Bound By Blood.

ch. 38~ I don't want this.

"You think I want to be reminded of you?

Of that night, of anything?

Especially after what I seen the other night? What you turned into?

I don't, I don't want this."

Recovered Translated correspondents between Death Eater Mattheo Riddle, to Order Member Alexandra Brooks, 2003.

Riddle Manor, 2003.

Mattheo.

My gaze didn't leave my office window, watching that damn snow fall. 

Watching, remembering, cursing it. 

The fucking snow. 

The irony of it all was almost comical. 

How of all days, the skies chose today to snow.

It wasn't due to snow for a few weeks at least, yet here it was.

Mocking me. 

How right after I held her, right after she took out two of my men without blinking an eye, right after she left... it began to fall. 

As if to remind me, how different it all was now. 

How different she was. 

The door creaked open, breaking my focus. I turned slightly, my heart still racing as I felt the weight of the moment hang in the air like a bitter cloud.

"Mattheo," my father's voice cut through the stillness. 

He stood in the doorway, flanked by Draco, who wore a cocky smirk as he leaned casually against the wall. 

My father's presence loomed over me like a storm cloud.

"How is it that two of my men are dead?" Voldemort demanded, his eyes narrowed. 

I could practically feel the heat of his anger radiating across the room, mingling with the chill of the falling snow.

The fucking snow. 

"It was a setup," I replied, trying to keep my tone steady, but knowing I was treading a fine line. "A laid trap meant to draw us out."

His anger radiated like a palpable force. "And you let this happen?"

"It wasn't just me," I said, daring to meet his gaze. "We were all caught off guard, our information was wrong."

His expression darkened further, the shadows of fury gathering around him. 

"You think I care for excuses? If it ever happens again, Mattheo..." He paused, letting the weight of his words hang between us like a blade poised to strike. "I will hold you responsible. Understand? Or should I assure you do?"

I nodded, throat tight. "Understood, Father."

"Good." He turned sharply, his cloak billowing as he left the room, the door slamming shut behind him with a resounding finality.

The air shifted as Draco stepped forward, the smirk still playing at the corners of his lips. 

"Well, that was quite the performance," he said, folding his arms. "Theo filled me in on the details of what went down."

Of course he fucking did.

"Brooks set this up?" he almost laughed. 

My annoyance flared at his tone. "She herself didn't, the order did, she just... she was there."