Synopsis - When a hacker starts exposing the darkest secrets of the students to the entire school, the socially isolated yet unnervingly perceptive Y/N becomes obsessed with unmasking the culprit, even as the chaos spirals into something far more sinister. Based on the TV series Control Z .. If you've already watched the series then it'll be easy to figure out who the hacker is but if not.... Enjoy..
Creds - divider Creds @chachahannah
Masterlist -
Prologue - Pre-Hacker
Chapter One - Astoria
Chapter Two - Who's involved?
Chapter Three - Countdown
Chapter Four - Secrets Revealed
Chapter Five - Lupins class
Chapter Six - Dumbledore
Chapter seven -It's Mattheo and Y/Ns turn to see Dumbledore, and more secrets are introduced.
Chapter Eight - More conflicts ensue
Chapter Nine - Y/N once again visits the library late at night hoping to catch a glimpse of her favourite professor but runs into Mattheo and takes care of him.
Chapter Ten - so it was Daphne?
Chapter Eleven - Astoria knows it wasnt her sister, and ginny tries to get the money back that she stole.
Chapter Twelve - Pansy and her friends try to confront Daphne but Y/N and Harry get in the way.
Chapter Thirteen - Harry meets Y/Ns Mum and sees her on a date with professor Lupin.
Chapter Fourteen - Havoc once again when theres a new page about Daphne wanting revenge with Pansy.
Chapter Fifteen - Daphne and Pansy's fight
Chapter Sixteen - The people Mattheo and Y/N need the most leave
Chapter Seventeen - Greengrass Family lecture Dumbledore
Chapter Eighteen - Mattheo decides to have a party
Chapter Nineteen - Mattheos Party Part One...
Chapter Twenty - Mattheos Party Part Two..
Chapter Twenty One - kidnapped by the Hacker
Chapter Twenty Two - Video of Y/N and Harry gets released.
Chapter Twenty Three - Havoc as The Hacker threats that everyone a secrets will be released at the Yule Ball
Chapter Twenty Four - Trip to Hogsmead
Chapter Twenty Five - Quidditch Game
Chapter Twenty Six - is this the hacker? Hey isnโt it adding up?
Chapter Twenty Seven - Investigating Harry
Chapter Twenty Eight - Y/N's meltdown revealed...So is the Hacker...Finally...
Chapter Twenty Nine - Every Villain needs their origin story
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Dark!Series| hacker x reader | โพ๐ค๐โโฌ๐ฑโ| Series Masterlist | Masterlist |
Synopsis - When a hacker starts exposing the darkest secrets of the students to the entire school, the socially isolated yet unnervingly perceptive Y/N becomes obsessed with unmasking the culprit, even as the chaos spirals into something far more sinister. Based on the TV series Control Z .. If you've already watched the series then it'll be easy to figure out who the hacker is but if not.... Enjoy..
This Chapter - Hacker terrorises its first victim, Astoria Greengrass but many students are at fault. Y/n is tasked to find out who the hacker is.
Word Count - 3927
Warnings - Bullying, teasing, taunting, smart class mates, blackmail, humiliation, Violation, Stealing phones, Spilling drinks on bags, revealing secrets, plastic surgeries, change of appearance, secrets, upset!Astoria, upset!Daphne, phone usage..
Authors Note - I don't know how money works in the wizarding world so I'm just going to write it as pounds....
It's time for their flying class, and the students had all changed into their flying gear, the breeze whipping through the Quidditch pitch as they stood waiting for Madam Hoochโs instructions.
Y/N adjusted her gloves, her eyes wandering the field, observing the usual dynamics of the group.ย
Out of the corner of her eye, Y/N noticed Ginny Weasley walking over to Madam Hooch, holding her expensive-looking bag tightly to her chest.
Ginny whispered something, and Madam Hooch gave her a short nod, allowing her to leave.
Y/N frowned as Ginny hurried away, the grip on her bag suspiciously tight, but before she could think too much about it, a loud, exasperated voice cut through the noise.
"I canโt find my phone!" Astoria whined dramatically, her arms crossed as she stood in the middle of the group. "Anyone seen my phone?"
Madam Hooch rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "You donโt need your phone to fly, Miss Greengrass," she said, her tone clipped. "Pay attention to your broomstick instead."
Astoria huffed, sulking as she glared at the empty space where her phone shouldโve been.
Y/N couldnโt help but smirk slightly at the scene, amused by how attached Astoria was to her phone even in a flying lesson.ย
Just then, Y/N felt someone come up beside her. It was Harry, already standing in his flying gear, looking a little nervous but trying to blend in. She gave him a small nod in acknowledgment.
"Are you a confident flyer?" Y/N asked with a friendly smile.
Before Harry could respond, Draco, Theo, and Enzo strolled over, grinning like theyโd found fresh prey. "Potter," Draco drawled, his smirk widening, "we still havenโt heard enough about your dad. James Potter, right?"
Theo chimed in, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "He was a legend on the pitch. You gotta tell us what itโs like having a father like that."
Enzo, ever the enthusiastic one, added, "Do you think youโre going to live up to his reputation? Or maybe surpass it?"
Harry opened his mouth to answer, looking flustered, but before he could get a word out, Mattheo Riddle joined the group, his dark curls tousled in the breeze.
"Whatโs all the fuss about?" he asked with a lazy grin, though Y/N noticed his eyes werenโt on Harry at allโthey were on her.ย
Y/N shifted uncomfortably under Mattheoโs gaze, feeling his attention linger on her longer than necessary.
"Weโre just talking about Harryโs dad," Draco said, his voice casual, but there was a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Quidditch player, remember?"
Y/N, trying to excuse herself from the situation, took a step back. "Iโm going to check on Daphne," she said quietly, hoping to slip away unnoticed.
But Harry, clearly eager to escape the questioning, glanced at her. "Mind if I joinโ"
Mattheo cut him off, his smirk widening. "Not so fast," he said smoothly, stepping in front of Harry. "Youโre not getting away that easily. How about you tell us whether youโll join the Quidditch team or not? Thatโs the real question."
Y/N sighed inwardly, watching as Mattheo and the others kept Harry occupied.
It was clear Mattheo wasnโt really interested in the conversation; his focus had shifted to her more than once during the interaction, but Y/N ignored it, turning her attention elsewhere.
Across the pitch, Pansy Parkinson had noticed something too.
Daphne Greengrass sat on the sidelines, her broomstick resting beside her as she quietly drew in a small sketchbook.
Pansy, always one for trouble, grinned mischievously and made her way over, plopping down next to Daphne.
"You really need to learn how to defend yourself," Pansy teased, nudging Daphneโs arm.
"Y/Nโs off with Potter, Astoriaโs busy throwing a tantrum about her phone, and here you areโdefenceless."
Daphne glanced up from her drawing, biting her lip nervously. "I donโt need anyone to defend me," she muttered, though her voice lacked confidence.
Pansy raised an eyebrow, leaning over to peek at what Daphne was drawing. Her eyes lit up when she saw the subject of the sketchโit was a detailed drawing of none other than Pansy herself.
A wicked grin spread across Pansyโs face as she grabbed the paper from Daphneโs hands. "Well, well, wellโฆ what do we have here?" she mocked, holding up the drawing. "Is this supposed to be me?"
Daphneโs face turned beet red as she reached out to grab it back. "Give it back, Pansy!" she pleaded, her voice shaking.
Pansy held it just out of reach, a cruel laugh escaping her lips. "Youโve got a crush on me, donโt you, Greengrass? Thatโs adorable," she taunted, waving the drawing in the air.
Daphneโs eyes filled with tears, and she lunged forward, trying to snatch the picture from Pansyโs hand.
But Pansy, not paying attention, backed up right into Blaise, who was walking by with a drink in hand.
The collision sent the bottle flying, spilling all over the picture and soaking Daphneโs bag in the process. Blaise cursed under his breath, glaring at Pansy, while Daphne let out a small sob, staring at the ruined drawing.
Pansy just laughed harder, clearly finding the whole situation hilarious. But her laughter drew the attention of everyone nearby.
Y/Nโs heart dropped when she saw Daphneโs tear-filled eyes. Without thinking, she rushed over to her, kneeling down beside the younger girl.
"Hey, itโs okay," Y/N said softly, putting a comforting arm around her. "Donโt worry about them."
But before Y/N could say anything more, Mattheo had appeared beside them, always quick to step in during moments like this.
With a nonchalant look, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a crisp hundred-pound note, holding it out to Daphne. "Here, Greengrass," he said casually, waving the money in front of her. "Get yourself a new bag."
Y/Nโs jaw tightened as she looked up at him, her tone sharp. "Mattheo, you canโt just throw money at every problem. It doesnโt fix things."
Mattheo shrugged, his smirk never faltering. "Why not? Seems like an easy solution to me."
Y/N glared at him, frustration boiling beneath the surface. "Thatโs not the point," she muttered, helping Daphne to her feet. "Come on, letโs go find a professor who can help with this."
Daphne nodded, sniffling as she clutched her soaked bag.
Pansy, still grinning, didnโt seem the least bit remorseful, while Blaise gave her an exasperated look, shaking his head at the mess sheโd made.
As Y/N led Daphne away, she could feel Mattheoโs eyes on her, but she didnโt turn back. This wasnโt a situation that could be fixed with money or arrogance, and she wasnโt about to let him or anyone else dismiss Daphneโs feelings like that.
"Donโt worry," Y/N said softly to Daphne as they walked. "Weโll get this sorted. And next time, donโt let Pansy get to you. Sheโs just looking for attention."ย
Daphne gave a small nod, still upset but grateful for Y/Nโs support.
Y/N glanced over her shoulder, catching sight of Mattheo watching them from across the pitch, his usual smirk replaced with something more thoughtful.
Y/N gently guided Daphne through the corridors of Hogwarts, heading toward Professor McGonagallโs office, but they were abruptly stopped by the familiar voice of Professor Snape.ย
"Miss Y/L/N, Miss Greengrass," Snape drawled, his black robes sweeping as he approached.
"The sixth years are to meet in the Great Hall now. Head back immediately." His dark eyes flicked between them, leaving no room for argument.
Y/N exchanged a quick glance with Daphne, who still looked shaken from the incident with Pansy, but there was no choice.
With a nod, Y/N turned them around, leading the way back toward the Great Hall.
Daphne remained quiet, clutching her damp bag, and Y/N gave her a reassuring smile as they walked inside.
When they entered, they immediately spotted Mattheo, Theo, Draco, Enzo, and Blaise gathered in one corner.
Y/N and Daphne made their way over to the nearest bench and sat down, relieved to see a familiar group.
Astoria quickly appeared as well, her usual confident stride interrupted by a huff of annoyance.
"I still canโt find my phone!" Astoria exclaimed, her tone drenched in frustration. She reached Draco and promptly made Enzo move aside, pushing him out of the way with a dramatic flourish.
Enzo just rolled his eyes as he shifted seats, used to Astoriaโs antics.
"Canโt say weโve heard that before," Enzo muttered under his breath, earning a small chuckle from Blaise.
"Well, you don't need it for flying, so itโs not like it matters," Y/N teased gently, but Astoria ignored her, still sulking about her missing phone.
Before any more could be said, the doors to the Great Hall opened, and Snape entered, followed by Professor Dumbledore, whose usual serene expression contrasted with Snapeโs ever-present scowl.
The room quieted immediately as they took their places at the front of the hall, all eyes now on the Headmaster.
Not long after, Pansy, Ginny, and Hermione walked in, making their way toward the seats near the front.
Harry was the last to enter, and Y/N saw the shy grin spread across his face when he spotted her. He quickly crossed the room and slid into the seat beside her.
"Hey," Harry greeted with a smile, causing a ripple of curiosity to spread across the room.
Pansy and Ginny both glanced over, their eyes narrowing slightly. It was no secret that they werenโt fans of Y/N, but they seemed intrigued by Harry.
"Oh, now this is interesting," Pansy whispered to Ginny, her eyes darting between Y/N and Harry.
Ginny just crossed her arms, glancing at Y/N out of the corner of her eye, clearly bothered.
Y/N smiled back at Harry, feeling slightly awkward under the sudden attention but trying to shake it off.
Before anything could be said, Dumbledore cleared his throat, commanding everyoneโs attention.
"Good afternoon, students," Dumbledore began, his voice calm and warm as always. "Iโve called you here today to discuss a matter that has caused some disruption as of late. Weโve noticed an increased dependency on mobile phones, and after careful consideration, weโve decided to implement a new policy."
There was an immediate chorus of groans from the students, as if they had already guessed what was coming next.
"From this day forward," Dumbledore continued, "phones will be banned during school hours. They will still be allowed after classes and on weekends, but we feel it is necessary to remove distractions during the academic day."
Draco, who had his arm draped lazily around Astoria, raised an eyebrow. "Banned? Youโve got to be kidding me," he muttered under his breath, earning a small laugh from her.
At that moment, Cedric Diggory, the current Head Boy, stood up from his seat, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"Iโve actually prepared a presentation on how this will benefit us all!" he announced with enthusiasm, holding up a neat stack of papers.
Mattheo rolled his eyes, leaning back in his chair. "Oh, great," he said sarcastically, shooting a teasing look at Cedric. "Leave it to Diggory to get excited about taking our phones away. Whatโs next? A speech on the joys of waking up early?"
Theo snickered next to him, nudging Mattheo in the ribs. "Bet his presentation has charts and everything."
Y/N tried to suppress a smile, busying herself by looking at the parchment in front of her.
But Mattheo, ever observant, wasnโt done. He leaned over slightly, his voice lower but clearly directed at her. "What do you think, Y/N? Going to miss your phone, or are you one of those people who can survive without it?"
She shot him a sidelong glance, trying to stay focused on what Dumbledore was saying. "Iโll manage," she replied, her tone nonchalant, hoping that would end the conversation.
But Mattheo just grinned, clearly enjoying her attempt to ignore him.
Before he could press further, Mattheoโs attention shifted to Harry, who had been sitting quietly next to Y/N.
"What do you think,?" Mattheo asked with a smirk. "Think your dad wouldโve survived this ban?"
Theo burst into laughter at the jab, clearly enjoying the subtle teasing. "Yeah, wasnโt your dad all about Quidditch? Bet he wouldnโt last a day without messaging the team."
Harry went red but managed a small smile, trying to stay composed. "Iโm sure heโd have found a way to cope."
On the other side of the hall, Ginny sat up a little straighter, her hands smoothing over her brand-new designer bag.
"Well, I donโt care about phones. Look what I got over the summer," she said proudly, holding up the bag for everyone to see. It was sleek, expensive, and stood out among the other, more modest bags in the room.
Pansy raised an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing slightly as she examined it. "Oh, look at that," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Didnโt realize Weasleys could afford things like that."
Ginnyโs smile faltered for a second, but she quickly recovered. "I saved up for it," she replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
Draco, always one for a cutting remark, snickered. "Blaise, you shouldโve spilled your drink on that bag instead of Daphneโs earlier. Wouldโve been a real shame, huh?"
Astoria let out a soft laugh at Dracoโs comment but then glanced over at her sister, who still looked upset, her eyes downcast as she fiddled with the strap of her ruined bag.
Y/N noticed too and squeezed Daphneโs hand under the table, offering her a supportive smile. "Ignore them," she whispered softly. "Weโll get this fixed."
Across the room, Cedric had launched into his presentation with gusto, but most of the students were already tuning him out.
Mattheo leaned back in his seat, clearly bored, but every now and then, Y/N could feel his gaze flicker over to her.
Meanwhile, Harry, sitting quietly beside her, was clearly trying to work up the courage to say something, his eyes occasionally darting to her doodles in her notebook.
And though Y/N was surrounded by the usual chaos of Hogwarts, she couldnโt shake the feeling that something was beginning to shift, especially with the way Mattheo and Harry both seemed drawn to her, each in their own way.
Y/N tried not to notice, keeping her focus on her notebook, doodling absentmindedly as Cedric droned on.
Beside her, Harry fidgeted, clearly trying to work up the courage to say something. His eyes darted to her sketches, lingering on them for longer than he probably realized, but he remained quiet, too shy to speak up.
Y/Nโs attention drifted, her gaze wandering across the room. She noticed Pansy sitting a few rows away, her usual smug expression firmly in place as she half-listened to Cedric. But something was off. Pansyโs phone buzzed softly in her lap, barely noticeable amidst the dull chatter of the hall.
Y/N watched as Pansy glanced down at her phone, her lips twitching into a smirk before she quickly tapped out a reply. Her fingers hovered over the screen, then she locked it abruptly, her body tensing as she fidgeted with the hem of her skirt.
It was subtle, but Y/N had always been good at picking up on small details, and Pansyโs sudden shift in demeanor piqued her curiosity.
Just as Y/Nโs mind started piecing things together, her gaze shifted to Ginny Weasley. Seated toward the back, Ginny had her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her expression unnervingly stiff. Her usually carefree demeanor seemed replaced by an anxious sort of energy.
What really caught Y/Nโs attention, though, was how Ginny was deliberately avoiding looking at Astoria. Her eyes were darting anywhere but in the blondeโs direction.
Even when whispers started around the room, Ginny stared at the floor, her fingers gripping the strap of her expensive new bag so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Y/N frowned, something clicking in her gut. Ginny wasnโt the type to flaunt new things or act evasive, and it was clear from the way she clutched her bag that something was bothering her.
