He might be a little vain, but he prefers to call it being "self-aware"

He's attractive and he knows it. What can he say? It's in his family's genes

In reality though, while quiet, Blaise is observant, calculating, judgmental

While refined and eloquent, Blaise has always valued being an excellent listener, and he has honed the skill

He often knows everyone's business, but keeps things close to the chest until it suits him

He's known to pull strings from the shadows and reap the rewards of popularity without being the center of attention

Blaise can also be a bit of a lone wolf at times—he appreciates solitude

But he is particularly close to Theodore Nott whose personality is rather complimentary to his own

While Draco is able to match Blaise and Theo in intellect, his extroverted nature makes it clear as to why Theo is Blaise's preferred study partner

Blaise's respect is hard to come by, but he can acknowledge and appreciate when someone like Theo is discrete and level headed

Where they differ however, is where Theo will allow himself to be dragged along into whatever foolishness Mattheo, Lorenzo, and Draco have cooked up, Blaise mostly prefers to be kept out of all the chaos

He despises carrying the weight of someone else's actions

Not necessarily because he thinks he's above it, but because he's tired of the stares and whispers

However you can find him in the Slytherin common room afterwards for the debrief, because who is he kidding, it is entertaining

On the quidditch pitch, Blaise is one of Slytherin's best

Not only is he an excellent flyer, he understands the strategy behind the game, thriving in the high-intensity environment

The quidditch pitch is one of the only places where Blaise doesn't worry about how others see him

Speaking of how others see him—like many of the other boys in his house—Blaise quickly develops a reputation for being something of a womanizer

A rumor that is no doubt sparked by a combination of his mother's antics, and the reputations of those he keeps as company

But if there's one thing that the history of his mother's relationships has taught Blaise, it is the true sanctity of a relationship

Blaise doesn't do flings or one night stands

He rather looks down on them if he's honest

But once Blaise has his mind made up about a relationship, he is in fully

He wants the relationship defined fast so he knows exactly where he stands

And he worships the ground his partner walks on

Dedicated, loyal

It's easy to assume that Blaise would be the extremely jealous, and untrusting type given the example his mother set

But Blaise is comfortable and secure

Mostly because he's completely confident, with absolutely no uncertainty that there is no one better then him

A proper relationship is difficult for Blaise at first—he's used to being on the outskirts, watching from a far

It's hard to let someone in past the surface

But once he does, the feeling of having a true confidant is like having a weight physically removed from his chest

Mattheo

Mattheo tilts his head from the wall he’s leaning against, cigarette loosely between his fingers. His eyes linger on the cat, gracefully sitting on the desk. The school day and detention had been long and this quiet moment with the cat as a silent companion brought a surprising feeling of peace to his mind and heart, but not for long…

You turn back to your human form, a soft hiss leaving your lips as you can finally support your right wrist. You squeeze it gently and caress it hoping to ease the pain a bit. You were only wearing an oversized t-shirt so you had to regain your strength so you could turn back to your animagus form to finish your journey to your dorm. You were too focused on your pain and the fact that you had to turn back as soon as possible to notice Mattheo gawking. It’s only when he shifts slightly to get rid of his cigarette that you notice something in the corner of your eye.

You jump up and Mattheo immediately raises his hands to reassure you. “It’s me. Relax. You’re okay.” You're holding your wrist tightly and he can see the absolute fear in your eyes. “You didn’t see anything.” You ask but it sounds more like a statement instead of a question and he just nods. “Nothing.” He calms you, but you know he was there the whole time. “I didn’t see you. The classroom was empty. How did I not see you?” Mattheo takes a few steps closer. “Don’t worry about that. You’re hurt.” Mattheo’s eyes move to your hand tightly wrapped around your pained wrist. 

You look at your wrist, like you had forgotten all about it for a second. “You’re Mattheo Riddle.” You whisper when realisation hits you about who you’re talking to. He’s hurt by how much more frightened you look right now. He had a mad crush on you but had always kept his distance. You hung out with different people and he honestly didn’t know if you were afraid of him because of his last name or his general bad boy reputation.

“Let me take you to the medical wing. They can take care of you there.” Mattheo offered and you just looked at him with confused eyes. He was infamous for causing trouble and not caring about a soul, but here he was gentle and helpful. “No, I’m fine.” You answer without even considering his offer for help. He looks a bit hurt, but you just clench your jaw and turn around. “I need to return to my animagus form to get to my dorm.” Mattheo frowns. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? I mean I don’t think you should put weight on your wrist- leg- paw- you know what I mean.” You can’t help but chuckle.

“I can’t exactly walk out like this.” You say sheepishly, turning a little red as you refer to your lack of clothing. Mattheo scans you carefully, making you a little uncomfortable. “I’ll be fine.” You manage to say with slight confidence. “No.” Mattheo immediately protests. “I have a better idea.”

“I’ll carry you.” 

Your little cat heart was racing and you wondered if Mattheo could feel it as he was holding your cat form carefully in his arms. “Almost there.” He whispered with a tender voice and you actually allowed yourself to enjoy his warmth as you rested your head against his upper arm. Walking around hurting had worn you out, so it was nice to have someone carry you figuratively and literally. 

Mattheo ignored the weird looks he got from people who had never guessed him for a cat person. When he arrived at the hospital wing he put you on one of the beds. Madame Pomfrey was about to lose it when she thought Mattheo had brought in a cat, but before she could yell at the slytherin she saw you turn into your human form. “Miss (y/l/n)?” 

You were surprised by how sad you were when Pomfrey sent Mattheo away. So with your wrist healed up you decided the first thing to do was search for him. At the very least you should properly thank him for taking care of you. With all fours functioning again, you could quickly move around the castle and you had a pretty good idea where the slytherin might be held up. 

