„Oh, my dear..." (Mattheo Riddle ff)

how he returned...

M.R.

First thing I noticed, was how the smell had changed. Every summer until now, I had always been welcomed by something that smelled of winter, darkness and death. 

But this year, it was different. Closing the door behind me, I let all my luggage fall to the ground. The air was filled with something else entirely. It smelled... even more dangerous than usual. More... threatening. 

It smelled of poison.

Standing there, in the half-darkness, I just waited. Tom would be here. He'd come and see me, like he did every year. 

Nervously fiddling with the ends of my sleeves, I tried to distract myself by thinking of Phersephone, but then I just remembered her sad eyes, when she last looked at me at Kings Cross station. 

God damn, I missed her. Fucking hell, it's been a few hours but she was so out of reach... All of a sudden she was gone, after being so close for months. And with her, the only sense of safety and security, that had been keeping my mind off this place was gone too. 

I barely got to finish that thought, when suddenly steps echoed through the darkness. One single little lantern lightened up the door, under which I was standing. The rest of the halls and corridors was almost completely dark. 

The closer the steps got, the more it felt like breathing got harder. 

,,Mattheo Riddle..." a whisper faded through the darkness. 

Hold on a damn second... That wasn't Tom! That...

Immediately, my hand moved to reach for my wand. 

,,You lovely little boy... Welcome home." the voice whispered again, the insanity in it clear. 

Bellatrix Lestrange stepped into the small bit of light in which I was already standing, her mad eyes glinting at me. She had that dangerous, psychotic smile which showed off the yellow teeth, and her black hair was arranged on her head in a complete birdnest. 

Instinctively, I took a step back and hit the wall already.  

,,Come here, my adorable darling..." she giggled maniacally, beckoning me towards herself with her long, thin fingers. 

Swallowing down a wave of nervousness, I slightly shook my head. ,,Ms Lestrange... What a... surprise." 

In no world ever, would I have expected her to be here, at the start of summer. Sometimes, she spent the winter here, which was why I stayed at Hogwarts all year round. But in the summer, it has always been just me and Tom in the house. Not that that was good, but... at least I knew my brother better than this woman. Or so I thought, at least. At the end of the day, they were both unpredictable. 

,,Isn't it so lovely?" Bellatrix giggled. ,,So lovely, we get to spend the summer together!" 

From the top of my head, I could think of basically a million reasons, why that was everything but lovely. But I could also think of about a dozen ways she could kill me instantly, so I didn't say anything. 

,,Tom is already waiting for you, my dear!" she grinned, tracing the yellow nails on her fingers over my forehead. She was way too close, and the way she used that nickname made me want to throw up. It was meant for Phersephone to use, and Phersephone only. But now, this woman had ruined it for ever. 

I just wanted to push her away, turn around and run out of this goddamn house.  

,,Did... did he say what he wants from me?" I asked quietly. 

Another mad giggle came from her. ,,Oh, of course I know what he wants... But I won't steal him the honour of telling you the great news. Come on, little boy... Come on with me now."