A heart beneath the mark

11. Part

The next day, I dragged myself through the corridors of Hogwarts, each step a reminder of the throbbing headache and bruised knuckles from my encounter with Mattheo Riddle. My schedule felt like a punishment: Charms, Transfiguration, History of Magic, and even Ancient Runes. Each class blended into the next, a monotonous drone of lectures and incantations, but one thought loomed above all else: my impending detention with Mattheo Riddle.

As I entered Potions, the air was thick with the acrid smell of potion ingredients. I couldn't shake the image of Riddle's infuriating smirk from my mind. I was so relieved that I didn't had to sit next to him today. Each time I glanced over at the Slytherin table, I half-expected to see him snickering with his friends, reveling in my discomfort.

Finally, the clock struck the dreaded hour, and my stomach twisted as I made my way to the dungeons. The cold, dimly lit corridor felt oppressive, the stone walls seeming to close in around me. With a deep breath, I pushed open the heavy door to the classroom, and my heart sank. Riddle was already there, leaning against one of the worktables, his posture relaxed and arrogant, that insufferable smirk plastered across his face. His dark hair fell carelessly over his forehead, and the flicker of amusement in his eyes only fueled my anger as he took in my disheveled appearance.

"Look who decided to join me," he drawled, his tone mocking.

Snape loomed nearby, his presence sucking the air from the room. "Miss Bennett, I trust you understand why you're here. Due to yesterday's... display, you will be completing an extra set of essays on potion theory," he said, his voice cold and unforgiving. "And I'll tolerate no disturbances tonight. Understood?"

I nodded stiffly, taking a seat across the table from Riddle, my resolve hardening. I was determined to ignore him, to focus solely on the task at hand.

But, of course, that was wishful thinking. Not even five minutes had passed before a crumpled piece of parchment slid across the table toward me. I glared at it, knowing who it was from, but my curiosity got the better of me. I reluctantly opened it, revealing his scrawled handwriting that dripped with sarcasm.

This is all your fault, you know. If you hadn't been so desperate to land a punch, neither of us would be here.

I clenched my jaw, fury boiling inside me as I scribbled back furiously. Maybe if you didn't manipulate my sister, we wouldn't be here either. I flicked the note back at him, my heart racing as I waited for his response.

Another note came almost instantly. I didn't force her to believe those things. Maybe she's just finally realizing the truth about you.

That did it. My hands trembled with rage as I shot back, You don't know anything about me or Gwen. All you care about is getting under my skin.

His smirk faded, and I saw a dangerous flash in his eyes as he wrote something longer this time. The paper landed in front of me, his handwriting sharper and more aggressive.

You're not the victim here, Bennett. You think you can just throw punches and call me a coward? Maybe you should take a look at yourself.

My cheeks flushed with anger, and I gripped my quill so tightly I thought it might snap. How dare he? Before I could think better of it, I began furiously scribbling a retort, but Snape's voice cut through the tension like a blade.

"Since you two can't seem to manage silence, I have an assignment. You will work together on a potion project," he announced, his expression unreadable but undoubtedly pleased at our squabble. "In 3 days, you will present it in Professor Slughorn's class. I expect it to be thorough and well-prepared."

I opened my mouth to protest, but Snape's piercing glare silenced me. Mattheo looked equally displeased, but there was a glint in his eye, as if he relished the thought of torturing me further.

When Snape left us alone to start on the project, Mattheo leaned in, a wicked smile curving his lips. "Guess we're going to be spending a lot of time together, aren't we?"

"Like I have a choice," I shot back, my irritation flaring. "I'd rather drink a potion that turns me into a toad than work with you, Riddle. You're the most insufferable person I've ever met, and I won't hesitate to make that clear."

He chuckled, clearly unbothered by my venom. "That's cute, Bennett. But let's be honest. You think your little insults can hurt me? You're just trying to mask your own insecurities by lashing out. Pathetic."

I leaned in, my voice low and dripping with contempt. "You know, the only thing more pathetic than you is how you get your kicks by playing with people's lives. Manipulating my sister like a puppet just to get a rise out of me? How low can you go? You might be a pureblood prince in your own mind, but I see you for what you really are: a spoiled little brat too cowardly to face your own demons."

His eyes narrowed, a flicker of genuine anger flashing across his face. "You think you know me, Bennett? You don't know a damn thing about what I've faced. You're just another pathetic girl trying to make herself feel superior by pretending to stand up to me. But here's a reality check: I'm not the one with the problem."

My heart raced, the tension between us electric. "You're right about one thing: I'm not the problem. That title belongs to you, Riddle. You're nothing but a bully who hides behind his family name, and I won't let you intimidate me. You'll never be anything but a coward."

His expression shifted, surprise mingling with anger, but I didn't care. I had finally said what I needed to say. With that, I turned my attention back to the cauldron in front of us, my heart pounding in my chest, ready to prove that I could be more than just a target for his twisted games. The stakes were higher than ever, and I was determined to show him that I wouldn't back down.