-The Children of Darkness- The Riddle Siblings

The Weight of Choices

Mattheo's POV

I put on my black cloak and take my father's mask. Aurora enters and sits down on my bed.

Aurora: They're sending me to Hogwarts... with Theo.
Me: Good.
Aurora: Good?! How useful can I be at Hogwarts! We both know that Potter won't be coming back, that would be foolish! And of course, wherever he goes, Ron and Hermione will be there too, so I couldn't even spy on them...
Me: You're not a Death Eater, so you couldn't contribute to the missions...
Aurora: I've done a lot more than some Death Eaters!

She looks at me, then lowers her eyes in embarrassment.

Me: You mean me.
Aurora: No...
Me: Yes, you are.

Aurora stands up and leans closer to my ear.

Aurora: I'm not the one who doubts her loyalty, brother...
Me: Would you ever betray me for him?

I asked her the same question she asked me years ago, before I became a Death Eater; only then it was she who feared our father's return.

Aurora: I have only you, and you have only me... I've told you before, you're my brother and I would never betray you, but if you betray him, you betray me too, Mattheo.

She leaves, shutting the door behind her. I put the mask on and follow her, broom in hand. The Death Eaters are lined up in the atrium, taking orders from my father. My sister is next to him, holding Zephyr; she never separated from her cat, it had always been that way, but lately they were inseparable.

Voldemort: Remember, Potter is mine!
Lucius: Yes... yes, my Lord.

Before leaving, Aurora exchanges greetings and recommendations. I adjust my cloak and that of Severus, who watches her tenderly. But when it's Draco's turn, he freezes and only manages to shake her hand. He doesn't even look at her face; something had happened, but I didn't care. The fact that they no longer exchanged loving glances made me feel better.

Aurora's POV

The Death Eaters disappear into a black cloud or on broomsticks, disappearing into the dark evening colours. I turn to my aunt; she looks at me without saying a word. Things had grown colder between us... because of me. I hated her look every time she saw me leaving my father's office or covered in blood that was not my own.

I nod at her and start climbing the stairs.

Narcissa: Aurora...
I turn and she looks at me with tear-filled eyes, not knowing what to say.
Me: I'm going to the library, would you like to join me?
Narcissa: It would mean a lot to me.

Mattheo's POV

The night was dark and foreboding, the sky covered with black clouds that hung heavily over our heads. All the Death Eaters were lined up, floating in the black smoke; I gripped the broomstick tightly, waiting for Potter to appear. My heart was pounding, torn between duty and conflicting emotions; I could never bear to hurt Hermione...

Suddenly, a flash of green light streaked through the air, a signal that Potter had been spotted. The tension was palpable, and in an instant we found ourselves in the middle of a fierce aerial battle. The confusion was total: there were Harry Potters everywhere, each in a different vehicle, accompanied by an adult from the Order of the Phoenix. I flew alongside Selwyn, one of my father's most trusted Death Eaters. We searched for the real Harry, knowing only one of them was real. Suddenly I saw a flying sidecar, driven by Hagrid.

The wind whipped our faces as we approached, wands ready to attack. I felt a knot in my stomach; part of me hoped it was Harry, while another feared Hermione was in the sidecar.