But before Y/N could give it any more thought, the click of the projector stole everyoneโs focus.
A bold question flashed across the screen: "Who is Astoria Greengrass?"
The room fell silent. Even Cedric paused, bewildered, as whispers spread like wildfire through the hall.
The air was thick with anticipation and confusion, and Y/Nโs heart sank. Something wasnโt right.
The first image appeared on the screen, showcasing Astoria in her typical, glamorous form. The boys reacted instantly, some letting out low whistles as usual, but Y/N noticed Ginny shrinking even further into her seat, her eyes glued to her lap.
Pansy, on the other hand, leaned forward slightly, her earlier fidgeting gone as she now seemed intent on watching the scene unfold.
Astoria, sitting confidently beside Draco, raised a perfectly arched eyebrow but shrugged it off, her usual poise intact. She was used to attentionโthrived on it, even.
The next slide, however, hit differently.
The screen changed again, this time showing a side-by-side photo comparison: a younger Astoria with her natural black hair and her current blonde look. The caption underneath read, "Born with black hair but dyed it blonde to look like her sister, Daphne Greengrass."
Astoriaโs composure cracked, her expression faltering for a split second. The room erupted in gasps and hushed voices as the next slide followed quickly.
โMultiple plastic surgeries: nose job, boob job,โ the next slide read, accompanied by invasive before-and-after photos. The photos, no doubt taken over the years, showcased a younger Astoria, starkly different from the one everyone knew now.
The beauty she had always flaunted was suddenly under a harsh spotlight, and not in the way she preferred.
Y/N's heart sank as she glanced at Astoria. The girl who always held her head high, confident in her appearance, now sat frozen, her eyes wide as she stared at the screen.
The room had gone from admiration to stunned silence, whispers growing louder as the secret exposed itself to everyone.
Draco, who had been leaning back with a smirk just moments ago, straightened up instantly. His arm slid off the back of Astoriaโs chair as he looked over at her with concern, his brows furrowing in confusion and anger.
Y/Nโs mind raced. The photos, the informationโฆ whoever had stolen Astoriaโs phone had leaked all of this. And judging by the smug looks around the room, many of the students were enjoying the spectacle, finding amusement in her humiliation.
Astoriaโs hands clenched into fists on her lap, her face paling before turning a furious shade of red. Without a word, she stood up abruptly, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. The sudden movement snapped Draco out of his shock.
"Astoriaโ" Draco began, but she didnโt respond. She stormed out of the room, her head held high, though Y/N could see the tremble in her shoulders as she fled.
Draco wasted no time in following her. He shot a dangerous glare around the room, his eyes lingering on the boys who had whistled earlier, daring them to say something now.
Without a word, he pushed past a few students and hurried after Astoria.
The atmosphere in the Great Hall shifted, the excitement dying down as students realized the severity of what had just happened.
Even Cedric, who had been oblivious moments earlier, now looked awkward, unsure of how to proceed.
Y/Nโs gaze fell on the projector screen, still displaying one of the invasive slides, and her stomach turned.
This wasnโt just cruelโit was a violation. She couldnโt believe someone had done this to Astoria, no matter how superficial she could be at times. No one deserved this level of public humiliation.
And then, Mattheoโs phone buzzed.
Y/N, who had been glancing around the room in search of answers, noticed the sudden tension in Mattheoโs posture. He was leaning back, appearing as casual as ever, but when his phone lit up, she saw his hand freeze for a moment.
His jaw clenched as he unlocked it to read the message. Whatever was on the screen seemed to rattle himโhis normally laid-back expression disappeared, replaced by something Y/N couldnโt quite read.
His eyes darkened as they flicked from his phone to the room around him, then briefly toward Y/N before he quickly put his phone away. He looked shaken, his usual air of confidence now disrupted.
Y/N caught the flicker of unease in his eyes, and her gut told her that this wasnโt a coincidence. The timing of the text, right after the humiliating slideshow, was too precise.
Something was going on. Something much bigger than just the stolen phone. And now, Mattheoโusually so composedโseemed to be caught in the middle of it.
Y/Nโs heart pounded in her chest, her thoughts swirling. She glanced once more at Pansy, still sitting smugly despite the chaos around her, and at Ginny, who had yet to meet anyoneโs eyes.
But it was Mattheoโs reaction that unsettled her most. Whatever message heโd received, it had shaken him in a way she hadnโt seen before.
As the whispers continued, Y/N leaned toward Daphne, who was sitting silently beside her, looking horrified. "It mustโve been whoever stole her phone," Y/N whispered urgently, the weight of the situation settling in her chest.
Daphneโs eyes widened, her hand flying to her mouth as she realized the same thing. "IโI didnโt thinkโฆ"
Before they could speak further, Professor Snape stood up abruptly, his expression dark. "Enough!" His voice cut through the chatter like a blade, and the room instantly quieted.
"We will investigate this matter immediately," Dumbledore added, his tone still calm but laced with authority. His eyes swept over the students, but there was no anger, only disappointment. "Whoever is responsible for this will face consequences."
Y/N leaned back in her chair, her mind still spinning from what had just happened.
As the teachers began to shuffle the students out, she couldnโt shake the unsettling feeling that this year at Hogwarts was only going to get more complicated.
Dark!Series| hacker x reader | โพ๐ค๐โโฌ๐ฑโ | Series Masterlist | Masterlist |
Synopsis - When a hacker starts exposing the darkest secrets of the students to the entire school, the socially isolated yet unnervingly perceptive Y/N becomes obsessed with unmasking the culprit, even as the chaos spirals into something far more sinister. Based on the TV series Control Z .. If you've already watched the series then it'll be easy to figure out who the hacker is but if not.... Enjoy..
This Chapter - Every Villain needs their origin story....
Word Count - 8263 - soz its long
Warnings - Bullying, teasing, taunting, smart class mates, blackmail, throwback time, Pansy is still at hogwarts, Draco and Astoria are still together, before Daphne was in a coma, before Mattheo became obsessed with Y/N, before Y/N went to the clinic, before her meltdown, during her meltdown, Scary Tom Riddle, Abusive!father, visiting a graveyard, Name calling, Upset!Y/N, Mattheo's friends are mean, Hacking, back at the bookstore, stalking, watching from afar, filming, waiting, creepy!Mattheo, Stalker!Mattheo, phone usage..
Before....
The morning light filtered through the high, stone windows of the Slytherin common room, casting an eerie glow over the cold green and silver tones.
Mattheo groaned as he rolled over in his bed, the usual Slytherin morning hustle beginning to stir around him. He could hear the murmur of voices already, the familiar sounds of gossip echoing through the room like a ritual.
He sat up, ruffling a hand through his dark hair, and lazily swung his legs over the side of the bed. Just another day at Hogwarts, or so it seemed.
As Mattheo stepped out into the common area, he spotted Pansy Parkinson perched on one of the luxurious emerald couches, gossiping eagerly with Blaise Zabini, who seemed only half-interested in whatever scandalous story she was spinning.
Pansy, as always, was full of energy, her eyes sharp as she surveyed everyone who walked past.
โAnd you wouldnโt believe what Astoria said at dinner last night,โ
Pansyโs voice was high and excited, clearly relishing in the drama she was recounting.
Blaise, on the other hand, leaned back in his seat, looking half-bored but still indulging her with an occasional nod.
Right on cue, Astoria Greengrass walked into the common room, accompanied by her sister, Daphne.
The sight of them made Pansyโs eyes gleam with anticipation.
As Astoria made a beeline for her boyfriend, Draco Malfoy, leaving Daphne behind, Pansy wasted no time.
โOh, look whoโs all alone again,โ Pansy purred, standing up and making her way over to Daphne with a smirk.
โMorning, Greengrass. Funny how your sister always seems to find company while youโre left behind,โ Pansy teased, her voice dripping with condescension.
Daphne, used to Pansyโs jabs, rolled her eyes but remained silent, her shoulders tensing. Pansy circled her like a predator, waiting for a reaction.
Blaise, hearing Pansyโs cruel tone, called out, โPans, come on. Give it a rest.โ
Pansy shot him a look but didnโt push further, content that her words had landed. She turned back to Blaise, already resuming her gossip as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, Mattheo had just made his way out of the Slytherin common room, meeting up with his friends, Enzo and Theo, in the hallway.
The three of them exchanged their usual banter as they walked toward the Great Hall, the anticipation of breakfast pulling them forward.
As they approached the hall, Ginny Weasley was there, lingering just outside the doors. Her eyes lit up the moment she saw Mattheo, and she hurried over to him with a too-bright smile.
โHey, Matty,โ Ginny greeted, her voice sickly sweet. โHowโve you been?โ
Mattheo raised an eyebrow, knowing exactly why she was suddenly interested. It wasnโt the first time Ginny had sidled up to him when she needed something, especially money.
Before Mattheo could brush her off, Hermione Granger appeared, grabbing Ginnyโs arm and tugging her away. โGinny, seriously, stop bothering him.โ
โI wasnโtโโ Ginny started, but Hermione shot her a stern look, effectively silencing her.ย
Mattheo rolled his eyes, barely paying attention. He turned to go inside, and as he did, he bumped into someone.
Y/N.
She was walking with her headphones on, completely lost in her own world, oblivious to everything around her.
The collision was minor, but enough for Mattheo to sigh in mild annoyance. He stepped back, trying to move past her without any further interaction.
Y/N glanced up briefly, her eyes meeting his for a split second, but she quickly looked away, more focused on her music than the minor bump.
โWatch it,โ Mattheo muttered under his breath as he continued walking into the Great Hall, his mood souring for no apparent reason.ย
As Mattheo sat down at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall, the usual chatter and gossip surrounded him. He scrolled through his phone absentmindedly, checking messages until a new one popped up from his mother.
Mother:
"Gone on holiday again, darling. House is yours for the weekend. Donโt do anything stupid. Kisses."
Typical. She was off enjoying some extravagant escape while he was left to his own devices. Not that he minded.
The idea of having the house to himself for the weekend suddenly sparked a plan in his head. Mattheo smirked, leaning back against the bench, his fingers moving quickly to message Theo.
Mattheo:ย
"House is empty this weekend. Small get-together? Just us."
Theoโs reply came almost instantly.
Theo:
"Hell yeah. Whoโs in?"
Mattheo thought about it for a moment. He wanted this to be laid-back, not a wild crowdโjust his closest circle. He tapped out a list.
Mattheo:
"You, me, Enzo, Draco, Pansy, Astoria, and Blaise."
Theo responded with a thumbs-up emoji.
As Mattheo slid his phone back into his pocket, he glanced up and caught sight of Astoria walking in, hand-in-hand with Draco. She was radiant, her smile light and graceful as she pulled Draco toward the Slytherin table.
Pansy followed close behind, linking arms with Blaise, the two of them deep in some whispered conversation.
His eyes shifted briefly, and once again, he spotted her.
Y/N.
She sat at the far end of the hall, her headphones hanging around her neck, casually flipping through a book. She looked detached, as if she was somewhere else entirely.
Since their collision earlier in the morning, Mattheo had found his mind drifting back to her more than he cared to admit.
He didnโt understand whyโthere was nothing particularly extraordinary about her, nothing that would make her stand out to someone like him.
But she was under his skin now, a lingering thought he couldnโt shake.
He turned away quickly as Theo joined him at the table.ย
โSo, just us this weekend?โ Theo asked with a grin, sitting down beside him. โKeeping it exclusive?โ
โYeah,โ Mattheo replied with a smirk, โjust the usual crew. I donโt want it to get out of control.โ
Theo nodded. โPerfect. Draco and Astoria are in, yeah?โ
โOf course,โ Mattheo said, glancing over at them as they settled in. โDraco wouldnโt miss it.โ
Theo chuckled. โAnd Blaise with Pansy?โ
โTheyโll be there,โ Mattheo confirmed, his eyes briefly flicking back to Y/N before he turned his full attention back to Theo. โItโs going to be a chill weekend. Nothing crazy.โ
But as the plan solidified in his head, that strange curiosity about Y/N gnawed at him again. He didnโt know why she had captured his attention so suddenly, but for some reason, he knew this weekend would offer him more than just an escape from the usual Hogwarts chaos.
Maybe it was a chance to figure out what was so different about herโand why she was lingering in his thoughts more than she should be.
The dim lights of Mattheoโs family estate flickered as the small group gathered in the lavish living room, the remnants of emptied bottles of firewhisky scattered across the marble table.
Laughter echoed through the halls, a mix of drunken giggles and exaggerated storytelling filling the space.
Mattheo Riddle, leaning against the ornate fireplace, downed another drink with a grin, his eyes glassy from the alcohol coursing through him.
Pansy Parkinson was sprawled on the couch, giggling uncontrollably as Blaise Zabini attempted to balance a glass on her head, while Draco Malfoy and Astoria sat huddled in the corner, whispering to each other, their cheeks flushed from both alcohol and the late hour.
Theo and Enzo were by the window, looking out at the sprawling garden that surrounded the estate, deep in conversation but still throwing glances toward the rest of the group.
Mattheo, clearly more intoxicated than the rest, stumbled to his feet and raised his voice.
โYou lot wanna see something real fun?โ
His words were slurred, but they caught everyone's attention. He smirked, looking around at his friends with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
โIโm gonna show you my dadโs little secret. The bastardโs got this whole place full of hidden treasures. Stuff he doesnโt even want anyone to know about.โ
The group exchanged curious glances, unsure of where Mattheo was going with this, but the allure of a secret was too tempting. They were already drunk, and this seemed like the perfect cap to their chaotic night.
โCome on,โ Mattheo beckoned, swaying slightly as he made his way down a hallway. โIโll show you where he keeps all the good stuff.โ
Pansy raised an eyebrow, pushing herself off the couch, stumbling slightly before following Mattheo.
The others trailed behind, their curiosity piqued, and soon they were in the basement, standing before a heavy, reinforced door.
Mattheo fumbled with a key from his pocket and, with a smirk, unlocked the door.
It swung open with a heavy creak, revealing a vast room filled with an overwhelming amount of wealthโpaintings from famous artists, statues worth more than entire houses, piles of Galleons, and treasures from every corner of the world.
โMerlinโs beardโฆโ Draco muttered, eyes wide with astonishment.
Blaise let out a low whistle. โThis is insane. How the hell does your dad have all this?โ
โWho knows,โ Mattheo laughed, stumbling inside. โPolitician, right? Pretends to be clean, but look at all this.โ
He waved his arms dramatically, stumbling over a stack of Galleons that spilled across the floor. โProbably all stolen. You think he earned this? Yeah, right.โ
They all stepped in, the temptation of such wealth proving too irresistible. Theo picked up a heavy bag of coins and tossed it to Enzo, who caught it with a grin, scattering Galleons everywhere.
Astoria and Pansy were admiring a painting that looked ancient, possibly cursed, but they were too drunk to care.
Draco, usually composed, grabbed a handful of Galleons and tossed them into the air, gold coins raining down like confetti.
Laughter filled the room as Mattheo pulled out his phone and started taking pictures of his friends surrounded by his fatherโs secret stash, laughing like they had no care in the world.
โThis is priceless,โ Pansy laughed, posing dramatically in front of a massive statue, completely unaware of the implications of what they were doing. โWe could run this whole country with this kind of money.โ
โProbably how my dad plans to,โ Mattheo muttered under his breath, his tone bitter. โHe thinks he owns everything.โ
Drunkenly, they kept going, unaware of the storm brewing just outside.
The fun came to a sudden halt when the door behind them slammed shut, and a cold, menacing voice filled the room.
โEnjoying yourselves?โ
Mattheo froze, his blood running cold. His father, Tom Riddle, stood in the doorway, his face a mask of fury, the silence that followed suffocating.
The air in the room shifted from lighthearted chaos to heavy tension in an instant.
His friends, who had been laughing moments before, now stood motionless, their drunken stupor wearing off as they realized what they had stumbled into.
Mattheoโs jaw clenched, but he didnโt move, staring back at his father with defiance, the animosity between them simmering in the air.
โWhat the hell is this, Mattheo?โ Tomโs voice was low, dangerous, as he stepped further into the room, his cold eyes scanning the sceneโthe scattered coins, the drunken teens, the priceless artifacts now lying carelessly on the floor.
โI was just showing them how a politician like you really earns his keep,โ Mattheo spat, his words laced with venom. โDidnโt think youโd be back so soon.โ
Tomโs eyes narrowed, his gaze shifting to Mattheoโs friends, who stood awkwardly, not sure whether to flee or stay rooted in place.
โGet out,โ he barked, his voice commanding, causing them all to flinch. โNow.โ
No one moved, still in shock at what was unfolding. Mattheoโs friends looked at each other, clearly uncomfortable, but none of them dared to speak.
โAre you deaf?โ Tom growled. โI said, get out.โ
One by one, they filed out, not daring to look Mattheo in the eye.
As they left, the weight of what theyโd seen lingered in their minds. Tom Riddle, a respected politician, wasnโt what he appeared to be.
The sheer amount of wealth and corruption they had witnessed tonight made it clearโMattheoโs father was hiding something far worse than just a stash of money.
When the door finally clicked shut, leaving Mattheo alone with his father, the tension in the room became suffocating.
Tomโs gaze bore into Mattheo, filled with disappointment and anger. โDo you think this is a game? Parading your friends in here like this?โ
Mattheo shrugged, his voice defiant. โItโs not like you care what I do. Youโre never around anyway.โ
Tomโs hand moved faster than Mattheo could react, grabbing his son by the collar and pulling him close.
