mhmm. They all came from Tom. You've messed him up bad."

I blinked, genuinely confused. "He's the one who broke it off."

Mattheo sat back down, his demeanor shifting from curious to contemplative. "Because he listened to me. I didn't think he actually would. The way he spoke about you made me angry and frustrated. That day, when we met, I told him to completely ignore you."

His words were whispered, almost like a confession. The revelation caught me off guard. I hadn't expected Mattheo to have had such an influence on Tom's decisions. "Now all that has changed, hasn't it? Your thoughts on me? Blame my father for turning me into a soft cow," I said, bitterness creeping into my voice as I stood up to leave.

Mattheo was quick to follow, catching up to me in a few strides. "You? Soft? Nothing's changed," he insisted, grabbing my arm again. I spun around to face him, my eyes narrowing.

"You still don't know me, Mattheo. Best if we keep our paths apart." I nodded behind him to where Tom stood, watching us with an unreadable expression. Mattheo glanced over his shoulder, and I took the opportunity to slip away.

"Morning to you too. Be proud—I actually had to go looking for you," I threw over my shoulder as I walked into the Slytherin common room. The space was dimly lit, the flickering light of the fire casting shadows on the stone walls. I spotted my cousin, Regulus, lounging on the couch with a girl beside him.

As I approached, I ran my fingers through his hair from behind, my presence drawing his attention. He tilted his head back to look at me, a smirk on his lips. "Should I be proud, though? Tom's enough trouble, and now you're going after his brother?" he teased, his tone laced with warning.

I circled the couch, coming to stand in front of him, my eyes locking onto his. "As if I am. Where the hell did you get that information from? I literally just arrived and asked Parkinson about a party. I'm in no mood for boys or girls at the minute." My voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

Regulus arched an eyebrow, then turned to the blonde boy beside him—Draco Malfoy. "What do you think? Liar or telling the truth?" Regulus asked, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.