The corridors of Hogwarts had long been a sort of training ground for you, being a bloody victim was a stigma that was very hard to wash away.

Particularly if it was someone like Mattheo Riddle, there were millions of aspects he didn't like about you starting with your excessive correctness and charity, helping filthy-blooded offspring, how nice.

Riddle used to limit himself to backstabbing, perhaps barbed words, but he never touched you. Never until this day. Merlin sees he was in the worst of moods, since just now he was pulling your hair in a most uncomfortable position. His harsh tone stated with a pounding pain in your head, one more tug and all your hair would go to hell.

"Stay out of my way, bird." You fell to the cold floor with a crash, shiveringly picking up the pendant Mattheo had broken. Not just any trinket, your dead mother's pendant.

Tears came to your eyes, and the lump in your throat made it almost impossible to breathe. You ran out of the hallway, leaving the boy with his devils. You'd never cried before, leaving with a crumpled look, yes.

Something strange in his chest was eating away all common sense, screaming at him to apologize. The man hesitantly followed you, lurking in the shadows of the hallway. That damn squelching could be heard even here. And hell, it didn't bring him as much pleasure as it should. Now he's just standing there.