A shift in fate | Mattheo Riddle

Song: Hits diffirent- Taylor Swift

 As soon as I step into the Great Hall, the warmth of the room hits me—not just from the floating candles casting their soft golden glow, but from the wave of familiar voices and laughter echoing off the stone walls. It's like the whole castle has come to life. 

The reactions are instant. Jane and I barely make it past the threshold as we notice there's movement from the Hufflepuff table. 

Cedric Diggory.

He jumps to his feet the minute he sees me and Jane walk through the grand door. In just a quick few strides, he's standing in front of me, arms wide open.

 Cedric Diggory. Wow. Not the actor—actually him. There he was, radiating that effortless charm, giving us an immediate warm welcome. He's even more handsome than he ever looked on a screen back in my CR. For a split second, panic rises in my chest, but I manage to compose myself. Act normal. Breathe

He pulls me into a tight hug without hesitation. "It's been way too long, I really missed you" His embrace is warm, grounding—exactly the kind of hug I needed. It instantly made me forget every anxious thought buzzing through my head. 

Before I could even pull away, Fred and George had also shot up from their seats. "Oi, move over Diggory, we get a turn too!" Fred announced, dramatically pushing Cedric aside (though Cedric only laughed and rolled his eyes). 

Fred pulled me into a hug, squeezing me just tight enough to make me laugh. "You're lucky we missed you, or else I'd be making fun of you for taking so bloody long to get here". George was right behind him, pulling me into a quick hug of his own. "I mean, I am still going to make fun of you, but its really good to see you Moonvale" he added with a smirk.

Damn they're tall. And handsome.

Jane, standing just behind me, laughs. "What, am I invisible? No 'welcome back' for me?"

Fred gasps dramatically, clutching his chest. "Jane! How could we forget our favorite bad influence?"

"Favorite?" George grins. "Bold of you to assume, Freddie."

Meanwhile, Hermione had also stood up from the Gryffindor table, her face lighting up when she saw me. Without hesitation, she wrapped me in a warm, genuine hug. "I missed you! How was your summer?" she asked as she pulled away, her brown eyes sparkling with excitement

She is absolutely gorgeous.

"I missed you too, girl," I said, grinning as I looked her up and down. "You look really pretty, by the way." The compliment made Hermione's cheeks flush a delicate pink, and she shyly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her smile soft but appreciative.

Even Ron, who usually wasn't one for too much physical affection, surprised me with a quick, slightly awkward side hug. "Yeah, yeah, missed you too, I guess," he muttered, a playful grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Harry, always the quieter one, simply grinned up at me from his seat, giving me a nod in acknowledgment.

"Took you two long enough to show up!" I heard a voice shout from the other end of the hall. I turned, and there she was—Pansy Parkinson, rolling her eyes dramatically at me and Jane. I couldn't help but chuckle. Pansy might be a bit of a nightmare to most people, but I scripted her to be one of my best friends. She could be sharp with others, but with us? She was loyal and always had our backs. Jane, already heading toward the Slytherin table, left me to navigate this next part on my own. 

They were all there. Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, Theo Nott, Lorenzo Berkshire, Sebastian Sallow and of course- Mattheo Riddle. 

Shit. They were all looking at me, obviously expecting me to greet all of them. Don't panic now Vienna.