Broken Bonds

Chapter 8

As Y/N approached Mattheo with a smile, determined to extend an olive branch, she was met with a dismissive sneer.

"Good morning, Mattheo," she greeted him cheerfully, trying to break through his icy exterior.

Mattheo's response was sharp and cutting. "What's so good about it?" he snapped, his tone dripping with contempt.

Y/N's smile faltered, taken aback by his hostile tone. "I... I just thought... after last night..." she started, her voice trailing off as she struggled to find the right words.

"Last night was a mistake, it doesn't mean we're friends" Mattheo interrupted, his voice laced with bitterness. "Don't think for a second that it changes anything between us."

Y/N felt a surge of frustration boiling within her, her optimism swiftly replaced by a simmering anger. "A mistake?" she shot back, her voice rising with anger. "Maybe the mistake was thinking you were capable of decency!"

Mattheo's eyes flashed with anger, his jaw clenched in response to her accusation. "Don't pretend like you know anything about me," he retorted, his voice dripping with disdain. "You're just another naive girl who thinks she can save the world."

Y/N's fists clenched at her sides, her temper flaring in response to his condescending attitude. "At least I'm not too cowardly to accept a helping hand when I need it," she shot back, her voice trembling with anger. "You're nothing but a pathetic excuse for a Slytherin!"

With that, Y/N turned on her heel, storming away from Mattheo with a newfound determination. She had tried to extend an olive branch, only to have it thrown back in her face. From that moment on, she vowed to keep her distance from him, her feelings of friendship replaced by resentment and mistrust.

Lorenzo, having heard about the tense encounter between Y/N and Mattheo the previous night, approached his friend with a heavy heart and furrowed brow. He could see the turmoil etched into Mattheo's features, a reflection of the inner turmoil that seemed to plague them all.

"Mattheo," Enzo began, his voice tinged with sadness and concern. "What in the name of Merlin happened between you and Y/N?"

Mattheo's expression hardened, his frustration evident as he struggled to contain his emotions. "Why do you care, Berkshire?" he shot back, his tone defensive. "It's not like any of this matters."

Enzo shook his head, refusing to be deterred by Mattheo's hostility. "It matters to me, Mattheo," he insisted, his voice steady. "I hate seeing you like this, pushing everyone away."

Mattheo's jaw clenched, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. "You don't understand, Enzo," he retorted, his voice tinged with bitterness. "None of you do."

Enzo's heart sank at the pain in Mattheo's voice, the weight of their shared struggles pressing down upon them both. "Help me understand, then," he pleaded, his tone soft yet resolute. "I'm here for you, Mattheo. Whatever you're going through, we'll face it together."

Mattheo's defences faltered, a flicker of vulnerability crossing his features. "I... I don't know how to handle everything that's happening," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.

Enzo reached out, his gesture a silent offering of support. "You don't have to face it alone, Mattheo," he reassured him, his voice filled with empathy. "We're your friends, and we care about you."

For a moment, Mattheo hesitated, the walls he had built around himself starting to crumble. "I'm sorry, Enzo," he whispered, his voice tinged with regret. "I didn't mean to lash out at Y/N. It's just... everything feels like it's falling apart."

Enzo nodded understandingly, offering his friend a reassuring smile. "It's okay, Mattheo," he replied softly. "We'll figure it out together. You're not alone in this."

With a heavy sigh, Mattheo nodded, a sense of relief washing over him at Enzo's words. "I'm going to make things right with her." saying that Mattheo Riddle left.

Mattheo, with a heavy heart and a sense of remorse weighing on his mind, made his way to Y/N's dormitory, determined to apologize for his earlier behaviour. As he stood before her door, he took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation that lay ahead.

Knocking gently, he waited anxiously until Y/N opened the door, her expression guarded but curious. "Mattheo?" she questioned, surprise evident in her voice.

"Y/N, I... I need to talk to you," Mattheo began, his words tinged with sincerity. "Can we talk?"

Y/N hesitated for a moment, studying Mattheo's earnest expression before nodding slowly. "Come in," she said softly, stepping aside to allow him entry.

As they sat together in the quiet of Y/N's dormitory, the tension between them palpable, Mattheo spoke from the heart, his words filled with remorse and regret. "I wanted to apologize for how I acted yesterday," he started, his voice sincere. "I was wrong to lash out at you. I was just... I don't know, scared, I guess."

Y/N listened quietly, her gaze softening as she took in Mattheo's vulnerable admission. "I appreciate your honesty, Mattheo," she replied gently, her voice filled with understanding. "I know we've had our differences, but I believe we can move past them."

A flicker of hope sparked in Mattheo's eyes as he met Y/N's gaze. "Thank you, Y/N," he said earnestly, his gratitude evident. "I promise I'll do better."

As they spent time together, talking and laughing like old friends, Mattheo felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He had taken the first step towards reconciliation, and he was determined to make things right.

In the warmth of Y/N's presence, he found solace and acceptance, a reminder that forgiveness was possible, even in the face of past mistakes