Make me Hate You - Matteo Riddle

Chapter 10 - Confusing Emotions

In the bustling halls of Hogwarts, Aurora walked hand in hand with Tyler, their steps echoing against the stone walls. As they approached Matteo and Faize, Tyler initiated a conversation, his voice casual. Tyler asked with a forced nonchalance, "So, Matteo, you staying behind at Hogwarts again for winter break? You know you can always join my family."

Matteo's gaze flickered briefly towards Aurora before he replied, "Thanks, bro, but I'd rather just stay here. I like the peace and quiet."

'Oh my God, is he also staying? No! Dammit. Can I avoid him for a few weeks if we are the only ones here?' Aurora's thoughts went mad, 'No, it's okay. You have Tyler, he has Mara - it will be okay. I'll just stay out of his way and hide in the library. He never goes there.'

Tyler nodded, his eyes briefly scanning Aurora's face for any reaction. "What about you, Faize?" he continued, trying to maintain the facade of normalcy.

Faize, noticing some tension, shrugged and hesitated for a moment before responding, "Well, my family and I are going to Paris together with Ashley's family."

Aurora's eyes widened in surprise, a hint of hurt flashing across her features as she asked, "Wait, you'll be in Paris together? Why didn't Ashley tell me?"

Faize merely shrugged his shoulders in response, leaving Aurora to ponder the implications of their trip. Sensing her discomfort, she quickly made her excuses, offering a brief kiss on Tyler's cheek before hurrying away to go talk to Ashley. As Aurora departed, Matteo's gaze lingered on her retreating figure, his expression unreadable. In that fleeting moment, their silent exchange conveyed more than words ever could, leaving both Aurora and Matteo grappling with the complexities of their intertwined lives.

.........

In the cozy confines of their shared room, Aurora confronted Ashley about her upcoming trip to Paris with Faize. Pulling her close, Aurora pressed for answers, her tone a mix of concern and curiosity.

"Ashley, why haven't you told me you're going on a trip to Paris with Faize?" Aurora's voice was gentle yet insistent, her eyes searching for clues in Ashley's expression.

Ashley shifted uncomfortably, avoiding Aurora's gaze as she explained, "I'm not going with just Faize. Our families are close, so this isn't a surprise."

Interrupting her, Aurora asserted, "Yes, it is. You like him, he likes you. Maybe something will happen on this trip?"

Ashley recoiled, her voice tinged with resignation, "No, nothing can happen. We can't be together," she took a deep breath, "Faize - he... he deserves better, Aurora."

Sitting on her bed, Ashley's expression revealed the weight of her inner turmoil. Determined to understand, Aurora probed further, "What do you mean 'better'? There's no one better than you."

With a bitter laugh, Ashley confessed, "Yes, there are—pure girls, who haven't slept with half of Slytherin by their 5th year. You know, last year, I was so desperate I tried to make a move on Matteo, who completely rejected me. Matteo rejected me."

Aurora sighed, a mixture of relief and empathy washing over her. "He rejected you because you're friends," she offered, trying to provide comfort, 'Why am I glad to hear they haven't slept together? Ugh, I need to focus.'

But Ashley shook her head, a wistful smile playing on her lips, "No, he rejected me because he wasn't that desperate. I'll be fine, Aurora. There are plenty of other guys, and he can literally have any girl. Even girls from Hufflepuff stare at him like he's a God."

Feeling a surge of affection for her friend, Aurora reached out and patted her back reassuringly. "Whatever you decide, I'm behind you 100%. You know I love you, right?" They shared a heartfelt embrace, finding solace in each other's presence amidst the complexities of their teenage lives.

........

Some time had passed. Aurora had come back to her room once she had completed all homework together with Halo. In the girls' room, Aurora and Ashley sat together on the bed, flipping through magazines as they pondered the upcoming winter break. Aurora's mind buzzed with thoughts of how to broach the subject of staying at Hogwarts without causing undue concern among their friends.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and Mara stormed in, her face twisted in anger. Aurora glanced up, her brow furrowing with concern as she asked, "Is everything okay, Mara?"

'Has she been crying? Her eyes are red. She looks mad.'

Mara's eyes flashed with resentment as she snapped, "Why do you care, Kindle? Want to gloat at my misery?" Aurora recoiled at the venom in Mara's tone, her heart sinking at the sudden hostility.

Trying to defuse the tension, Aurora stammered, "No, of course not. I just—" But Mara cut her off, her voice rising with each word as she unleashed her pent-up frustration, "You what? Think you can fix everything in everyone's lives just by batting your lashes and being a shoulder to cry on? Don't make me laugh. You're almost as pathetic as Ashley is slutty."

Aurora's cheeks burned with a mix of embarrassment and hurt as Mara's harsh words pierced through her. She exchanged a pained glance with Ashley, feeling the weight of Mara's anger like a heavy burden on her shoulders. In the tense atmosphere of their shared room, Aurora's voice cut through the escalating conflict, her tone firm as she addressed her friend,

"Mara, calm down before you say anything else that may ruin this friendship." Ashley's eyes brimmed with tears, but Mara only scoffed, dismissing their bond with a bitter laugh, "What friendship? You're both pathetic!" As Mara's tirade continued, drawing the attention of the three boys who now came to their room to check and watch from the open doorway what was going on, Aurora's frustration boiled over, her warning to Mara growing sharper,

"Mara, I'm warning you, shut up."

But Mara's barbed words pierced through the room, targeting Aurora's vulnerabilities with ruthless precision, "Oh, the saviour. The innocent little Aurora. The one that stands up for everyone, the one that is friends with everyone, the Slytherin that fucks even Gryffindors. You know what you are? The girl with no family to go see over the break - or what, did you decide to stay back at school during the holidays just so you can fuck Matteo or something?"

Aurora's shock mirrored Tyler's and the other boys' expressions as Mara's accusations hit their mark. Ashley just sat, her mouth open in shock, unable to say anything as tears had welled in her eyes.
Mara's taunts pushed Aurora to her limit, her eyes flashing with cold determination as she confronted Mara, "How did you know I'm staying? Have you been reading my letters?"

Mara's laughter grated on her nerves, "Don't act like there is something super important in those letters you send your brother. I imagine something really bad must have happened for you to disappear like that from your old school, huh. Not even your own fucking brother knows why you left. What are you hiding, huh, little snake?"
With that, Matteo stepped in the girls room, trying to defuse the situation: "Mara, that's enough. You're mad at me, not her."

But it was too late, Aurora's anger spilled over and she took action. With a swift movement of her wand, she cast a curse towards Mara - a blue lights lit up the room as her wand pointed in the girls direction. Mara, once hit, cried out in pain as she crumpled to the floor, clutching her stomach. Everyone stood in shock and utter silence. Standing over Mara with steely resolve, Aurora delivered a warning,

"If you ever come near me again, next time, it won't just be painful for you."
With a sense of finality, Aurora strode past the stunned boys and left the dorm room, leaving behind a charged atmosphere and a shattered friendship.

'She should be glad I didn't kill her for making Ashley cry. Can't believe that bitch read my letters.'