The Dark Promise// Theodore Nott

Ch 54

///Mattheo Riddle///

"This is all your fault. She's dead because of you!" Mattheo screamed, holding his wand to his chest as he wept by his mother's body. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. He was going to be the hero. He was going to save his mother and everyone else. He felt like a failure. A villain. "Tsk Tsk Tsk. There you go again with your delusions. Blaming everyone else for your downfalls Mattheo. You chose to kill your mother. You decided your little friends were more important. I had nothing to do with it." Voldemort was trying to keep his composure, but his body was failing him. Even as he talked he could feel his energy slipping away from him. He was hanging on by a thread. His knees gave way and he fell to the ground, now only a few feet where Mattheo sat next to his mother's body.

Mattheo wiped the tears from his face, trying to calm his beating heart. What his father said was indeed true. Before he killed his mother, he thought of what was most important to him. He had not only dedicated himself to the order, but his friends. It was something he was going to have to live with the rest of his life, but it was a decision he felt he had to make. He took a very long, good look at his father. Black tar was seeping from his mouth and holes where his ears once were. He wondered what he was like when he was more human than monster. Did he ever have feelings of remorse? Did he ever feel as bad as he now did?

Voldemort's breathing became shallow. He held his wand to his side, but seemed to not have enough strength to hold it up. This was more than the eating curse taking hold. The Hogwarts team must have destroyed the painting. "You don't have long. Once they kill the Nagini, it will be over. I'll be all that's left of you. Just a disappointment." He spoke with venom in his voice, telling him exactly what he wanted to say for weeks. A weak laugh escaped his father. Did he really think this was fucking funny?

"You think they will see you as a hero after this? That they will welcome you with open arms? You will always be MY son. They will label you a monster. Your life will be riddled with disease and torment. Always bowing down to wizards less competent than you." He spoke slowly but with intent. Mattheo shook his head, the tears in his eyes now dried up. It was the first time his father said anything positive about him. Sure, He did just admit he was competent, but it was something other than a failure.  "I don't see people for what they can do or what they can give. I see them as real people with real fucking feelings. It's something you will never have. You didn't even love my mother, did you? After all she did for you?"

A more hefty laugh came from the dying man. It was like he truly found this funny, not trying to put on an act to make Mattheo feel small. "You think she was the first woman to follow me blindly? Women are weak and driven by their emotions. Bella was incredibly easy. Especially after I gave her a baby. You were the cement to hold her dedication intact while I was asleep." Mattheo sloped his shoulders. All his life his mother went on and on about how amazing his father was when he was awake. He was a proud, powerful man who wanted to keep the purebloods safe. She told of how much they were in love and he would do anything for her. She didn't even know she was a puppet. She truly believed he loved her. That was the worst part.

Mattheo didn't say anything back, A long silence fell between them. The only sound was his father's wheezing. He felt very strange. He was no longer angry, but incredibly sad. A knot that sat in his stomach tightened, like his body was trying to tell him something, but he couldn't form the words in his brain. He knew it was stupid, but he secretly wished that as his father lay dying, he would realize his sins and repent. Even Darth Vader was remorseful on his deathbed, the evilest villain in all of movie history. He had wished to get that closure like Luke did. He reminded himself this was not a movie; this was his life. Life was never truly like it was in the movies.

Their silence was interrupted by thick heavy boots coming down the hallways, stopping at the doorframe. Mattheo looked up, finding a large death eater standing at the door. The man slipped his mask off, unveiling himself to be Gregory Goyle. The boy was red in the face and looked to be relieved to find his master. "My lord! I've found you! Come with me I'll take you to the safe house like we planned."