Unspoken Bonds - Mattheo Riddle x Reader

The ride home from the Malfoy Manor was thick with silence, but not the same comfortable quiet Y/N and Mattheo had been growing into. No, this was different—sharp, tense, like something unspoken was gnawing at the space between them.

Mattheo had been unusually distant since the dinner. Y/N had felt it even before Blaise's remarks, but after that encounter, something about Mattheo's demeanor had changed entirely. He seemed more guarded, more withdrawn than before, and it left a sinking feeling in her chest.

Once they arrived back home, he retreated to his study without a word. Y/N was left standing in the foyer, watching the door close behind him. She couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them, something that she couldn't quite grasp. It was frustrating because they had been doing so well—better than she ever thought possible given how they started.

But it wasn't just about Blaise, Y/N realized. There was something more, something Mattheo wasn't telling her. And she wasn't sure how long she could keep pretending that everything was fine.

The next few days passed in a blur of strained silence. Mattheo spent more and more time away, either locked in his study or out of the house entirely. Y/N tried to bridge the growing gap between them, but every time she got close, he would pull away, offering little more than clipped responses and forced smiles.

It was maddening. They had been so close to something real, something meaningful, and now it felt like it was slipping through her fingers, and she didn't know why.

She needed space to think, to clear her head, and there was one person she knew could help her.

Theodore Nott.

Theo had been her closest friend for as long as she could remember. He was always there, a steady presence in her life, someone who understood her in a way that few people did. Their friendship had remained strong, even through her arranged marriage, though recently, she had sensed a slight shift in Theo's behavior—a certain quietness in his eyes when they spoke. But she chalked it up to him adjusting to her new life.

Now, more than ever, she needed his advice.

They met at a café near Diagon Alley, the kind of cozy place where no one cared about who you were or what burdens you carried. Y/N relaxed slightly as she settled into her chair, the warm light and soft hum of conversation around them a welcome change from the cold distance she'd felt with Mattheo.

Theo smiled warmly as he sat across from her, his eyes lighting up when they met hers. "It's good to see you, Y/N. You've been keeping busy, I assume?"

Y/N returned the smile, though hers was tinged with exhaustion. "You have no idea. It's... been a lot."

Theo's brow furrowed, concern etched into his features. "What's going on? Is it Mattheo?"

Y/N sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Yeah, it's him. We were doing so well for a while. He was... different, more open. But then, out of nowhere, it's like he shut me out again."

Theo nodded slowly, his gaze softening as he leaned forward. "I've always wondered why you went through with this marriage. I mean, it wasn't what you wanted, right?"

Y/N shook her head, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of her cup. "No, it wasn't. But it's complicated now. I don't even know how to explain it. I feel like there's something between us, but he won't let me in."

Theo's hand brushed against hers, a comforting gesture that made her look up. "You deserve better than this, Y/N. You deserve someone who will fight for you, who won't make you second-guess everything."

Y/N frowned, her thoughts swirling. "He's not a bad person, Theo. I know he cares, but it's like something's holding him back."

Theo's jaw tightened for a split second, but he quickly masked it with a gentle smile. "Just... be careful, alright? I don't want to see you get hurt."

Y/N nodded, appreciating his concern, though she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something else beneath his words. She leaned back in her chair, feeling a little lighter now that she had confided in someone, but still unsure about what to do next.

Mattheo's mood only worsened over the next week, and Y/N could feel him slipping further away. He was distant, cold even, and Y/N couldn't understand why. The few moments they shared were filled with tension, like he was angry with her for something she didn't even know she had done.

It wasn't until she caught a glimpse of the cold glare he shot toward Theo one evening that the pieces started to fall into place.

She and Theo had been chatting near the fireplace at a party, laughing about some silly story from their school days. It was harmless, friendly banter, nothing more. But when Y/N looked up, she caught Mattheo watching them from across the room, his jaw clenched, eyes dark with something she couldn't quite read.

It wasn't until Theo excused himself that Mattheo approached her, his expression stormy.

"What's going on with you and Theo?" he asked, his voice tight.

Y/N blinked, surprised by the sudden confrontation. "What? Nothing. We're just talking."

"Talking?" Mattheo repeated, his voice laced with disbelief. "You two seem awfully close."

Y/N frowned, crossing her arms defensively. "Of course we're close. He's my friend, Mattheo."

"Friend," Mattheo muttered, shaking his head. "Do you honestly think that's all it is?"

"What are you talking about?" Y/N asked, her frustration mounting. "Theo's just—"

"He's in love with you," Mattheo snapped, cutting her off. "And don't pretend like you haven't noticed."

Y/N stared at him, shocked by the accusation. "That's ridiculous. Theo and I are just friends. He doesn't—"

"Yes, he does," Mattheo interrupted, his voice hard. "I've seen the way he looks at you. And you're too blind to see it."

Y/N's heart pounded in her chest, anger bubbling up inside her. "Even if that were true, which it's not, it doesn't change anything between us. Why are you acting like this?"

Mattheo scoffed, looking away, his fists clenched at his sides. "Because I can't stand seeing him with you, alright? I hate it."

Y/N stared at him, her breath catching in her throat. "Mattheo..."

But before she could say anything else, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving her standing there, stunned and hurt.

The days that followed were filled with a coldness that Y/N hadn't expected. Mattheo withdrew even further, barely speaking to her unless necessary. The warmth they had begun to share was gone, replaced by an icy distance that left Y/N feeling more alone than ever.

She didn't understand it—didn't understand why Mattheo was acting like this, why he was pushing her away when things had been going so well. And she certainly didn't understand why Theo's presence seemed to be the trigger.

But what hurt most was that she missed Mattheo. She missed the way he had begun to let her in, the way he had started to look at her with something more than indifference. And now, all of that was gone, shattered by something she didn't even fully comprehend.

And the worst part? She had no idea how to fix it.