Mattheo Riddle One Shots

Paper Rings

Warnings: none

Summary: based on the song Paper Rings by Taylor Swift.

Words: 1526

The Great Hall was buzzing with chatter, the usual chaos of students rushing between meals, exchanging news of the latest gossip, and discussing their studies. But there was one voice Y/N couldn't help but notice—the sound of Mattheo Riddle laughing, low and hushed, over at the Slytherin table.

Her heart skipped a beat, just as it always did when he was around. Mattheo, with his tousled hair and mischievous smile, seemed to effortlessly command attention. But it wasn't his looks that drew Y/N in. No, it was the way he could make her feel like the only person in the room, even though he rarely said more than a few words to her.

Y/N had known him for years—had always been aware of him, even before the sparks between them began to fly. They weren't friends. Not really. They were acquaintances at best, with an undeniable chemistry that both of them were trying to ignore.

But this year? Something had changed.

It started with small things. Mattheo's eyes lingering just a second too long across the common room. The way his smirk softened when she spoke. The subtle shifts in the way he treated her, like there was something more he wanted to say but never quite managed.

And now, sitting across from him at the table, Y/N could feel the electricity between them—tension, unspoken and heavy, in the air.

"You've been awfully quiet," Mattheo remarked casually, his voice low but his eyes playful. "Are you afraid you'll say something stupid in front of me?"

Y/N chuckled, trying to ignore the heat rising in her cheeks. "Not afraid. Just... thinking."

"About me?" he teased, quirking an eyebrow.

Y/N's smile widened, but she quickly turned away, pretending to focus on her meal. "I don't know about you, but I don't make a habit of thinking about Slytherins."

Mattheo grinned, but there was something in the way he looked at her that told her he didn't mind the playful banter. He leaned closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "Is that so? Because I've been thinking about you a lot lately, Y/N."

Her breath caught in her throat, and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Had he really just said that?

She stared into her glass, not knowing whether to laugh or to feel the butterflies in her stomach. She wanted to reply with something clever—something sarcastic, like usual. But all that came out was a soft, "Oh?"

Mattheo just chuckled, his voice full of amusement and something else she couldn't quite place.

December 22nd – The Christmas Ball

The night of the Christmas Ball had arrived, and Hogwarts was twinkling with magic. The grand hall was decorated with glittering lights, hanging mistletoe, and garlands of enchanted snowflakes that shimmered against the candles' glow. The atmosphere was filled with excitement, and students filled the room, laughing and dancing.

Y/N had spent the last hour carefully navigating through the crowd, avoiding eye contact with anyone she didn't feel like talking to. She had come to the ball with one thing in mind—have fun. She didn't expect anything else. Not tonight. But as she was about to grab a drink from the punch bowl, she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Y/N," came Mattheo's voice, smooth and inviting.

She turned to face him, her heart rate picking up at the sight of him standing there in a perfectly tailored black suit. His usual cocky demeanor was softened, his eyes holding a glint of something deeper. He looked... different. More like someone she could actually talk to.