Aura || Mattheo x OC

(3)

I wake up to Lisa peering over at me like I'm some crazy duck. But maybe it's because I actually do look like one. I had fallen asleep during one of our long night talks, and she seemed to take advantage of it. She had used her quill and ink to draw a nice moustache over my face.

"Lisa!" I whine as she falls to the floor laughing. I can't help but laugh a little myself, snickering as I walk to the bathroom. I can hear her laughter echoing behind me as I open the tap, waiting for the running water to become warm before lowering my face towards the sink. I thoroughly wash the ink off my face, rubbing my skin hardly.

Once she collects herself, she moves towards the bathroom. Leaning against the door frame, I can see her thinking. "Soooooo," Lisa says from behind me. Whenever she exaggerates that word, I know she's going to bring up Harry. In the reflection, I can see her smirk. My eyebrows raise as I grab the towel and dry my face.

"What?" I ask, even if I already know what she's going to talk about. She must be curious about yesterday.

"You and Harry," she says, as if our names belong with each other. "What did he say? Did you guys kiss? Did you--"

I shut the door on her face, interrupting her mid-sentence. She laughs from behind it, pounding on the door. "Are you shy? That means you really did do something?"

"I need to pee, Lisa!" I call out. I can hear her moment of realization, causing a grin to spread across my lips. Man, I really missed this. I'm so glad I'm here again, even if it's only for one more year.

"First day, and I'm already dreading the classes," Lisa says, sighing softly as she grabbed her bag. I watch her stuff her books in it, mimicking her action. For my elective subjects, I chose Defence Against The Dark Arts (DADA,) potions and the history of magic. Ever since last year, I felt as if I needed to improve my defensive skills. Sure, I survived, but next time, I want to survive better.

Which is kind of stupid, because how can you survive better?

With no scars, maybe.

I've always been intrigued by potions. It's always been one of my favourite classes. Lisa took that as an elective too, and we're now both heading towards the classroom. It's fascinating how such vast and different things, like unicorn hair and a frog's eye, can make a potion that might be of use. In year six, I remember how Professor Slughorn introduced the love potion Amortentia. Of course, when I took a quick sniff, I smelt Harry's fragrance: freshly laundered robes, and a hint of his sweet shampoo.

History is also interesting. How we came here, how things built up to create the present. To most, history would be the most boring subject. Lisa absolutely despises it. Hermione shares my interest in it, though. I guess people would label it as a 'nerd' subject, but I find no harm or bad thing about wanting to know more. Heck, being called a nerd should be a compliment. Maybe I feel like that is because I might be a nerd myself, but being called a nerd is another way of being labelled smart.

We leave our dorm. I close the door behind me, adjusting my tie slightly. We head towards the great hall for some breakfast. I tip my head in greeting when I see Hannah. We talk for a little, and I find out that Hannah has literally chosen none of the electives I did. She's always been a animal person, I suppose, so she chose a subject related to that. She also chose muggle studies, which made me feel nice. Included, in a way. I am a muggle-born, so I already know how the muggle world runs. My parents... My former parents, I suppose, had two different jobs. My mother was a nurse, while my father was a teacher. If I didn't become a witch, I think I would have become a teacher too. I've always enjoyed the idea of teaching others, explaining concepts they don't know to them.  

After a few more minutes, we bid goodbye to Hannah and start heading towards class. As we're walking down the hallway,  Malfoy struts towards us. Maybe it's just Lisa's extremely good luck, or that I'm cursed to be tormented by him forever. Nott follows after him like some smug pet dog.

"Ah, will you look at that? My favourite blood traitor and mudblood," Malfoy mocks, a snarky smirk on his face. If only I could punch his face inwards... I mean, he already looks like that. There's no need to do it again. His face would look like a bean. Perhaps I should turn him into a ferret again, like in our fourth year, and then trap him in a cramped cage.

I try to ignore him and dodge his insults, but he's really keen on getting on my nerves. We swerve around them, but that doesn't deter him.

"Shut your mouth," Lisa says to him as they follow us.

"Make me," Malfoy cooed from behind.

I freeze when I see Riddle approaching us from the front. He takes long strides, his hands pocketed. He's smirking, but he's not looking at me. I sigh in relief when he walks past me, but the relief doesn't stick for too long.

"Hey, man," he says, shaking Malfoy's hand. Ferret boy shakes it back, before he gestures to Lisa and I with a tip of his head.

"That's them. The blood traitor, with silly comebacks and awful taste in friends."

"And the mudblood, who can't come up with an insult at all," Nott adds, smacking his friend's back. Malfoy snickers at his inaccurate description. I almost scoff. He's just trying to provoke me. I'm not going to fall for his goading. I can come up with insults.

Riddle looks at me, that same mischievous twinkle in his brown eyes, before glancing at Lisa. "A pleasure to meet you two."

I thought that there would never be something as insufferable as Draco Lucius Malfoy; but I came to that conclusion before I met Mattheo Riddle. And for some reason, while his words show no sign of impoliteness, his tone and that expression ticks me off.

"I wish I could say likewise," I respond, giving the three boys a cold look. Malfoy seemed impressed by my show of anger, but like I said, amused nonetheless.

Riddle raises his hands in mock surrender. People passing us gives him a weird look. He doesn't see to care. Of course he wouldn't. He's got pride, and an ego. Maybe even bigger than Malfoy's. Something we can only ever find out through a direct one-on-one competition between two. I don't know if that's the best idea, since I'm sure I'd suffocate from it. If egos were something tangible, oh god...

"Calm down, princess," Riddle sniggers. Nott and Malfoy hiss with laughter behind him. "Don't take everything so seriously. It's harmless fun."

I don't even want to reply. I turn on my heel, and Lisa follows me as we pace towards our classroom. They follow us, and the idea of Riddle smirking at the back of my head just kills me. Why?

"Relax," he calls out. "The classroom ain't running away. You can catch up."

"Can you stop?" I snap. The three boys look at me. "I don't want to talk to you. What are you even doing here? Why did Professor McGonagall let you enter this school? You're Voldemort's son!" If I had the time, I'd flinch. I've never said his name before. I was always too afraid to. And now, in the fit of anger, I have. It's satisfying in some sense, to see them understand just how serious I am. I do not want to be around Riddle. I'll never admit it, but I am scared of him. And I don't want another reason to be scared. I want peace. A peaceful year, my last at Hogwarts.

"You don't deserve a chance," I continue. "You're going to ruin everything. The peace, and other people's lives. Go back to where you came from!"

It's silent before Malfoy and Nott start guffawing like two drunkards. Riddle stares at me like he's impacted by my words. Not offended, more...

"Damn," he says, his eyebrows raising. "You don't even know me, and you're being hostile? I'm not sure that's how it works, Renette."

I roll my eyes, ignoring him. Look, maybe I do regret it. Saying all that. Even if he wasn't offended, I know I would've been. If someone ever said that to me without giving me a chance to show them who I really am... It's the fear speaking, maybe.

Lisa gives me a look, so I just ignore him and walk into the classroom, glad that it seems like they aren't in the same classes as I am. Not in this one, at least.