As you arrived at the astronomy tower you were pleased to see that Blaise was saying his goodbyes to Mattheo. “I mean it, Matt, not too late. If you fall asleep in class and lose us house points again Draco will hurt you and I won’t stop him.” Mattheo chuckled and leaned back a bit, turning his head to yell at Blaise as he was walking down the stairs. “Alright, mum!” 

With Mattheo all alone you quietly tip toe to him and sit next to him. It takes him a second to notice that a cat had snuck up on him. He couldn’t hide his smile, but said nothing as you both stared at the night sky for a moment. “Glad your wrist- paw- Glad you’re better.” Mattheo breaks the silence.

You turn to your human form and kiss him on the cheek. “Thank you.” You bite your lip as you notice how in awe Mattheo is of you. “Your secret is safe with me.” He whispers and brushes a strand of hair behind your ear. “You are safe with me.” You press your lips into a line and nod. “I know.” You simply answer but it means the world to Mattheo. 

The next morning Mattheo would fall asleep in class, because he spent the entire evening with you. 

Blaise

His mouth fell open in admiration as he saw you turn in your human form. He had been looking for a book he had lost somewhere during the day, but none of that mattered right now. Blaise couldn’t believe what his eyes were seeing. His rival from first year, his crush since third year, his gorgeous friend, you had just turned from a cat into a human in front of his eyes. The awe for the little magical trick you had just pulled didn’t stand in the way of Blaise noticing that you were only wearing an oversized t-shirt, much to his amusement. You reach for your wrist carefully caressing it when you hear a shuffle and jump to your feet. “I knew you were a genius but an animagus, really! That’s so sweet.” 

“Blaise?” Your eyes fill with panic and you take a step back. It’s only then that Blaise’s excitement turns into worry. Out of all the people that could’ve found out it’s Blaise Zabini! “You’re hurt?” You bite your lip, not worried at all about your wrist, only about rumours spreading about you being an animagus. “Please don’t tell anyone.” Your plea is answered with a soft reassuring smile. “I won’t tell, I promise.” You had never understood why this one slytherin in all of Hogwarts had always been so sweet and nice to you. You liked to tell yourself it was because he felt guilty for blowing up your cauldron when you were first years, but now that his hand gently reached for your wrist you wondered if it could be something else… or maybe you wished it was something else.

You pull your hand to your chest and Blaise tilts his head with judging eyes. “Don’t be like that. Let me check.” As soon as you part your wrist from your chest, Blaise lays your hand in his. His free hand carefully pressures on a few points in order to examine your injury. “I was in a hurry and overconfident in my balance. I haven’t mastered every detail of life as a cat yet and probably sprained my wrist.” Blaise lips form a smirk, but he doesn’t say anything and you just frown, narrowing your eyes. “You’re lucky you have nine lives. And lucky that you ran into me when you did, because I can heal this with one spell.” His eyes shine with cockiness and his lips form a confident smirk. 

“Are you sure?” You worry out loud. “Don’t doubt my academic skills, kitten.” Your mouth drops. “Kitten?” You question, offended. However, you can’t hide the blush nor the smile sneaking on your lips. Blaise chuckles and you can’t deny the heat you feel as you lock eyes with him. You’re surprised to suddenly feel his arm around you and when he notices your confusion, he explains himself. “It’s a quick spell, but it will hurt for a split second. I think it best you lean on me for support, just to be safe.” Like the whole situation wasn’t embarrassing enough. You felt like such a damsel in distress, while you very much liked to prove to Blaise in particular that you were a very intelligent and independent witch. 

“Come on, I won’t tell anyone.” Blaise whispers and you nod. There really was no reason to not trust him since he had always been nice to you, or at least since third year. You rest your head on his shoulder and look away from your wrist, just in case he would mess up the spell and break it by accident. You hiss when he casts the spell and dig your nails into his biceps for a few seconds until the pain passes. You turn to look at him, both happy with the result and impressed by his knowledge of healing spells. “All better now.” Blaise’s beautiful smile mesmerises you for a moment and a blush creeps up his cheeks. 

“Oi Blaisy boy!” Mattheo swings the door open and immediately makes his assumptions about the scene in front of him. A wicked smile takes form on his smug face. “You finally got her. Nicceeee. I’m so sorry for interrupting, mate. Enjoy ‘looking for your book’.” Without giving either of you a chance to explain a grinning Mattheo leaves the room, not wanting to disturb his friend’s moment with you. “Oh no, Merlin please don’t tell me he’s gonna tell the whole school?” Blaise chuckles and shakes his head. “I’ll talk to him, tell him he got it all wrong.” You nod, but you aren’t really convinced that that’s gonna keep Mattheo from spreading a rumour. 

Then it hits you. “What did he mean with: ‘you finally got her’?” Blaise’s eyes widen and he stumbles a few steps back. “Nothing. It means nothing.” You raise an eyebrow at his bizarre response. “I better go look for my book… and you better go do cat things. See you later!” You frown as he walks past you. “Cat things?” Blaise curses himself for being so awkward and turns around one hand already holding the door. “You know, hiss at people and stuff.” You chuckle and slowly like a cat make your way over to him. “For such a smart guy, you can be really awkward sometimes… But thank you for helping me.” You go to stand on your tippy toes and kiss his cheek, turning him into putty. 

Now entering the doors of the Great Hall, the smell of eggs and fresh bread never smelled better, you made your way to the Slytherin table hoping to spend breakfast with your boyfriend Mattheo, but to your surprise, he was nowhere to be found with his group. You looked towards Theodore—who was glaring at his mashed peas with disgust—and asked about the lack of your menace of a boyfriend.

