Always and forever- Matteo Riddle

Fitting in

"And for pretty much every occasion we can think of, we love an excuse for a party" Blaise buts in making me smile

"And they are completely nuts" Theo says

"You going?" Pansy ask

I pause unsure because I've not been to a party in a while

"Too scared are we princess?" Mattheo teases

"Absolutely not. I'll be there without a doubt" o say with defiance annoyed by his remark

Draco gives me a look almost unsure if it's a good idea with my past but I just give him a gentle nod to reassure him, I want a fresh start.

"Ok let's go to bed" enzo says as everyone stands up

As the common room emptied, the fire burning low, I stretched and let out a quiet breath. My first night at Hogwarts had been overwhelming, but in a way that made me hum with excitement.

Draco lingered by the doorway, arms crossed, watching me with that familiar sharp gaze—the one that only ever softened when it was just the two of us. As I stood, he stepped forward, his voice lower now that it was just us.

"If you need anything, I'm right next door," he said, his tone steady, reassuring.

I nodded, but before I could say anything, he pulled me into a quick hug. It wasn't long, but it was enough. Enough to remind me that no matter how much changed, he was still my brother. Still my constant.

"Goodnight, y/n," he murmured as he pulled away.

I gave him a small smile. "Goodnight, Draco."

I knew he was worried about me, he just rarely showed it. It felt nice to know I still had him, we drifted a lot when we were separated but it feels like nothing changed.

The castle was eerily quiet as I slipped through the dimly lit corridors, the distant sound of dripping water the only thing breaking the silence. My pulse thrummed with excitement—half from the risk, half from the anticipation of what was to come.

When I reached the meeting spot, Mattheo was already there, leaning lazily against the cold stone wall, a cigarette tucked behind his ear. He gave me that signature smirk as I approached.

"Change of plans," he murmured, pushing off the wall. "I've got a better spot."

I raised a brow but didn't argue as he turned and started walking. Following him felt like second nature, like I had already decided I trusted him without realizing it. We moved through the corridors in silence, ducking past sleeping portraits and slipping through secret passages until we finally emerged into the crisp night air.

I stopped short, breath catching in my throat.

The Astronomy Tower stretched wide before me, the open sky endless above, scattered with stars that shimmered like diamonds against the vast darkness. A cool breeze brushed against my skin, carrying the distant scent of pine and parchment. Below, the castle grounds sprawled out, bathed in the pale glow of the moon.

Mattheo glanced at me, amusement flickering in his dark eyes. "Not bad, right?"

I exhaled, shaking my head with a quiet laugh. "Not bad at all."

He pulled out the pack of cigarettes, tapping one loose before handing it to me. I took it without hesitation, and when he stepped closer to light it, the glow of the flame cast sharp shadows across his face.

As I took a slow drag, I leaned against the stone railing, gazing out at the endless sky. The castle, the rules, the expectations—they all felt so far away up here.

Mattheo exhaled a stream of smoke beside me, his voice low. "Figured if you were gonna break the rules, might as well do it with the best view in the castle."

I smirked, glancing at him before turning back to the stars. "I could get used to this."

Mattheo leaned against the stone railing, exhaling a slow stream of smoke into the cool night air. The ember of his cigarette glowed softly in the darkness, casting faint light across his sharp features. I took a slow drag of my own, the taste familiar, the burn in my lungs more comforting than it should have been.

"Do you smoke much?" I asked, breaking the silence.

He let out a quiet chuckle, flicking ash over the side of the tower. "More than I should, probably." He shot me a sideways glance, his smirk lazy but curious. "What about you? You seem a little too comfortable with that."

I exhaled slowly, watching the smoke curl into the night sky. "Been doing it for a while," I admitted. "It's calming."

Mattheo nodded, as if he understood something unspoken. "So you're not just in it for the rebellion points?"

I smirked, tapping my cigarette against the stone. "Oh, I like breaking rules as much as the next Slytherin. But this?" I lifted the cigarette slightly. "This is just peaceful."

He studied me for a second longer before looking back up at the stars. "Well," he said, voice lower now, "at least I know I'm in good company."

A comfortable silence settled between us, smoke and starlight intertwining as the castle slept below.

The night stretched on, the cold air biting at our skin, but neither of us seemed to care. We sat on the stone railing, legs dangling over the edge as we passed stories back and forth, smoke curling lazily between us.

I learned that Mattheo hated mornings, that he had a talent for sneaking out of trouble just as quickly as he got into it, and that he'd been caught in detention more times than he could count. In return, I told him about my old school, about the places I used to go when I wanted to be alone, and how smoking was never really about rebellion for me—it was just something that made everything feel a little lighter.

Somewhere between the laughter and quiet confessions, the distant chime of the castle clock reminded us how late it had gotten.

Mattheo stretched, tossing the last of his cigarette off the tower and watching the ember disappear into the night. "We should probably call it," he murmured. "You might be new, but trust me, Filch will love to catch you out of bed."

I smirked, hopping down from the railing. "And here I thought you were all about breaking rules."

He gave a low chuckle, pushing open the door that led back inside. "Yeah, well, I also know when to pick my battles."

The castle was eerily quiet as we made our way back to the dungeons, our footsteps soft against the cold stone. When we reached the entrance to my dorm, Mattheo stopped, leaning against the wall with that same amused smirk.

"Guess I'll see you around, y/n."

I rolled my eyes at the use of my last name but couldn't help the small smile tugging at my lips. "Guess so"

And with that, he turned, disappearing down the dim corridor. I watched him go before slipping into my dorm, the scent of smoke still clinging to my sweater, the echo of his laughter lingering in my mind.