Aura || Mattheo x OC

(27)

We leave early in the morning. All the way from Scotland, we reach the busy streets of London, apparating to the front of the ministry. It's tiring and I feel a bit dizzy, so I'm glad we jumped from place to place instead of apparating all the way. I don't think I have the ability to do that. I look up at the magnificent building, then around the interior when we walk in. Many people rush by us, all of them grown and working witches and wizards. I'm amazed by how this is their daily routine.

Though the mesmerizing effect doesn't last for long, as it's cut short by Hermione's tug on my arm. She guides me into the building. I know that they've been here before. One of the horcruxes were in one of the vaults. No wonder Harry is leading us through the halls like he owns the place.

Or maybe he just wants to get this over with.

The minister, Kingsley Shacklebot, is ready for us. I think we booked an appointment beforehand, but the boys don't seem too keen on filling me in with the details, and I never got the chance to ask Hermione. His office is small; the window is closed, which I find particularly interesting, and a bookshelf leans against the wall opposite of the window. His desk and chair sit in front of the shelf. The carpet is a red colour, with golden and blue patterns on it. He's sitting behind his desk, three chairs pulled up on the other side of it. He seems a bit surprised to see me there.

"I can stand," I say, not bothered by it. The other three sit, and I lean against Hermione's chair's armrest. 

"I can only assume why the four of you are here," he says, his hands clasped together. He leans forward, watching Harry closely. "But I would still like an explanation."

He begins to explain the series of events that occurred last night. The Minister doesn't seem to surprised to hear about it. "I see," he says, his hands leaving each other. His right one scratches his chin as if there's a beard there. 

"I knew he was trouble," Shacklebot mutters, shaking his head. "I wouldn't want to hold you for back from searching for him. Many wizards and witches have journeyed to find the escapees as well. We've never located them."

"Lucius Malfoy was one of the death eaters," Hermione informs. She clears her throat when everyone looks at her. "I think his manor might be a good location to check out. Have you sent any people there before?"

The minister's eyebrows raise. He applauds her intelligence. "Ah, that is a good presumption. The witches and wizards that I've sent are still currently on their hunt. Though, I expect them to report to me soon, so the moment they do, I will send them to the Manor. Are you four also going to make your way there?"

We nod in unison.

"Very brave," he compliments. "But the four of you alone, against who knows how many enemies? Mattheo Riddle is a strong one, as his father was. The death eaters are no weaklings. I suggest you tread carefully."

"We know," Harry says. "Don't worry. You can rely on us. I've defeated his father, so defeating the son shouldn't be too hard."

Ron snickers slightly, and I catch him glancing at me. While I don't deny that Harry is strong as he claims to be, it's not like he has another life to spare like he did when Voldemort killed the horcrux part of him. It's not like Dumbledore will be there and tell him that he is alive. 

But I guess Mattheo isn't as strong as his father either, since he could be killed as easily as anyone else.

The Minister smiles. "Very well. You four should begin your journey." After bidding goodbye to him, we leave the ministry. The manor is the place we think we should visit first, but there are a few other places that we collectively agree that we should visit as well. And since they seem closer, we go towards them first.

Since he doesn't know the exact location we, using the same method as earlier, apparate our way to Albania. I've never been here and it's exciting that I'm in a new country, but I guess it's not for a good reason. I'm not sure what forest we even stand in front of, but it's apparently the place Voldemort hid and survived in before moving towards the manor and reuniting with the rest of his colleagues. Before Mattheo moved to the manor with him. I don't know how Harry knows of this place. He explains that he's seen it in a vision before, but I'm still unsure whether to believe him or not. 

So this is where Mattheo grew up.

It's a small house, hushed away in the Albanian forest. I imagine that it could've looked pretty when it was kept clean.

This is where he got homeschooled, I reckon, by his mother.

The tension between Ron, Harry and I increases. He kicks down the door and we move in. It's definitely abandoned. Heck, it looks like it's been so long since it's been used. Why are we here? There's cobwebs everywhere, the door was very easy to kick down and plants are growing through the wood, likely weakened due to moisture and rain. Insects hum around, spiders creeping about, the glass on each window either broken or very dusty.

Are we here because he wants to spite me?

"This is a very small house," I say casually, trying to keep my feelings at bay. "I don't understand why we're here."

Harry shrugs. "I don't know. Maybe it has a secret room to it or something. Riddle is connected to this place, after all," he walks over to one of the tables, picking up one of the frames, examining it.

"It doesn't look like anyone has stepped in here for ages," Hermione comments. She agrees with me. "This is pretty useless."

Is he taking things seriously or not? Why can't we just go to the manor and storm right in? Lisa is in trouble.

Harry turns the frame that he has in his hand, and he presses something. A wall opens. "His father was never fond of muggles," he says, watching it. "Yet this is a muggle invention... with no hint of magic."

I'm not amused by his statement.

After exploring that room, there's literally nothing. And no one. We leave the house afterwards.

"Well, the only place we can go towards now is the Manor," Ron says, his hands stuffed into his pockets. "Or is there another place of suspicion or whatever? We've got light on our hands to go for one more."

"We should probably head back to England," Hermione suggests. "It's best we go to the Manor as quickly as we can."

"Right," Harry agrees. I'm quiet during their conversation.

We apparate place to place before reaching the Manor, quickly ducking into the trees before anyone could spot us.

"Okay," Harry whispers, keeping his gaze towards the manor. He briefly looks at us. "I've got a plan. I've been thinking of one ever since we left."

We all listen to it.

After he's done, we all go quiet. The most controversial thing is that he wants to take advantage of my relationship with Mattheo and send me in first, claiming that I wanted to join him. Hermione argues heavily against it, claiming that he's just trying to get his revenge on the both of us, but I think it could work. Maybe he could get some sort of satisfaction from it, but I don't really see how.

"I could try," I say, interrupting their dispute. "But I'm not really sure that he'd believe me."

Harry shakes his head. "It doesn't matter. You just have to put up an act. Fuck, you can even say you came to get him out of this all or something. As long as you're there to get us in by distracting him. Our priority here is to get the hostages out. The fight must not happen before we do that. Especially since they can help us, if they're in the condition to."

He's right.

"Okay," I say. "I'm okay with doing that."

The three of them look at me. "You sure?" Hermione asks.

I nod, even though I'm as unsure as them.

"I'm sure."