Tainted-Mattheo Riddle

09|Lily

I haven't visited Mattheo in a couple days. Voldemort is appearing in my sight every time I blink now. It's getting scary now and I don't know what to do.
Melanie came towards me "Are you okay?" She asked "You look like you are thinking too hard" She said. "I made Mattheo faint during a practice duel" I explained. Melanie let out a laugh.  "How did you managed that?" As Melanie asked Lorenzo Berkshire walked past us and muttered "Stupid Mudblood."
Melanie Rolled her eyes "Some people are so immature" Melanie said. Melanie was born with two muggle parents. Lorenzo never lets her forget it though. He refuses to call her by her name no matter how much she corrects him. "Have you given up on correcting him?" I asked. "No of course not but I will not give him the pleasure of my reaction while you are confiding in me" Melanie explained.

"Why did Mattheo faint?" Melanie asked. "I casted a shield spell on myself and he just fainted. Professor Lupin said the shield caused Mattheo to relive a suppressed memory" I explained. "Did he tell you what the memory was?" She asked. I shook my head "No, I didn't ask either but while he was sleeping he looked like he was having a nightmare."
I don't know why his face softened when I held his hand but it did. I don't know why I can't get the guts to visit him. I mean it wasn't my fault right? I blinked and I saw the white face that I've been seeing a lot lately.
"You look like you just saw a ghost" Melanie commented. "That's because she saw your Mudblood face" Lorenzo said walking past her. "At least my face doesn't look a tragic accident" Melanie shot back.
"He is so immature" He added.
-
I walked around the halls to my dorm room when Professor Lupin saw me make a face when I saw Voldemorts face. "Lily are you okay?" Professor Lupin asked. "I am well Professor Lupin" I replied. He didn't look convinced. "Lily, I know my students well enough to see when something's bothering them. And you are most certainly not fine," he said gently, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I am really fine Professor" I insisted. I closed my eyes and saw his face again. That deadly glare it was as if I was being told to stay away from Mattheo and that's what I'll do. Stay away from Mattheo. "I'll be going to my dorm" I said walking past Professor Lupin.

I couldn't be near Mattheo. I'll ask to switch partners with Draco. Ron and I will be partners and that's it. I walked past Theo and His girlfriend Pearl. "Lily" Theo said but I kept walking. I heard Pearl whisper something before walking to me. "Hey Lily, you haven't visited Mattheo in awhile and Theo just wanted to tell you that he's recovering fast" Pearl said her voice sweet. "That's great" I responded "You should visit" she said "he is recovering but he seems well stressed" She added. "I can't I'm sorry" I replied "Why not?" she asked. "I can't tell you I'm sorry" I replied. She frowned "You should tell someone what's been happening you also seem stressed" she said. I never talked to Pearl before all I knew about her is that before Theo she had the perfect muggle boyfriend but her eyes were blankly dead whenever she looked at her muggle boyfriend. From what I see now she looks at Theo with love. "I've talked to someone about already" I lied. I only told Harry about it but I didn't tell him it was getting worse. Pearl smiled "Remember you can talk to me anytime" she said with a small quiet smile before walking quickly back to Theo then holing his hand affectionately. She looked at him with Rose colored glasses. For a fleeting moment, I envied her. Pearl seemed to have everything figured out, and here I was, sinking further into my own fear and confusion.

I walked to hufflepuff's common room and sat down. I ran my hand through my long blonde hair trying to smooth it down. I knew I should go and visit Mattheo but I couldn't handle seeing his father's face. Why was his father haunting me?
-
"Harry I need to tell you something" I said and he looked at me "What is it?" Harry asked. "It's been getting worse I see He who shall not be named's face every time I blink now" I explained. "Come with me we're telling Professor Lupin now" Harry said grabbing a hold of my hand.

He and I walked to where Professor Lupin was. "Professor" Harry said "Lily has been seeing Voldemorts face whenever she blinks" Harry explained. Professor Lupin dropped what he was doing "How long has this been going on?" He asked. Professor Lupin had a look of concern on his face. "Awhile but at first it was just flashes of his face" I explained "But now every time I close my eyes I see him" I explained. "It gets worse the more I think about Mattheo" I added. At that, Professor Lupin's brow furrowed. "Mattheo Riddle?" I nodded "Yes, I've been avoiding Mattheo but it still won't stop." Harry, who had been standing silently, suddenly spoke. "Do you think this is connected to Voldemort? Like how he used to get into my head?" Professor Lupin nodded "It could be. Voldemort has a history of manipulating minds, particularly those he perceives as threats—or tools,"
"We'll have to report this to dumbledore" He added. "What will happen to me?" I asked. Professor Lupin's expression softened, though the concern in his eyes didn't waver. "Lily, nothing will happen to you that we can't manage," he assured me. "But we need to understand what's causing this. If Voldemort is trying to reach you, Dumbledore is the best person to help protect your mind and figure out why."
"Harry go to your Dorm I will take Lily to Dumbledore" Professor Lupin said.
-
I was in Dumbledore's office as Professor Lupin explained everything. When Professor Lupin finished, Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, the faint creak of the wood breaking the silence. He regarded me for a moment before speaking. "I understand that this must be frightening for you Ms.Meadow" He said calmly. "Frightening?" I echoed, my voice shaking as I clenched my hands in my lap. "It's terrifying," I admitted, my words tumbling out before I could stop them. Dumbledore nodded slowly, his expression softening. "Your feelings are valid, Ms. Meadow, and I will do everything in my power to address this," he assured me. "However," he continued, his tone growing more serious, "Mattheo is not his father, though the connection cannot be ignored. Until we sort this out, I strongly advise you to limit your interactions with him." I looked at Dumbledore with uncertainty "How will you sort it out?" I asked. "Voldemort could be manipulating my mind right now"Dumbledore's eyes darkened, a flash of something unreadable passing over his face. "That is a possibility we cannot dismiss," he admitted gravely. "I will teach you methods to block his manipulation of your mind for now a protection spell and to Limit your interactions with Mattheo will be best" Dumbledore advised.

"This spell, Protego Mentis, will act as a temporary barrier around your mind," Dumbledore explained, drawing his wand. "Now it won't hurt but you will feel some pressure, like a shield being placed over your thoughts" He added. He raised his wand and as he flicked it he said "Protego Mentis!"