โYou have no idea what youโve just done,โ he hissed. โYouโre reckless, and one day, that recklessness is going to cost you everything.โ
Mattheo yanked himself out of his fatherโs grip, his chest heaving with anger.
โYouโre one to talk. Look at all of this,โ he gestured to the room around them. โYouโre the corrupt one, hoarding wealth while pretending to be some noble politician.โ
โI understand enough,โ Mattheo shot back. โYou hide things, you lie, and you think you own everyone and everything. But you donโt own me.โ
For a brief moment, there was a flicker of something in Tomโs eyesโguilt, perhapsโbut it vanished as quickly as it had appeared. He stepped back, his voice cold and controlled.
โYou will clean this up, and you will never speak of this again. Do you understand?โ
Mattheoโs lip curled, but he nodded. โYeah, whatever.โ
As Tom turned to leave, he paused at the door, his voice cutting through the tension one last time.
โOne day, Mattheo, youโll learn what real power is. And youโll regret throwing this away.โ
Mattheo stood there, seething, watching his fatherโs back as he left.
The anger boiled inside him, the resentment that had been festering for years now threatening to consume him. He hated his fatherโhated everything he stood for.
When he finally emerged from the safe, his friends were waiting, their expressions a mix of concern and uncertainty.
None of them dared ask what had happened, but they all knewโthings had changed. And the corruption theyโd glimpsed tonight was only the tip of the iceberg.
Two days before Y/Nโs meltdown, the atmosphere at Hogwarts was charged with unspoken tension.
Mattheo sat in the back of Potions, trying to focus on Professor Slughorn's lecture while his mind raced with worry.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, breaking his concentration. He pulled it out and felt a chill run down his spine as he read the message.
Hacker:
"Nice photos, Riddle. Wonder what your father would think if he saw these."
Mattheo's heart sank. He remembered that night all too wellโthe reckless thrill of flaunting his fatherโs wealth and the humiliation that followed when his father found out.
The hacker had those photos. The ones that could destroy him.
He glanced around the room, his gaze landing on Y/N. She was quiet, tears pooling in her eyes, clearly in distress. He wanted to help her, but his own problems felt insurmountable.
Suddenly, Y/N let out a choked sob.
The class fell silent, and Professor Lupin quickly approached her, concern etched on his face. He gently led her out of the classroom, and Mattheoโs stomach twisted. What was happening to them?
Turning back to his friends, he demanded, โWho shared the photos?โ
Theo raised an eyebrow, confused. โWhat are you talking about?โ
โThe photos from the party!โ Mattheo snapped. โSomeone has them.โ
โWe didnโt share anything,โ Enzo chimed in, bewildered. โWhatโs wrong with you?โ
Ignoring Draco, Mattheo pushed past his friends, frustration boiling inside him. He needed answers and he needed them fast.
Draco smirked from the front. โFirst Y/L/N, now Riddle. Whoโs next to have a meltdown, huh?โ
As he stormed down the hallway, he saw Professor McGonagall standing with the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Moody. She turned to him, ready to make introductions, but Mattheo brushed past them, barely acknowledging their presence.
โReally charming, Riddle,โ Draco called after him, laughter lacing his words.
Mattheo clenched his fists, unable to shake the feeling of impending doom. Once in his dorm, he pulled out his phone again, desperate for answers.ย
Hacker:ย ย
"ยฃ10,000. By tonight, or your father sees everything."
Panic washed over him. He couldnโt let this happen. He had to find a way to get the money and fast. His mind raced, but before he could formulate a plan, he received another text.
Hacker:
"Meet me in the courtyard. Alone."
With no time to waste, Mattheo grabbed the cash he had saved and made his way to the courtyard, his heart racing with anxiety.ย
When he arrived, the courtyard was empty, a feeling of dread settling in. His phone buzzed again.
Hacker:ย ย
"Put the money in the bin nearby."
Reluctantly, he did as he was told, tossing the cash into the bin. Frustrated and feeling utterly defeated, he walked to a nearby balcony, desperate for some air.
There, he spotted Y/N sitting alone, her headphones on, gazing off into the distance. She looked lost in thought, and for a moment, he paused, simply watching her.ย
His heart ached. She was hurting, just like him, but there was something about her that drew him in.
As he leaned against the balcony railing, he couldnโt shake the feeling that they were both caught in a storm, each trying to navigate their own turmoil.
Y/N sat on the balcony, watching the sun rise, when she noticed Mattheo approaching. His expression was tight, almost anxious.
She tilted her head slightly. โWhy are you so nervous, Riddle?โ
He shook his head, dismissing her concern. โIโm not.โ
โReally? Because you were definitely nervous yesterday in Lupinโs class,โ she countered, a knowing look in her eyes.
Mattheo stepped closer, leaning against the railing beside her. โDoes this mean youโre stalking me, Y/L/N?โ
โNo,โ she replied flatly, โI just notice things sometimes.โ
He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. โI notice things too. So, what happened yesterday? Whatโs the matter with you?โ
Y/N sighed, the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her. โIโm justโฆ exhausted.โ
โSounds heavy,โ he said, genuinely concerned.
โIt is. Iโve been up all night thinking about-,โ she paused not wanting to reveal her secret, her voice barely above a whisper. โIโm tired of pretending, I guess.โย
Mattheoโs curiosity piqued. โEveryone pretends, right? Not just me?โ
โWell, not everyone,โ he replied, trying to lighten the mood.
โYes, you and your friends. Youโre all living lives that arenโt real,โ she said, a hint of frustration creeping in.
He chuckled, realizing how right she was.
The show-off antics with his fatherโs safe had been an attempt to prove something, but it had backfired spectacularly. He was more furious that they saw a glimpse of his reality when his father returned than he was about the wealth itself.
โAre you always this philosophical? Or is it just because itโs morning?โ he teased.
Y/N laughed, and it sent a thrill through him. He liked the sound of her laughter more than he cared to admit. But her expression quickly turned serious again as she continued.
โDonโt you get tired? Wouldnโt it be easier if everyone just stopped lying? If we didnโt have secrets? If we could be honest with the people we care about?โ
Her words struck a chord deep within him, resonating with feelings he had been pushing away.
It was the very foundation of his motives for becoming the hacker, though she didnโt know that. She spoke about wanting to tell her mother the truth, the burden of knowing her father was alive and the fallout it could cause.
โIโโ she started but faltered, emotion welling in her eyes. โI just need toโโ
Before she could finish, she turned and hurried away, leaving Mattheo standing there, feeling the weight of her unspoken pain.
As he watched her retreat, a figure emerged in the courtyard. Mattheo squinted, recognizing the familiar shape.
The person approached the bin where he had tossed the money earlier.ย
His heart dropped as he realized who it wasโCedric Diggory, the head boy, and the very person behind the blackmail. The hacker, the one threatening to expose him.ย
Mattheo felt a rush of panic, his mind racing as he contemplated his next move.
Mattheo lingered in the hallway, leaning against the wall as he overheard his friendsโ conversation.
Pansy was animatedly gesturing, her voice cutting through the noise of the bustling corridor.
โI mean, with all that stuff in his dadโs safe, he must be a corrupt politician or something.โ
Draco shrugged, glancing around to make sure no one was listening too closely. โWe canโt be sure of that. Better not say anything.โ
Blaise chimed in, a mischievous glint in his eye. โDidnโt you see all that money he had? Itโs a bit suspicious, donโt you think?โ
Draco just shrugged again. โMy father has a safe like that.โ
Theo smirked, โSo then heโs corrupt too, right?โ
Astoria jumped in to defend Draco, crossing her arms. โNo, the Malfoys are just rich purebloods.โ
Pansy shot back, โHey, weโre all purebloods, Tori.โ
Astoria rolled her eyes. โYeah, but only Daphne calls me that.โ
โWhatever,โ Pansy replied, dismissively.
Then Astoriaโs words hit Mattheo like a slap in the face. โI bet heโs just as corrupt as his father.โ
Blaise turned, clearly intrigued. โHey, would you stop being his friend if heโs corrupt, as you say?โ
Theo, supposed to be Mattheoโs best friend, smirked and answered, โOf course not! With all that money? Iโll never stop being his friend.โ
The bell rang, slicing through the tension and interrupting their chatter. Mattheo straightened, the weight of their words pressing down on him. He felt a sick twist in his stomach, realizing that Y/N was right; his friends were all pretending.
They werenโt the loyal companions he thought they were.ย
With a heavy heart, he joined them as they headed to class, the laughter echoing hollowly in his ears.
Mattheo stormed through the courtyard, his mind racing. He zeroed in on Cedric, who was leaning casually against a wall. โI saw you take the money,โ Mattheo said, his tone sharp.
Cedric raised an eyebrow, pretending innocence. โWhat money? I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ
Mattheo stepped closer, annoyance simmering just beneath the surface. โDo you even know who my dad is?โ
Cedric smirked, leaning back with feigned nonchalance as Mattheo continued.
โI mean, my father has very important friends. I donโt think heโd appreciate what you did.โ Mattheo challenged, his frustration growing.
Cedric chuckled, โCome on, man. From the Daily Prophet, I heard you and your father donโt get along. Iโd say youโre in the clear.โ
โDonโt tell me you hacked my phone for a few thousand pounds,โ Mattheo said, incredulous.
Cedric shrugged, his attitude irritating Mattheo even more. โMaybe thatโs nothing to you Slytherins, but itโs a lot to me, okay?โ
โCan I ask you one question?โ Mattheo said, trying to keep his voice steady. โCan you hack any phone?โ
Cedric nodded, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. โYeah. You wonโt believe what you can find. If you want to know something about someone, thatโs where you start.โ
โGreat,โ Mattheo muttered, turning away. โIโll keep that in mind.โ
As he walked away, his thoughts drifted back to Y/N. He couldnโt shake her from his mind. She was always rightโshe had this uncanny ability to see through the faรงades they all wore.
In his dorm, he decided to do some digging on Y/N. He already knew about her fatherโs tragic past, but Cedricโs words urged him to hack her phone.
As he sifted through her messages, he found a sweet exchange between Y/N and her mother.
Y/N:
"Hey, Mum! Ready to meet at Dadโs grave?"
Her Mum:
"Not quite, I have a date tonight! But Iโll call you later, love"ย ย
Y/N:
"Still going! Iโll take him some flowers."
Her Mum:
"Just remember, no fake flowers this time! Theyโll just end up in the bin."
Y/N:
"Mum, you do realize the cleaners take away real flowers once they die, right? Technically, Iโm being eco-friendly!"
Her Mum:
"We replace them weekly, dear. Not quite eco-friendly!"
Y/N:
"But enjoy your date! Iโm glad youโre happy. ๐"
Mattheo smiled at the exchange. She was sweet, even with her teasing. He felt a tug in his chest, wanting to be part of her world, to share in her happiness.
He made his way to the graveyard, his heart racing as he spotted Y/N kneeling at her fatherโs grave, placing the fake flowers with care.
Just as he was about to approach her, she turned around, a look of disbelief washing over her face.
Y/Nโs scream pierced the stillness of the graveyard, echoing off the cold stones and carrying with it a deep, gut-wrenching pain. Her fists clenched at her sides, trembling as she stood before the gravestone, her voice thick with fury.
โWhy did you lie?โ she yelled, the words coming out raw and ragged. "Why did you come back?! After all these years, why now?"
Mattheo, who had been standing a few paces behind her, felt a knot form in his stomach. He had never seen her like thisโso shattered, so angry. He didnโt understand. Why was she yelling at a gravestone? He knew that her father was dead.
He watched her collapse to her knees, her shoulders shaking, the weight of her emotions palpable in the air.
โYou left me!โ Y/N sobbed, burying her face in her hands. โYou lied, and you left me.โ
Mattheoโs brow furrowed as he took a hesitant step closer, his heart aching for her, though confusion clouded his mind. He had no idea why she was reacting like thisโwhy her grief had turned so venomous.
He had come here with her for support, but this was beyond anything he had expected. Her pain feltโฆ different. Personal. Not the kind of grief one carries for someone whoโs truly gone.
โYou said you were gone, you promised me that!โ she cried out, her voice barely holding together. "But now youโre here. Pretending to be deadโฆ pretending to care." Her words were laced with betrayal.
Mattheo felt a cold chill run down his spine. Pretending? What was she talking about? He stared at the gravestone, confusion swirling in his chest. And then it hit himโa terrible realization that sent a jolt through his body.
Before he could process it fully, a shadow moved at the edge of the graveyard. Mattheoโs heart skipped a beat as a figure emerged from the mist. Tall, menacing, his presence sent an immediate wave of dread through Mattheoโs body.
It was himโY/Nโs father. Barty Crouch Jr.
Mattheo froze, realization crashing down on him like a wave. This was the man Y/N had been hiding from the world. The man she had spent her life believing to be dead, only to discover he wasnโt. And now, here he was, standing right before her. The very embodiment of all the lies that had been tormenting her.
Y/Nโs sobs quieted, replaced by a deep, seething rage. She stood abruptly, facing her father, her face wet with tears but her eyes blazing with fury.
โYou ruined everything,โ she spat, her voice trembling. โWhy did you lie to me? Why did you make me think you were dead?โ
Barty Crouch Jr. didnโt move at first, his expression unreadable as he stared at his daughter. His presence was cold, detached, as if the weight of her words didnโt affect him at all. It only made Y/N angrier.
โI spent my whole life mourning you,โ she cried, her voice rising again. โI thought I was alone! But youโฆ youโve been out there this whole time, hiding, pretending, while I grieved for someone who wasnโt even gone!โ
Mattheoโs heart hammered in his chest as he watched the scene unfold. He wanted nothing more than to step forward, to pull Y/N away from the source of her pain, to hold her and tell her that she wasnโt alone anymore. But he couldnโt. Not here. Not now.
Instead, he did the only thing he could doโhe reached for his phone, his fingers shaking as he began filming. His heart twisted with guilt for intruding on such a private moment, but something about it felt necessary.
This momentโฆ it was too raw, too revealing. And he needed to understand, needed to have proof of what he was seeing. Of who her father really was.
Y/Nโs voice shook as she continued, her anger bubbling to the surface.
โDo you even care?โ she demanded, her voice cracking. โDo you care about what you did to me? To us?โ She paused, choking on her words. โYouโre not even sorry, are you?โ
Barty Crouch Jr. remained silent, his cold eyes fixed on his daughter, offering no comfort, no apology. It was as if her words didnโt reach him, as if he couldnโt feel the weight of her pain.
Y/Nโs shoulders slumped, her strength drained. โYou left me,โ she whispered, her voice small and broken now. โYou left me, and I donโt even know why.โ
Mattheoโs chest tightened, a deep sense of helplessness washing over him. He wanted to step in, to hold her, to stop this from going any further. But he knewโhe couldnโt interfere with this. Not yet. She needed to confront her father, no matter how painful it was.
But the look on Bartyโs face, that cold indifference, made Mattheoโs blood boil. How could he just stand there? How could he ignore the damage he had done to her?
The phone buzzed in Mattheoโs hand again, a reminder of the world beyond this graveyard, but he barely registered it. His focus was entirely on Y/N, on the way she shook with silent sobs, her body trembling from the weight of everything she had discovered.
Mattheoโs gaze flickered between Y/N and her father, a storm brewing inside him. He hated that he couldnโt protect her from this, hated that she was caught in the web of her fatherโs lies.
But as much as he despised Barty Crouch Jr. in that moment, Mattheo knew this wasnโt over. There was more to this story, more she wasnโt telling him. And he would find out.
As Y/Nโs cries softened into silence, her father finally spoke, his voice low and devoid of emotion. "You never needed protection, Y/N. Youโve always been strong enough on your own."
Mattheo clenched his jaw, feeling a surge of anger. How could he say that to her? After everything?
Y/N shook her head, tears still streaming down her face. โYou donโt get it,โ she whispered, her voice barely audible. โYou donโt get to come back into my life like thisโฆ and act like nothingโs changed.โ
Bartyโs expression remained impassive, as if her words meant nothing. He turned, slowly walking away, leaving Y/N standing there, broken and alone once again.
Mattheo stayed rooted to the spot, his fingers tightening around his phone as he watched Y/N collapse in front of her fatherโs grave.
Every instinct screamed at him to go to her, to pull her into his arms and shield her from the pain tearing her apart. But he didnโt move. He couldnโt. He knew he had no place in this moment.
From the shadows, Mattheo watched helplessly as she sobbed, her entire frame shaking from the weight of it all. Her cries pierced the air, raw and full of betrayal, and it took everything in him not to run to her side. His heart ached for her, but he knew this wasnโt something he could fixโnot now, not like this.
As Barty Crouch Jr. turned and walked away, his cold indifference only deepened the fury inside Mattheo.
How could he leave her again? After everything? But still, Mattheo stayed where he was, a silent witness to her agony, knowing she hadnโt seen him yet. He was almost grateful for itโgrateful she didnโt see the way he stood there, paralyzed, torn between wanting to comfort her and knowing he couldnโt intrude on such a fragile moment.
The phone in his hand felt heavy, a reminder of the fact that he had been filming the entire time. He wasnโt sure why.
Maybe part of him wanted to capture the truth, to understand the depth of her hurt. Or maybe it was something darker, something tied to the twisted need to know everything about her life. Either way, guilt gnawed at him now.