He replied with a light shrug, “I haven’t seen him since I left our dorm room.” Now that was strange, usually by now your boyfriend would be at your hip, most likely smothering you in birthday kisses and whispering about the things he’d ‘gift’ you in his room; yet he was nowhere in sight, if Theodore didn’t know, then you doubt anyone else would. While there was a slight unease in your chest, you decided to push any worrisome thoughts from your mind. He must have overslept. Yes. That must’ve been the reason, and to that you started your first birthday meal with your friends. Although, every now and then you would find yourself glancing towards the gates of the Great Hall in search of Mattheo’s silhouette— but to your displeasure it never appeared.

---

Students began to disperse from the hall—including you and your group—classes were expected to start soon, so on your way to potions your mind bubbled with hope that you’d find your chocolate haired boy lying on his desk, bored out of his mind without a care for class etiquette, but your expectations quickly faded when you faced a crowded class void of any sign of Mattheo.

A rhythmic taping against the door broke your train of thought, Professor Slughorn was waiting right behind you, “Why don’t you find your station?” He suggested quite calmly, and with a nod you found an empty spot beside a kind Hufflepuff. No matter how hard your potions partner tried to beg for your cooperation in the given assignment, you could barely focus on anything else for more than a minute; honestly, you’d feel bad for the poor badger later, but until you found Mattheo, there was no hope for the amount of leech juice you’ve dumped into the mixture…

Overlapping voices of laughter from students poured into the Great Hall. You were sat amongst your friends as you picked at your meal; the group continued to chat along about whatever tedious schoolwork you’d all have to do after lunch, meanwhile you were completely submerged in your own thoughts; you couldn’t feel the first two nudges your friend gave you in an attempt to wake you up.

“Earth to birthday girl?” Your friend questioned as she waved her hand quite close to your face. The sudden movement had startled you, immediately straightening your posture, and suddenly realized that everyone was staring at your direction. “Did you say something…?” You asked hesitantly, though you were aware that there had been an entire conversation going on for the past quarter of an hour. “Forget about what we’ve been saying, what’s up in that head of yours?”

You certainly have been turning the gears in your head for quite a while, although it simply had to do with your boyfriend’s unknown whereabouts, you hadn’t seen him all morning, which in itself is already odd, but you had been looking forward to hearing him wish you a ‘Happy Birthday’, and even if it was a small gesture, it meant a lot to you, especially when it’s from Mattheo.

To dispel the curiosity of your friends you brought up the topic of the next class with Professor Snape as the reason for your lack of focus, to which you received a reply of loud unanimous groans. Thankfully, that was the end of any investigation towards your current mood, so you were left to continue the rest of your meal wondering where Mattheo could be.

The rest of the school day went on as expected, finished a class of Charms, received a few ‘Happy Birthday’ wishes from students as well as an earful from Snape at DADA, and washed down dinner with a great gulp of pumpkin juice. Not once did you see Mattheo, a nervous bug had infested the pit of your stomach. You couldn’t help but wonder if he was okay, what if he had gotten into trouble?

You had turned down your friend’s invitation to hang out at Hogsmeade in order to search for your lover. Something must have happened, there was no way he could have been missing all school day, because of an issue with his sleep schedule; you searched the common room, his dorm room, and even the beginning of the forbidden forest. Nothing. Zilch. Not one sight or hint that could have relieved the never-ending tension in your heart.

You returned to your dorm—after your failure to find Mattheo—with your bag dropped to the ground as you dragged your feet to an assumed cold and empty bed; however, to your surprise, a simple designed present was laid on top of the duvet. A note tucked between the ribbon with handwriting rough and quite familiar had you curious, and funnily enough it’d be the answer to all your anxious questions.

You snatched the note from its place between the ribbons and opened it to find an invitation to the Astronomy Tower with M.R. signed at the bottom corner, along with a request to wear the gift that was presented in front of you— a single thought ran through your mind, he’s safe, a sense of relief washed away all the tension that knotted in your body. However, you were in a state of confusion, and particularly annoyed at his little games, since he had made you worry all day long. Nevertheless, you followed along with his requests and opened the box to find a stunning maroon dress; the clothing was a perfect fit, it truly felt like it was made for you, the dress was carried by thin straps on your shoulders, and the dress fell right above your ankles with a striking view of your thighs from the slit in the elastic materials.

After silently admiring the dress for a minute, you began your trek to the Astronomy Tower in sleek matching ankle strapped heels—one that Mattheo had bought you during a spontaneous window shopping session—a mixture of excitement and anticipation lurked in your stomach as your climbed up the flight of stairs.

As you made your way up the seemingly never ending staircase, faint unintelligible conversations could be heard from above; on their own accord, your feet picked up its pace until you reached the entrance of the tower to which colorful decorations filled your vision; streamers and balloons wrapped themselves around the tower columns, a small banner that had your name sown in cursive was hung in the center, and most importantly Mattheo stood right below it, his hands hidden in his pockets with a silent smile as he anxiously watched your reaction.

Any and every word you planned on saying was knocked out of your lungs, you had thought of reprimanding him for how stressed he made you the entire day, but not a single sentence fell from your lips. Your eyes were fixed on the nervous boy in front of you, watching as he kicked an imaginary rock from the ground, his hands clammy from his inner turmoil despite the sharp gaze he had on you; he had planned this for days, he wanted it to be perfect, it had to be perfect, because this was for you.

