RIDDLE ME THIS

5

i skipped my first Divination lesson.

having lit the huge fire, Draco and Matteo sat with me in the common room while i drank Beetle Berry Whiskey.

Matteo had raided Tom's trunk, finding all sorts of bottles and vials inside.

"so what are we going to do about darling Tom?" Matteo looked up at me from his seat on the floor.

i shrugged. "tell Father."

"are you joking?" he scoffed.

we didn't snitch to Father. ever.

we knew how powerful his rage was and as much as we sometimes despised each other, the dislike wasn't enough to rat each other out.

"what do you suggest we do then?" i sighed, pulling the blanket tighter around my shoulders.

"why don't you tell Snape," Draco's eyes darted between us.

"who's Snape?" Matteo frowned.

i rolled my eyes. "the one who's office we were in."

he looked blank.

"black hair, black eyes, black clothes..." Draco prompted.

"oh, him! what'll he do?"

"probably give Tom a detention. maybe an in-school suspension."

"alright, take us to Snape."

"enter," Snape's cold voice came from the other side of the door.

Draco waited outside while Matteo led me inside.

Tom was already seated in front of the desk.

"what are you doing here." Matteo spat.

"the same as you, it appears." Tom grinned.

"you've got mud on your face." i told him drily.

the grin was wiped off his face along with the smears of mud.

"i have nothing to say to any of you. go to your common room. your Father will appear in the fire place in ten minutes. nobody will disturb you." Snape didn't look up from the papers he was reading.

with that we were propelled out of the room and the door slammed behind us.

"you're still here?" Tom snapped at Draco, storming down the corridor.

"watch it, Riddle." Draco pushed off the wall.

Tom didn't look back, his robes billowing around him.

"how did it go?" he turned to me.

i rolled my eyes. "Father's going to appear in the fire place in ten minutes." i mimicked Snape's voice.

"and we won't be disturbed." Matteo grabbed my arm and started to drag me away.

i didn't protest.

nobody got in between family.

"so what are we going to tell him?" Tom stared at me from his spot on the sofa.

"Lola was being antagonistic, you were already in a bad mood and pulled out your wand." Matteo answered for me.

"you think he'll believe that?" i raised my eyebrows.

"you'll have to convince him." Tom glared at me.

"i didn't start it!"

"you know what-"

"sit down, Tom." Matteo stood up between us.