Two Worlds Apart - Fancast Slytherin Boys

Chapter 18: Pressure Point

A/N

Read trigger warnings below if needed (contains spoilers)

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Mattheo's palms stuck to the old wooden desk before him, but not because he was nervous. Quite frankly, he couldn't care less about the O.W.L exams. Not when he'd just been attacked and learned that his best friend's father had, indeed, become a deatheater.

The second he'd stepped into the hall to take the very first test, professor McGonagall had looked at him as if he was utterly insane. "Are you quite well?" She'd asked, her eyes wandering all across his face and figure. His curls were a mess, though that was to no one's surprise. He had dark bags under his eyes, not to mention the cuts and bruises he'd received the other night in the Astronomy tower.

He'd thrown his robe on, buttoned his shirt wrong and not even bothered to tie his tie correctly. Instead, it hung loosely, undone, around his shoulders. "Draco kept me up," he'd lied, "wouldn't stop snoring."

McGonagall didn't believe a word he said, but she let him in and allowed him to take a seat.

Transfiguration was far from Mattheo's favorite subject, and after scribbling a few words down on the sheet of parchment laid neatly in front of him, he stood up and wandered out. He got a few angry glares and an unamused glance from McGonagall, but no one stopped him.

Just like no one stopped him from heading straight back to his dorm, kneeling down next to his bed and pulling out his trunk from beneath. He looked down at the bottle of fire whiskey he and Enzo had convinced an elderly lady at Hogsmeade to sell to them, despite both of them being under age and not necessarily looking old enough to drink. His jaw clenched subconsciously and he eagerly pulled it out. Suddenly the cap couldn't get off fast enough and he put the opening straight to his lips. He let out a groan of relief as the strong taste hit his tongue.

It had gotten bad. No. It had gotten worse. Mattheo knew that. He was ashamed of it. Maybe that's why he hadn't spoken to Lorenzo about it. He didn't really know.

He took a large swig, enjoying the way it burned as it flowed down his throat. He winced, running his hand over his mouth.

"What the-," Theo began, the door creaking behind him. "Mate."

Mattheo spun around, startled that he hadn't heard him approaching. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out.

Theodore headed towards him, his hand reaching for the bottle and pulling it straight out of Mattheo's grip. He stared at it, bewildered, before closing his eyes and tossing his head back. Mattheo's jaw dropped in disbelief, his eyes watching as the liquid poured right into Theo's mouth.

Theo coughed, holding the bottle out towards Mattheo with hooded eyes. "You're a terrible influence," he muttered, turning his back to the confused brunette. Mattheo grabbed the bottle back, his mind going blank.

"But I didn't think you-," Mattheo was cut off by Theo.

"Some things are just inevitable, right?" Theo looked at Mattheo with such intensity, he almost felt as though the words meant something entirely different.

The O.W.L exams had passed, and merely one day separated the group of boys from their summer holiday. Draco folded his clothes into neat piles before slowly putting them into their designated spots in his trunk. He was quiet. He actually hadn't said much since the exams had begun.

Blaise had already packed his things. He sprawled out on his bed with a book in his hands. He'd actually done rather well in the exams, using his low temper to remain calm in nerve racking situations.