Hogwarts Adventures

Chapter 7: Meeting

Jenna Albright stormed through the long hallways of Hogwarts, her footsteps echoing against the stone floors as she fought to hold back her tears. Jack's harsh words still rang in her ears. Jack and layla. She could believe it.

She pushed open the door to the swimming pool, seeking a quiet place to clear her thoughts. The pool was nearly empty, except for one figure sitting high up in the stands, gazing out of the enormous window that overlooked the lake beyond Hogwarts. The setting sun bathed the water in a warm, golden light, gently rippling with the breeze. She didn't recognize the boy at first, but it didn't matter to her in that moment.

With trembling hands, Jenna wiped the tears from her face and sat down on a bench by the pool's edge. Her eyes wandered to the boy in the stands, who seemed to notice her, now watching her with a thoughtful expression. His face was calm, almost contemplative, as he looked down at her.

"Don't you have anything better to do than eavesdrop on other people?" she snapped, her voice sharper than she intended. Anger and frustration from her fight with Jack still lingered in her tone.

The boy's expression barely changed as he continued watching her, his eyes steady and unflinching. After a pause, he stood up and made his way down the stairs, his footsteps soft and unhurried as he approached. As he came closer, Jenna finally recognized him—the sharp features, the intense gray eyes, and the unmistakable air of confidence. Mattheo Riddle.

"Eavesdropping? Hardly," he replied, his voice calm and low. "I was here first. You're the one who barged in."

Jenna huffed and looked away, feeling her cheeks flush with both anger and embarrassment. The last thing she needed right now was another confrontation. She crossed her arms, focusing on the gentle ripples across the pool. But Mattheo didn't move. Instead, he leaned against the wall, his gaze steady and unrelenting.

After a moment of silence, he spoke again, his tone softer but still carrying an edge. "So, who's the idiot that made you cry?"

Jenna's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected that—least of all from Mattheo. She swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's... it's nothing."

"Let me guess," Mattheo said, his lips curving slightly. "Your golden boy of a boyfriend did something stupid?"

She shot him a glare, but the pain in her chest dulled her usual sharpness. "You wouldn't understand."

"Maybe not," he replied, shrugging. "But I've seen enough people like him to know how they think. Always so perfect on the outside, but they can't handle when things don't go their way."

Jenna felt a pang of both irritation and agreement. "You don't even know him," she muttered, though even she could hear the doubt in her own voice. She took a shaky breath, finally meeting his gaze. "He's... he cheated."

Mattheo's face remained neutral, but his eyes darkened slightly, a flash of something unreadable passing through them. "Sounds like he doesn't deserve you, then."

Jenna bit her lip, trying to push down the flood of emotions his words brought to the surface. She wanted to defend Jack, to cling to the comfort of familiarity, but Mattheo's words hit a nerve she couldn't ignore. She could feel herself unraveling, the walls she'd built to contain her hurt beginning to crumble.

"Why are you even here?" she asked finally, her voice softer. "You don't seem like the type to hang around a swimming pool."

Mattheo's gaze drifted out toward the large windows overlooking the lake, the fading light casting shadows across his face. "Maybe I'm here for the same reason you are. Sometimes... it's easier to be alone with your thoughts."

Jenna looked at him more closely, noticing the faint weariness in his expression, the weight he seemed to carry beneath his calm exterior. In that moment, the reputation and rumors about him faded away, leaving only a boy who looked far more complicated—and perhaps far lonelier—than she'd expected.

"Then I guess... we're both here to escape something," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

Mattheo nodded, his gaze returning to her. "Maybe."

They sat in silence, the quiet of the pool and the gentle ripples of the water a welcome contrast to the storm of emotions inside her. Jenna took a deep breath, letting herself feel the sadness, the betrayal, and the strange sense of comfort she found in Mattheo's presence.

"Thank you," she whispered, not entirely sure why she said it, but knowing it felt right.

Mattheo looked at her, his expression softening just slightly. "You don't need to thank me"

Jenna took a tentative step forward, feeling a mix of anxiety and determination. "I haven't properly introduced myself," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "My name is Jenna Albright." She extended her hand, hoping the gesture would bridge the distance between them.

Mattheo regarded her hand for a moment before taking it in his own, his grip firm but not overpowering. "I suppose you know my name already," he replied with a hint of a smirk, shaking her hand briefly. "So, an Albright, huh? I've heard quite a bit about your family. Successful father, prominent in the Ministry. Family portraits hanging in museums. Quite the influential lineage."

Jenna felt a familiar twinge of discomfort at the mention of her family's status. It was a burden she often carried, and it had shaped so much of her identity. "Yeah, that's us," she said, her tone laced with a hint of bitterness.

"Mattheo, I knew right away you were an Albright," he said, leaning against the wall with a casual confidence.

Jenna raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Why's that?"

He smirked, crossing his arms as he regarded her. "Let's see. The Ravenclaw uniform, polite to everyone, and let me guess—good grades, the best grades in the last ten years?"

Jenna couldn't help but laugh, a sound that felt foreign but refreshing. "Okay, you've got me there. I guess being an Albright comes with some expectations."

Mattheo nodded, his expression serious. "Exactly. It's like you're stuck in this mold everyone expects you to fit into. But here's the thing—you don't have to. You can break out of it."

"I know that," Jenna said, a hint of defensiveness creeping into her voice. "It's just harder than it sounds. There's so much pressure, so many eyes on you."

"Pressure can be suffocating," he replied, his gaze piercing. "But you have to decide what matters most to you. Do you want to live up to everyone else's ideals or carve out your own path?"

Jenna considered his words carefully. "I guess I've always been the responsible one, the one who followed the rules. I thought it would make my parents proud."

"And what do you want?" Mattheo asked, his tone sincere. "Not what your parents want, or what everyone else expects. What do you want?"

The question hung in the air, and Jenna felt her heart race. No one had ever asked her that before. "I... I want to explore," she admitted, the words slipping out before she could hold them back. "I want to see what's out there, what I can do beyond the confines of my name and family."

Mattheo's expression softened, and she noticed a flicker of understanding in his gray eyes. "Then why not start now? Hogwarts is full of opportunities. You don't have to be just another Albright; you can be Jenna."

She nodded slowly, her mind racing with possibilities. "You're right. I've always played it safe, but maybe it's time to take some risks. It's just... scary."

"Fear is natural," he said, his voice low and reassuring. "But it can also be a catalyst for change. You just have to embrace it instead of letting it hold you back."

Jenna felt a surge of determination at his words. "Maybe I will. Maybe I'll stop worrying about what everyone thinks and start focusing on what I want."

"That's the spirit," Mattheo said, a genuine smile breaking across his face. "And who knows? Maybe you'll surprise yourself."