Moon Dust | Mattheo Riddle

Chapter 22: Goblet of Fire

Nova sat at her desk, chewing on the sleeve of her jumper absentmindedly as the new defence against the dark arts professor got set up at the front of the class.

His back was to them all, standing slightly staggered as he reached into a large black box. He still had that strangely familiar scent, one Nova couldn't quite place. It was almost mystical as if there was an enchanted air about him, something not quite right. But Nymphadora had always said he had a few screws loose, that's what she liked the best about him and of course, Nova trusted her mother's word.

The one-eyed professor leaned over himself, subtly trying to take a sip from some sort of flask before pulling out a tailless whip-scorpion nestled in a small plastic crate. Nova smiled slightly through the midst of her nervous chewing, watching as the critter stretched out its strange legs and rested back onto its stomach.

"You're going to chew holes into that thing," Cedric whispered, pulling out a book from his robes. The brunette glanced over at him and dropped her sleeve onto the table, pulling her lip to the side.

He smiled at her sweetly and dipped his quill in the inkwell. "I'll be fine Nove, it's just a competition, plus there are loads of kids in our year putting their names in the goblet, there's no guarantee I'll get chosen."

She studied him for a second, watching the lingering enthusiasm behind his eyes at the mere mention of the tournament. "But you want to be chosen, that's what worries me," she whispered, frowning.

Cedric chuckled under his breath and reached a hand across the table, linking it with hers. Her eyes widened a little in surprise, but settled into a fond look as he pressed the pad of his thumb against her palm. "I appreciate your concern, I do. But you're right I want to do this, it doesn't have to be a bad thing. If I do get to compete, I'd love for you to be there, cheering me on... You're the one I'd look for in the crowd after all."

Her frown deepened and he dipped his head forward, smiling pleadingly. Nova sighed and glanced down at her book, flicking it open with her free hand.

"Of course I'd be there, I just don't want to see you get hurt," she whispered.

"I wouldn't. I'm tougher than I look," he murmured back, looking down at their joined hands with a charming grin.

The sound of a door drifting across the cold tiled floor pulled Nova's attention and she glanced up, shaking her head with a soft look as Mattheo stepped into the classroom, brushing ash from his robes.

"You're late," Moody hummed, eyeing the Slytherin boy sharply as he ventured into the classroom, sticking his hands in his pockets. "Yeah, staircase jammed, couple casualties though I seemed to get out okay, unfortunately," Mattheo replied sarcastically, barely even looking at the professor.

Before he could cross the threshold into the classroom, however, Moody struck out with a pointer stick, slamming it against the Weasley twin's desk at the front who stopped the arm wrestle they were in the middle of and peered up wildly as Mattheo stopped in his track.

The dark-haired boy swivelled on the spot to face the teacher and raised an eyebrow, looking down at the cane expectantly, waiting for him to move it.

"What's your name boy?" Moody growled, stepping forward with a hiss.

Nova pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, watching the scene unfold with a reluctant expression.

"Wallace, though I prefer if you'd call me Waldo, and then I can fuck off for a few hours while you try to find me," the boy grinned in response, taking a little bow as the twins broke out into a fit of laughter.

The cane came down a second time out, cutting the laughter off with a sour look on the old professor's face. He turned toward Mattheo and pointed the cane toward him, jabbing him in the chest lightly with the pointed end, though Nova had noticed the flash of amusement that crossed over his features ever so briefly before it straightened out into a thin line.