Summer was coming to an end. This was endlessly exciting news for Eurydice DeRose, who had spent the greater part of her summer working in her father's restaurant, burning her hands on plates and getting grease in her hair. Returning to Hogwarts meant she could return to the regular pampering she received from her friends.
Mattheo was still the only one who knew the truth about Eurydice, and, as a result, Eurydice was often forced into different high society events by Pansy and Draco. Just last winter, Eurydice had been forced to accompany her friends to the annual Malfoy winter ball. Mattheo had bought her a painfully expensive gown (though he hadn't batted an eye at the price) and spent two weeks teaching her how to waltz. Eurydice had fit in perfectly. In fact, Eurydice had thrived, pretending to be a rich, well-educated pureblood. For an evening, Eurydice had almost forgotten that she was really a muggleborn waitress from a working class family.
The sun was beating in through the large windows of the restaurant, baking Eurydice under its heat. Natalia's was a small lunch spot located in the middle of Bristol. Fernando DeRose had named it after Eurydice's late mother, although it was hardly a compliment. The building was old, the roof leaking at the slightest rainfall. The paint was peeling, the door was rusting. Eurydice's father didn't seem to care about fixing up the restaurant, either. He didn't seem to care about most things these days.
The door creaked open, the obnoxious bell on the door ringing out in the empty shop.
"Be with you in a moment." Eurydice called out, wiping down a table.
"Is that any way to greet your best friend?"
Eurydice turned around, her eyes landing on Mattheo. He had certainly matured over the summer. He had always been pretty, but somehow he'd managed to elevate himself to handsome over the past three months.
"Téo!" Eurydice smiled. She jumped into his arms, the dirty rag she'd been using still in her hand. Mattheo hugged her back just as aggressively, his arms wrapped around her waist. He laughed gently, lifting his head up to survey the shop.
"Nice place you got here." He commented. Eurydice pulled away, giving him a mock-annoyed look.
"Don't." She said.
"I didn't say anything!" Mattheo defended, holding his hands up in surrender. "I just pictured it a lot more..."
"...Cheerful?"
"Operable." Mattheo corrected.
"Stop." Eurydice smacked his chest with the rag in her hand.
"As you wish, princess." Mattheo found a seat, leaning back in a rickety chair.
"What inspired you to stop by?" Eurydice took the seat across from him. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table.
"This."
Mattheo tossed a letter across the table. Eurydice hesitantly opened it, revealing the contents.
Mattheo,
It has come to my attention that you are well-acquainted with Miss Eurydice DeRose. As you know, the DeRose family is highly influential. I must encourage you to pursue a relationship with the girl. It would be highly beneficial to your family and its future.
I suspect it won't be long before we see a resurface of your father's power. It will be best to have something to show your promise. A marriage with a member of the DeRose family will secure you land, money, and political influence, all of which will create the connections he needs to return to his rightful power.
This is a request straight from your mother. I went to visit her in Azkaban. She was very insistent upon hearing of your connection to the DeRose girl. Trust me that she will be incredibly upset with you if you do not comply.
Narcissa Malfoy.
Eurydice's eyes jumped to the top of the page, reading the first paragraph once more.
"So..." She set the letter down. "When she says 'pursue a relationship'..."
"She means romantically." Mattheo grimaced. He retrieved a cigarette from his jacket. "My mother wants us to be married."
"And when she says that your father will return to his power..."
"She means what you think she means." Mattheo took out a lighter, bringing it to his lips.
"No smoking in here."
"C'mon." Mattheo rolled his eyes.
Eurydice reached across the table, snatching the lit cigarette from his lips. She crushed it underneath her foot.
"You're no fun." Mattheo whined.
"Matt, are you telling me that your father is back?" Eurydice asked.
"He's not back yet, but he will be."
"Does that not worry you?"
"Of course it does." Mattheo snapped. "But there's nothing to be done about it. I'm more concerned about our arranged marriage."
"Right." Eurydice sighed. "Your mother wants us to get married."
"Yep. And, for the sake of your safety, I think we have to do it." Mattheo's face became stoic. He hadn't been lying when he said he was worried about this. "If my father comes back and finds out my best friend is a muggleborn, he'll have you tortured and killed, just to make an example. We have to keep up the ruse as best we can, at least until someone comes along and kills him again."
"We'd have to be married." Eurydice said. "We'd have to be actually married."
"Trust me, this is not an ideal situation for me, either." Mattheo sighed. "But I wouldn't be able to live with myself if you got hurt, especially if it was my fault."
"It wouldn't be your fault." Eurydice shook her head. "I dragged you into this whole scheme in the first place."
"It would be my fault." Mattheo said stubbornly. "Because you're under my protection. If you're hurt, it's because I failed you."
Eurydice thought it over. If she agreed, she'd never be able to marry anyone else. She'd likely never have a real relationship. Eurydice would forever be tied down, marked as Mrs. Riddle, the wife of the son of the Dark Lord. It would mean permanently joining that world - a world that wanted her and all those like her dead.
"Mattheo, I love you, but I can't marry you."
Mattheo flinched, groaning in frustration.
"You'll be in danger." He insisted.
"Don't you think they'll figure out that I'm a fraud?" Eurydice challenged. "Your father, the Malfoys, the Death Eaters - eventually, it'll come up that I'm just some muggleborn freak, and then we'll both be dead."
"You're not a freak." Mattheo shook his head. "You'll be dead if we aren't married."
"Exactly. Only me. If we marry, we'll be lucky if they only kill us."
"What are you suggesting, then?" Mattheo asked.
"I don't know..." Eurydice sighed. "We have time, don't we? It doesn't all need to be solved tonight."
"Yeah." Mattheo leaned back in his chair, a defeated look on his face. "And who knows? Maybe he won't return. Maybe good old Harry Potter will nip this thing in the bud."
"Maybe." Eurydice nodded, although she knew neither of them really believed that. Every day the Death Eaters were preparing - not even Mattheo knew what for. All he had said was that a few of the Dark Lord's closest followers had begun floating in and out of Malfoy Manor, and that the war drums had begun to sound.
"There's more news." Mattheo grunted.
"Oh, don't tell me your mother wants us to have children already."
"No." Mattheo rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't complain if you wanted to practice, though." He winked, a stupid smirk finding its home on his face.
"In your dreams, Riddle."
"You certainly got that right." Mattheo reached into his pocket, retrieving a small white envelope. "We are going to the Quidditch World Cup."
"Oh." Eurydice took the envelope, opening it carefully. Peering inside, she saw a ticket and a handful of galleons. "Why?"
"The Malfoys are going." Mattheo shrugged. "I'd appreciate the company. Besides, it'll get you out of this dump for a few days."
"A few days? Where would we stay?"
"Most families set up tents and camp. We'll likely just apparate in and out, but Narcissa said you could stay at Malfoy Manor as long as you'd like."
"Sounds cushy." Eurydice smiled. "Consider me there."
