Bound By Blood.

Ch.23~Truth or Dare.

"You looked breathtaking in green, it would've suited you in our school days.

I always thought you were put in the wrong house.

I imagine what would've been if that was the case, if we were closer.

I think you still would've been you, on the other side."

Recovered Translated correspondents between Death Eater Mattheo Riddle, to Order Member Alexandra Brooks, 2003.

Hogwarts, 1997.

Alexandra.

I didn't like parties.

Not really.

I mean yes, they're fun. You get to drink, see friends from other houses, and relax.

But I didn't fully enjoy them.

I used to spend the entire duration of parties baby sitting the twins, who were much too big to be acting the way they did when they drank.

Most nights, I'd find myself wrangling them away from trouble, reminding them of their limits, and keeping an eye on their mischief.

It was exhausting, and more often than not, I ended up missing the best parts of any celebration.

Or other nights, ones I particularly enjoyed too much, Harry would remind me not to get "shit faced" and I needed to keep it together.

Asshole.

But tonight was different.

I was here for one reason and one reason only.

Mattheo.

The moment he walked into the room, a wave of energy swept through me, pulling my attention away from the chaos that surrounded us.

I watched him glide effortlessly into the crowd, laughter rippling out like a wake behind him.

His smile made it feel warmer somehow, but it wasn't the same smile as he gave me.

I may not have cared for parties, but if it meant catching a glimpse of him, even just for a moment, then maybe this night wouldn't be such a waste after all.

I watched as he walked over to the bar, with Draco and Lorenzo, as he scanned the room, I hoped looking for me too.

He grabbed a drink from Lorenzo and turned at an angle that allowed him to see me completely.

Which right in this moment, was anything but good.

Because all I heard was, "Alex!" Anthony Eldrigde, a fellow Ravenclaw boy who could never take the hint, "Was hoping to run into you!

I couldn't help the deep sigh I let out, "Hi, Anthony."

Anthony's voice was cheerful, but it grated on me, slicing through the warmth of the moment I had been sharing with Mattheo.

I plastered on a polite smile, but my gaze kept drifting back to Mattheo, who appeared to be studying me intently from across the room.

He didn't look happy.

"You look beautiful, as always. I was just thinking we should catch up more often. You know, hang out," Anthony continued, leaning closer as though trying to close the invisible gap that I was desperately attempting to widen.