Make me Hate You - Matteo Riddle

Chapter 26 - 20 questions

In the secluded confines of the Room of Requirement, Aurora and Matteo sat facing each other, the soft glow of enchanted candles casting flickering shadows on the walls around them. The air was heavy with anticipation as they prepared to delve into the depths of truth. Matteo produced a bottle of firewhiskey and two vials of truth potion, placing them carefully on the makeshift table between them. With a shared understanding, they each drank from the vials, the liquid burning as it made its way down their throats. As Matteo poured them both drinks, Aurora couldn't help but notice the intensity of his gaze, his eyes seemingly capable of peering into her soul. Despite her attempts to remain composed, she felt a blush creeping up her cheeks, betraying the nervousness that still lingered whenever she was in his presence. He was just too good-looking, the two scars on his face made him look more handsome and dangerous.

They sipped their drinks in silence, the only sound filling the room the quiet crackle of the magical flames dancing in the hearth. With each passing moment, the weight of the impending conversation hung heavy in the air, the truth potion serving as a catalyst for the revelations that were to come. In the dusty ambiance of the Room of Requirement,
Aurora's voice cut through the silence as she posed her question,

"How do you know that girl from the Hall this morning - Minny?" her curiosity evident in her expression. Matteo leaned back, taking a sip from his drink before responding, his gaze fixed on a distant point as he recounted the encounter with the girl,

"She is a kind girl," he began, his voice carrying a hint of warmth. "Last year in Hogsmeade, I met her. She was being bullied by some 2nd-year boys from Hogwarts. They pulled her hair and called her ugly. I helped her out, and she was thankful. Then we found her mom, and her mom was terrified to see her young daughter standing with me, but I mean, I understand."

Aurora's smile brightened at the mention of Minny's happiness, and she relayed the young girl's sentiment. "She said you were her first friend," she remarked, her tone soft with fondness.

Matteo's eyes flickered briefly, a mixture of emotions crossing his features as he looked away. "She is too nice," he mused, his voice tinged with a hint of protectiveness. "People will take advantage of her." Aurora couldn't help but chuckle at Matteo's unexpected display of concern, a glimpse of his softer side that she found endearing. Matteo shifted the conversation with a sip from his drink, prompting Aurora to answer his inquiry,

"Now, it's my turn. What did Malfoy tell you?"

Aurora sighed, her gaze thoughtful as she recalled Draco's words: "He said you had killed many people without even a second thought," she admitted, her voice tinged with a mixture of uncertainty and concern. "That killing was like second nature to you." Matteo nodded solemnly, acknowledging the truth in her words as he took another sip from his drink, the weight of their conversation settling heavily between them in the quiet of the room.

Aurora's voice broke through the silence, laden with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. Her question, "Why did you kill all those people?" hung in the air, thick with anticipation, as she awaited Matteo's response. Matteo's gaze remained fixed on her, his expression unreadable as he delivered his answer with a chilling detachment.

"Because my father told me to," he began, his tone devoid of emotion, "and because I wanted to." Aurora's grip on her whiskey tightened imperceptibly, her composure faltering slightly as Matteo's words settled heavily in the space between them. She took a sip from her glass, attempting to mask her unease. As Matteo continued, his gaze remained fixed on her, his eyes cold and distant.

"I thought I was doing the right thing," he explained, his voice tinged with a hint of remorse, "Only around age 14 did I realize I may be wrong. That my father may have been wrong."