Moon Dust | Mattheo Riddle

Chapter 39: Warm Welcome Back

By the time the train pulled into Hogsmeade, the sky was painted black, with a blanket of stars glistening down. Nova glanced up at it, following the constellations as she stepped onto the platform.

The crescent moon beamed down on her, its light casting a half upside down smile on her face. It disappeared as she turned to look at Mattheo, who was stepping off the platform behind her.

"Do you want to... I mean, we could meet up after classes or something tomorrow," he asked, running a hand through his dark curls. "Or not, if you don't want to, it doesn't bother–"

"Yes," Nova replied, interrupting him with a sweet smile. "That would be nice."

The expression on his face softened and his warm brown eyes swept over her as he smiled intently.

Nova took a deep breath, absentmindedly picking at her nail polish. "I should find Harry," she whispered, peering down at her shoes.

When she looked up again Mattheo was glancing over her shoulder with an amused look.

"Don't bother," he said, gesturing further down the platform with a breathy chuckle. "Found him."

She turned just in time to see her cousin getting off the train a few doors ahead, with a brightly bleached flop of hair trailing right behind him.

"I'm surprised the ministry is still letting you walk around free Potter," Draco teased, bumping into Harry. "You better enjoy it while you can, I expect there's a cell in Azkaban with your name on it."

As the blonde boy passed by him, snickering with his friends, Harry shot forward, fist aimed as Ron grabbed him by the shoulders to hold him back.

Mattheo and Nova shared a tired look before moving forward.

As the Slytherin boy prepared to retaliate, his older cousin swiftly grabbed him by the arm, yanking him back from Harry, who was still wrestling to break free from his friend.

Nova grabbed his arm, a worried expression etched into her face as he pulled back from her, frustratedly.

"Come on Drake, barely in the school yet and you're already setting off Gryffindor's golden boy," Mattheo mumbled, dragging Draco away.

"He's a complete nutter!" the boy yelled, peering over his shoulder. On the other side of him, Blaise sighed, helping to pull the bleach blonde away. Mattheo let out a snide laugh, leaning toward his cousin.

"Yeah, and what does that make you? dimwit."

"What happened to showing them why they shouldn't cross us?" Draco snapped, pulling his arm back from Mattheo with a pointed look.

Nova furrowed her brow at that. In the tone Draco had used, and the quietness of his voice, it was clear he had only meant for Mattheo to hear it. The boy in question drifted his gaze back to Nova, and swallowed a breath.

"Not here," he whispered sharply. "For Merlin's sake, It's only Potter."

"That's exactly my point," Draco bit back, his face turning into a scowl. "It's always Potter."

Just before they disappeared through the crowd of students, Mattheo glanced back, offering Nova a warm slightly awkward smile. She sent him a small, conflicted wave in return before Harry stepped in her line of sight, blocking the Slytherin boy from view.

"Why is it so hard for you to just stay away from him," he huffed.

"Harry," Nova breathed, pulling at the sleeves of her robes as she looked down again. "He's my friend—"

"We both know that isn't true, just like we both know he's going to hurt you in the end, I'm the only one who's not afraid to say it out loud," he spat, sending her a furious look, before charging towards the carriages.