Magic and Mistrust ~ Mattheo Riddle

1

I stare at the floor. Concrete with too many cracks for my liking—I do wish it would open up and swallow the kid in front of me.

The stupid jock was walking slower than a turtle. But he didn't realise as he joked around with his friends.

They finally moved, giving me enough wiggle room to pass by. The group of tall boys smelled like cigarettes.

I keep my head down as I pass them, internally scoffing at their little friendship. I've figured I had to do that ever since I came here a year ago. No one here was worth having a conversation with. I'm only here to learn; what's the point of being a witch if I can't do magic?

Their conversation pollutes the air with its unnecessary noise. It fades as I speed up, turning a corner.

I use my silence as a shield, protecting me from those around me. I've learned the hard way that relying on others only leads to disappointment and betrayal. So, I keep my head down, my focus unwavering on getting to my first class.

The professor walks in, and I wonder where she came from. She dresses like one of my old muggle teachers. Did another teacher get replaced?

The silent class starts to fill up with whispers and gossip. Maybe that Gryffindor kid got another teacher fired. There was something weird about the school—or rather, the particular boy that goes here. Voldemort was trying to kill him, so why not just leave? I know that he didn't care about learning, so why put everyone else in danger?

Too many things have gone down, they should just throw him in a safe house or let him get captured. I don't understand why everyone loves him so much.

But the thing that was the weirdest was that they allowed Voldemort's son to go here. I don't usually judge people to be just like their parents, but these two have definitely followed in their father's footsteps. If it was up to me, I would never let them in. I'm surprised that the kid hasn't taken over the school, literally. He probably thinks he has everyone wrapped around his fingers, but he doesn't, and he's way too cocky.

It doesn't take long for it to click in my mind. Those kids I was walking behind this morning were the Slytherin gang. They're trouble and not the good kind.

"Everyone get into groups of four!" The teacher snaps me out of my thoughts. I play with my sleeves. This was the worst part of school. I watch as one of the groups looks around confusedly for their fourth member. I make eye contact with the only girl in the group. She smiles at me sweetly and motions for me to come over there. I press my lips together, knowing I have to join a group sooner or later and that it would be better to join one that seems to want me.

I walk over, and the girl's smile widens. Her hand extends to me as she introduces herself: "I'm Annie."

Just as I am about to introduce myself, the professor interrupts us. "Come on guys, we can do better." She puts her hands on her hips and shakes her head. "Two of each house in each group. So two Ravenclaw and two Hufflepuff, like this group here," she points our group out.

I look at the other two members, identifying them as a social Hufflepuff and an awkward Ravenclaw.

The other groups hurry to mirror our members' houses as we sit down, unbothered.

Annie looks at me, hoping to start a conversation. I would only respond to her; I wasn't keen on chatting with her, but she seemed genuinely sweet.

She continues to eye me intently, and I realise I didn't introduce myself.

"Madelyn," I say, pressing my lips together, waiting to hear the names of the two boys.

"Oh, um, I'm James," the Ravenclaw says, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. He had his hood on, which was weird because there was no hood on the school uniform. It was impressive because he wasn't breaking the dress code.

"Dash," The Hufflepuff boy was much more confident, flashing me a grin. I didn't return it.

"Oh, I'm sorry guys, how rude of me." She says, "I'm Ms. Reid, and I'm your new homeroom teacher."

The whole class starts to murmur, asking questions.

"Right, that was why I didn't want to announce that first." She chuckles, "I'm going to be honest; the only rule I have is to be good. Any questions?"

Were you ever a teacher for muggles? I silently ask in my head. I'd ask her that some other time.

~

I sit in silence for the rest of my classes, boring as always.

I find myself sitting in the library every day after class, and today was no different. The library was a quiet place, somewhere I didn't have to listen to meaningless chatter or be self-aware. I was obviously always self-aware, but I liked how there was no one in sight; it was comfortable.

It was getting late—sometimes I skipped dinner while staying here—and the only people in the library were me and two boys.

One of them reaches to get a book, his robe sliding down his arm and revealing a mark. The dark mark. He was loyal to Voldemort; he was a death eater. His friend notices me staring and pulls the boy aside.

The boy looks at me and quickly puts his sleeve down, hiding the mark.

I avert my eyes right away and leave the library.