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THE WIND HOWLED as the bitter chill of winter swept across the hogwarts grounds, sneaking into the corridors and biting at the exposed faces of students. you huddled deeper into your oversized robes, clutching your books tightly as you made your way to your next class. first year had not been kind. the magical world still felt foreign, overwhelming. your shy nature had made it difficult to find your place among the other students, and the slytherins, with their sharp tongues and sharper stares, didn't make things any easier.
"look who it is." a sneering voice called out from behind, sending a wave of dread washing over you.
you knew exactly who it was before you even turned around - landon burke, a towering second-year boy with a cruel smirk that twisted his freckled face into something ugly. he and his group had taken an immediate liking to tormenting you since your arrival at hogwarts, knowing full well how nervous and vulnerable you were.
"what's the matter? lost, little firstie?" he taunted, stepping closer with his cronies snickering behind him. they circled you like vultures, eyes gleaming with amusement at your unease. "don't tell me you still haven't figured out your place here."
you tried to back away, heart racing, but landon shoved your shoulder hard, causing you to stumble and nearly fall.
"leave me alone." you muttered, barely audible, cheeks burning with humiliation as you righted yourself. your stomach twisted in knots. why couldn't you stand up for yourself? why were you always the target?
"aw, did i hurt your feelings?" landon mocked, drawing out every syllable with relish. his wand slipped from his sleeve, flicking carelessly toward you. "maybe a nice little jinx will teach you to speak up properly."
before you could react, a sharp voice cut through the air like a whip, freezing landon in his tracks. "touch her again, and i'll hex you so hard you won't know what day it is."
the voice was young but dripping with menace, and for a moment, you weren't sure who it belonged to. then, out of the shadows of the corridor, mattheo riddle stepped forward. he was still small then, just as much a first-year as you were, but there was something fierce in his dark eyes, something that made landon hesitate.
mattheo's wand was already in his hand, gripped tight with white knuckles. his jaw clenched, and though his face remained calm, there was an underlying intensity that even landon wasn't willing to test.
"get lost, burke," mattheo growled, taking a step closer, his gaze locked on the older boy. "before i make you regret it."
for a brief moment, landon looked like he might argue, but the way mattheo stood, unwavering, a barely restrained fury simmering beneath his surface, was enough to send him packing with his tail between his legs.
"you'll regret this, riddle," landon spat, backing away with a glower, his cronies following closely behind. "both of you."
as soon as they were gone, the tension in the air dissipated, leaving you standing awkwardly in the now-empty corridor with mattheo. he turned to you, a little smile tugging at the corners of his lips. his dark hair fell messily over his forehead, and though he wasn't as tall or intimidating as the boy who had just slunk off, there was something solid and unshakable about him.
