Mattheo Riddle - Imagines/OneShot

Watching Her

Word Count: 798

The Slytherin common room was buzzing with the usual chatter, but Mattheo Riddle sat apart from it all, his back against the cold stone wall, eyes locked on the fire. It wasn't like him to be quiet, to be lost in thought while everyone else was laughing, joking, living their lives. But tonight was different.

Tonight, she was with someone else.

Y/N was sitting across the room, laughing at something Blaise Zabini said. Her eyes sparkled in the low light, her smile lighting up the space in a way Mattheo could never ignore. She looked...happy. Content. And it twisted something inside him, something he hated to admit was jealousy. He clenched his fists, trying to push the feeling down, but it gnawed at him, a reminder of how easily she seemed to drift into someone else's orbit.

She deserved more than what Zabini had to offer, Mattheo thought bitterly. Blaise could give her anything—fancy fights, attention, the charm that came effortlessly to him—but none of it felt real. None of it was what mattered.

Mattheo wasn't like Blaise. He wasn't good with words or smooth gestures. He didn't shower people with compliments or gifts. But for Y/N, he wanted to be different. He wanted to give her more, to be more.

But every time he tried to get close, she slipped away, her eyes drifting to someone else, someone who could give her what she thought she wanted.

Mattheo let out a low breath, leaning his head back against the wall. He could feel his anger bubbling beneath the surface. It wasn't just Blaise, it was everyone. Every guy who looked at her like she was something to be won, every laugh she gave to someone else when it could've been his. It wasn't that he wanted to own her, but he wanted her to see him.

The firelight flickered, and Mattheo's eyes darkened as the lyrics from a song echoed in his mind— "I want, I want, I want, but that's crazy". He let out a frustrated sigh. Wanting her seemed ridiculous. She had her pick of anyone at Hogwarts, and he was the last person she'd ever choose. But still, he wanted her. More than he'd ever admit out loud.

The thought of her with anyone else was unbearable. He wanted to the one to make her laugh, to have her attention, her smile, her everything. He wanted to be enough for her.

And yet, here he was, sitting on the sidelines while she shared moments with someone else.

"Mattheo?" Her voice cut through his thoughts, soft but filled with curiosity.

He blinked, looking up to find Y/N standing in front of him, a questioning look on her face. "You okay?" she asked, her smile faltering slightly. "You've been really quiet tonight."

He shrugged, trying to play it off, even as his heart pounded in his chest. "Just thinking."

"About what?" she pressed, tilting her head.

Mattheo glanced over at Blaise, who was watching them from across the room, his smile fading as he noticed how close Y/N was to Mattheo. A surge of possessiveness washed over him, and before he could stop himself, he spoke.

"Why do you waste your time with him?" Mattheo's voice came out harsher than he intended.

Y/N blinked, clearly taken aback. "What are you talking about?'

Mattheo stood up, his frustration boiling over. "You deserve more than...that," he said, jerking his head towards Blaise. "He doesn't even know you. Not really."

Y/N's eyes narrowed, confusion mixing with something else. "And do you?"

"Yes," Mattheo said, his voice softer now, but firm. "I do."

For a moment, they stood there in silence, the tension between them thick. Mattheo could feel his heart racing, his usual confidence wavering. But he had to say it. He couldn't hold it in any longer.

"I don't have what Blaise has," Mattheo continued, his voice rough but honest. "I can't buy you fancy things, or charm you with pretty words. But I see you. And I want to be the one who makes you smile, who gets to know every part of you. Because I want you, Y/N. More than anything."

Y/N's eyes softened, the surprise fading into something warmer, something real. She stepped closer, her hand reaching for his, and Mattheo felt the world slow down.

"I don't need fancy things, Mattheo," she whispered, her eyes locking with his. "I just want you to be real with me."

Mattheo's heart swelled at her words, a weight lifting off his chest. He took her hand, his grip firm but gentle, and for the first time in a long time, he allowed himself to hope.

"I can do that," he murmured, his voice steady.

And in that moment, everything he had wanted—everything that had seemed so out of reach—was standing right in front of him, within his grasp. 

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Who else misses One Direction 🥲🙋🏾‍♀️

ngl, this was written like a fat minute ago, so I didn't even read it for corrections. 

I hope you enjoyed this imagine :) Comment &/or Vote!

Stay Beautiful <3