A heart beneath the mark

10. Part

The cold dungeon air wrapped around me as I hurried toward the Slytherin common room, the sound of my footsteps echoing off the stone walls. My heart pounded harder with each step, the realization that I was about to confront my own sister gnawing at me. What would I even say? How could I accuse her of something like this? But I had to know. I couldn't live in this doubt anymore.

As I approached the entrance, I spotted Mattheo leaning against the wall, his usual smug expression plastered across his face. His eyes darkened when he noticed me.

"What are you doing here, Bennett?" he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.

I didn't have time for his arrogance. "I'm here to see my sister," I said, my voice sharper than usual. "Now move."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by my defiance. "Your sister? What business could a little Ravenclaw like you possibly have in Slytherin?"

I stepped closer, fire burning in my veins. "I'm not here for you, Riddle. I need to talk to Gwen. Now get out of my way."

His smirk only deepened. "You've got some nerve, Bennett. But I'm not moving."

Before I could snap back at him, I heard a voice from behind me. "Hannah?"

I spun around, and there she was—Gwen, standing just a few feet away. She looked startled, like she'd been caught doing something she wasn't supposed to. Guilt flashed across her face, and my suspicions flared into certainty.

"Gwen," I said, my voice trembling. "Did you do it? Did you spread those rumors?"

Her eyes welled up with tears as she avoided my gaze. "Hannah, I—"

"Answer me!" I demanded, my voice louder than I intended. My hands were shaking, and I clenched them into fists to steady myself. "How could you? You're my sister!"

Gwen finally looked up, tears streaming down her face. "I didn't mean for it to get so bad," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I just... I was jealous. You've always been the perfect one, and I felt like... like you didn't even care about me."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Jealous? My own sister was jealous of me?

"Gwen, that's not true!" I shouted, my frustration boiling over. "I've always been there for you! I've always supported you!"

"You don't get it!" she cried, wiping at her tears with the back of her hand. "Everyone looks at you like you're so perfect. You get the grades, you have the friends, the teachers love you. I was tired of being in your shadow!"

I stared at her, my mind spinning. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "So you decided to ruin my life because of some stupid jealousy?" I hissed.

Before she could respond, her next words stopped me cold.

"Mattheo told me everything," she blurted out. "He said you're always talking about me behind my back, that you think I'm a burden, that—"

My blood ran cold. Riddle. Of course. He'd planted all this in her head. My jaw clenched with rage. "What did he say to you, Gwen? Tell me everything."

Gwen hesitated, but then the words came spilling out. She told me about Mattheo's lies—how he'd twisted our sibling rivalry, feeding her insecurities and convincing her I despised her. How he manipulated her into spreading the rumors.

By the time she finished, I was seething. I didn't even let her finish her apology before I stormed off, heading straight back toward the Slytherin common room.
I stormed toward common room, my heart pounding with a mixture of anger and determination. I couldn't believe the audacity of Mattheo Riddle. The way he toyed with Gwen's feelings, planting seeds of doubt and jealousy, made my blood boil. My hands trembled at my sides, but I clenched them into fists, unwilling to let him see how much he affected me.

As I pushed open the heavy door to the common room, the sound echoed off the stone walls. Students were scattered around, chatting and laughing, but my focus zeroed in on Riddle, who lounged on one of the leather couches with that insufferable smirk on his face. He was surrounded by a few of his friends, including Theo, who seemed utterly bored.

"Riddle!" I shouted, my voice cutting through the chatter like a knife. Every muscle in my body tensed as I strode toward him, my anger fueling my steps.

His eyes lit up with amusement as he turned to me. "Well, well, if it isn't the perfect Bennett. Come to lecture me on how to treat your sister?"

Without a moment's hesitation, I lunged forward, swinging my fist at his face. My punch connected solidly, and a rush of adrenaline surged through me as I saw the shock register on his features. But that moment of triumph was short-lived; he recovered quickly, catching my wrist in a vice-like grip, his eyes narrowing in anger.

"Easy there, Bennett," he taunted, leaning in closer, his breath warm against my skin. "You wouldn't want to hurt yourself, would you?"

"Let go of me!" I shouted, trying to yank my arm free, but he tightened his grip just enough to keep me in place. My heart raced with anger, and I was determined to break free.

"Make me," he challenged, his expression darkening.

Fueled by frustration, I raised my knee and kicked him hard in the shin. "You think you can just mess with my sister's head and get away with it?"

He stumbled back slightly, releasing my wrist, and I relished the brief moment of victory. But as soon as he regained his balance, a furious expression crossed his face.

"Don't think you can just walk away after that," he growled, taking a step toward me. I could see the tension in his shoulders and the way his fists clenched at his sides.

In a surge of anger, I swung my fist again, aiming directly for his nose. This time, he tried to catch my wrist again, but I was faster. My knuckles collided with the bridge of his nose, and I felt a rush of satisfaction as he staggered back, surprise flashing across his face.

"You have no idea what you're getting yourself into, Bennett!" he yelled, anger radiating off him.

"Maybe I do!" I shot back, adrenaline coursing through my veins. "You're nothing but a coward hiding behind your manipulative games!"

As I readied myself for another strike, he stepped forward, grabbing my shoulders with surprising force. "You think you can just hit me and walk away?" His face was inches from mine, and I could see the fury in his eyes.

But I wasn't afraid. "I'll hit you again if you don't stop messing with my sister!"

Suddenly, the heavy door swung open, and Professor McGonagall entered, her piercing gaze immediately assessing the chaotic scene. My heart dropped, knowing we'd been caught.

"What's going on here?" she demanded, her voice stern.

I took a deep breath, desperate to explain. "He's been spreading lies about my sister! He was just—"

"Enough," McGonagall interrupted, raising her hand to silence me. "I will not have any more fighting in my common rooms." She turned her attention to Mattheo, who was now pressing a hand to his bleeding nose. My anger flared again, but I held my tongue, not wanting to give him any more satisfaction.

"Riddle, you should know better than to provoke others. And you, Bennett, need to learn to control your temper."

I opened my mouth to protest, but McGonagall held up her hand again, cutting me off. "No buts. Both of you will serve detention tomorrow evening." She glanced around at the students who had gathered to witness the confrontation. "I expect this behavior to cease immediately. Now, back to your conversations."

As McGonagall strode away, I shot one last glare at Mattheo, who was still recovering from my punch, a hand pressed against his nose.

"See you at detention, Bennett," he called out, clearly unfazed by the consequences of our confrontation.

I couldn't take it anymore. "You think this is funny? You're nothing but a coward, Riddle!" I shouted over my shoulder, my heart racing not just with anger but with an unwanted surge of something else—something I hated to admit.

As I made my way back to the Ravenclaw common room, my thoughts raced. Why did he have to be so infuriatingly attractive? And why did I always feel this inexplicable connection to him, even when he was being the worst kind of jerk?

But I shoved those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the fact that I would not let him get away with hurting Gwen.