Both you and Mattheo were eagerly watching one another, and you hadn’t realized there were others present in the tower. “Are you two done yet?” Draco interrupted sarcastically, quite irritated that he was forced into wearing a ridiculous cone shaped hat—one that Lorenzo surprisingly convinced his cousin to wear. You then grasped that the rest of the group was here, a few dressed in party hats, others who seemed very excited and yelled “Surprise!” the moment you entered, and then there’s Malfoy’s disgruntled expression, but we don’t need to care about that; even your friends—who had claimed they’d go to Hogsmeade—were at the surprise party as well.

Your feet were stuck in its place like glue, maybe it was the overflowing emotions you felt, because you began to feel the heat of tears pricking at the edge of your eyes; Mattheo strides your way in long quick steps, “Hey, love.” He said in nothing louder than a whisper; he wiped the tears off your lashes in an attempt to see your star-bright smile. “Like it? The surprise, I mean,” you laughed through your tears, “Of course I like it, dummy!”

Mattheo revealed a small grin as he aided in wiping the new tears in your eyes, “Then stop crying, babe. Y’know how much I had to beg to get your friends to shut up?! They would’ve spoiled the whole thing!” He admitted, hoping to get your never ending tears to- well end.

“You’re welcome, by the way!” One of your friends yelled sarcastically from the snacks table covered in your favourite desserts. Mattheo jokingly glared their way, then pulled you towards the middle of the tower for another surprise; “Look, it’s your birthday and I’ve already lost enough face putting this together, so you better fucking enjoy it” He muttered in irritation, but the thumb brushing your knuckles and the love in his eyes told another story.

In a few words of a spell, a beautifully decorated white cake appeared before you with designs of roses and vines, while candied strawberries sat at the top of the single tiered cake; Mattheo rubbed his callous hands against your arms as a comforting gesture while you stood in amazement.

“Sooo, are we going to sing for the birthday girl or what?” Lorenzo piped up, “Oh Merlin, do we have to?” Theodore huffed. Despite Theo’s early protests, everyone joined to sing you Happy Birthday, some sounded monotone while others were very enthusiastic cough Lorenzo cough, nonetheless everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, you didn’t even register the slow awkwardness that most would feel during the song, you were too busy smiling through your tears, singing along as everyone gathered around the cake; a sense of home and warmth made its way into your heart. Yeah. You were exactly where you needed to be.

---

After the initial celebration, Mattheo whisked you away from the party while everyone was distracted with Theo’s attempt to break open the piñata Hippogriff that your friends introduced from the muggle world; “Where are we going?” you wondered at his eagerness to escape the celebration. Mattheo didn’t answer any of your questions about your current destination, he simply grasped your hand as he discreetly strolled along the halls of Hogwarts to avoid any scouring prefects and teachers.

It wasn’t until you both reached the entrance to the middle courtyard did you finally stop, you then noticed a straw basket sitting beside the cobblestone arch, one that your lover picked up as he continued to pull you along the soft blades of grass; the moon shone atop the field like a spotlight, revealing a laid quilt under the night sky.

The basket was plopped to rest on top of the little picnic that was charmingly arranged just for you; you swore you could see a twinge of blush creeping up his cheeks even with the darkness of the evening. “Is this really for me?” It was barely even a question, you never doubted Mattheo’s love, not for a second; it’s just from first glance, he would never seem like the type to plan such a sweet surprise.  

“Then who else is this for?” He caressed your hand, leaving feather light kisses upon your knuckles, “Listen, I’m not some romantic genius, and I know talking about my feelings isn’t one of my strong suits, but-“ Interrupting his practiced proclamation of love, dripples of rain began to pour from above, wetting your clothes and the entire picnic, the downpour did not wait for anyone, and it certainly did not wish to wait and listen to Mattheo.

“Shit!” Mattheo cursed at the skies as he dragged you away to shelter away from the rain, “Out of all days, it had to be now?!” he violently shook his curls, a sign of guilt fell over his eyes as he looked towards you; but before he could even utter an apology, you carelessly stepped back into the rain with a relaxed smile greeting the grey skies,  “He-Hey!?” He called out your name, yet in an instant he was quickly distracted by your now soaked form, dress highlighting the dip of your hips and every curve of your chest, strands of hair stuck to your cheeks as you giggled under your breath, “Is Sir Riddle afraid of a bit of rain?”

Teasing him as he gazed starstruck at how you could become even prettier with a bit of rain and beautiful smile; the smell of freshly wet grass and mossy stone filled your nose and a simple look that challenged Mattheo had him running to you in a flash; you felt the desire to be a child once again, so you ran from him across the wet field, your heels slipped off as he chased you to your heart’s content.

When he finally caught you, you were suddenly spun into the air, holding you from your soft waist as he gazed upward to your joyful eyes and bright smile; eye to eye, you stared at the other for what felt like eternity, lost in each other’s gaze; when he finally let you down with a kiss on a your lips, you broke out into another beaming smile for his eyes only. The son of darkness, the son that others would fear of was just a simple man in love in front of you; a lovesick grin claimed its place on his lips, eyes crinkled at the corners, admiring and wishing this moment never ended.

“Why are you smiling like that?” You chuckled.

“Smiling like what?” he lovingly caressed your cheek.

“Like- Like that!” You laughed into his chest, eyes filled with so much love for the boy in front you, “I’d think it’s your birthday if I didn’t know any better!”

“Well, I’ve got the world in my arms, love” he wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you in closer to his chest, you could feel the rapid beats of his heart and the depth of each breath he took in; he whispered into your ear, a promise that was only for your audience, “And I don’t plan on letting her go.”

