He's No Good || Mattheo Riddle

Introduction

Hogwarts is big. Like, really big. It feels even larger not knowing anybody here. Then again, does anyone know each other? It's my first year at this university of witchcraft and wizardry. I'm sure everyone in my year feels the same as I do. Alone, nervous, insecure. I'm far from home. Far from the comfort of the house I've always known, the people I've always known, and routine.

My parents attended Hogwarts when they were my age. They met in their first year and courted until graduation. Both my mother and father speak fondly of this place. They hold many precious memories dear to their hearts. Perhaps I'll make memories worth telling my future children here as well.

One thing I remember my parents telling me about this place is that one of the most evil people they'd ever encountered, Tom Riddle, walked alongside them in these halls. We all know who he is and what he has done, there's no need to over exhaust it. So when I heard students my age whispering on the Hogwarts Express about him, I couldn't help but to eavesdrop. They were throwing around the name Voldemort as if it's not taboo. One of the students was recalling a rumor that Voldemort's son is in attendance this school year. The gossip had piqued my interest but just as it was getting good, the sounds of the train arriving at its destination drowned out the conversation.

Should I feel fear over this rumor?

I now sit close together with my classmates, whose names I do not know, in the great hall. We all wait to get sorted one by one into our houses. The talking hat is something to get used to. My parents don't use magic much at home, so this is quite the sight.

With nothing else to do, everyone begins engaging in conversation with the people around them at their tables.

"What house do you think you'll be sorted into?" Asks a tiny woman my age with thick rimmed glasses, short dreadlocks, and chocolate skin.

"I'm definitely going to Hufflepuff. Both my parents were a part of that house." The woman next to her replies, twirling her golden hair around her finger and taking in the setting with her greenish-blue eyes.

"What about you?" Both girls look across the table at me, awaiting an answer.

"Oh," I say shyly. They caught me off guard. "I'm not sure. I haven't given much thought to it."

"You look like the Gryffindor type." Says the first girl. "I'm Destiny."

"I'm Alaya." I introduce myself to the pair.

"That's a pretty name." Smiles the blonde. "I'm Nevaeh. My friends call me Heaven, though. It's just my name backwards."

"Well if we're doing nicknames already, come up with one for me." Destiny exclaims. She's outgoing and confident, but not in an obnoxious way. Her energy is calming to be in the presence of.

"Hmm." I think for a second. "Does anyone call you Desi?"

"No ma'am."

"I think we found it. What do you think, Heaven?"

"Absolutely."

"You know, I actually don't hate that."

"You can be Laya." Heaven suggests to me, but then pauses for a moment and purses her lips together. "Actually, that's too star wars-y. I like Alaya more anyway."

"Me too." The girls are in agreement. No nickname for me, and I don't mind it. Making friends turned out to be less stressful than I had originally anticipated. These women sort of just fell into my lap.

Soon the three of us were individually called up to the stage where we sat on a wooden stool and let the sorting hat work its magic.

Heaven was deemed Gryffindor, unlike her parents before her.

Desi was announced as Ravenclaw.

I joined her soon after. Perfect, blue looks better on me than any other color.

After everyone had been sorted and dismissed to our dorms, I remembered the conversation on the train. I could be walking the halls this very second with the offspring of Voldemort. I scanned the faces of many people coming and going, but none of them looked evil. It's probably just a dumb rumor with no substance to it anyway. I'd do best to let it slip out of my mind.