Y/Nโs sobs quieted, her body shaking as she remained on her knees, staring at the gravestone. Mattheoโs chest tightened, torn between stepping forward and staying hidden. But he forced himself to stay back, to resist the urge to offer the comfort she needed, comfort he didnโt know how to give.
She never looked in his direction, and for that, Mattheo was thankful.
The last thing she needed was to see him standing there, recording her pain like it was something to be documented. His heart clenched as he watched her struggle, completely unaware of his presence. He didnโt deserve to be seen, not after this.
As the silence settled over the graveyard, Mattheo turned, slowly slipping away into the shadows. Heโd never wanted anything more than to be by her side in that momentโbut sometimes, staying away was the only thing he could do.
The corridors of Hogwarts buzzed with gossip, whispers echoing off the stone walls. Mattheo tried to block it out as he walked to class, but the chatter surrounded him like a swarm of bees.
โDid you hear Y/Nโs leaving?โ Pansy said, her voice dripping with intrigue.
โYeah, I heard she had a total breakdown,โ Blaise chimed in. โI mean, can you blame her? With everything going on?โ
โRight? Sheโs been a mess ever since the whole family drama,โ Astoria added, rolling her eyes. โWho wouldnโt be?โ
Mattheo clenched his fists, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. โYou donโt know what youโre talking about,โ he snapped, stepping closer.
โOh, please,โ Ginny scoffed. โSheโs just a freak. Itโs no surprise she lost it. You think sheโs just going to pretend everythingโs fine after what happened?โ
โEnough!โ Mattheo shot back. โYouโre all being cruel. Y/N is dealing with something you canโt even begin to understand.โ
Draco raised an eyebrow, smirking as he leaned against the wall. โDefending the freak, are we, Riddle? Didnโt think youโd stoop so low.โ
Mattheo felt his blood boil. โWhatโs your problem, Malfoy? Sheโs not a freak. Sheโs justโโ
โJust what? An emotional mess? Sounds about right,โ Draco interrupted, his voice dripping with disdain.
โShut up, Draco!โ Mattheo retorted, stepping forward, fists clenching. โYou donโt know the half of it. You donโt know anything about her!โ
Their friends watched in tense silence as the confrontation escalated.ย
โWhatever, Riddle,โ Draco sneered, crossing his arms. โYou want to play the hero? Good luck with that.โ
Mattheoโs resolve hardened as he turned away from Draco, his mind racing. He was the only one who knew the truthโY/Nโs father was alive. He had seen him at the graveyard, standing right there as she cried.
The rest of their friends were oblivious, lost in their petty gossip.
With a determined glint in his eye, he headed to the nearest empty classroom. He would expose their secretsโstarting with the people he thought he could trust.ย
He pulled out his phone, focusing on hacking the schoolโs Wi-Fi. If Cedric could do it, so could he. He could use the access to pull up any juicy information about his so-called friendsโPansy, Astoria, Draco, and even Ginny, whoโd been quick to judge Y/N.
As the data streamed into his mind, he felt a thrill. They thought they could gossip without consequences? Heโd show them what it meant to be exposed.
In the back of his mind, he still heard Y/Nโs voice, urging him to break free of the lies. This was just the beginning.
Mattheo paced nervously outside the clinic, his heart racing with every passing moment.
All he wanted was to be there for Y/N, to support her while she navigated her struggles.
Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself and approached her room.
As he reached for the doorknob, a nurse stepped in front of him, arms crossed, her expression firm. โSorry, but you canโt go in.โ
โDo you know who I am?โ he asked, frustration creeping into his voice. โOr who my father is?โ
โYes, I know who you are,โ the nurse replied flatly. โAnd I donโt care.โ
Mattheo felt a flicker of irritation. โJust tell me sheโs going to be okay.โ
The nurse softened slightly but maintained her professional demeanor. โSheโs here to get better. Thatโs what weโre focusing on. You canโt rush that.โ
His gaze drifted past her to Y/N. She was sitting by the window, her silhouette outlined by the sunlight. The way she stared into the distance, lost in thought, made his heart ache. She looked so fragile, and he felt utterly helpless.
โI just want to take care of her,โ he admitted, his voice quieting.
โCaring for someone is more than just being there physically. Itโs about giving them the space they need to heal,โ she replied gently. โYou being here means you care, and thatโs important.โ
He nodded, frustration still bubbling inside him. He had a plan to help her feel supported and understood, to expose the truths behind their friendsโ faรงades. He wanted Y/N to know she wasnโt alone in this struggle.
โCan I at least stay out here? Just for a little while?โ he asked, almost pleading.
The nurse studied him for a moment before relenting. โYou can stay, but keep your distance. She needs her space right now.โ
โThank you,โ he murmured, relief washing over him.
As he leaned against the wall just outside her door, his eyes remained fixed on her.
The sun illuminated her features, casting a soft glow around her. He wanted to reach out, to comfort her, but he knew she needed to process everything in her own time.
He thought back to their last conversationโthe way she had opened up about her exhaustion, her desire to stop pretending.
It resonated deep within him. He remembered how she had challenged him, questioning the facades they all wore. It ignited a determination in him, a resolve to expose the lies that plagued their lives.
What if he could hack their friendsโ secrets? Show Y/N that even in a world full of pretenses, there was a chance for authenticity?
He wanted her to know she wasnโt alone, that he understood her pain because he felt it too.
As he watched her, he noticed the faintest tremble of her shoulders, a telltale sign that she was holding back tears.
The urge to go to her surged within him. He wanted to take her into his arms and tell her it would be okay, that they would get through this together.
Just then, a soft knock interrupted his thoughts, and he turned to see the nurse watching him. โYou okay?โ she asked, concern etched on her face.
โYeah, just... worried,โ he replied, his gaze flickering back to Y/N. โI hate seeing her like this.โ
โItโs tough,โ the nurse said gently. โBut sheโs strong. Sheโll get through it with time and support.โ
Mattheo nodded, a flicker of hope igniting in his chest. He resolved then and there that he would be the support she needed, no matter how difficult the journey would be.
When she was ready, he would help her face the world, and together, they would uncover the truths that bound them.
As he stood there, watching her, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. For Y/N, he would become the strength she needed.
No more pretendingโjust honesty, even if it meant diving into the darkness.
The sun was setting over the Hogwarts grounds, casting a warm golden glow over the castle as students gathered outside, the excitement of summer break thick in the air.
The group sat sprawled across the grass near the Black Lake, talking about their plans for the long break ahead. Everyone seemed eager for the break, buzzing with anticipation.
โSo, whatโs everyone doing for the summer?โ Ginny asked, stretching her legs out on the grass, leaning back on her arms.ย
โWell, Iโm going home, obviously,โ Ginny continued, answering her own question. โMumโs going to make me help with wedding preparations for Bill and Fleur. And then I might play a few pickup Quidditch games with Ron and the twins.โ
Pansy smiled smugly, twirling a strand of her hair. โParis for me,โ she said. โShopping, art galleries, a little bit of mischief in the city of love. You know, the usual.โ
โOf course,โ Astoria chimed in, her voice light. โBecause Paris is just so... quaint in the summer.โ
Pansy shot her a mock glare, but Astoria just laughed, brushing her hand through her perfectly styled hair.
โWhat about you, Theo?โ Ginny asked, turning to him.
Theo grinned, reclining back lazily. โVenice. Going home, spending some time on the coast. Blaise is coming to visit too,โ he said, nodding toward Blaise, who raised an eyebrow in agreement.
โBest food in the world,โ Blaise added, smirking. โAnd I need a break from all of you.โ
Everyone laughed.
Astoria nudged Draco playfully. โIโll be meeting Dracoโs parents for the first time,โ she said, her tone a mix of excitement and nerves. โWeโll be at the Malfoy Manor for most of the summer.โ
Draco smiled faintly, resting his hand on hers. โItโll be fine. Mother already adores you.โ
They all turned to Mattheo then, the last one to speak. His stomach knotted, and for a brief moment, he wished they wouldnโt ask. But he knew they would.
โSo, what about you, Mattheo?โ Pansy asked, cocking her head curiously. โYou kept going on about Spain, didnโt you? Something about your mum?โ
Mattheo swallowed, glancing around at them. His original plan had been to spend the summer in Spain with his motherโsun, sea, and no reminders of the mess heโd gotten himself into at Hogwarts.
That was all he had talked about for weeks. But now, the idea of leaving felt wrong.ย
Y/N had been plaguing his thoughts since that day by the balcony, and no matter how much he tried to focus on other things, she always slipped back into his mind. He couldnโt shake the feeling that he needed to stay close.
Something about the way she had talked to him, the way she saw through his bravado, had shifted something inside him. She was breaking, and he couldnโt just leave.
He cleared his throat, forcing a smile. โActually... Iโm staying here,โ Mattheo said, his voice calm, though his decision had been made in that very moment.ย
Everyone turned to him in surprise, their eyes wide.
โStaying?โ Pansy repeated, her brow furrowing. โYou were so excited about Spain. Now youโre staying? Whatโs that about?โ
โYeah, mate,โ Blaise added, raising an eyebrow. โYou havenโt stopped talking about getting away. Spain was your escape, remember?โ
Mattheo shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant, though the truth of his thoughts felt heavier than he could admit. โChanged my mind. Spain can wait.โ
Theo leaned forward, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. โYouโre staying in this dump of a town instead of going to Spain with your mum? What are you hiding?โ
Mattheo rolled his eyes. โIโm not hiding anything, Theo. I just... have stuff I need to take care of. Thatโs all.โ
Pansy exchanged glances with Astoria, a smirk tugging at her lips. โYouโre not actually staying because of school, are you?โ she teased, her voice dripping with amusement. โCome on, youโve been talking about Spain for weeks. Whatโs keeping you here? Some secret project we donโt know about?โ
Mattheoโs jaw tightened slightly, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. He could feel the weight of their curiosity, their need to poke at his every decision.
They had no idea about Y/Nโabout why he was really staying. And he intended to keep it that way.
โNah,โ Mattheo lied smoothly, the words coming easily despite the twist in his gut. โJust thought I could use the time to, you know... handle some things. Maybe catch up on stuff Iโve let slide.โ
Blaise leaned forward, his brow raised in suspicion. โCatch up on what? Since when do you care about โhandling thingsโ? Itโs Spain, mate. Sun, parties, getting away from everything.โ
Mattheo shrugged, trying to keep his tone casual. โI donโt know, maybe I need a break from all that. Summerโs long enoughโIโll go later.โ
Draco narrowed his eyes, not buying the excuse for a second.
โYouโre always talking about needing to get away from the school. Now youโre staying? Somethingโs up,โ he said, a teasing smirk playing at his lips. โWhatโs really going on, Riddle? Family stuff? Youโve been acting weird since the whole... incident.โ
Mattheoโs temper flickered, but he swallowed the annoyance. The last thing he wanted was for Draco or any of them to start digging. โThink what you want, Malfoy. I just decided to stay, alright?โ
As the others continued chatting about their upcoming summer plans, Mattheoโs mind started working. He knew what he had to do now.
Y/N had made him see things differently. Sheโd made him realize how much people around them were pretendingโhow much they all hid behind their facades. And he was done with that.
While the others enjoyed their vacations, heโd be here, working. He was going to expose the secrets, tear down the lies.
And maybeโjust maybeโit would help Y/N, too. Even if she never knew he was behind it. Even if she never saw the lengths heโd go to stop the pretending.
But for now, he stayed quiet, letting them believe whatever they wanted.
Mattheo leaned against the cool stone wall outside the clinic, arms crossed as he settled in for what would likely be another long day of waiting.
Heโd taken the nurseโs advice to heartโbeing there, literally, was the only thing he could think to do. He couldnโt be in the room with Y/N, but he could at least be close.
Close enough that, should she need him, heโd be there in a second.
As students passed by, their conversations blending into background noise, Mattheoโs mind began working. He couldnโt shake what Y/N had said to him that day about everyone pretending.
About how much easier life would be if people stopped lying, if they didnโt hide behind the masks they wore every day. Her words lingered in his thoughts, and an idea began to form.
He glanced down at his phone, fingers tapping the screen as he started jotting down notes, a plan slowly taking shape.
The school's WiFiโeveryoneโs connected to it, and thatโs where secrets lived, buried in texts, emails, and messages sent between students. He could use that. He could become the one to expose the lies, force people to stop pretending.
And maybe, just maybe, it would help Y/N too.
His heart twisted at the thought. She was so observant, always noticing things no one else did.
Maybe if there was a hacker stirring things up, sheโd want to help figure it out. Sheโd want to solve the mystery, and in doing so, it might pull her out of this dark place she was stuck in.
Even if that hacker turned out to be him. He chuckled at the irony of it allโcreating a game for her, knowing sheโd be chasing him without even realizing.
Mattheo sketched out his plan on his phone, mapping out how he could pull this off. Heโd start small, gathering secrets, and then slowly leak them out, one by one. Just enough to get people talking. His friends would be the first targetsโDraco, Pansy, Theo, and even Ginny.
They were always pretending, hiding behind their perfect lives. It wouldnโt take long before the cracks started showing. And once Y/N caught wind of it, sheโd be intrigued. Sheโd want to get involved, to solve the mystery.
As Mattheo worked, his eyes flicked toward the clinicโs entrance. He watched as Y/Nโs mother stepped inside, her face tense with worry.
Heโd seen her come and go before, always the same look of concern etched into her features. She was trying to stay strong, but it was clear she was breaking inside.
He felt a pang of empathyโhe wanted to comfort her, tell her that everything would be okay, but he didnโt know how.ย
He waited, time dragging slowly until, at the end of the day, Y/Nโs mother emerged again, this time with tears in her eyes. She wiped them away hastily, trying to compose herself, but it was clear she was devastated.
Mattheoโs chest tightened. He wanted nothing more than to go to her, to offer some kind of reassurance, but he stayed put, watching helplessly as she walked away.
โStill here?โ a voice interrupted his thoughts.
It was the nurse from earlier, the one who had stopped him from seeing Y/N. She was carrying a small bag, clearly headed home for the night.
Her eyes softened when she saw him, but there was a hint of exasperation too. โYou know, standing out here all day wonโt make things go faster.โ
โIโd wait forever if I had to,โ Mattheo replied, his tone serious. โI just... need to know sheโs okay.โ
The nurse sighed, but there was something almost affectionate in the way she looked at him. โYouโre persistent, Iโll give you that. But you need to take care of yourself too.โ
โJust tell me sheโs going to get better,โ Mattheo said, his voice dropping. โThatโs all I need to hear.โ
She gave him a small smile. โThatโs what weโre here for. To make sure she does.โ
There was a pause as Mattheo nodded, his eyes flicking back to the clinic. He knew she was right, but he couldnโt shake the overwhelming need to be close to Y/N.
Even if he couldnโt fix everything, he wanted to be near her, to make sure she knew someone cared.
โGo home,โ the nurse said, gently patting his shoulder. โGet some rest. Youโll see her soon.โ
โIโll see you tomorrow,โ he joked lightly, forcing a grin.
She chuckled softly. โThat you will.โ
As she walked away, Mattheo leaned back against the wall, his mind already spinning with the next steps of his plan.
The nurse had become an unexpected ally, even if she didnโt realize it, giving him small updates on Y/Nโs condition.
It wasnโt much, but it was enough to keep him grounded, knowing she was being looked after. Heโd wait as long as it tookโboth for her to get better and for his plan to unfold.
The pieces were falling into place. Soon, people wouldnโt be able to pretend anymore.
The masks would fall, the lies would be exposed, and Y/N... sheโd find her way back to herself.
He just hoped she wouldnโt hate him when she found out the hacker sheโd been chasing was him all along.
Mattheo found himself wandering through the narrow cobbled streets of Hogsmeade, the crisp autumn air biting at his skin. He pulled his coat tighter around him, glancing up at the small sign swaying in the breezeโTommeโs and Scrolls.
The old bookstore stood unassuming between two larger shops, its wooden exterior worn and aged, but the warm light spilling from the windows made it feel inviting.
This place was a haven for rare books, old spells, and knowledge that Hogwarts didnโt necessarily teach. Mattheo had come here before, but today was different.
He stepped inside, the soft jingle of the bell above the door announcing his arrival.
The familiar scent of parchment and ink filled the air, wrapping around him like a blanket. Shelves lined the walls, crammed with books of every size and subject.
The shop was quiet, the only sound coming from the creak of the old wooden floors as he made his way to the counter.
Behind it, the elderly shopkeeper looked up from a thick tome she was reading, peering at him through round spectacles perched on her nose. Her face broke into a welcoming smile.ย
"Ah, Mr. Riddle," she greeted, her voice warm and raspy. "Back again, are we?"
Mattheo gave a small nod, his hands stuffed into his pockets. "Yeah, Iโm looking for something specific this time."
Her brows rose in curiosity. "Oh? And what might that be?"
He hesitated, glancing around the empty shop before leaning in a little closer. "Books on computers. Hacking skills, specifically."
The old woman blinked, clearly surprised by the request. "Hacking, you say?" She tilted her head, studying him for a moment before she stood up slowly.
"Well, I do have some rather unusual volumes tucked away. Though I must say, itโs not often someone comes in here asking for that sort of thing. What are you up to, young man?"
Mattheo shrugged, offering a half-smirk. "Just... a project. For school."