Everything else passed in a blur, hiding in the corridors to avoid lurking teachers, every stolen kiss from your lips, the laughter that whispered between you both as you stumbled into his room. You were released from the confinements of your dress as Mattheo slid the straps off your shoulders; mirroring your current appearance, he stripped off his shirt and tie, shirtless before you, essence of rain still trinkling down his chest, and in a swift motion you were pinned to the bed, your lips claimed without a moment to breath. His hands traversed along your body, lingering at your thighs as he divided them apart. The rest was like a dream, every moan, every sigh that left his lips, the praises and promises that kissed your skin as he made love. The day started with confusions and questions but happily ended with an answer that’d satisfy you for the rest of your life.

Happy Birthday, love. ɷ ♡ ɷ

↬Disclaimers

A/N: Soooo... I am like 19 days late... I did not plan for this to take so long to finish, but one thing happened after another and well... here we are- oof. Sorry it took this long, Soph, but here is my belated birthday gift to you, lovely! You are older than me now, so don't worry I'll start calling you Madam Sophy 🥳Joking aside, this is a birthday gift and a thank you present in one. Thank you for welcoming me in this community when I didn't know what the heck I was doing. I am grateful and thankful to you and I just appreciate your presence so much, and I'll be here to wish you many more birthdays after (i will smother you in gifts, you can't stop me hehe). I think this fic is kinda decent, and not too cringy, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did writing it. Also, ty to you my darling Marsy (@viperify) for reading my drafts, cuz I was like so unsure of what I was writing lmao. Mwah! <33 🥹

Mattheo Riddle wasn’t exactly known for his considerate nature. In fact, he was notoriously lacking in it.

He was well aware that nothing at Hogwarts stayed a secret—honestly, he was part of the reason why.

In second year, the moment he caught wind of Lorenzo’s crush on that Ravenclaw, he practically sang it up and down every corridor, playing matchmaker with the subtlety of a drunken Hippogriff.

In fourth year, when Draco admitted—in passing—that Granger was “sort of hot in a terrifying way,” Mattheo nearly hexed him into the next era. Still, he whistled and hummed the Wedding March every time they passed each other, just to make Draco suffer.

And just last year, he’d personally tortured Theo over his crush on that Hufflepuff—publicly, relentlessly—until she finally caved and started dating him.

So yeah. Now that he had a crush, there was no way in hell he was letting anyone find out. Especially not Theo.

Because if there was one thing Mattheo had earned in life, it was karma. And this? This would be brutal.

Well… that. And—

“Fratellone~” (big brother~)

Mattheo’s entire nervous system short-circuited.

Your voice floated into the common room like smoke and sugar, playful and sweet—and there you were, head poking in, eyes wide and sparkly, looking right at Theo.

He sat lazily on the sofa with Mattheo beside him, but Mattheo would’ve been lying if he said the sight of your big, pleading doe eyes didn’t make him swoon just a little.

He also tried not to react to the way you were fluttering your lashes like you were auditioning for a Veela commercial.

Theo chuckled, rolling his eyes, "What do you want?"

"Will you promise to say yes first?" You asked sweetly, lips pursed in a pout, rocking on your heels with your eyes wide like a tragic fairytale character.

Theo scowled at you—but there was no real malice in it, "Like hell. What do you want?"

"Some allowance." You replied, tilting your head just slightly—and Merlin help him, Mattheo almost pulled out his wallet for you.

Theo, however, was unmoved. He scoffed, "Yeah, right. What happened to all your allowance? I’m not giving you a single knut."

You didn’t flinch. Instead, you flopped right between the two of them, your shoulder brushing Mattheo’s as your scent flooded his brain.

He stared straight ahead. He did not inhale. He definitely did not imagine himself burying his nose into the crook of your neck and taking in your scent.

"Theoooo," You whined, stretching his name like syrup, "I want to go to Hogsmeade this weekend with my friends. Pleeeease?"

He narrowed his eyes, grimacing again, and you let out another pitiful whine.

A beat passed before he finally sighed, "Fine. Go get my wallet from my dorm."

You grinned, victorious, as you pulled the wallet straight out of your robe pocket.

Theo let out a scoff of disbelief, "Unbelievable."

You merely gave him a smile.

"You know," He grumbled as you pocketed the money, "when I ran out of allowance, I didn’t have anyone to scam with big eyes and fake innocence. You’re lucky you’ve got such a good big brother."

You huffed, smug, "That’s your job as my big brother. If you wanted the special treatment, you should’ve been born second."

Mattheo very calmly decided that if Theo ever found out about the state of his crush, he would simply have to fake his own death and transfer to Durmstrang under a new identity.

After a couple weeks of hopeless, spiraling, late-night-scribbling-his-name-next-to-yours-on-scrap-parchment kind of pining, Mattheo had finally made up his mind.

He was going to tell you. Actually confess. Like a proper idiot in love.

It was stupid, really—how nervous he felt. Honestly, he wasn’t even sure what was worse: the actual feelings, or the fact that he was handling them like a fourth year with his first crush.

Honestly, he felt like he was in over his head—and Mattheo Riddle never felt that way. His comfort zone was massive. He wasn’t the type to second-guess himself, or get shy, or blush when someone looked at him a second too long. If anything, he was usually the one making other people uncomfortable with how confident and shameless he was.

He had always been the type to take charge of any situation. If he wanted something, he said so. Gave the time and place. No hesitation. No second-guessing. No vulnerability.

But with you?

With you, it was different.

You made him feel like the floor might disappear from under him at any second. Like rejection from you wouldn’t just sting—it would wreck him.

And maybe that was dramatic, maybe even pathetic, but he’d take pathetic over regret any day. At least if he confessed, he could say he’d tried. Even if it went horribly. Even if you laughed in his face.

