Chapter Text
Professor Slughorn’s class was not very looked forward to by Amara Clysdale. Their potions teacher was a fellow Slytherin, making it slightly more tolerable, but potions had never been Amara’s strong suit. Which made it all the more surprising when Amara had to admit to herself that she was interested today.
She had walked into Sluggy’s class to see multiple potions laid out on the table in front of the desks. More surprising, however, was the fact that someone was sitting in the seat that usually remained empty beside her. She had never seen him before, that she could remember and god, she was pretty sure she’d remember a face like that.
The boy had brown curly hair that was the same color as his eyes. His eyes were deep, like they held a whole different world in them alone, and Amara was certain if she looked into them long enough she would be able to see the boy’s thoughts. She cautiously walked over to her seat where he turned to her with a smile.
“Hello,” Amara greeted him. “Amara Clysdale. I’m not sure I’ve seen you before, are you new?” She extended her hand, and the boy shook it.
“Mattheo Riddle, and yes. I’m a transfer from homeschool, just got sorted into Slytherin this morning, in fact.”
“Riddle? Isn’t that the dark lord’s last name?” She asked. He grinned a type of grin that could be perceived as friendly or deadly, depending on the context.
“Im his son, actually. Are you afraid?” She shook her head and laughed lightly.
“Nah.” He looked at her with an almost perplexed expression on his face.
“Then you’d be the first.” She smiled at him wolfishly and he grinned right back. Amara opened her mouth to continue the banter when she felt a forceful hand hit her shoulder. She whipped her head around to see her attacker.
“Amara, what the hell is this?” Her boyfriend asked. Her eyes widened.
“Theo, this is Mattheo Riddle, my new desk mate. Mattheo, this is my boyfriend, Theodore Nott.” Theodore’s eyes narrowed.
“First name basis already? Amara, I don’t want you talking to him.” Amara furrowed her brow.
“He’s my desk mate, Theo, I really don’t think there’s much I can do for you there.” He put his hand back on her shoulder and she winced at the firm grip. He pulled her closer into him and kissed her forcefully. She pushed him back roughly before hissing “Not in class!” He glared at Mattheo behind her.
“He’s dangerous Amara. Look at him. Bloody cuts on his face and I saw him smoking cigarettes outside before class. I don’t want you talking to him any more than you need to for class, ok?” Amara was about to be indignant, but Theo’s eyes softened before saying, “I’m just looking out for you, honey. I don’t want you to get hurt.” She nodded, grateful that Theo had to leave now due to the arrival of Horace Slughorn.
“Good afternoon, class. Now, as you may have noticed, there is a potion up here. Could anyone tell me what it is?” The know-it-all Granger’s hand shot into the air.
“Miss Granger?”
“Amortenia, sir. A love potion that is illegal to use in the UK.” She supplied. Slughorn nodded.
“Quite right. Now today I will be getting three volunteers to smell it for me before we brew. It is said that the potion smells like that which you are attracted to.”
Amara watched in amusement as Hermione Granger described the Weasley boy, based on his flush. Draco Malfoy smelled fresh laundry and honey. Amara was eager to see embarrassment on one more face.
“How about Miss Clysdale.” Slughorn beckoned her forward. Amara swallowed nervously. Perhaps is the scenario was different and Theo wasn’t in the room with her, she might be interested in what the potion would smell like to her. But due to his presence, all she could feel was apprehension as she made her way to the front of the class and wafted the potion closer to her.
“Well? What do you smell, Miss Clysdale?” Sluggy asked her. She flushed, embarrassed.
“Well, it smells quite strange. Like cologne, surely, and copper? And maybe smoke?” She was trying to be vague as possible, but her mind had already laid out the answer in glowing red letters.
Cologne
Blood
Cigarettes
Mattheo. Fucking. Riddle.
Across the room, she could see Theo seething as she made her way to her seat. She felt no small amount of trepidation for having to explain to him later. Back at her seat, Mattheo gave her a sly grin.
“Shut up.” She hissed, smacking him lightly in the arm.
She and Mattheo were able to brew the potion quite successfully. He was an admirable brewer and kept up an interesting conversation while they worked, explaining where he had lived away from his father, taken by the ministry, but how he possessed the raw power his father had held before his demise. She found that she settled easily into conversation with him. She felt calm in his presence. Safe. It was an uncommon but entirely welcome sensation for her.
Somewhere deep inside she wished she could talk to Mattheo for longer and avoid the inevitable rough conversation with Theo, but she knew she could put it off no longer.
When the bell rang she was quick to leave the classroom and wait for Theo on the other side of the hallway so they could talk before their next class, Transfiguration with McGonagall. She had expected frustration and a little anger, but she was unprepared for the pure rage seeping from Theodore as he exited the classroom a moment later. He stormed toward her and had her up against the wall by her throat in an instant.
“Let me go!” Amara cried.
“Why’d you smell Riddle in that potion, huh? You’re mine, Amara. He doesn’t get to have you.” She was struggling against his grip now. He squeezed tighter, as if in an effort to keep her in place.
“Don’t let anyone see this.” She hissed out through her limited airway. She knew by now that Theo had a very physical way of showing his emotions. He never held back from expressing his anger in private, but she knew he had reservations about doing so in public. He thankfully released her throat and dropped her to the floor before walking away without a backward glance.
She sat on the floor trying to catch her breath and fend off the panic rising in her chest. He was angry.
“You alright there Clysdale?” A familiar voice asked. Mattheo. She nodded shakily. He sank to his knees next to her and rubbed her back, ignoring the small flinch and made at the initial contact. He luckily hadn’t seen their little scene, but he knew something was wrong.
During the rest of classes, Amara managed to avoid both Theo and Mattheo. She and Theo always met up in the evenings in the Slytherin girls dorm before bed, and sometimes Theo would sleep there with her. She knew he would hardly skip out tonight as that was his favorite time to let her know that she was his. So she resigned herself to her fate and made her way anxiously to the dorm.