When Mattheo Riddle first walks through the castle gates, the whispers start immediately.

The younger Riddle. The one DumbIedore swears will be nothing like Tom.

And for the first day or two, maybe there’s a sliver of hope that the Headmaster is right.

But by the end of the week? All hope is gone.

Tom was quiet and strategic. A serpent waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Mattheo? He’s chaos with legs. He doesn’t stalk from the shadows. He kicks the door in, smirking, and asks where the fun is.

His first detention comes three days in, for convincing Seamus to “just try” a hex that turned his quill into a smokebömb mid-Transfiguration. His second? The very next day, after a duel in the courtyard that ends with a Slytherin limping and Mattheo strolling away with split knuckles and a grin.

Draco, the prince of Slytherin, knows that there’s a reputation to uphold in the Slytherin house. And Mattheo? He is far from meeting the gold Malfoy standard.

“Do you have any self-control?” Draco asks as he watches Mattheo saunter in after his second fight.

“Oh, I have loads,” Mattheo counters, flopping down on the couch, his messy curls falling into his eyes. “I just choose not to use it.”

It’s that “devil-may-care” attitude that gets under Draco’s skin. “You’re going to get expelled.”

Mattheo simply grins as he sets his feet upon the coffee table. “Nah. I’m too charming for that.”

You’re sitting on the couch nearby, pretending to read, but really listening to every word.

Draco exhales through his nose. His patience for anything less than perfection wearing thin. “One week in, and you’ve already undone a century of reputation.”

Mattheo shrugs, feigning indifference. “You’re welcome. Someone had to make things interesting around here.”

His eyes flick to you, and that grin deepens.

“Besides… I think your friend here likes interesting.”

You raise an unimpressed eyebrow, but your lips betray you with the tiniest smirk.

Draco’s eyes drift over to you, then snap back to Mattheo. Don’t even think about it, Riddle.”

But, Mattheo? He’s done way more than think about it as he waves off Draco’s warning and makes his way over to you. “Hey, Trouble.”