(Which he was only mildly worried about. Okay, more than mildly. He’d had an actual dream where that happened. Twice.)

Still, he figured he had to try. At least this way, if it all fell apart, he’d know he hadn’t kept his mouth shut like a coward. And, of course, he owed Theo the basic respect of asking you out properly.

So he waited. Bided his time.

And when he saw you one night alone in the library—half-asleep over your Charms essay, ink smudged across your fingers—he figured this was it.

Game time.

You looked up at the sound of his footsteps, eyebrows lifting in surprise.

“Mattheo Riddle?” You teased, “In the library? Are you lost?”

He tried to fire something back. Something snarky or clever or Mattheo-ish.

Instead, all he managed was a breathless smile.

Your teasing faded instantly. You sat up straighter, “Are you okay?”

He exhaled through his nose, nodded once, “Yeah. I just… I need to tell you something.”

Your expression softened, open and patient, “Okay. Go ahead. I’m all ears.”

He blinked. Swallowed.

Then immediately began spiraling.

“It’s just that—I think you’re a—no, wait. That’s not how I wanted to start. I’ve been feeling like this for a couple months—shit, no, that sounds stalkerish—”

You tilted your head, eyes narrowing in concern. Mattheo Riddle, Hogwarts’ most sarcastic menace, was stammering like a first year. You’d never seen him like this.

“Mattheo?” You asked gently, “Just say it. I promise I won’t judge you.”

He ran a hand through his curls, letting out a breath.

“It’s not you judging me that I’m afraid of,” He muttered, “It’s just… I’ve never had these feelings before. Not like this. And it’s been driving me insane, not saying anything. I’ve wanted to for weeks. But there’s Theo—you know he’s my best mate—and I didn’t want to make things weird or screw it all up. But honestly, I don’t think I care anymore. Not when it feels like this.”

He looked up at you finally, eyes wide and vulnerable in a way you’d never seen on him before.

You looked upset. Maybe even heartbroken. Mattheo felt his stomach drop.

A beat passed.

Then you smiled. Slowly. Brightly.

“I think I understand what you’re saying, Mattheo.”

His heart nearly stopped, “Y-You do?”

You nodded eagerly, eyes shining, “Yeah. And—wow. I mean—this is amazing news.”

A smile bloomed on his face, stunned and almost disbelieving, “Wait. Really? You think so?”

“Of course I do!” You laughed, standing to wrap your arms around him in a tight hug, “This is great. I’m so happy for you.”

He froze for a second, then melted into it, arms winding around you with relief pouring through his chest. He tucked his face into your hair and breathed in the scent of your shampoo.

Finally.

He’d done it. He’d told you. And you—Merlin, you felt the same. You really—

You pulled back, still smiling, and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. His brain short-circuited.

“Listen, I should get to bed,” You said, gathering your books in your arms with a small smile, “But we’ll talk more tomorrow, okay?”

Mattheo nodded, eyes wide and glassy, like he wasn’t entirely sure what dimension he was in, “Y-Yeah. Okay.”

You gave him a wink—light, teasing, completely unaware of the emotional earthquake you’d just caused—and turned, heading down the corridor toward the dorms. Your footsteps echoed gently, fading into the stillness of the night.

The second you turned the corner and were safely out of sight, you bolted into the nearest empty hallway, nearly tripping over your own feet as you pressed your back to the wall, books clutched to your chest, heart pounding.

Your thoughts were a blur.

Mattheo Riddle.

The guy you'd been lowkey—okay, not so lowkey—crushing on for weeks. The one who made your stomach flip every time he so much as looked at you. The same boy who’d just opened up to you with flushed cheeks and fumbled words and a nervousness you never thought you’d see on him.

You blinked rapidly, breath caught in your throat, replaying the entire conversation in our head.

You groaned, sliding down the wall until you were sitting on the cold stone floor, completely humiliated.

“I can’t believe this,” You whispered, “I was this close to asking him to Hogsmeade.”

The next morning was a blur.

You hadn’t slept.

How could you, after what happened in the library? After Mattheo Riddle—a boy you’d been quietly losing your mind over for weeks—had looked you in the eye and told you, with a trembling voice, and broke your heart.

You were the main character in an absolute tragedy.

You spent all of night thinking it through, picturing the next couple years in your future. You'd undoubtedly be around Mattheo for a lot of those years because of his closeness to Theo. Could you really survive that?

I mean, you had to, didn't you?

Just as the morning rays of sunshine began to flitter through your curtains you had attempted to strengthen your already flimsy resolve.

You were happy.

Really.

You were.

Fucking hell.

So when Mattheo found you in the Great Hall that morning and slid into the seat beside you with the most relaxed, pleased-with-himself smile you’d ever seen on his face, your heart sank.

“Morning,” He said, nudging you playfully, “Sleep okay?”

You blinked, “Um. Yeah. You?”

“Best night of my life.” He said, completely sincere.

You stared at him.

God, he must really be happy.

You cleared your throat and focused very, very hard on your scrambled eggs.

Mattheo, meanwhile, was thriving. You were a little quiet, sure, but he figured that was just nerves. Shyness. Maybe you were still processing the fact that he liked you. Really liked you. That he’d finally said it out loud.

He nudged you again, dropping his voice slightly.

“So, uh… when do you think we should tell Theo?”

Your soul left your body.

Tell Theo. Tell Theo?!

He wanted you to witness him breaking your heart in person?!

You slowly lowered your fork, “You want me to be there when you... tell him?”

Mattheo’s smile widened like your reaction was exactly what he was hoping for, “Yeah, I mean, obviously he’s gonna be weird about it at first—but he’ll come around.”

