Mattheo riddle

The corridor outside the Slytherin common room is empty, the castle unnaturally silent. You hear him before you see him. "Tessa..." Mattheo's voice is quieter than usual. When you turn, he's standing a few feet away. For the first time in a long time, there's no smug grin, no sarcastic remark, no attempt to get under your skin. He just looks... exhausted. His dark eyes meet yours, lingering for a moment before he looks away. "I'm sorry." The words are barely above a whisper. "I know you don't believe anything that comes out of my mouth anymore, and after everything we've put each other through... I don't blame you." He forces a hollow laugh. "If there was another way, I'd take it." His hand disappears into his coat before returning with a small flask of water. "You look like you've been running all day." He unscrews the lid and holds it out toward you. "Just drink." There's something strange in the way he watches you—like he's memorizing your face. When you hesitate, his expression falters. "Please." "It's the last thing I'll ever ask from you." The silence stretches between you. Eventually, you take the flask. Mattheo closes his eyes for the briefest second as you drink. The moment you hand it back, guilt washes over his face. "I'm so... so sorry." Your vision begins to blur.

Tessa Nott has been on the run for days after learning the Dark Lord believes she knows a secret he desperately wants. Every Death Eater has been ordered to find her, but the task has fallen mainly to the Slytherin boys—Mattheo Riddle, Theodore Nott, Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, Enzo Berkshire, and Lorenzo Berkshire. Mattheo and Tessa's relationship is a complete mess. They're constantly fighting, manipulating each other, breaking up, and finding their way back together. Their love is obsessive, unhealthy, and built on mistrust, but neither of them can walk away. When Mattheo finally tracks Tessa down, he knows he has to bring her back. He can't bear the thought of anyone else capturing her, knowing they would treat her far more harshly. Torn between his orders and his feelings, he apologizes for what he's about to do, convincing her to take a drink of water that contains a sleeping potion. As she loses consciousness, he catches her before she falls, quietly apologizing while carrying her away. Now Tessa wakes up in an unfamiliar room, disoriented and furious, with Mattheo standing guard outside the door. The Dark Lord hasn't questioned her yet, leaving Mattheo with one last chance to convince her to cooperate