only you mattheo riddle

### **Chapter 6 - Tension and Temptation**

The warmth of the Slytherin common room was a stark contrast to the lingering ache in my hand. Despite the easy banter, I could still feel the faint sting of Umbridge's damn blood quill, a reminder that the woman had a personal vendetta against me. Not that I cared. If she wanted a war, she'd get one.

The fire crackled behind us, casting flickering shadows as the evening stretched on. Mattheo had made himself *far* too comfortable beside me on the couch, arms draped over the back like he owned the place. Pansy had taken my blanket hostage, Draco was still muttering about tomorrow's lessons, and Blaise was flipping a dagger between his fingers with practiced ease.

"Alright," Draco sighed, stretching. "I'm off to bed before I lose more brain cells listening to you lot."

"Bit late for that, don't you think?" I mused.

He shot me a glare, but I just smirked. With an eye roll, he strode off toward the dorms, Pansy following with a yawn.

Blaise and Mattheo lingered a little longer.

"You're not actually planning to play nice with Umbridge, are you?" Blaise asked, his dark eyes assessing me.

I scoffed. "Not a chance."

Mattheo's smirk deepened. "Good. Would've been disappointed otherwise."

I raised a brow. "Oh? And here I thought you liked your girls obedient."

He leaned in just slightly, voice dropping into something dangerously smooth. "Not in the slightest."

For half a second, the air between us crackled with something sharp, something electric. Then Blaise groaned, shoving himself to his feet.

"Alright, that's enough tension for one night. Some of us would like to sleep *without* witnessing whatever the hell this is."

Mattheo just chuckled, pushing up from the couch. "Sweet dreams, Lestrange."

I rolled my eyes, watching as they disappeared into the boys' dormitory. With a deep breath, I finally stood and made my way to my own room, my mind still buzzing with something I *really* didn't want to name.

#### **The Next Morning**

I woke up to the familiar sound of Pansy rifling through her wardrobe.

"Tell me again why we have to go to Astronomy first thing in the morning?" she groaned.

"Because the universe hates us," I muttered, dragging myself out of bed.

By the time we got to breakfast, the Great Hall was already alive with chatter. I slid into my usual seat, immediately stealing a piece of bacon off Blaise's plate.

"You're insufferable," he muttered.

"You love me."

"Debatable."

I smirked, just as Mattheo dropped into the seat across from me. He looked too awake for this hour, which was suspicious in itself.

"What?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

His smirk was all teeth. "Nothing."

I didn't trust him *at all*.

But I had more important things to worry about-like surviving another day at this godforsaken school