You stared at him, a strange buzzing in your ears, “Right. Um. I don’t think I should be there for that.”

His brows lifted, “Oh?”

“I just… I think it’s something you should do on your own. You know? One-on-one. No distractions.”

Mattheo nodded slowly, lips pressed together in thought, “Yeah. I get that. ”

“I just don’t think my presence would help.”

He chuckled softly, “You’re seriously adorable when you’re anxious.”

You blinked.

Mattheo tilted his head, confused for a split second… then smiled.

“Alright,” He said, nodding seriously, “I’ll talk to him later.”

You nodded back, forcing a smile, while internally screaming into the void.

There was a sharp knock on the door to your dorm room.

You sat up in bed, startled, textbook sliding from your lap. Your roommates all told you they were staying out late to finish their joined project in the library. You had been expecting to have the dorm empty for at least another hour.

“Who the hell—?”

The door creaked open, and Mattheo slipped inside, curls a little messy, eyes shadowed and stormy, shoulders slumped.

He gave you a little smile when he entered though it did little to betray his crestfallen expression as he trudged over to your spot on the bed before he threw himself on the mattress beside you. His arms immediately went around your waist in a hug as he hid his face into the side of your thigh.

Your heart jumped into your throat.

“Mattheo?” You whispered, brushing his curls away from his eyes, “What—what are you doing here? Is everything okay?”

He looked up at you like he wasn’t sure whether to speak or just collapse into your lap and stay there forever. A part of him didn’t want to say anything. He knew how much you adored your older brother. If you found out Theo wasn’t supportive of your relationship, it would wreck you.

But the way you were looking at him, gentle and concerned and so you, cracked him wide open.

“I told him.”

You blinked, “You told Theo?”

He nodded slowly. There was something behind his eyes—hurt, confusion, frustration. And something else too. Shame.

“How did he take it?” You asked, already knowing the answer.

Mattheo let out a bitter breath and ran a hand down his face, “Not well. He looked at me like I’d lost my fucking mind. Told me I was sick. Said I needed to back off before things got weird.”

Your chest caved in. Horror filling every pore and vein, inching itself into your bones. Yesterday, you had kind of hoped for this. But today? You were utterly mortified by your brother's actions.

“He said that to you?”

Mattheo sighed, closing his eyes and just enjoying the way you carded through his hair, “Yeah. I mean, I guess I get it. I didn’t exactly ask for permission before anything happened—”

“Permission?” You echoed, getting increasingly angry.

He kept talking, “I just thought he’d at least be annoyed, you know? Or at least not act like I committed a sin. I mean, I don't really give a shit about what he thinks but he's my best mate.”

You stood, furious, “I can’t believe him. That’s so unfair.”

Mattheo looked up, slightly startled.

You were pacing now, barefoot, fury radiating off you like heat.

“I mean, what century are we living in? If you like someone, you like someone. He doesn’t get to make you feel wrong for that.”

Mattheo blinked, “Wait—what?”

“I’m gonna go yell at him,” You snapped, already marching toward the door, “He doesn’t get to treat you like that. He should be grateful you were honest. Gods, I’m so mad right now—”

“Wait, (Y/N), wait—” Mattheo followed, hands raised like he was trying to calm a charging dragon, “Sweetheart, it’s really not that big a deal. He’ll cool off, and I’ll talk to him again—”

“That’s not good enough!” You snapped, throwing open the door, “God, if Mama saw what a heartless bastard he turned into—ugh! I’m gonna hex his balls off!”

You stormed out, slamming the door behind you so hard it rattled on its hinges.

Mattheo stood in the silence that followed, staring at the now-closed door, stunned.

A long pause.

Then, very quietly:

“…I fear for my safety when we have our first fight.”

You stormed through the Slytherin common room like a woman possessed, your footsteps echoing furiously through the stone corridors.

People scattered. Literally scattered.

You weren’t sure where Theo was, but your rage must’ve acted as some kind of tracking charm, because the moment you shoved open the boys’ dorm door, there he was—lounging at his desk, reading some smug little book with his legs kicked up like he owned the castle.

“Theodore. Fucking. Nott.”

Theo looked up, startled—just in time for you to march over and yank him up by the ear.

“OW—WHAT THE BLOODY HELL—!”

“Don’t ‘what the bloody hell’ me, you absolute tosser,” You snapped, dragging him upright like a furious mother catching her child vandalizing a sacred artifact, “Mattheo tells you how he feels—he opens up to you—and you call him sick?! Are you completely deranged?!”

Theo flailed dramatically, “Let go of my ear! Have you lost your mind?!”

“Have you?! You’re supposed to be his best friend! Do you have any idea how hard that must’ve been for him?! He came to you vulnerable—and you rejected him like he was diseased!”

Theo stopped struggling. His face twisted in confusion.

“Okay, what the actual hell are you talking about?!”

You jabbed a finger into his chest with your free hand, “Don’t play dumb. Mattheo told me he has feelings for someone, and yesterday he went to confess. Then he shows up to my dorm crushed because you turned him away like he didn't mean anything to you!"

There was a heavy pause.

Theo blinked.

“…He told you he had feelings for someone?”

“Yes!” You snapped.

“And you thought he meant…” Theo trailed off, narrowing his eyes.

You squinted right back, “…You?”

Theo stared at you. You stared at him.

Then he grabbed your ear.

“OW—HEY—WHAT THE HELL—!”

“You utter moron!” He hissed, twisting slightly, “You thought Mattheo was confessing to me?!”

“I WAS TRYING TO BE SUPPORTIVE!”

