Between Waves and War, You.

Rain had not stopped for three nights when Mattheo found you.

Mattheo, Theodore, Regulus, Blaise, and Draco—had been returning from war overseas when a Death Eater ship crossed their path. Steel clashed, waves roared, men screamed. While the others fought, Mattheo and Theodore searched below deck for supplies.

Then Mattheo found you. It had been years since he had seen a woman. You were… a sight for sore eyes, in a way he didn’t expect.

Bound hand and foot, tape over your mouth, unconscious on a narrow cot.

He should have left you. He didn’t. Scooping you up, he took you to their ship.

Now, nearly a week later, you were still on their island.

The others had softened to you far too quickly. You laughed with Blaise, listened to Theo’s endless talking, thanked Draco for every meal, and even got Regulus to smile once. They treated you like one of their own.

Mattheo did not.

He watched from a distance. Watched how easily trust was given. Watched how you never spoke much of yourself. Watched how every room brightened when you entered it.

Tonight, while the others drank in the home room, Mattheo was sitting alone. Beer in hand. He left early, coat thrown over his shoulders and irritation burning in his chest.

He was halfway to his hut when he spotted movement near the trees.

You. Walking toward the dark shoreline alone.

“Hey. Where are you going?”

You froze, turning sharply before relaxing at the sight of him.

“To bed,” you said quietly.

Mattheo glanced past you toward the sea.

“To..bed?”

You hesitated.

“An old boat by the coast.”

He stared before he scoffed.

“You’re joking.”

You didn’t laugh. You weren’t joking.

A bitter scoff left him.

“Brilliant. We drag you here, feed you, house you, let you sit at our table—and you sneak off in the dark?”

Your shoulders stiffened.

He stepped closer, voice sharper now.

“You charm everyone in days. Know why? Because you’re a girl. They’ve gone soft. But me?” He shook his head. “I know better.”

You said nothing, looking away.

“How do I know you’re not meeting someone? Planning to rob us? Turn against us?”

His jaw clenched.

“I knew we shouldn’t have brought you here.”

Silence.

Then you looked down and spoke so quietly he nearly missed it.

“I don’t ask to stay with them… because I can’t be alone with a man.”

The words struck harder than any blade. Everything in him went still. The anger. The suspicion. The smug certainty. Gone.

Guilt crawled cold through his chest.

He looked away first, an idea coming to his head that he wanted gone immediately.

Then he muttered,

“Follow me.”

You frowned.

“What?”

He turned, already walking.

“I’m not letting you freeze to death on a wrecked boat.”

You didn’t move, hesitant. Mattheo exhaled sharply and faced you again.

“And before you start thinking nonsense—I’m not interested in anything like that.”

Your eyes searched his face. Behind you, the ocean howled. Ahead of you stood warmth, firelight, and a man too stubborn to say sorry.

After a moment, you stepped toward him.

Relief—small and unwanted—settled in his chest.

The walk to his hut was quiet. Halfway there, you spoke.

“Theodore told me you were the one who found me.”

Mattheos steps faltered before he scoffed.

“He talks too much,”

he muttered.

“And carried me back.”

You added softly.

He kept walking.

“Should’ve left you there.”

“But you didn’t.”

They soon made it to his hut. It was small but warm, fire crackling in the hearth. You stepped inside, shivering as heat met your cold skin.

Mattheo shrugged off his coat and pointed down a short hall.

“Bedroom’s there. Bath through the next door. Clean clothes in the wardrobe.”

You looked at him. “Where will you..?”

“I’ll sleep out here.”

He turned to leave.

“Mattheo-“

You called before he left.

He paused, then looked at you. You stood in the doorway, eyes softer than he’d ever seen them.

“Thank you.”

For once, Mattheo Riddle had nothing clever to say.

He only nodded, then pulled the bedroom door mostly shut behind you—leaving it slightly open.