She eyed him with a knowing look but didnโt press further. Instead, she disappeared into the back of the store, the sound of her rummaging through dusty shelves echoing through the room.
After a few moments, she returned with a small stack of books, each one looking more ancient than the last.
"These should cover the basics," she said, setting them down on the counter. "Not your usual reading material, but if itโs knowledge youโre after, this is a good place to start."
Mattheo flipped through the pages, skimming the dense text. There were diagrams, explanations of old encryption spells, and even references to Muggle technology. This was exactly what he needed.
"Thanks," he muttered, pulling out a few coins to pay.
The shopkeeper chuckled softly as she rang him up. "If I may ask... this wouldnโt happen to be about a girl, would it?"
Her question caught him off guard. Mattheo froze, then slowly looked up, meeting her gaze. There was something in her eyesโa mix of amusement and curiosity, like she already knew the answer.
"Yeah," he admitted, scratching the back of his neck. "You could say that."
She nodded, smiling kindly. "Ah, I thought so. Thereโs always a girl involved when boys like you come asking for odd things like this. Books on hacking, really..."
Before Mattheo could respond, she reached beneath the counter and pulled out another stack of books, these ones much smaller and with titles that made his stomach twistโThe Alchemy of Love, Enchanted Hearts, Charmed Bonds: Loveโs Magic. She handed them to him with a grin.
"Here, take these too," she said, her eyes twinkling. "Itโs a different kind of magic, but you might find them useful."
Mattheo stared at the pile in disbelief. "Love books?" he echoed, incredulous.
The shopkeeper winked. "Trust me. Sometimes, understanding the heart is harder than understanding computers."
Against his better judgment, Mattheo took the books, feeling his cheeks warm with embarrassment. "Thanks, I guess."
As he left the shop, the heavy books weighing down his bag, he couldnโt help but shake his head. Of all the things to be carrying, love books certainly werenโt part of his original plan.
Still, he couldnโt deny the warmth they brought, as if a part of him knew there was some truth in the old womanโs words.
Night after night, Mattheo found himself returning to Tommeโs and Scrolls, pouring over the hacking books in quiet corners. He learned fast, each visit bringing him closer to perfecting his plan.
After visiting Y/Nโs clinic, heโd head straight to the shop, the familiar jingle of the bell announcing his return. The old woman would always smile when she saw him, sometimes joking about how he was there more often than her regulars.
One night, as he was deep in a chapter about data encryption, the shopkeeper came over, setting a cup of tea beside him.
"You know," she started, sitting down across from him, "if youโre reading all this for a girl, you must really care about her."
Mattheo looked up from the book, surprised by the comment. "Why do you keep saying that?"
She chuckled softly. "Itโs in your eyes, boy. The way you carry yourself. Youโre not here for yourselfโyouโre here because you want to protect someone."
He stared at her for a moment, unsure how to respond. She wasnโt wrong, not entirely. It was all for Y/N, but there was more to it than that. He wanted to protect her, yes, but he also wanted to free her from the lies, from the world of pretenses she was trapped in. And maybe, deep down, he wanted to free himself too.
The old woman patted his hand gently before standing. "Well, Iโll leave you to your studies. But donโt forgetโsometimes the heart is the most important thing to understand."
Mattheo spent every night after that studying, crafting his plan.
But during the day, heโd sit outside the clinic, reading the love books the old woman had given him. He wasnโt sure why he read them, but there was something about them that kept him hooked.
Maybe it was because he thought Y/N deserved something real, something honest, and these books spoke of a kind of connection he wasnโt sure he understood but wanted to.
Each day, heโd watch Y/Nโs mother visit her in the clinic. He saw her come out at the end of the day, eyes red from crying, but always trying to put on a brave face.
It broke something inside of him every time he saw her like that, and all he wanted was to offer some kind of comfort. But he didnโt know how.ย
Mattheo stood outside the clinic, leaning against the stone wall, his hands tucked into his pockets.
The cold wind whipped through the courtyard, but he barely felt it. His eyes were fixed on the doors, waiting for the moment they would open. His heart drummed anxiously in his chest, anticipation building as he finally prepared to see Y/N again.
It had been weeksโweeks of waiting, planning, and watching. Every day, heโd made sure to be there, hoping to catch even the smallest glimpse of her, but today was different.
Today, she was getting out.
The heavy oak doors creaked open, and there she wasโY/N, walking slowly beside her mother.
Mattheo felt his breath catch in his throat, relief flooding through him in a way he hadnโt expected. She looked different, more fragile somehow, her steps careful, but there was something in the way she held herself nowโdetermination, maybe, or exhaustion.
Either way, she was here, out of the clinic, and that meant everything.
He stood a little straighter, watching intently as Y/N and her mother made their way down the path, her motherโs arm wrapped gently around her for support.
They didnโt speak much, but Y/N glanced up now and then, responding to her motherโs quiet words.
From the distance, Mattheo couldnโt make out what they were saying, but it didnโt matter. She was out. She was better, or at least trying to be, and for the first time in weeks, he felt a weight lift from his chest.
Y/N looked up, her eyes catching a beam of sunlight as she paused for a moment to take in the courtyard, the fresh air hitting her like it was the first time sheโd breathed in days.
Mattheoโs heart skipped a beat when he saw her faceโstill the same, but worn, as if sheโd been carrying a burden far too heavy for her to bear.
He had stayed away all this time, not wanting to push, not wanting to intrude, but nowโnow he could see her again, and the realization that she was okay made his chest tighten with a strange sense of hope.
Her mother glanced over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing slightly as she caught sight of Mattheo standing in the shadows, watching them.
For a brief second, their gazes met, and Y/Nโs mother offered him a small, polite nod. She didnโt seem surprised to see him thereโmaybe the nurse had told her how heโd been hanging around. But there was no hostility in her look, only a quiet acknowledgment.
Then, she turned back to Y/N, guiding her towards the waiting carriage.
Mattheoโs eyes never left Y/N. Every step she took, every small movement, he absorbed it all, relief coursing through his veins.
She was out of the clinic, but he could still see the weight on her shouldersโthe exhaustion that clung to her despite her freedom.
But he had a plan now, one that he believed would help, one that could make everything better. And it all started with her.ย
She paused before getting into the carriage, looking over her shoulder at the courtyard, her eyes scanning the familiar surroundings like she was trying to reclaim them after so much time locked away.
Mattheo wondered if she could feel his gaze, but she didnโt look his way. She climbed into the carriage, her mother following close behind, and the door clicked shut.
As they pulled away, Mattheo exhaled a breath he hadnโt realized he was holding. Relief washed over him again, but this time, it was mixed with something strongerโdetermination. She was out, and now his plan could finally begin.
His fingers twitched at the thought of it, excitement bubbling just beneath the surface.
All those weeks of preparation, of hacking into the schoolโs systems, of figuring out how to expose the lies people told, it had all led to this.
Mattheo had promised himself that when Y/N came back, things would be different. He wasnโt going to let her drown in secrets and pretense anymore.
Heโd spent hours pouring over every detail, every possible way to expose the truths people were so desperate to hide. His friends, his classmatesโthey were all guilty of it, pretending to be something they werenโt, and Y/N had been right all along. It was time to stop pretending.
As they disappeared down the road, Mattheo turned away, his mind already spinning with ideas. He had to start slow, build the hackerโs identity, make it someone untouchable, someone who could infiltrate the schoolโs network without being traced.
And Y/NโY/N would help him without even knowing it. She was too observant, too sharp. Sheโd be the one to catch onto the hackerโs trail, and when she did, sheโd realize it was all for her.
With one last glance at the clinic, Mattheo slipped his hands back into his pockets and headed toward the gates of Hogwarts.
The wheels were already turning in his head, his plan falling perfectly into place. All he needed now was to set it into motion. Soon enough, the lies would come crashing down, and Y/N would see that not everyone pretended.
And maybe then, sheโd understand why he was doing this. Why he needed her to see the truth.
He smirked to himself, already looking forward to the chaos that would follow. No more pretending. Not for him. Not for her. And soon, not for anyone.
Dark!Series| hacker x reader | โพ๐ค๐โโฌ๐ฑโ| Series Masterlist | Masterlist |
Synopsis - When a hacker starts exposing the darkest secrets of the students to the entire school, the socially isolated yet unnervingly perceptive Y/N becomes obsessed with unmasking the culprit, even as the chaos spirals into something far more sinister. Based on the TV series Control Z .. If you've already watched the series then it'll be easy to figure out who the hacker is but if not.... Enjoy..
This Chapter -The aftermath of the slideshow exposing Astoria. Mattheo tells Y/N about him and his friends being blackmailed and she confronts them.
Word Count - 2824
Warnings - upset characters, blackmail, confrontation, hacking, Betrayal, secrets, Astoria wants revenge, backstabbing!Draco, Mattheo getting blackmailed, Mattheo chose Astoria, Ginny Stole Astoria's phone, Pansy uploaded/made the video, Y/N had a meltdown last year? Harry choosing Y/N, boy going into the girls bathroom, jealous!Mattheo, secret conversations, mysterious texts, anonymous hacker, arguing.
- Creds divider Creds @chachahannah
As the heavy atmosphere in the Great Hall settled into murmurs, Snape finally dismissed the sixth-years.
The tension still clung to the air as the students shuffled out, many still gossiping in hushed tones about Astoriaโs shocking reveal.
Y/N glanced over at Daphne, whose face was drawn with worry as she moved to follow her sister out of the hall.
Y/N was about to go after Daphne when she noticed Harry lingering by her side. His expression was a mixture of concern and confusion, clearly unsure of what to say or do after the whirlwind that had just hit the group.
Before she could speak, Mattheo appeared out of nowhere, his gaze fixed on her.
"Y/N, I need to talk to you. Itโs important," Mattheo said, his voice tense. He threw a dismissive glance at Harry, waving him off. "You can go now, Henry."
Harryโs jaw tightened, clearly irritated by the misnaming. "Itโs Harry," he corrected, but stayed rooted beside Y/N.ย
Mattheo rolled his eyes but turned back to Y/N. "Seriously, this is urgent. I need your help."
Y/N hesitated, glancing between the two boys. Harry was clearly on edge, but she could feel the weight of Mattheoโs urgency. Curiosity gnawed at herโespecially after noticing how shaken Mattheo had been during the slideshow. She laid a gentle hand on Harryโs arm, giving him a reassuring look.
"Iโll be okay," she said softly, trying to calm his growing agitation. "I just want to hear what he has to say."
Harry frowned, not liking the idea but reluctantly nodding. "Alrightโฆ but Iโm not far."
Y/N turned back to Mattheo, her curiosity now fully piqued. "Whatโs going on, Mattheo?"
He glanced around, as if making sure no one was listening, then tugged her to the side, away from prying ears. His usual swagger seemed to evaporate, replaced with something like guilt.ย
"Youโre the smartest person I know," he started, his words making Y/N cringe a little, but she allowed him to continue. "And I need you to see this."
Mattheo pulled out his phone, unlocking it with a swipe before handing it to her. Y/Nโs eyes skimmed the screen. The message was from someone named The Hacker.
"What happens when your parents find out what you did?"
Y/N's brow furrowed. "What does that mean?"
Mattheo shook his head quickly, brushing the question aside. "That's not important. Just read the rest, please."
She scrolled down, her eyes widening as she reached the next part of the message.ย
"Pick one of your friends and your secret will be safe."
She looked up at him, incredulous. "And you chose Astoria?"
Mattheo's face twisted with guilt. He shifted his weight uneasily, running a hand through his hair. "Look, I don't even think of her as a real friend, okay? Soโฆ I thought it wouldnโt be a big deal."
Y/N shook her head, disbelief flooding her. "I canโt believeโ"
"I know I fucked up," Mattheo interrupted, his voice edged with desperation. "But you need to understand, I thought it was some kind of joke! I didnโt think it would actuallyโฆ well, this."
Y/N fell silent, trying to make sense of everything.
The slideshow, the humiliating reveal of Astoriaโs secrets, and now thisโthe blackmail from someone calling themselves The Hacker.
"Soโฆ Pansy, Ginnyโฆ are they involved too?" she asked slowly, piecing together the strange behaviors she had witnessed earlier.
Mattheoโs hand slammed down on the table in frustration. "I donโt know! That asshole stopped replying to my messages."
Across campus, the damage had already been done.
The gossip about Astoria spread like wildfire, students murmuring about her plastic surgeries, her dyed hair, and everything else that had been exposed. Some pitied her, others mocked.
Astoria herself had locked herself in her dormitory, sobbing uncontrollably while Daphne sat by her side, trying to comfort her.ย
Outside the dorm, Draco paced angrily, his fists clenched as Blaise stood nearby, offering quiet but firm words of comfort.
"Sheโll be alright, mate. Give her time," Blaise said, his voice low.
Draco only grunted in response, his eyes hard with fury as he glared at the ground. Theo and Enzo approached from down the hall, their usual smirks plastered across their faces.
"Who knew the princess had so many secrets, huh?" Theo remarked, elbowing Enzo, who snickered beside him.
Draco shot them a withering glare. "Shut up. Nowโs not the time."
Enzo raised his hands in mock surrender, though the amused glint in his eye remained. "Alright, alright. Just saying, mate, thatโs rough."
Meanwhile, over by the common room entrance, Ginny sat quietly, clutching her bag even tighter than before. She hadnโt said a word since the slideshow, her face pale and drawn.
Those around her began to notice the oddityโGinny Weasley, never known for silence, was now shrinking into herself, looking like she wished the ground would swallow her whole.
Back with Y/N, Mattheoโs frustration was palpable as he paced in front of her, glancing at his phone like it was some ticking time bomb.
"So, now what?" Y/N asked, her voice carefully neutral.
Mattheo stopped, looking at her, and for once, he seemed at a loss. "I donโt know. But I need to figure out who the hell is behind this before it gets worse."
Y/N stepped out of the corridor, her mind still swirling with the chaotic conversation sheโd just had with Mattheo.
As she rounded the corner, she spotted Harry leaning casually against the wall, clearly waiting for her. She chuckled softly, surprised.ย
"You actually waited?" she said with an amused grin.
Harry nodded, his eyes warm and patient. "Told you I wouldnโt go far."
She smiled but didnโt have time to respond before her attention was drawn elsewhere.
The soft sound of crying echoed from the nearby girlsโ bathroom.
Y/Nโs expression shifted to concern, and she gave Harry a quick nod before walking toward the door.
Inside the bathroom, the quiet sobbing was unmistakable now. Y/N spotted a familiar purse peeking out from beneath one of the stalls.
"Ginny?" Y/N called out, her voice gentle yet firm. "I can see your purse."
There was a tense silence before Ginnyโs shaky voice answered from behind the closed stall. "What is it?"
Y/N stepped closer, leaning lightly against the door. "I want to talk about what happened to Astoria."
There was no immediate reply, just more silence and a few shaky breaths. Y/N took a deep breath, her suspicions solidifying. "Youโre being blackmailed too, right?"
Ginny's voice quivered as she responded, barely above a whisper. "What makes you think that?"
Y/N sighed softly. "I know that you took Astoriaโs phone."
The words hung heavy in the air, and Y/N could hear Ginny begin to sob again, louder this time. She continued, her tone calm yet knowing.
"I saw you leave class earlier and figured it out. It wasnโt hard to connect the dots."
Outside, Harry had been waiting patiently, but when he heard Ginnyโs sobs growing louder, concern flickered across his face.
He pushed the bathroom door open, stepping in tentatively. Ginny went quiet when she noticed him, her embarrassment palpable as she tried to collect herself.ย
Harry approached cautiously, his voice soft. "Hey, Ginny. Why donโt you come out? Y/Nโs just trying to help you."
There was a long pause, and then Harry continued, his tone comforting.
"Itโs my first day, and, wellโฆ itโs been pretty eventful." He gave a small, awkward smile, glancing toward Y/N before turning back to the stall. "You donโt need to be embarrassed. Itโs just us."
Ginny sniffled, clearly torn, but after a moment, the stall door creaked open. Her eyes were red and puffy, and she clutched her purse tightly to her chest as if it were a lifeline. She glanced at Harry, then back to Y/N.
"If Astoria finds outโฆ" Ginnyโs voice broke, panic evident in her eyes. "Iโm dead."
Y/N gave her a soft, reassuring look. "It wasnโt your fault. Whoeverโs behind this just wanted to see if youโd betray your friend."
Ginny shook her head, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. "I didnโt want to, Y/N," she whispered, her voice thick with guilt.ย
Without warning, she moved toward Harry, burying her face in his chest.
Harry, caught off guard, stood awkwardly for a second before his arms hesitantly wrapped around her, offering a stiff but kind embrace. His wide eyes met Y/Nโs, silently asking for guidance on what to do next.
Y/N gave him an understanding nod, her expression softening as she saw how shaken Ginny truly was.
Harry patted her back gently, clearly uncomfortable but doing his best to console her.
Ginny pulled back slightly, wiping her eyes before asking the question that had been gnawing at her. "But who made the video?"
Y/Nโs mind raced as the pieces clicked into place. She thought back to the Great Hallโthe slideshow, the chaosโand something stood out: Pansy.
Pansy had been acting strange, fidgeting, just before the slideshow started. And when the rest of the room was glued to the shocking images, Pansy had barely reacted at all.
Y/Nโs voice was steady but laced with suspicion as she answered, "The one person who wasnโt paying attention to the slideshowโฆ Pansy."
