Mattheo Riddle - Imagines/OneShot

If Only She Were Mine

Song Inspo: All of Your Lies --Morgan Clae

Word Count: 1022

Author Note at the bottom. Please read!

The dungeons of Hogwarts were cold and him, as they always had been, but to Mattheo Riddle, the darkness had never felt as oppressive as it did now. He walked down the familiar corridors, his mind in turmoil, his heart heavy with a burden he could no longer ignore.

The flickering torchlight cast long, distorted shadows on the stone walls, and Mattheo's reflection in the polished armor seemed to mock him. His tanned, sharp features were a mirror of his older brother, Tom's, but where Tom exuded confidence and pride, Mattheo only felt confusion and longing.

It was an unspoken rule in the Riddle family that loyalty came before all else, and Mattheo had always adhered to it. But now, he found himself breaking that sacred rule, and the guilt was beginning to consume him.

For he was in love with Y/F/N–Tom's girlfriend.

He had tried to fight it. Every time she smiled at Tom, his heart twisted with jealousy. Every time she passed by in the Slytherin common room, her laughter ringing like a melody, Mattheo had to look away, fearing that his eyes would betray his feelings. But the more he tried to resist, the deeper he fell.

Y/N was everything Mattheo admired–strong, intelligent, kind. Unlike many of their peers, she didn't flaunt her pure-blood status. She was graceful, always carrying herself with a quiet dignity that set her apart. But what drew Mattheo to her the most was her kindness, something rare in their world, especially in the Slytherin house.

He couldn't pinpoint when it began. Perhaps it was during one of the many study sessions they shared in the library, where she would laugh at his dry sense of humor, something few others appreciated. Or maybe it was the way she would defend the underdog in their heated debates about the future of the wizarding world, her eyes shining with determination.

But it didn't matter when it started. What mattered was that Mattheo had fallen for her, and there was no escaping it.

That evening, after dinner in the Great Hall, Mattheo found himself wandering alone by the Black Lake, the chill of the evening air matching the coldness inside him. The still waters reflected the starry sky above, and he tried to find peace in the serenity of the scene, but his thoughts kept returning to her.

He hated himself for it–betraying his brother like this. Tom had always looked out for him, even if their relationship had been strained at times. But now, Mattheo was betraying him in the worst way possible.

"Mattheo?"

The soft voice jolted him from his thoughts. He turned, and there she was–Y/N, standing a few paces away, her arms wrapped around herself for warmth. Her presence made the night feel even colder, the weight of his feelings pressing down on him.

"Y/N," he replied, forcing a smile. "What are you doing here?"