Riddled - Mattheo Riddle

Drawbacks

"How do muggles do these things?" Jeremiah exclaims as he draws back another arrow with the wooden bow. It was one of the many things I 'borrowed' from my sneak out a few nights back.

Possibly without permission or asking, but that's a minor inconvenience.

"It's not that hard Jeremy." I roll my eyes and take the recurve from him, positioning my body exactly how I saw the man whom owned it had done. My hips shift and my shoulders roll back. Drawing the arrow and string and releasing it successfully not hitting my forearm, it punctures just right of the bullseye.

The imperfection made me want to try again but my brother clapped and tore it from my hands. By two years the idiot was more aged, being the annoying age of seventeen and me at fifteen and three quarters. Yet, I seemed to be the more matured. And clean.

"As much as I should be the overprotective brother right now and tell you to not be sneaking out without someone, these inventions thingies you come back with are worth it." He commented, examining the wood of the bow.

"Thanks for the brotherly advice Remy." I laugh at him trying to re-figure out how to stand to shoot.

"You're welcome, thorn." Before I can reply my mother comes rushing outside. Her elegant burgundy dress and not a strand out of place updo makes her the picture of a rich housewife.

"Get inside. Both of you. We are having a immediate family meeting." She commands with a certain urgency, something was up, she's not good at keeping secrets, if this was considered one. Where the heck did I get my secrecy from?

Jeremiah huffs and reluctantly sets down the bow and arrows, brushes himself off and gives me a glance before following mom back in. I did not want to go in there, family meeting or not. Everytime I go outside I wish never to return back indoors and ponder the opportunity to escape my reality by slipping into the muggle world that is kept safe away from magic and spellcasting. The only thing is it's not a real possibility at all, I'd be tracked easily by my parents, the other death eaters or someone hired to do the job. Ugh.

Inside I unwillingly trudge into the living area where my father and mother are standing in front of the coffee table directly in front of our coach. Jeremy is talking about some quidditch game with father as I walk in.

"Finally you arrive, took you long enough don't you think?" Father snaps at me.

"Sorry my ten seconds difference between when Mom and Jeremiah came in is such a inconvenience to you."

"Are you talking back to me young lady?"

My arms cross over my chest. "Yes since that's how a conversation works. Or are you so used to condescending people you forgotten the works of one."

"You little-" he starts to approach me angrily but mom holds him back and Jeremy stands in front of my figure. He's always shielded me from dad, even when I provoke it which leads to me receiving many lectures. There are times I think that if he wouldn't have been there, I would've been struck by his hand.

"What was that about a overprotective brother?" I whisper only loud enough for him as my mother calms my dad.

"Shut up Rayne. Now's not the time."

"Geez, tough crowd." I uncross my arms and allow myself to sit with a huff on the couch as my mom steps forward to begin talking.

"We called you in because the Dark Lord needs us closer for a task, therefore our household will be moving." She gets straight to the point and my stomach sinks, moving? We just came here a few years back.

"Moving where?" Jeremy sits down directly next to me but leans forward to question the logic of a change of location. Our home currently was a rather spacious and a large one, very dark interior but my mother took pride in the decoration, nothing specifically wrong with the structure itself, only the residents.

"We will be moving local to the Hogwarts school. You two will be attending there just as Waylynn does. I believe your Aunt Ophelia also is moving closer due to our change in plans so Vance will be transferring with the two of you."

"Do not forget the Malfoys also reside in that place Celeste." Father tells mom then turns back to us. "If you are not on your best behaviors I will not hesitate to not allow your return during break, understand?"

"Yes sir." Jeremy says, then when I don't respond he elbows me in the ribs.

"Yes sir." I repeat with a hiss from the sudden contact. Ouch dude.

"We leave tomorrow. School has already been in session but we have communicated with the faculty and you are permitted to be introduced in a few days. We have word other children are also late to join." He explains further than waves his hand in dismissal. "You are excused."

I am the first to shoot up from my seat and quickly exit the room, quickly going up the stairs straight into my bedroom. Moving?! Tomorrow?!

A few moments later a certain someone comes in. "Storming upstairs won't keep you from going to school thorn."

I groan into my pillow in response. Jeremy rips it from underneath my face but I faceplant into the mattress still refusing to look up.

"It's not like Beauxbatons, it's not a prep school. You'll be fine." He adds, the bed lowers when he sits next to my immobile figure and pats my back, "I heard the chosen one goes to Hogwarts though. Imagine that. Meeting the one person who survived a death sentence."

"Yeah so great the most famous person in our generation is in the school we have no choice but to suddenly attend. Yayyyyy." I sarcastically celebrate. "Oh and get this, we won't even be allowed to befriend him. You know why? Our parents are death eaters Jeremiah! They work for the person who wants to murder him!"

"That's not their fault Rayne."

"How so? Yes mom was forced into it when she married dad but father knew very well what he was committing to and what he would deem his heirs to. He forced upon us this traumatic life!" I sit up and face him, making him stand to try to talk sense into me but I wouldn't have it.

"Look-"

"No. Stop trying to justify it, you're the favorite so you haven't seen the worst." Not like me.

"Haven't seen the worst? Are you kidding me? I've been alive longer than you have thorn! I've been to those meetings, heck I'm surprised that mark isn't engraved in my skin yet. Yes, this life absolutely sucks and I hate it just as much as you. But I don't get into trouble and act up in defiance!"

"Stop!"

"You're being bratty Rayne!"

"I'm being the only reasonable one in this house! Dad's getting in your head Jeremy."

"Maybe so, but I'd still do it all over if it meant I could be with you like I have been. Otherwise I'd be shipped off to some school. Or heck if we were a completely different family I'd probably be a apprentice for the ministry of magic!"

"Stop that Jeremiah. You're not being-"

"Being what? Open your eyes thorn. The world sucks, sometimes we can't change that, but we have to cope. Acting up, sneaking out and stealing isn't helping!"

"Get out."

"No."

"GET OUT."

"I said no."

"Get out of my room! You are the worst brother! You think you know me when you don't! We share a last name and some DNA but that is all. Don't try to understand my thoughts or actions. And never again talk down to me like a child, I'm your sister!"

He stood shocked a moment and it was completely silent. His jaw was dropped and mouth wide while I looked back with a cold stare. Finally he closed his mouth, dropped his head in disappointment and left without a word. I didn't feel bad. Not yet anyway, I would talk to him about it some other time when we both had clear minds but he can't do that. It's unfair.

Yes, life is unfair, but siblings should stick with one another for life no matter what and he didn't understand. No one did.