Ginnyโs eyes widened in realization, the fear in her expression momentarily replaced with understanding. "You think sheโs involved?"
Y/N nodded slowly. "It makes sense. She was fidgeting just before the slideshow came on, like she expected it.
Y/N stormed down the hallway, her mind set on finding Pansy.
The accusations and suspicions were swirling in her head, and she needed answers. Harry was right beside her, glancing at her with concern but staying silent for now, sensing her determination.
She finally found Pansy loitering near the courtyard, leaning against the wall with her usual smirk. Y/N approached her without hesitation.ย
"Pansy," Y/N called out, her voice sharp, "we need to talk."
Pansy barely looked up from her phone, flicking a glance at Y/N before rolling her eyes. "About what, Greengrass's little meltdown? Please, spare me."
Y/N took a deep breath, her frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. "Did you have anything to do with the slideshow?" she asked directly, her gaze piercing.
Pansyโs smirk widened as she pocketed her phone, finally giving Y/N her full attention.
"Oh? And what if I did?" she shrugged dismissively, pushing herself off the wall. "You think I care about some spoiled little drama? Astoriaโs been asking for it."
Y/N took a step forward, unfazed by Pansyโs nonchalance. "I want to know if youโre involved," she demanded, her voice steady.
Pansy crossed her arms, looking at Y/N with a sneer. "Involved?" she repeated mockingly.
"You should be asking yourself that question. You know, I was thinkingโwhoโs smart enough to pull off something like this? To hack into someone's phone and orchestrate a public humiliation? All signs point to you, Y/N."
Y/N froze, blinking in confusion. "What?" she said, incredulity lacing her words. "I didnโt send that text, and I sure as hell wouldnโt waste my time on something like this."
But Pansy wasnโt done. She raised her voice, making sure everyone in the vicinity could hear.
"Oh, really? Come on, youโre smart enough to pull this off. Whoโs to say you didnโt do it? Maybe youโre just getting revenge for last yearโs breakdown. We all know youโre still not over that."
Y/Nโs face paled as her breath hitched. The mention of last year hit her like a ton of bricks, and for a split second, she couldnโt move. Pansy had crossed the line, and she knew it.
Harry, still standing by Y/N, took a step forward, glaring at Pansy. "Back off, Pansy. Leave her alone."
Pansyโs eyes flickered over to Harry, her smirk faltering.
"Oh, look at you, Potter. Defending her like some kind of hero. Let me give you some advice," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Stay away from Y/N. She might have another breakdown, and this time, youโll be the one she drags down with her."
Y/N flinched at Pansyโs words, her confidence crumbling as she instinctively took a step back.
Her chest tightened, the memories of last year clawing their way back to the surface. She had fought so hard to move past it, but here it was, right in front of her again.
"Y/N?" Harryโs voice broke through her thoughts, soft and concerned. He reached out, gently touching her arm. "Are you okay?"
Y/N swallowed hard, blinking away the emotions threatening to overwhelm her.
She pulled away slightly, her voice quieter than before. "Iโฆ Iโm fine. Pansyโs right, though. You should probably stay away from me."
But Harry shook his head firmly, his green eyes full of determination.
"No. I can choose who Iโm friends with. And I choose you, Y/N." He looked at her with sincerity, his voice soft but unwavering.
"Youโre the nicest person Iโve met here. I want to be your friend."
Y/N stared at him for a moment, her heart aching from the kindness in his words.
Despite everything Pansy had said, despite the doubt creeping in, Harry stood by her.
She took a deep breath, nodding slowly as she allowed herself to believe, even for a moment, that she deserved that kind of loyalty.ย
"Thank you, Harry," she whispered, a small smile tugging at her lips, though the weight of the confrontation still hung heavy in the air.
Astoria lay on her bed, her eyes puffy and red from crying, while Daphne slept soundly in the bed beside hers.
The room was quiet, save for the occasional sound of Daphne shifting in her sleep.
Draco had finally left after hours of comforting her, but even his presence had felt empty, like he wasnโt fully with her anymore.
Astoria couldnโt shake the cold weight of humiliation that clung to her, and she found herself scrolling through her shattered reputation in her head over and over.
Her phone buzzed on her nightstand, a faint glow illuminating the dim room. With a heavy sigh, she reached for it, expecting more pity texts or gossip circulating among her classmates. Instead, the message made her freeze.
The Hacker
"Want to get back at those who betrayed you?"
Astoriaโs pulse quickened as she sat up, her hands trembling.
The words felt like a dangerous invitation, but the fury boiling inside her was louder than her fear. She quickly texted back.
Astoriaย
"Who are you?"
Seconds passed like hours before the reply came.
The Hacker
"Mattheo picked you. Ginny took your phone. Pansy uploaded the video. And now, Draco has betrayed you."
Astoriaโs breath hitched as she read the message, her heart sinking into her stomach. Her fingers hovered over the screen as she typed back, desperate for clarity.
Astoriaย ย ย
"What do you mean Draco betrayed me?"
This time, the response wasnโt a text. It was a video file. With shaky hands, Astoria pressed play.
The footage was grainy, but unmistakable.
Draco, standing outside their common room, was talking to Theo and Enzo. They were joking, but the conversation quickly shifted.
"Did you know about Astoriaโs surgeries?" Theoโs voice cut through the video, his tone casual but with a hint of curiosity.
Draco hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck before shaking his head.
"No, I didnโt. Itโs disgusting, honestly. She lied to me about it." His voice was cold, and the words felt like a knife twisting in Astoriaโs chest.
The video continued as Theo and Enzo exchanged glances. "She lied to you? But havenโt you known her since you were kids?" Theo pressed.
Dracoโs expression darkened, his tone defensive. "Yeah, but that doesnโt mean I had any idea aboutโฆ that."
Astoriaโs hand flew to her mouth, her breath shallow.
Draco knew. He had always known. He and Daphne had grown up with her; they knew every insecurity, every reason she had gotten those surgeries. And yet, here he was, pretending he didnโt. Worseโacting disgusted by it.
A wave of nausea hit her as she hurled her phone across the room, the sound of glass cracking echoing in the silence.
The betrayal cut deeper than anything sheโd experienced today. She had always trusted Draco, and now that trust lay shattered, just like her phone.
But before she could fully process the devastation, her phone buzzed again, the soft glow flickering from its now cracked screen.
Reluctantly, she crossed the room and picked it up, wiping away the tears that had started to fall again.
The Hacker
"Do you want revenge?"
Her fingers hovered over the screen, her mind racing with anger, pain, and confusion. She hesitated for a split second, but the image of Dracoโs face as he lied about her was burned into her mind. The choice felt inevitable.
Astoriaย
"Yes."
The screen remained dark for a moment, and then a final message appeared:
Dark!Series| hacker x reader | โพ๐ค๐โโฌ๐ฑโ| Series Masterlist | Masterlist |
Synopsis - When a hacker starts exposing the darkest secrets of the students to the entire school, the socially isolated yet unnervingly perceptive Y/N becomes obsessed with unmasking the culprit, even as the chaos spirals into something far more sinister. Based on the TV series Control Z .. If you've already watched the series then it'll be easy to figure out who the hacker is but if not.... Enjoy..
This Chapter - Secrets are revealed - Ginny is a theif, Draco is a cheater, Mattheo is a son of a crook and Pansy...... poor girls been outed.
Word Count -2653
Warnings - Bullying, teasing, taunting, smart class mates, blackmail exposed secrets, talk about nudity, nickname!kitten, talk about stealing, talks about corrupt fathers, pansy being outed, crying, leaking footage, phone usage..
Authors Note - No I will not tell you who the hacker is but like I said above, if you've seen the series than it would be pretty obvious from the beginning..
The atmosphere in the Great Hall the next morning was thick with tension.
As breakfast was laid out on the tables, most students werenโt even paying attention to the food.
Their eyes were glued to their phones, watching the countdown timer inch closer to zero. The air buzzed with nervous anticipation, punctuated by whispered conversations and the occasional burst of laughter.ย
Y/N sat at the Slytherin table, her heart pounding, though her expression remained calm. She glanced around, noticing the unease on several familiar faces.
Pansy Parkinson sat stiffly beside her, fingers tapping anxiously against her plate, her gaze flickering to her phone every few seconds.
Mattheo Riddle sat across from Y/N, his leg bouncing beneath the table in agitation. He caught Y/Nโs eye briefly but looked away, his usual cocky smirk nowhere to be found.
On the other side of the hall, Ginny Weasley was seated with her friends, but she barely touched her breakfast. Her hand clutched her expensive new bag, her knuckles white.
Draco Malfoy, who had always seemed unflappable, was unnervingly quiet, his pale face more drawn than usual.
The anticipation built, and students began counting down aloud, their voices rising together.ย
โFiveโฆ fourโฆ threeโฆ twoโฆ one!โ
Suddenly, phones across the hall buzzed with notifications. The room erupted with cheers and laughter as students opened the shared link, seeing confetti burst across their screens. Then the cheering died down, replaced with gasps as four new slideshows appeared.ย
Y/Nโs stomach twisted. She watched as the first video began playing, the title splashed across the screen: Who is Draco Malfoy?
The hall fell eerily silent as students leaned in to watch.
The video started with a montage of Dracoโs lifeโimages of him in his pristine Slytherin uniform, smirking at the camera, his family estate in the background.
But then it took a sharp turn.
It revealed a secret social media account, the username untraceable but clearly Dracoโs.
Private videos played, showing Draco sending flirtatious messages to an anonymous person, referring to them as "kitten."
The screen then flashed to explicit videos of Dracoโnudes and risquรฉ content he had sent to his mystery lover.
The final clip showed him buying lavish gifts for โkitten,โ the anonymity of the recipient fueling gossip instantly.
Students gasped. Some laughed, while others sat in shocked silence.
Y/Nโs gaze darted to Draco.
He looked stricken, his usually pale face flushed with anger and embarrassment. His hands clenched into fists as he muttered under his breath, "Iโm going to kill whoever did this."ย
Before anyone could fully react, the next video started: "Who is Ginny Weasley?"
Ginnyโs face drained of color as her name appeared on the screen.
The video began innocently enough, recounting her life with seven older brothers, growing up in a modest household.
But then, it shifted.
Footage of Ginny showing off her new, expensive bag and designer clothes rolled, juxtaposed with images of her familyโs frugality.
Then came the paperworkโclear evidence that Ginny had been siphoning money meant for the Yule Ball budget, spending it on herself.
The hall erupted in disbelief and shock.
Y/Nโs eyes flicked to Ginny. She sat frozen in place, her hands trembling.
Across the hall, Professor McGonagall shot up from her seat at the head table. โMiss Weasley!โ she barked, her voice ringing through the hall. Ginny didnโt move, her face flushed with humiliation.
Students around her began whispering furiously, some hurling insults.
โThief!โย ย
โGuess the Weasleys werenโt as noble as we thought.โ
Y/N looked away, heart sinking, but there was no time to reflect. The third video had already started: "Who is Mattheo Riddle?"
Mattheo visibly tensed. The video highlighted his infamous father, Tom Riddle, emphasizing his shady business dealings and political corruption.
Clips of Mattheo followed, showing him flaunting his fatherโs wealth, throwing money around at parties, and speeding through town in luxury cars.
Then the video cut to Tom Riddle himself, hypocritically denouncing corrupt politicians, saying he was in it for โhonor and family,โ while the images of Mattheoโs extravagance played on screen.
It was a direct attack on both father and son.
Mattheoโs phone buzzed loudly on the table.
He glanced at it, paling as he saw the caller ID: his father.
His jaw clenched, and without a word, he stood, hurriedly leaving the hall.
The whispering grew louder, mocking laughter trailing him as he stormed out, his phone pressed to his ear.
But the final video was the most devastating: "Who is Pansy Parkinson?"
Pansy froze as her name appeared, her knuckles turning white as she gripped her fork.
The video started with harmless clips of Pansy and her ex-boyfriends, gossiping with friends.
Then the footage turned darker.
Secretly recorded, it showed Pansy talking to Blaise, her best friend.
In the footage, Pansy confessed tearfully that she didnโt like boys the way she was supposed to.
โI like girls,โ her voice trembled as she admitted her truth. Blaise had hugged her, comforting her as she cried.ย
The hall fell into stunned silence.
Pansy sat frozen for a moment, her face going pale. Then, without a word, she stood and ran from the hall.
Blaise immediately followed, guilt written all over his face as he chased after her, just as he had comforted her in the video.
The hall erupted into chaos.ย
Students were shouting, some calling Draco and Ginny names, others taunting Mattheo.
A few students were sympathetic, but most were too caught up in the drama. Y/N could barely hear herself think over the noise.
Across the hall, the doors opened, and Astoria Greengrass stepped inside. Her face was pale, but she looked determined.
Then she caught sight of the phones and the videos playing. Whispers immediately followed her entrance, people staring at her, some laughing cruelly.
Draco saw her, his eyes wide with panic. He stood, pushing his chair back violently. โAstoriaโwaitโโ But she was already turning, tears spilling down her cheeks as she fled once again.
Draco tried to follow, but she was gone before he could reach her. He swore under his breath, his hands trembling as he sat back down.ย
Hermione, who had entered quietly, watched Astoriaโs retreat with a solemn expression.
Y/N saw the way Hermione glanced at Dracoโsympathy, but something else too. Draco ran a hand through his hair, his eyes dark with guilt.
โThings are getting out of hand,โ Y/N muttered to herself, trying to drown out the taunts and shouts from all around her. Her head buzzed with questions. Who was next? Who was behind this?
The professors stood huddled at the head of the room. Snapeโs face was twisted in frustration. "We need to ban phones," he hissed.
"That will only make matters worse," McGonagall replied, her voice strained with the weight of everything.
Dumbledore remained calm but watchful. "We need to address this before it escalates further."
But Y/N couldnโt focus on their discussion. She had a sinking feeling, gnawing at the pit of her stomach. The videos had come for Draco, Ginny, Mattheo, and Pansy today, but it wasnโt over. The countdown had started, and she feared her time was coming.
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Dark!Series| hacker x reader | โพ๐ค๐โโฌ๐ฑโ| Series Masterlist | Masterlist |
Synopsis - When a hacker starts exposing the darkest secrets of the students to the entire school, the socially isolated yet unnervingly perceptive Y/N becomes obsessed with unmasking the culprit, even as the chaos spirals into something far more sinister. Based on the TV series Control Z .. If you've already watched the series then it'll be easy to figure out who the hacker is but if not.... Enjoy..
This Chapter - A Countdown taunts students with a ticking time bomb as they wait who's next. An introduction of Y/N and her favourite Professor..
Word Count -2653
Warnings - Bullying, teasing, taunting, smart class mates, blackmail, clingy!Harry, upset!Astoria, upset!Daphne, phone usage, Sneaking out, Banter, Slytherin Table antics, Secret relationships, talking about death, fire, dead!dad, Blaise x Luna, Mattheo teasing Harry, Y/N sneaks out to see her favourite professor..
Authors Note - No I will not tell you who the hacker is but like I said above, if you've seen the series than it would be pretty obvious from the beginning..
The Great Hall buzzed with its usual energy as students gathered for dinner, but tonight, something felt off.
As plates filled with food appeared on the long house tables, everyoneโs phones simultaneously vibrated, lighting up with notifications.
The sudden flurry of activity was impossible to ignore. Murmurs spread through the hall as students began pulling out their phones, glancing at the new notifications.ย
A new account had surfaced on every platformโSnapchat, Instagram, TikTokโall displaying the same ominous title: All your secrets - by TheHacker.
It was the same account that had leaked Astoriaโs secret, and now it was back with a countdown, ticking ominously toward the next morningโs breakfast.
Y/N, sitting at the Slytherin table, felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She pulled it out, her stomach sinking as she saw the countdown. Her eyes flicked up from the screen, scanning the room.
Across the hall, Mattheo Riddle was already looking at her, his expression tense. She nodded slightly, acknowledging the weight of the situation, and he returned the gesture.
The atmosphere grew more chaotic as the students realized what was happening. Pansy, seated a few spots down from Y/N, was visibly panicking, her fingers tapping anxiously on the table.
Ginny Weasley, on the opposite side of the room at the Gryffindor table, was just as unsettled. She sat stiffly with her friends, clutching her bag as if it were her lifeline.
Harry, seated beside her, gave Y/N a small, shy wave, trying to stay cheerful, but the tension around them was undeniable.
Y/N noticed how Ginny barely acknowledged him, too wrapped up in her own thoughts. Something was eating away at her.
Looking around, Y/N realized three notable absences: Draco, Astoria, and Hermione. Her eyes narrowed. It was unlike Hermione to skip dinner, and Draco was usually glued to Astoriaโs side.
Just then, the doors to the Great Hall swung open, and Hermione entered, walking purposefully toward the Gryffindor table.
Draco followed a few steps behind, smoothing down his platinum hair as he made his way to the Slytherin table, sitting next to Blaise. But Astoriaโstill absent.
Draco seemed off, his usual smirk replaced with a blank, almost worried expression. Y/N could sense something had shifted, especially with Hermione.
Her gaze lingered on Draco for a moment longer before turning her attention to Ginny, who sat quietly, her eyes darting around nervously. Something was brewing, and Y/N wasnโt the only one who noticed.
The hall erupted with gossip. Students leaned into each other, whispering and glancing at their phones. Y/N overheard snippets of conversation from the students around her.
