A shift in fate | Mattheo Riddle

Song: Naked In Manhattan- Chappell Roan

The walk to the Great Hall was suffocatingly silent. No one spoke. No one even exchanged glances. The weight of what had happened in the classroom still clung to us, heavy and unshakable. I could feel the tension rolling off my friends in waves, their minds undoubtedly racing as they tried to process what they had witnessed. 

The eerie silence was abruptly shattered by Mattheo's voice.

"Why did that voice say that to you, V?" His tone was calm, but there was a sharpness to it, like he was dissecting every word. He kept his gaze ahead, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. "About your time being up... and you not belonging here."

My breath hitched. My head snapped toward him. "Uh—you heard that?" I asked carefully, trying to keep my voice steady.

Before Mattheo could respond, Draco scoffed. "Everyone heard that, V. It was weird as fuck."

Shit.

This was bad. Really bad.

Panic flickered inside me, but I forced my expression to stay neutral. I couldn't afford suspicion—not now, not ever. If they started digging, they might uncover the truth, and the last thing I wanted was to explain that I had shifted realities just to be here at Hogwarts.

I hesitated, my mind scrambling for an excuse, something—anything—to explain away what they had heard. But before I could even attempt a response, Jane came to my rescue.

"I think it might've been playing on a fear of not being good enough," she said, her brows furrowed in thought. "Like... maybe deep down, you're scared you don't fit in, and that's why the voice said you don't belong here. But obviously, you do belong here."

Relief flooded my chest.

It made sense—at least, it would if that had actually been the reason for the voice. But I wasn't about to correct her.

"Yes! That makes so much sense, Jane." I latched onto her explanation immediately, nodding as I forced a smile. "I guess that fear is buried somewhere deep in my subconscious or something."

The others muttered in agreement, making sounds of understanding as they nodded along.

Crisis averted.

By the time we reached the Great Hall, the tension had lifted slightly, but my heart was still pounding. As we approached the grand doors, the others walked ahead, already making their way to the table. I let out a breath, ready to slip into the crowd unnoticed—until Mattheo abruptly stopped beside me.

I barely had time to register it before he turned to me, his expression unreadable.

"We're going outside." His tone was firm, unwavering.

I blinked in confusion. "What? Why?"

"The fresh air will be good for you," he said simply.

I glanced at the others. They were already making their way to the Slytherin table, completely unaware that we hadn't followed them in. I turned back to Mattheo, narrowing my eyes slightly. "Uh... but we need to eat too, right?"

He shrugged. "We'll grab something on the way." His voice left no room for argument.

I sighed, knowing I wasn't going to win this one. "Ugh, fine. Have it your way, I guess." I gave him a playful nudge as I caved.

A small, knowing smirk tugged at his lips.

As Mattheo and I turned away from the Great Hall, I followed him down a quieter hallway, away from the usual flow of students. It didn't take me long to realize where we were going.