The Serpent & Hawke | Mattheo Riddle | Enemies to lovers

Part 29 - Chaos reigned

Mattheo's POV

I rapped my knuckles sharply on Professor Snape's office door.

His scowled "Enter" slithered through the wood, and I pushed the door open, stepping into the dimly lit chamber.

Snape sat at his desk, quill in hand, his lank hair falling forward to obscure his face.

He looked up slowly, his dark eyes glittering with barely concealed disdain.

"Riddle." He drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What a pleasant surprise."

I approached his desk, sliding my hands into my pockets in a show of casual indifference that I didn't quite feel.

"I wanted to ask about Corrina, do you know how she's doing?" I said, keeping my face expressionless, a mask.

Snape dipped his quill into an ink pot, the scratch of nib on parchment grating on my nerves.

"And why would I indulge you with that information?" He asked, not bothering to look up.

"Because I want to know." I replied, irritation seeping into my tone despite my best efforts.

"Well, some might assume you feel guilty for leaving such a thing in the middle of the library." He continued, his quill never pausing in its dance across the page.

I rolled my eyes, exasperation bubbling up. "It was Malfoy, he stole it from my room."

The quill stopped for a moment, and I could almost see the cogs turning in Snape's mind.

"Blaming someone else for your foolish mistakes doesn't make up for the fact a girl is in hospital." He said, his tone cold and cutting.

Something in me snapped.

In one fluid motion, I pulled my wand from my cloak pocket and flicked it at the door.

It slammed shut with a satisfying bang, a velvety silencing charm glossing over it, ensuring our privacy.

Snape's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing as he finally gave me his full attention.

He set down his quill with deliberate slowness, a clear challenge in his gaze.

"Don't act like you don't know what's going on."

I snarled, taking a deliberate step towards his desk.

"Dumbledore said there have been other attempts to have him killed. Clearly, they have all failed. And I assume it's either Malfoy or you fucking them up." I showed no sign of hesitancy, my voice low and dangerous.

I needed Snape to think - no, know - I was on my fathers side, and I wasn't the one who messed up his plan, even if I was never going to give the necklace to Dumbledore...

Professor Snape rose from his chair, his tall frame unfolding like a predatory bird. "Mind your tone, Riddle." He warned, but I was beyond caring.

"If Malfoy hadn't stolen the necklace, I would've had Dumbledore dead before his midnight snack." I continued, taking another step forward. "I've noticed you've been very distant this term, Professor. Has my father ordered you to stop keeping a watch on me?"

Snape's eyes narrowed to slits. "My priorities are elsewhere at this time, Riddle. I do not have time to babysit petulant children."

His words stung, but I pressed on. "Dumbledore said he knew I had the necklace...Why didn't he take it from me?"

Snape walked around the desk, his movements slow and deliberate.

"Because he is testing you." He said. "He wanted to see if you would give it to him or not. It's a good thing you didn't...He somehow thinks he can trust you, which, in a sense, gives you the upper hand. Your father, the upper hand."