"Did you see the countdown? What's going to happen at breakfast?"ย ย
"Itโs probably another leakโwhat if itโs about me this time?"ย ย
"Who do you thinkโs behind all this? Someoneโs gotta know more than theyโre letting on."
Y/Nโs focus was momentarily broken when she caught a few students laughing loudly from the Gryffindor table.
Mattheo, ever the provocateur, couldnโt resist making a snide comment across the hall.
"Hey, Potter, you enjoying your little spot in Gryffindor?" he called out, his tone playful but sharp.
Harry, who had been quietly eating next to Ginny, looked up, his face a bit red but determined.
Before Harry could respond, Draco spoke up. "Ease up, Mattheo," he said, surprising Y/N. "Gryffindors arenโt all that bad." His voice was calm, as if heโd been deep in thought. "
Y/N shot a glance at Draco, trying to make sense of the unexpected defense.
Blaise, meanwhile, was distracted. His eyes werenโt on the drama; they were on a small piece of parchment. With a sly grin, he scribbled something down and folded it carefully.
A flick of his wrist, and the note flew across the hall, landing gracefully in front of Luna Lovegood, who was seated at the Ravenclaw table.
Luna opened the note, her eyes lighting up as she read Blaiseโs playful message, a small blush creeping onto her cheeks.
Y/N couldnโt help but smile at the sightโBlaiseโs tough exterior softened whenever Luna was involved.
Just then, at the head table, Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape were engaged in a heated discussion. The professors had also noticed the phone frenzy and were clearly not pleased.
"This madness needs to end," Snape muttered, his eyes dark and brooding as he glared at the students engrossed in their devices. "We should just ban phones altogether."
McGonagall pursed her lips. "Itโs already a mess as it is. Banning phones might cause more trouble than itโs worth, Severus."
Madam Hooch, standing nearby, chimed in. "I agree. Banning phones will just stir the pot. There needs to be another solution."
Dumbledore, always calm in a crisis, simply observed, his eyes twinkling with thought. "We must be careful in our approach. Technology, like magic, is powerfulโbut it must be used wisely."
Harry follows Y/N, his footsteps echoing in the quiet corridor. "What do you think the countdown's for?" he asks, slipping his hands into his pockets, trying to sound casual.
Y/N shrugs without looking back at him. "Probably the next victim." Her voice is detached, almost too calm for the situation theyโre in.
He quickens his pace to keep up with her, eyes narrowing in curiosity. "What makes you think that?"
Y/N slows down just enough to glance over her shoulder, meeting his gaze briefly. "Because itโs obvious, isnโt it?" she replies coolly.
"A countdown usually means something bad is about to happen. And if we're dealing with this... it's not a party."
Harry's eyes dart to the floor for a second, considering her words. "Right," he mutters, thinking it over. "But why assume itโs a person next? Could be something else. An event. Maybeโ"
"Harry," Y/N cuts him off, her tone a mix of exasperation and caution. "You and I both know better. This hacker's twisted. Theyโve been messing with peopleโs lives. If itโs not a person next, then... I donโt know what it is, but it's not something good."
Harry watches her for a moment, studying her expression. Y/N keeps her face neutral, though an unsettling thought lingers in her mind โ *what if itโs me next?*
Before Harry can respond, Mattheo strides up from the opposite direction, slipping between them like he belongs there, his usual swagger masking a hint of nervousness.
"Why, what are you hiding, Hugo?" he asks with a smirk, feigning ignorance about Harry's name.
Harry frowns at the name slip but stays calm. "Itโs Harry. You know that, Mattheo."
"Do I?" Mattheo quirks an eyebrow, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Your last nameโs kinda hard to forget, Potter." He emphasizes it, but thereโs a hint of something else behind his smirk โ admiration, maybe even envy.
After all, James Potter, Harryโs father, had been one of his childhood heroes.
Y/N, sensing the tension between the two, steps in.
"Relax, Mattheo. No need to act like you donโt know who he is." She crosses her arms, giving him a knowing look. "Besides, shouldnโt you be more concerned about that text you got from the hacker?"
Mattheoโs smirk falters for a second. He glances at her quickly before forcing a laugh.
"Me? Concerned? Nah, itโs probably a prank. Just some empty threat. I donโt think theyโd waste time on me." His casual tone doesnโt match the flicker of unease in his eyes.
Y/N isnโt convinced, but she doesnโt press him. She knows Mattheoโs not the type to admit vulnerability โ especially not in front of her.
The three of them arrive at the entrance to the Slytherin common room, the dim torchlight casting long shadows on the stone walls.
Mattheo takes a step forward, turning slightly to block Harryโs path. "Well, new kid, this is where you turn back. Slytherin territory, remember?"
Harry halts, giving Y/N a brief, almost playful look. "Right. Iโm sure Iโll see you around, Y/N... maybe when the countdown finishes?" His tone is teasing, but thereโs an underlying seriousness that makes Y/N pause.
She blinks, not quite catching the flirtation in his words. "Yeah, maybe," she says absentmindedly, her thoughts still on the countdown. Something about it feels too close, too personal.
Mattheo, however, picks up on Harryโs intent immediately. He steps closer to Y/N, clearly annoyed. "Alright, Golden boy, we get it. Bye now." His voice is tight, barely hiding the jealousy simmering beneath the surface.
Harry chuckles awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Right. See you." He waves once more at Y/N before turning to leave, his footsteps echoing down the corridor.
As soon as Harry is out of sight, Mattheo lets out a low breath, glancing at Y/N. "New kids kind of annoying huh?"
Y/N doesnโt respond right away, her mind spinning with the weight of her earlier realization โ the countdown, the victims. Could she be next? She swallows hard, forcing a smile at Mattheo. "Hmm, sure."
But deep down, a chill settles in her chest. If the hacker's targeting victims based on personal connections... maybe she's closer to danger than she realized.
And she isnโt sure she wants Harry โ or Mattheo โ to know just how much that possibility scares her.
The castle was quiet, the kind of stillness that only came after midnight when even the ghosts had retired to their usual haunts.
Y/N moved swiftly through the dimly lit corridors, her footsteps barely making a sound as she descended toward the library's Restricted Section. She knew the path well by now, having snuck out on more than one occasion.
Tonight, the pull of a particularly rare book on ancient hexes had been too tempting to resist.
Slipping inside the library, she carefully closed the heavy wooden door behind her, making sure the hinges didnโt creak.
The Restricted Section was darker than the rest of the library, its shelves towering and filled with volumes that radiated mystery and danger.
Y/N made her way to her usual corner, her fingers lightly brushing over the spines of forbidden books, seeking the one she'd been wanting to read.
She had just settled in, the heavy tome open across her lap, when a familiar gruff voice broke the silence.
"You're gettin' better at sneakin' about, but not good enough."
Y/N froze, her heart skipping a beat. Slowly, she lifted her gaze from the book to see the unmistakable silhouette of Professor Mad-Eye Moody leaning against a nearby shelf, his magical eye swiveling in its socket while his real one watched her with a raised brow.ย
"Professor," Y/N greeted, trying to hide the smirk pulling at her lips. "Caught me again."
Moody grunted, his lips twitching into something that could almost be called a smile. "Didnโt need the eye for that. Your patternโs predictable. Always the same time of night." He gave her a sideways glance. "Same shelf, too."
Y/N shrugged, trying to play it off casually. "What can I say? Iโm a creature of habit."
Moody didnโt seem to mind that she was there. In fact, over the past few months, sheโd noticed that he seemed to have grown used to her presence.
The first time he'd caught her sneaking into the Restricted Section, heโd grumbled and threatened detention. Now, he didnโt even bother to escort her back to her dorm.
He limped over to her side, peering at the open book with interest. "Hexes, huh? Bit dangerous for light reading, donโt you think?"
Y/N grinned. "I like a challenge."
He snorted, the sound rough but not unkind. "Youโve got more in common with that lot than you think," he muttered, referencing some of the dark wizards sheโd read about.
She tilted her head, amused. "Oh? Should I be worried?"
He eyed her for a moment, then shook his head. "Not if you keep your wits about you. Youโre observant, Iโll give you that. You pick up things most others donโt."
Y/N blinked, surprised at the compliment. "Howโd you figure that?"
Moodyโs magical eye whirled in its socket for a second before he pointed to it. "This helps. But even without it, itโs obvious."
Y/N chuckled softly, but as she watched him more closely, she noticed something. He did this thing โ a quick flick of his tongue, licking his lips in between sentences. It wasnโt the first time sheโd seen him do it, and it reminded her of someone.
Her father. He used to do that too, just before delivering some piece of wisdom or when he was deep in thought. The resemblance hit her unexpectedly, and a pang of sadness settled in her chest.
She mustโve paused too long because Moody, always perceptive, narrowed his good eye at her. "Something on your mind?"
Y/N hesitated, unsure if she should burden him with her thoughts, but then again, Moody wasnโt the type to pry without reason. She exhaled softly, her gaze dropping to the book in her lap.
"Itโs just... that thing you do. Licking your lips before you speak. My father used to do that." Her voice softened. "He... passed away when I was nine. Died in a fire. You just reminded me of him."
For a moment, there was only silence between them. The atmosphere felt heavier now, the soft rustling of pages and distant creaks of the castle the only sounds.
Moody didn't say anything at first, just nodded slowly, his face as weathered and scarred as ever, but there was a gentleness in his expression that caught her off guard.
"Iโm sorry, lass," he said quietly, his voice gruffer than usual but not unkind. "Losing a parent that young... thatโs not something you shake off easy."
Y/N managed a small smile, though the ache in her chest lingered.
"Itโs been a while now, but it still hits me sometimes. The fireโ" she paused, her throat tightening for a moment before she pushed through it, "โit was an accident. But itโs hard not to think about it."
Moody took a seat beside her on the low bench, his gaze turning distant for a moment as if recalling something from his own past.
"You keep them with you, you know. Those you lose. Maybe not in the way you want, but they stick around." He glanced at her, his mismatched eyes solemn. "And sometimes, they teach you things long after theyโre gone."
Y/N nodded, his words resonating more than she expected. "Yeah. He taught me to pay attention. Said you can learn a lot just by watching people."
Moodyโs lips twitched again in that almost-smile. "Smart man, your father."
For a while, they sat there in silence, the weight of unspoken thoughts lingering in the air.
Y/N felt a strange sense of comfort being around Moody, despite his gruff demeanor. He didnโt try to offer false reassurances or platitudes โ just listened, and that was enough.
After a moment, Moody stood, his wooden leg creaking slightly as he shifted. "You know, if youโre gonna sneak around reading, you might want to mix up your pattern a bit. Next time, someone might not be as lenient as me."
Y/N smiled, rising to her feet and closing the book carefully. "Thanks for the tip, Professor. Iโll keep that in mind."
Moody gave a slow nod, his magical eye whirling again before locking onto her. "And Y/N..." he paused, his voice softer now, "youโre tougher than you think. Your father would be proud."
Her chest tightened at the words, but she managed a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, Professor."
As she quietly slipped out of the Restricted Section and made her way back to her dorm, Y/N couldnโt help but feel a little lighter. Moody's words stayed with her, lingering like a quiet strength she hadnโt realized she needed.
Dark!Series| hacker x reader | โพ๐ค๐โโฌ๐ฑโ| Series Masterlist | Masterlist |
Synopsis - When a hacker starts exposing the darkest secrets of the students to the entire school, the socially isolated yet unnervingly perceptive Y/N becomes obsessed with unmasking the culprit, even as the chaos spirals into something far more sinister. Based on the TV series Control Z .. If you've already watched the series then it'll be easy to figure out who the hacker is but if not.... Enjoy..
This Chapter - More conflicts ensue
Word Count -1863
Warnings - Bullying, teasing, taunting, smart class mates, blackmail, Mattheo comes home, Tom is mean here, Tom hits Mattheo, Y/n visits her dads grave, Barty Crouch Jnr is her dad, Pansy once again bullys Daphne.
Mattheo's phone buzzed in his pocket as he leaned against the rough stone wall outside the Great Hall. He glanced down, already knowing who it would be. His father. A tight knot of dread formed in his stomach as he picked up the call.
"Mattheo," his fatherโs voice came through, sharp and cold as always. "Come home. Now."
There was no question, no explanation. There never was with Tom Riddle. Mattheo didnโt bother asking whyโhe already knew.
The slideshow at Hogwarts had caused more damage than anyone realized, and his father would not be pleased. With a resigned sigh, Mattheo grabbed his coat and made his way to the nearest fireplace to Floo home.
The Riddle estate loomed as ominously as ever when Mattheo arrived. He stepped into the grand entrance hall, the familiar scent of wood polish and something darker, like burnt parchment, hanging in the air. But this time, the air was thick with something elseโpanic.
All around him, his fatherโs assistants were frantically shredding documents, burning papers in the fireplaces, erasing files from computers. The chaos was organized, but barely. It was clear that something had cracked wide open, and now they were all scrambling to cover it up.
Mattheo had expected this. It was the reason for his calm demeanor in Dumbledoreโs office earlier.
What could a headmaster possibly do against his father, the man nicknamed the Dark Lord? Hogwarts had no power here. Dumbledoreโs assurances were meaningless. His fatherโs empire was crumbling, and there was nothing anyone could do to stop it.
He was walking through the chaos when his fatherโs voice cut through the noise.
"Mattheo!"ย
Mattheo turned, stepping into his fatherโs study.
Tom Riddle stood behind his grand desk, his face twisted in a mask of fury. He looked like a man on the edge, his hands trembling slightly as they gripped the back of the leather chair.
"Do you have any idea what youโve done?" Tomโs voice was deadly quiet, the kind of quiet that made everyone in the room stop and pay attention.
"Are you happy now? Your little stunt is going to cost usโeverything. People are asking questions, Mattheo. Dangerous questions. They want to know where the hell I got that money."
Mattheo felt the familiar pit of guilt and dread settle in his stomach. He opened his mouth, trying to explain, "Iโm sorry, Father. I didnโt think it would getโ"
"You never think!" Tom exploded, slamming his fist onto the desk with such force that papers flew into the air. His voice was filled with the kind of rage that could level cities.
"You always do this! You take what Iโve builtโeverything Iโve sacrificedโand you destroy it. Do you think this is a joke? Do you think this is just some game?"
Mattheoโs body tensed, his mind racing for some kind of defense, but before he could speak again, his father lashed out. His fist connected with Mattheoโs face, a sharp, brutal strike that left him reeling, his cheek throbbing with pain as he stumbled back.
"Stop it!" His motherโs voice rang out as she rushed into the room, pulling Tom back before he could hit Mattheo again. She stood between them, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and anger as she held her husband at bay. "Tom, thatโs enough!"
But Tom wasnโt done. His chest heaved with rage, his eyes blazing as he pointed a trembling finger at his son. "I work my ass off to give you a life most people would kill for, and thisโ" He gestured wildly at the chaos surrounding them. "This is what you do with it. Youโre weak, Mattheo. Youโve always been weak."
Mattheo said nothing. He couldnโt. The words stung, cutting deeper than the bruise forming on his face.
Without another word, he turned and bolted from the room, the sound of his fatherโs angry voice chasing him down the hallway. But he didnโt stop running until he was outside, his breaths coming in ragged gasps, his mind spinning with the weight of it all.
No one could protect him from this. Not Dumbledore. Not Hogwarts. Not even himself.
Meanwhile,ย
Once a week, Y/N and her mother visited her fatherโs grave. It had been years since his passing, but the routine remained, the weight of it sitting heavily on their shoulders. Y/N carried a bunch of fake flowers in her hand, their silky petals rustling as they approached the well-kept graveyard.ย
Her mother, as usual, knelt by the headstone, brushing away the faintest traces of dust, even though they visited so often there was barely anything to clean.
Y/N quietly placed the flowers down in front of the stone, knowing her motherโs thoughts before she even said anything.
Her mother sighed softly, noticing the faux bouquet. โFake ones again, sweetheart?โ
Y/N shrugged, offering a wry smile. โItโs cheaper.โ
Her mother gave her a look, shaking her head with a soft chuckle as she placed the flowers beside her husbandโs name. โYouโre using my card anyway.โ
Y/N didnโt respond, her eyes glancing toward the inscription on the stone:
Barty Crouch Jr.
It was a name laden with infamy, but to Y/N, it was simply her fatherโs. A man who had made choices she didnโt fully understand but whom she loved in ways she could never express.
They sat in the usual quiet for a while, her mother lost in thought, fingers tracing the letters carved in the stone.
Y/N, however, was more restless today, scrolling through her phone as she absently listened to the silence around them. The sudden ping of a notification caught her attention. She opened it quickly, not expecting much.ย
The message hit her like a slap:
"does your mother know of your late night escapades?"
Accompanying the text were several photos: one of her sneaking into the Restricted Section of the library at night, another of her sitting in a quiet corner with Professor Moody. Her heart skipped a beat. The hacker knew more than she had anticipated. Her secrets, though few, had been laid bare.
