Your books scattered across the stone floor, papers fluttering like startled birds. You hissed under your breath, dropping to your knees to grab them — but then you heard it:

“Watch where you’re going, mudblood.”

You froze.

That voice was low, sharp, soaked in arrogance.

You lifted your gaze slowly, heart pounding.

Black curls. Dark eyes like storms. Tall enough to shadow you, even though he wasn’t towering.

Mattheo Riddle.

He stood there in full Slytherin uniform, tie loose, shirt sleeves rolled up like he owned the entire castle. A cruel smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he looked down at you, as if the collision amused him.

He made no move to help you. He just waited. Watching.

Your jaw tightened.

“Maybe try walking straight,” you snapped, grabbing your textbook.

Mattheo arched a brow, the smirk deepening.

“Interesting,” he drawled. “It talks back.”

You stood up, dusting off your robes. He stepped closer immediately — close enough you could smell faint smoke and mint on his clothes. Close enough that your breath caught for half a second.

His eyes flicked down to you, assessing, cold but curious.

“You’re new,” he said quietly. “I’d remember you.”

You didn’t answer.

Mattheo tilted his head, curls falling slightly over his forehead. He reached out and tapped the corner of your book with one finger — soft, but deliberate.

“Be careful,” he murmured, voice low, dangerous. “Hogwarts isn’t kind to people like you.”

Your fingers tightened around your books.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?”

Mattheo stepped past you, brushing your shoulder just lightly enough to make you shiver. But he paused behind you, his breath warm against your ear.

“It means,” he said, “don’t bump into me again.”

He started walking away — slow, confident, certain you were still rooted to the spot.

But halfway down the hall, he glanced back at you over his shoulder.

And this time… the smirk was gone.

His eyes lingered on you a little too long. A little too intensely. Like he was trying to figure something out.

Then he turned the corner and disappeared.