“SUPPORTIVE?! OF ME DATING MATTHEO?! ARE YOU HIGH?!”

“STOP TWISTING, YOU GOBLIN!”

You both stood there like absolute lunatics, yanking on each other’s ears, realization dawning in slow-motion horror.

And then— The dorm door burst open. And Mattheo came in.

His eyes landed on Theo gripping your ear.

His entire face shifted.

“Oi! What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” Mattheo barked, “I don’t care if she’s your sister, Nott—get your hands off my girlfriend!”

You froze.

Mattheo took a step forward, jaw clenched, “Seriously. Let go.”

You blinked, “…Girlfriend?”

Silence.

A very heavy silence.

Mattheo turned to you, suddenly uncertain, “Yeah? I mean—you don’t mind, do you?”

You gawked at him, “Wait, hold on. I must’ve missed a few chapters—since when am I your girlfriend?”

Mattheo’s brows drew together, “Well… we didn’t officially say anything, but I thought… I mean, yesterday—”

“Yesterday?!”

“Yeah! You said it was amazing news. I thought that meant you liked the idea!”

“I did think it was a good idea! I mean—at the time I did! But then today happened—”

Mattheo stiffened, voice dropping, “So you don’t want to date me because Theo doesn’t like it?”

You stared at him, completely flabbergasted, “Mattheo… aren’t you gay?”

Theo, who had been suspiciously quiet up until this point, snorted.

Then he wheeze-laughed.

Then he bent over, dying, gasping for air like the world’s most dramatic mime.

“Oh for fuck’s sake,” He cackled, “You two deserve each other. You're both idiots. I can't breathe.”

Mattheo’s face went red, “What?! What on earth gave you that impression?!”

“You said it yourself!” You shouted defensively, “You went on and on about your feelings—how hard it was to express, how you were scared, how it could ruin your friendship—with Theo! I thought you were coming out and telling me you were in love with him!”

Mattheo looked absolutely offended, “YES—because I didn’t know how to tell my best friend that I was in love with his baby sister!”

You blinked, “You never said my name! Not ONCE in that entire meltdown did the words ‘(Y/N), I like you’ come out of your mouth!”

“I thought it was implied! You kissed me on the cheek!”

“I’M ITALIAN, WE KISS EVERYBODY!”

Mattheo cleared his throat, “Okay. Um… let me try this again.”

You looked up at him, still a little dazed, “Please do.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly looking far too nervous for someone who once set a broom closet on fire in third year because, in his words, it was “for shits and giggles"

“I like you,” He said, voice low but steady, “You, Y/N Nott. Not your brother—despite his sparkling personality.”

From the bed, Theo flipped him off, “I hope you choke.”

Mattheo took a step closer, his tone softening as his eyes searched yours, “I’ve been trying to tell you for weeks. But I didn’t want to ruin things with Theo, and then I panicked—and started rambling—and then you kissed me and walked off, and I thought that meant yes. So I spent the last twenty-four hours floating around like a smug idiot thinking I had the girl of my dreams.”

You flushed, smiling despite yourself.

“I’m not gay,” Mattheo added quickly, glancing sideways at Theo, “Not that there’s anything wrong with it, obviously. I just—look, I probably shouldn’t say anything else. Every time I open my mouth, you come up with a new wild theory and I nearly get accused of seducing your brother.”

You bit your lip, trying not to laugh.

Mattheo stepped closer again, “So now that we’ve established I’m not secretly in love with Theo… would you want to be my girlfriend?"

He looked so earnest. Like he’d hand you his heart and a backup heart just in case something happened to the first one.

Your own heart skipped. “I’d love to,” You said softly. Then, with a sly smile, “I’d kiss you right now if my brother weren’t staring.”

“And for that, I’m eternally grateful,” Theo deadpanned, still sprawled on his bed, “Also grateful that as of today, you are officially his problem. You want money? You hit up your boyfriend. You set something on fire? Talk to your boyfriend. I am washing my hands clean of you.”

He dramatically mimed wiping his hands in the air.

He then added, “To think I was worried your pathetic, lovestruck, gay ass was going to break my baby sister’s heart.”

Mattheo groaned, “Not gay. Just want to emphasize again how not gay I am. Not that there’s anything wrong with it! Just—Merlin’s beard—I’m shutting up now.”

Theo smirked, “Smart move.”

Mattheo sighed and looked back at you, “...Still want to kiss me?”

You grinned, “I wouldn't be opposed.”

Theo froze, "Wait a second."

“Don’t wait up.” Mattheo said smugly to his roommate, taking your hand.

“Mattheo I swear to God—”

You pulled him toward the door, laughing, while Theo yelled curses behind the two of you.

To be added to a taglist, please send me an ask! (I might respond to you in comments but I can’t guarantee that I won’t accidentally miss it)

Forever Taglist:

@simonsbluee

@notslaybabes

@superheroesaremyjam113263

@writers-whirlwind

@paankhaleyaaar

@superlegend216

@kaisupremecy

@ilovefictionallmenn

@aviwritessometimes

@devilslittlehelper

@notfckincreative

@workof-a-rr-t

@insideoutjulie

Harry Potter Taglist:

@downbad4reid

@revesephemeres

@catiwinky

@goldfishinpainttubes

@psh-pjh

@honethatty12

@imkindofanaudiogeeksorry

@lilians17

@its-jennarose

@h1mawarii

Mattheo Riddle Taglist:

@redeemingvillains

@baekjeonheo-blog

@genterom903

@blonde-bansheee

@poem-bee

@charliegracebrown

@loverliner

@crazysweettooth-01

Slytherin Boys Taglist:

@laufeysvalentine