抖阴社区 it on my Heart-Mattheo Riddle story

Chapter 7

"Morning, miss," Pipkin squeaked a welcome when she noticed Claire entering the kitchen.

"Good morning," Claire smiled. "I know you're busy preparing for breakfast, but would it be too much of a bother for me to bake?"

"'Course not, miss. I can set up your corner for you, if ya like."

"I can do that myself, thanks." Preparing her space before baking was a relaxing ritual and she didn't want to give any of the busy house elves more work when she was intruding on their space.

She had no idea what baked good Mattheo would prefer, so she chose one of her own favorites: madeleines. After collecting the ingredients and materials she'd need, Claire rolled up her sleeves and got started. There was a peace that came over Claire when baking. Memories from her childhood in the kitchen with her mother washed over her: her hands over Claires as she helped her whisk together egg whites, sitting on their counter and licking the batter off the spoon as they waited for their creation to bake. Every memory made her smile. While writing invigorated her mind, baking soothed her soul.

When she finished, she had a tin filled with three dozen cookies. She went a little overboard. Then again, madeleines were addictive and she knew she could easily polish off that many herself. Setting the tin on a stool, she cleaned her station. Pipkin insisted she could clean it for her, but Claire wouldn't hear of it. She had made the mess and her mother had always taught her to clean up after herself.

Claire only realized a flaw in her plan to thank Mattheo after leaving the kitchens. Giving Mattheo the 'thank you' gift in the Great Hall at the Slytherin table would cause questions about what she was thanking him for. And one thing she knew, especially with writing a gossip article, was gossip spread like wildfire. She didn't need the whole school finding out they'd broken the rules last night.

Tucking the cookie tin into her bag and trading it for her History of Magic textbook, she leaned against the wall across from the Great Hall by the stairs leading down to the dungeons. She'd just wait for Mattheo there. Whether he was already eating or had yet to arrive, she'd be able to see him leave or enter the Great Hall from her spot.

She'd finished half of the required reading for History of Magic when she heard footsteps and chatter coming from the stairs leading down to the dungeons. Glancing up, she saw a group of Slytherins coming up for breakfast. Draco, Blaise, and Pansy led the group, followed by Draco's ever present security guards, Crabbe and Goyle. Behind them were Theo, Enzo, and Mattheo.

She straightened and smiled when Mattheo's gaze met hers. Tucking her book back in her bag, she pushed off the wall. Before she took a step in his direction, Mattheo broke away from his friends and approached her. The whole group paused, falling silent.

"Hi," Claire said when he stood before her, unsure of what else to say with his entourage as an audience. Of course he wouldn't go to breakfast alone, she was silly to think she'd be able to give him the madeleines in private.

"Hello. Are you waiting for me?" he asked, smiling at the thought. His smile widened when she nodded. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting long."

If he'd known she wanted to see him, he would have left for breakfast right after his post-run shower.

"It's okay, I got some homework done while I waited."

"Is that flour on her nose?" Pansy sniggered in a false whisper that carried over to her and made Crabbe and Goyle chuckle with her.

Claire ran her finger across the tip of her nose self-consciously.

"It's actually right—" Mattheo traced a line down the bridge of her nose with his thumb, his palm brushing her cheek in the process. "There."