Mattheo Riddle - Imagines/OneShot

Eyes that Linger

 Word Count: 729

Song Inspo: ANXIETY - Sleepy Hallow ft. Doechii / Anxiety| Coven Music Session - Doechii

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Y/N felt it again. That strange, prickling sensation at the nape of her neck, the weight of invisible eyes tracing her every move. It clung to her like a shadow, lurking behind every corner, creeping into every quiet moment. It had started subtly—an uneasy feeling when she walked through the halls of Hogwarts. She used to ignore it–thinking nothing of it, but now, it was constant. An undeniable presence. Someone was watching her.

She had first noticed it in the library, the weight of unseen eyes pressing against her back as she flipped through the pages of a book she couldn't even focus on. Sitting across from her in the library, Mattheo Riddle watched as she nervously tapped her fingers against the worn wooden table. "Y/N, you're spiraling," he muttered, flipping a page in his book. "It's just anxiety. You've been stressed out lately."

"No," she said firmly, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's not like that."

Mattheo arched a dark brow at her. "Then what is it?"

Y/N gleaned around, her heart hammering in her chest. "Whoever–whatever–is watching me...they know things, Mattheo. They anticipate my every move. It's like they know how I feel before I even do."

He scoffed, closing his book. "That sounds insane."

"But it's real," she insisted. "When I turn a corner, I feel them shift before I even step forward. When I get angry, I can sense their anticipation, like they're waiting for my reaction."

Mattheo studied her, the teasing glint in his eyes slowly fading. "You're serious."

Y/N nodded, gripping the edge of the table. "They know me too well. It's not just someone lurking in the shadows, Mattheo. It's something else."

The following week, Y/N felt the presence again, in the Great Hall, when she reached for her goblet, only to feel an unexplainable tension in the air, as if someone already knew she'd do it.

It wasn't paranoia. It wasn't anxiety. This was something else entirely.

"Mattheo," she whispered, gripping his sleeve as they sat outside in the courtyard. The sun had long since set, casting the world in hues of silver and deep blue. "Someone is watching me."

Mattheo exhaled, rubbing his temple. "Angel, we've been over this. It's just your mind playing tricks on you."

"No," she snapped, more forcefully than she intended. "This is different. Whoever it is—they know me. They don't just watch, they anticipate. It's like they can feel what I feel before I even react."

His dark brows knitted together, as they did a week ago, the usual amusement replaced by a flicker of concern once more. "Y/N—"

"You don't believe me," she muttered, looking down and fiddling with her fingers.

He sighed, running a hand through his curls before shifting closer to her side, his arm wrapping around her protectively. "I believe you think this is real," he admitted. "But no one here knows you that well except me."

That was the problem. Whoever was watching her knew her in ways even Mattheo couldn't. They could sense her fear before it formed, feel the anger bubbling inside her before she even spoke. It was a presence she couldn't define, yet it was always there.

Always watching.

The feeling surged again, stronger this time, like a hand brushing against the back of her neck. Her breath hitched. Slowly, she stood up and began walking towards the exit of the castle, looking beyond the trees, past the dark path that led into the dark forest.

And then—her gaze shifted beyond even that.

Beyond the world she knew.

She saw you.

Her lips parted slightly, her expression shifting from confusion to realization. The answer had been right in front of her all along.

"You," she murmured, locking eyes with someone—or something—that shouldn't be there.

Mattheo followed her gaze but saw nothing. "Y/N? Who are you talking to?"

A slow smirk tugged at her lips. Her pulse calmed, as if the answer had settled every uneasy thought she had.

"All this time, it was you, wasn't it?" she whispered, tilting her head slightly. "Watching me. Following my every move."

She exhaled a quiet laugh, one that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Tell me," she continued, voice barely above a breath. "Do you enjoy it? Seeing how my story unfolds?"

Her fingers curled into her palms as she leaned forward ever so slightly, staring directly at the one who had been watching.

"Because now," she murmured, her smile sharpening, "I'm watching you too."

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I wanted to try something different, breaking the 4th wall type of vibe. Also, I've been obsessed with the way Doechii sings anxiety

I hope you enjoyed!

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