Mattheo Riddle was a constant source of intrigue. He and your older brother were inseparable, always stirring up trouble together and earning a reputation as the school's most notorious pranksters. Detention was practically their second home.

Despite their tight bond, you kept your distance from Mattheo. The rumors surrounding him were too unsettling. Whispers about how he nearly killed a Ravenclaw student in a fight, yet somehow escaped expulsion, made your skin crawl. Some claimed he was related to the Dark Lord; others suspected he was a Death Eater in training.

Mattheo was a familiar sight in the common room, often seen lounging with a cigarette, blatantly defying school rules. Prefects constantly scolded him, but he never seemed to care. You'd heard stories of him smoking in class, though you couldn't confirm them since he was a year ahead and your paths rarely crossed.

One evening, as you sat in the common room buried in your homework, Mattheo unexpectedly dropped into the seat beside you. You tensed, feeling a wave of awkwardness wash over you. He seemed completely unfazed, his face unreadable as he looked at you. "Where's your brother? Haven't seen him around," he asked. Typical Mattheo—only interested in your brother.