War, Love, and Riddle //Mattheo Riddle x OC

Chapter Two - Insufferable

By the end of her first day, Emma Potter knew two things for certain: Hogwarts' dungeons smelled perpetually of damp stone, and Mattheo Riddle was the most insufferable boy alive. He was in every single class with her, always a step behind or beside, always smirking like he knew something she didn't. "Prophecy" fell from his mouth with the same ease as his sharpest hexes. It drove her mad. Worse, it made her notice him.

While Emma tried to scrape the weight of his presence off her skin, Pansy Parkinson was orchestrating chaos with glee. She had the boys running errands like well-trained minions, though none of them were particularly well-behaved.

The common room doors slammed open.

"The fun has arrived!" Enzo bellowed, staggering in with two cases of beer. Blaise followed, balancing a massive speaker in one hand, switch board in the other. Theo and Mattheo muscled in twin kegs, grunting theatrically. Draco sauntered last, carrying nothing but bags of crisps and cups as though that counted for equal labor.

Pansy was halfway up a ladder, stringing coils of green fairy-lights that pulsed like serpents in the gloom. She glanced down at the pile of drinks, the mess of boys, the laughter bouncing off stone walls and for once, her chest warmed. This was her family: ridiculous, reckless, loud. The world saw heirs of dark families; she saw the only people who had ever stood by her without flinching.

"Do you think Emma will like it?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

Mattheo flopped onto the couch, boots on the table. Enzo immediately leapt into his lap, planted a kiss on his cheek, and cackled when Mattheo shoved him off.

"Of course she'll love it," Theo said, grinning at Pansy. Her heart gave an inconvenient flutter, and she turned sharply to untangle another string of lights, cheeks heating.

"I just... want it perfect," she muttered.

"Is the Golden Trio invited?" Mattheo's voice cut across the room, casual as a knife.

Everyone froze.

"Harry's her brother," he added, rolling a shoulder like it was obvious.

"Oh, Merlin...... should I have invited them?" For once, panic edged Pansy's tone. She never panicked.

"Don't invite them."

The words floated from the staircase. Heads turned in unison.

Emma descended with steady steps, her black hair catching the green glow. Mattheo's eyes found her instantly, pinning her like a spell.

"Wow," she said, gaze sweeping the room. "This looks... amazing."

Pansy preened, pride sparking in her chest.

"You don't want your brother here?" Enzo asked, surprised.

Emma's smile thinned. She already knew she didn't. She wanted one night of her own. No judgment. No pedestal. No Harry watching her like she might break wrong and ruin everything.

"If my brother comes, I won't enjoy myself." Her eyes flicked deliberately to Mattheo. "He's not exactly thrilled with my choice in friends."

Mattheo's smirk deepened. He'd felt Potter's eyes on him all day searing, angry, uncomprehending. And still, the idiot hadn't noticed how much his sister bristled in his presence. Hell, even Myrtle could see Emma was suffocating under Harry's shadow.

"Then we won't invite them," Theo said simply.

Emma exhaled, shoulders easing. "Thanks. I know it's... complicated. But it means something."

Enzo draped an arm over her shoulder. "You're one of us now, Potter. We've got you."

Pansy clapped sharply. "Perfect! Now, boys, out. Ten minutes to look presentable. Emma, come on we're going to make you shine."