Her motherโs voice broke the silence, startling Y/N out of her thoughts. โRemus told me youโve made a new friend at school,โ she said with a sly smile, glancing over at her daughter.ย
Y/N rolled her eyes, stuffing her phone back into her pocket, forcing herself to focus. โOh, did he?โ
โYes,โ her mother said, amusement clear in her voice. โHe says heโs got a famous father. James Potterโs son, isnโt it?โ
Y/N couldnโt help but smirk, grateful for the distraction. โYeah, Harry Potter. Heโs... not what people think.โ
Her mother leaned in with interest. โWhatโs he like, then? Is he as big-headed as people say?โ
Y/N chuckled, shaking her head. โNo, not at all. He doesnโt even want to play Quidditch like his dad did. Heโs... quiet, more thoughtful.โ
Her mother raised her eyebrows, clearly intrigued. โReally? He sounds... interesting. And you, being so observant. You always were like your father in that way. Could spot something a mile away.โ
Y/Nโs smile faltered just slightly as she glanced back at the headstone, feeling the weight of those words. She had always been compared to her fatherโwhether in her intelligence or in the quiet, calculating way she moved through the world.
Her mother always said it as a compliment, but to Y/N, it was a bittersweet legacy.
As her mother continued to fuss over the headstone, Y/Nโs mind wandered back to the photos the hacker had sent.
The secrets she thought were buried were now exposed. And as her eyes rested on her fatherโs name once more, she felt a sinking feeling that perhaps, like him, she couldnโt outrun her own past.
Daphne was walking alone through the courtyard, keeping her head down and trying to avoid any unwanted attention.
Astoria wasn't aroundโshe had left earlier for another meeting with Dumbledore, and Daphne was left to fend for herself. As she passed a group of students, she spotted Pansy Parkinson out of the corner of her eye. Pansyโs eyes locked onto her like a predator zeroing in on its prey.
โWell, well, look whoโs all alone,โ Pansy sneered, her voice dripping with venom as she sauntered up to Daphne. โWhereโs your sister? Off crying somewhere because everyone knows about her dirty little secrets?โ
Daphne clenched her fists, trying to control the shaking in her hands. She kept her mouth shut and her head high, not wanting to give Pansy the satisfaction of seeing her crumble. But Pansy wasnโt done.
โWhatโs the matter, Greengrass? Cat got your tongue? Or are you too busy plotting some ridiculous revenge plan with Astoria?โ
Pansy circled her like a vulture. "Oh, I forgot, you Greengrasses are above all that. So high and mighty, but no one really cares. Youโre just as pathetic as everyone else.โ
Daphneโs heart pounded in her chest as the words stabbed at her, but she refused to let them show. Her phone buzzed in her hand, and in a moment of weakness, she glanced down at the screen. It was her mother.
A sense of desperation welled up inside her. Maybe her mother could help. Maybe she could stop all of this.
Pansy noticed. โWhat, calling mummy?โ she mocked, her voice lilting with false sweetness. โGoing to cry to her about the big bad bullies?โ
Daphneโs hand trembled as she pressed her motherโs contact, her thumb hovering over the screen. โPlease, Mumโฆ justโโ
Before she could finish, Pansy snatched the phone from her hand.
โOh, come on, Greengrass,โ Pansy scoffed, her smile wicked as she waved the phone in front of Daphneโs face. โWeโre not even allowed these during school hours. Whatโre you gonna do, beg her to send the Ministry?โ
Pansy threw the phone to the ground, the sickening crack of the screen shattering echoing in the courtyard. Daphneโs heart sank. She dropped to her knees, reaching for the broken device, her fingers trembling as she lifted it up. The screen was destroyedโcompletely useless.
Something inside Daphne snapped. She stood up, her chest heaving with a mix of anger and exhaustion. Her eyes narrowed, and for the first time, she didnโt cower under Pansyโs stare. Instead, she met it head-on.
โAre you just here because you like me?โ Daphneโs voice was steady, cutting through the chaos like a knife.
Pansy froze. Her smug expression faltered for a split second, replaced by a flicker of confusion. โWhatโno!โ she stammered, her bravado slipping.
Daphne took a step forward, her eyes never leaving Pansyโs. People around them had started to notice, the tension in the air drawing their attention.
โYou thought I was drawing you because I liked you?โ Daphne said, her voice soft but laced with ice. โNo. Quite the opposite. I know youโre broken. I know youโre sad. Thatโs why you crave my attention. Thatโs why you bully me.โ
Pansyโs face reddened with anger, her hands balling into fists at her sides. The crowd was murmuring now, watching the scene unfold. Pansyโs mask of confidence cracked, and for a moment, Daphne saw something raw in her eyesโsomething vulnerable.
โShut up!โ Pansy snapped, raising her hand, ready to lash out. Her face twisted in fury, but before she could strike, a gruff voice boomed across the courtyard.
โThatโs enough, girls!โ Professor Moody strode over, his magical eye whirling as he took in the situation. Right behind him was Professor Lupin, his normally gentle expression now stern.
The two professors moved quickly, pulling the girls apart before things escalated further. Moodyโs grip on Pansyโs shoulder was firm, his eyes narrowing at her, while Lupin gently but firmly placed a hand on Daphneโs arm.
โIs there a problem here?โ Lupin asked, his voice calm but serious.
Pansy glared at Daphne, her face flushed with anger and humiliation, but she didnโt say a word. She yanked her arm out of Moodyโs grip, shooting one last hateful glance at Daphne before storming off.
Professor Moody's magical eye twitched, glancing between the girls as he muttered, โThis isnโt the place for this kind of nonsense. Not anymore.โ
Lupin, still holding Daphneโs arm lightly, gave her a sympathetic look. โAre you alright, Miss Greengrass?โ
Daphne nodded, though she wasnโt sure if she believed it herself.
โIโm fine,โ she muttered, pulling her arm free. She didnโt look back as she walked away, her heart pounding, her body trembling from the adrenaline coursing through her veins.ย
The battle had been small, but it was one of the first times she felt like she had fought backโand won.
Dark!Series| hacker x reader | โพ๐ค๐โโฌ๐ฑโ| Series Masterlist | Masterlist |
Synopsis - When a hacker starts exposing the darkest secrets of the students to the entire school, the socially isolated yet unnervingly perceptive Y/N becomes obsessed with unmasking the culprit, even as the chaos spirals into something far more sinister. Based on the TV series Control Z .. If you've already watched the series then it'll be easy to figure out who the hacker is but if not.... Enjoy..
This Chapter - The aftermath of the reveal
Word Count -1863
Warnings - Bullying, teasing, taunting, smart class mates, blackmail, clingy!Harry, upset!Astoria, upset!Daphne, phone usage, fight, yelling, Astoria admits that the hacker texted her, Astoria fights Pansy, Draco breaks up with Astoria..
The next morningโs chaos in the Great Hall spilled over into their first class. Professor Lupin stood at the front of the room, his usual calm demeanor unchanged despite the palpable tension in the air.
The students filed in, but there was no hiding the aftermath of the explosive revelations from the countdown the night before.ย
Y/N entered the classroom, her mind heavy with everything that had happened. She tried to focus, but her eyes drifted toward Pansy Parkinson, who sat in the far corner, her face tear-streaked, Blaise Zabini by her side, whispering comforting words.
The same way he had in the video that exposed her secret.
Draco Malfoy wasnโt faring much better. He was being teased relentlessly, students snickering and calling him "kitten" as he walked by.
Y/N noticed several classmates taunting him, asking who his mystery lover was, and whether his "kitten" would come forward to claim him. Draco sat silently, his jaw clenched, trying to ignore the comments.ย
Astoria Greengrass entered soon after, her head held high, but her eyes betrayed the turmoil beneath her composed exterior. As soon as she walked in, Draco made a move toward her, clearly desperate to explain or reconcile, but Astoria cut him off sharply.
โDonโt, Draco,โ she snapped, her voice cold.ย
Theo Nott, who had been lounging nearby, laughed mockingly. โGuess sheโs not your kitten after all, Malfoy.โ
Draco shot Theo a withering look but said nothing, his frustration mounting.
Y/N watched as Hermione Granger quietly entered the room next. She exchanged a brief glance with Draco before sitting down, but Draco avoided her gaze, his focus still on Astoria.
Harry entered the classroom last, his eyes scanning the room before settling on Y/N. He made his way over to her, offering a small smile as he took a seat beside her.
โHey,โ Harry greeted her quietly. โEverything okay?โ
Y/Nโs attention was elsewhere, her gaze flickering to Professor Lupin, who had already begun setting up for the lesson. Lupin caught Y/Nโs distracted look and greeted her with a nod, his voice gentle. โY/N, how are you?โ
She blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. โOh, fine,โ she muttered, clearly distracted. She couldnโt stop thinking about the tension in the room.
Across from her, Mattheo Riddle entered, his face a mask of tension. His phone buzzed incessantly in his pocket, and he glanced at it briefly before answering in a hurried whisper. โDad, please, Iโโ
Before Mattheo could continue, Professor Lupin interrupted. โMr. Riddle, the new rule about no phones during class applies to everyone,โ he said sternly.
Mattheoโs face tightened as he hung up, shooting an apologetic glance at Y/N, who had been watching him closely.
She had assumed the messages and calls were from the hacker, but Mattheoโs strained voice suggested otherwise. Something about his father had rattled him, and Y/N wondered what kind of pressure he was under.
Just then, Ginny Weasley walked into the classroom, her shoulders tense as whispers followed her entrance.
Students snickered, calling her a thief and making remarks about her expensive handbag.
Normally, Pansy Parkinson would have been the one to join in the teasing, but today, she remained silent, too caught up in her own humiliation to speak up.
Hermione stood up from her seat and approached Ginny, her expression serious but composed. โGinny, we need to talk about the Yule Ball files. Iโm the new chair, and I need you to hand over everything.โ
Ginnyโs face flushed with anger and denial. โI didnโt steal the money, Hermione,โ she insisted, her voice trembling with frustration.
Hermioneโs expression softened, not wanting to escalate things. โIโm not here to accuse you, Ginny. But I need the files to start making plans.โ
Ginnyโs eyes narrowed, but she didnโt argue further. Instead, she stormed past Hermione, muttering under her breath, as the whispers and stares continued to follow her.
Across the room, Daphne Greengrass kept sneaking glances at Pansy, her eyes filled with curiosity and confusion. Pansy, noticing Daphneโs stares, finally snapped.
โStop staring at me!โ Pansyโs voice rose, filled with frustration. โJust because I like girls doesnโt mean I like you, so quit it!โ
The outburst sent a ripple of silence through the room. Daphne shrank back, her face burning with embarrassment. Astoria quickly moved to comfort her sister, shooting a glare at Pansy.
The tension in the classroom was unbearable, simmering just beneath the surface as Professor Lupin began his lesson.
Y/N sat quietly, trying to distract herself, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the chaos in the Great Hall and the fallout now playing out in front of her.
Professor Lupin glanced in her direction, his expression gentle as he asked, "Y/N, what flowers does your mother like? Iโm thinking of bringing some next time Iโ"
Y/Nโs eyes widened in frustration, and she rolled them before sharply cutting him off. "Does it really matter, Professor?"
Harry, who sat beside her, raised an eyebrow at the exchange, catching the awkwardness in Y/Nโs tone.
He looked between her and Lupin, curious but unsure whether to say anything. Before he could speak, Lupin cleared his throat, sensing Y/N's discomfort.
"Ah, yes, of course," Lupin said with a forced smile, quickly changing the subject. But not before he added quietly, "I knew your father, Harry. We grew up together."
At this, Harryโs face flushed with sudden embarrassment. He hated when people brought up his father, the constant shadow of James Potter looming over every interaction.
He fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat, mumbling something in return before trying to focus on his notes.
Y/N noticed Harryโs reaction but didnโt comment. She had her own complicated feelings about Lupinโs involvement with her mother, a relationship that had started just after her melt down last year.
It felt strange, and Y/N wasnโt sure how to navigate it.
She tried to ignore the professorโs attempts to connect with her, pushing it out of her mind as her attention drifted back to the room.
Mattheo sat a few rows ahead, his leg bouncing with agitation. His phone buzzed again, but this time he didnโt answer, clearly not wanting another reminder from Lupin about the new no-phones rule.
Instead, he cast a quick glance in Y/Nโs direction, his face tight with stress.
But just as the class began to settle, the tension snapped.
Daphne Greengrass had been casting furtive glances at Pansy ever since the explosive video had played in the Great Hall, a blend of concern and curiosity bubbling within her. It was impossible for her to look away completely.
Pansy noticed immediately and, fueled by irritation, shouted, โStop looking at me!โ
The room fell silent, all eyes now shifting to Pansy and Daphne.
Daphne shrank back, her cheeks flushing crimson as she quickly averted her gaze. Beside her, Astoria, sensing the tension, jumped up defensively.
โHey, leave her alone!โ Astoria snapped, stepping in front of Daphne as if to shield her from Pansy's wrath. โShe wasnโtโโ
But Pansy had no interest in Astoriaโs defense. Her anger had been simmering ever since the earlier revelations, and now it erupted like a volcano.
โYou!โ Pansy stormed toward Astoria, her voice shaking with rage. โYouโre the reason this is all happening. You had no right to out me like that.โ
Astoriaโs face paled, but she stood her ground. โI didnโt mean toโโ
โYou didnโt mean to?โ Pansy interrupted, her voice rising with every word. โYou think thatโs an excuse? Youโve ruined everything, Astoria. Youโve ruined me!โ
In a burst of frustration, Pansy lunged at Astoria, shoving her back against the desk. The classroom erupted into chaos as the two girls began to fight, hands pulling at hair and shoving one another.
โStop it!โ a voice shouted from the back, but it was drowned out by the sounds of their scuffle.
Amid the chaos, Astoria gasped, โYou donโt understand! The hacker texted me! It was my decision to make sure we were next! It was Mattheo, Pansy, and Ginny who chose me!โ
Pansy paused for a moment, her anger momentarily sidelined by confusion. โWhat do you mean?โ
โMattheo picked me to be the first person at school to get exposed. Ginny took my phone to dig up secrets, and you uploaded the video!โ Astoria defended herself, her eyes wide with desperation.
Draco, who had been watching quietly, interjected, โBut then why me?โ
Astoria shook her head, brushing off his question with a hint of annoyance. โI donโt want to talk to you, Draco!โ
โYouโre all in this together!โ Pansy shouted, her anger reigniting as she turned her attention back to Astoria. โYou all played a part in this mess!โ
Pansy was furious, and in typical Pansy fashion, she didnโt stop at words. She lunged at Astoria, pushing her back against the desk.
The classroom erupted into chaos as the two girls began to fight, hands pulling at hair and shoving one another.
Astoria swung back, trying to defend herself, but Pansy had always dealt with her problems physically, and this was no exception.ย
Mattheo stood up, his face hardening with anger. โYou do realize this affects more than just you, right?โ he yelled, trying to cut through the madness. โMy fatherโs breathing down my neck because of this!โ
The fight only grew more heated. Astoria managed to get in a punch, bruising Pansyโs lip, but Pansy retaliated with a shove, sending them both crashing into desks.
Blaise and Theo tried to pull Pansy off, but her fury was like a wildfire, impossible to stop. โIt wasnโt your place to out me, Astoria! You donโt get to decide that!โ
โYeah, says the girl who uploaded that video of meโ Astoria shouted back, though her voice was strained with guilt. โI just- didnโt know your secret was that badโ
โThatโs not good enough!โ Pansy yelled, pushing Astoria again, this time with enough force to knock her against a nearby desk.
Astoriaโs lip was bleeding now, but she wiped it away, her eyes blazing with defiance.
Draco, who had been standing to the side, unable to look away, finally spoke, his voice cutting through the chaos.
โWeโre over, Storia,โ he said coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion. โThisโwhatever this isโitโs done.โ
Astoria froze, her eyes wide in shock as she registered Dracoโs words. Her voice cracked as she replied, โWe were over the second you started seeing your little kitten,โ she spat, her voice filled with venom.
Her eyes darted toward Hermione, who had remained quiet in the corner, trying to avoid everyoneโs gaze.
Y/Nโs heart sank as the realization hit her like a ton of bricks. Hermione.
Dracoโs โkittenโ had been Hermione all along.ย
The room went still, everyone watching in stunned silence.
Y/N felt sick to her stomach, the weight of the betrayal settling in. She turned her gaze toward Hermione, who was staring down at her desk, guilt written all over her face.
Suddenly, Harry stood up, sensing Y/Nโs distress.
Without thinking, he stepped between Pansy and Astoria, his hand outstretched to stop the fight. โThatโs enough!โ he said firmly, trying to break up the tension.ย
But in the chaos, Pansyโs arm swung out, and her fist accidentally connected with Harryโs face. He stumbled back, clutching his cheek, wincing at the unexpected blow.
Lupin had had enough. His voice boomed through the room, commanding authority.
โEnough! This ends now!โ He pointed toward the door. โPotter, Parkinson, Greengrass, Malfoy, Riddle, and Miss Weasleyโhead to Professor Dumbledoreโs office. Immediately.โ
The named students exchanged glances, their faces pale as the gravity of the situation sunk in.
One by one, they began filing out of the room, the heavy atmosphere thick with tension.
As Pansy walked past Astoria, she shot one final glare, her lip swollen from the fight.
Draco didnโt even look at Astoria as he passed her, his face set in stone.
The room was eerily silent after they left, the weight of what had happened pressing down on everyone still inside.
Y/Nโs thoughts swirled with confusion, betrayal, and a sense of helplessness. Nothing was going to be the same after this, and she knew it.ย
Her gaze drifted back to Lupin, who was watching her with concern.
But Y/N couldnโt bear to meet his eyes.
Everything was falling apart, and she wasnโt sure how to stop it.