Reflections - Mattheo Riddle

Interview

"Can't wait to see what Umbridge thinks of you going public," said Kirra, sounding awestruck at dinner on Monday night as Harry and Hermione tell her that Harry had spoken to Rita and Luna and were going to tell them a bunch of stuff. 

Kirra was sitting down between Fred and George, Harry had informed her that he had to talk to her about something at dinner and so here she was, and she couldn't be more happy. Seamus was shoveling down large amounts of chicken-and-ham pie on Dean's other side, but Harry knew he was listening.

"It's the right thing to do, Harry," said Neville, who was sitting opposite him. He was rather pale, but went on in a low voice, "It must have been . . . tough . . . talking about it. . . . Was it?"

"Yeah," mumbled Harry, "but people have got to know what Voldemort's capable of, haven't they?"

"That's right," said Neville, nodding, "and his Death Eaters too . . . People should know. . . ."

Neville left his sentence hanging and returned to his baked potato. Seamus looked up, but when he caught Harry's eye he looked quickly back at his plate again. After a while most of the Gryffindors departed for the common room, leaving kirra, Harry and Hermione at the table waiting for Ron, who had not yet had dinner because of Quidditch practice.

"I'll see you lot later, can't wait to read it Harry," Kirra grinned, making her way back over to the Slytherin table, telling the boys what Harry had told her. 

Kirra made her way across the Great Hall, a small smile on her face as she left Harry and Hermione behind. The chatter around the room was loud, but it didn't drown out the sound of her shoes clicking on the stone floor. She felt a strange buzz of energy—something about the air tonight made her feel lighter, despite the heavy tension looming over Hogwarts these days. Perhaps it was the thought of dinner with her boys—Mattheo, Jasper, and Theo—that was lifting her spirits.

When she reached the Slytherin table, Mattheo was already there, lounging back in his chair with his arms crossed, his dark eyes watching her approach with an almost lazy curiosity. Theo was next to him, tapping his fork absentmindedly against his plate, and Jasper was on the other side of the table, chatting with a few others but pausing when he saw her arrive.

"Well, if it isn't Miss Gryffindor buddy," Mattheo drawled, a smirk playing on his lips as Kirra sat down between him and Theo. "You looked awfully pleased with yourself over there."

Kirra grinned, leaning back in her seat as she grabbed a roll from the bread basket. "Harry's going to tell the world about You-Know-Who, Voldemort, whatever. Guess things are about to get even more interesting."

Theo raised an eyebrow, glancing over at Mattheo with a knowing look before turning back to her. "Interesting, huh? That's one way to put it. You really think Umbridge is going to let that slide?"

"Not even close," Kirra said, laughing softly. "But it's not like she has a choice, does she? Anyway, I'm not thinking about that right now. We've got dinner. That's far more important."

Jasper nudged her from across the table, raising his goblet with a smirk. "Good to see you've got your priorities straight."

Mattheo chuckled under his breath, grabbing a chicken leg off a platter and taking a bite. At least she is eating. He had to hide the twinge of sadness with his chuckles.

The four of them fell into easy conversation, the kind that only old friends could have—quick-witted banter mixed with the occasional jab, but always laced with warmth. Jasper started talking about some ridiculous thing Pansy had said in class earlier, causing Theo to choke on his drink from laughing too hard, while Mattheo and Kirra exchanged a look, silently amused by the conversation.