A shift in fate | Mattheo Riddle

Song: Tornado Warnings- Sabrina Carpenter

The weekend had passed in what felt like the blink of an eye. I had purposefully avoided diving into the twins' little plan, needing a break from all the drama that had exploded in the past few days. Instead, I spent the weekend trying to clear my head, keeping a safe distance from Mattheo while soaking up some much-needed girl time with Jane. By Sunday evening, I was exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster, and it wasn't until the new week dawned that I truly felt ready to take action.

Monday arrived all too quickly, and with it, the reality of another week filled with classes. Jane and I, fortunately, had managed to get up on time—no rushing or frantic mornings this time. I felt strangely calm as I began to get ready, but it wasn't a typical rush. Today, I was putting in extra effort. It was the first day of my plan, and I had no intention of letting it fail before it even started. I was going all out- hair, makeup, the works. I knew that if I looked the part, everything else would follow. Besides, who could resist a little confidence boost from looking good?

By the time breakfast came around, I had a quiet confidence about me. I was practically glowing, while trying my hardest to ignore Mattheo, keeping my focus on the girls. Every time I glanced at him, he seemed to be watching me—his gaze lingering, but I refused to acknowledge it. I wasn't about to let myself cave so easily.

As we made our way to the Great Hall, I shot him a brief "good morning," keeping it as casual as I could manage. No need to make this awkward. By the time we were leaving for class, I gave a simple "goodbye" before walking off with Jane, my heart oddly fluttering in my chest despite myself.

Transfiguration was first on the agenda, and as usual, Professor McGonagall couldn't resist making a little snarky comment about us not being late to class this time. Jane and I exchanged a look and chuckled, though it didn't feel as lighthearted as usual. Something in me just couldn't shake the feeling that I was about to step into a much bigger game.

The rest of the morning flew by uneventfully. Charms was standard, if not a bit dull, with Professor Flitwick babbling on about the intricacies of levitation spells. My mind kept drifting, though. I found myself lost in thought, wondering if my plan would actually work. Was I really prepared to do this? I wasn't sure. But by the time the bell rang signaling the end of Charms, I had already decided to go through with it.

And then, it hit me—Sex Education. The class everyone had been talking about since the last lesson. The one that had everyone buzzing with half-joking, half-serious discussions about the awkwardness of it all. Honestly, the very thought of it made me want to crawl into a hole and die. I'd been terrified the first time around, and this time? Well, there was no escaping it. But when I really thought about it, it was also the perfect opportunity for my plan.

By the time we were walking toward the classroom, I was already mentally preparing myself. Mattheo would notice, I was certain of it. The key was staying calm, playing it cool, making him wonder if I had truly moved on—if the distance he'd put between us had finally worked. But I wouldn't make it obvious. 

I couldn't help but feel like I was overcomplicating things. Maybe it would be simpler if I just relaxed a little, but no—there was no turning back now. The plan was in motion, and I couldn't afford to second-guess myself. Not now.

The door to the classroom creaked open, and sure enough, there he was—Professor Snape, making his grand entrance as usual. His black robes billowed behind him like the wings of a bat, sweeping dramatically across the floor as he swept into the room. He flicked his wand casually, and the door slammed shut with a loud snap. I could practically hear the collective sigh of the class, the energy in the room already sucked dry by his presence.