MATTHEO RIDDLE
-ten-

     Violet rushes around the kitchen as she cooks my dinner. Her pitch-black hair is tied up messily with an old sock of hers that she washed. She's wearing mom's old clothes that are a little small for her. I sit on the carpet by our tiny table for two as I watch. I feel bad for her, I always do. "we don't have to eat tonight," I say

She walks out of our small kitchen and puts her hands on his hips "Excuse me?"

I shrug "You still have to shower, and do laundry."

She sighs and smiles at me "It's okay. Food is a necessity." she walks back into the kitchen and I shake my head, mumbling things to myself. She always does this and I'm worried about her. She goes to school, cleans the house, makes food, and takes care of me. She shouldn't have to.

I don't know much about our family. I only know of Violet. But, she's told me loads of stories. Like my father, that awful man. I sometimes cry when I think about him, I sometimes feel nauseous thinking that I have the same blood as a cold-blooded killer. For my mother? According to Violet, my mother was a wonderful woman. She was remarkably kind to everyone around her and she took care of Violet, for the most part. Violet was 6 when my father went missing. She said mother cried tears of joy at the thought of him not returning, him not being able to harm her babies.

I was just a newborn when my father went missing—or died you can say. They never found a body, I sometimes ask Violet about it and she shrugs it off and changes the topic, or she'll say something like "he's dead Theo, don't worry" or "He's gone." I guess you could say I don't believe that not for a second.

My mother died when I was three years old. She had a horrible illness that couldn't be cured. I don't remember much of anything but I do see a blurry image in my head, one of Violet crying while her fingers lightly caress my cheek. I don't remember my mother quite at all, sometimes I get sad thinking that I know nothing of the people I was born from.

Magic. Violet told me I was a wizard when I was 9, I'm 10 now. I didn't believe her at first. But, it's true. Even though I'm only half wizard, according to Violet that half was due to my father being one. My mother wasn't. Violet said that there's a school for witches and wizards—that one day maybe she'll let me go. But, father went to that school. She said that she never went and that she didn't want to. But, if I want to I can, when I turn eleven.

-eleven-

today I got a Hogwarts letter. Violet sat me down at our tiny table and let out a long sigh "I went to get the post today," she began

I nod my head to let her know I'm listening "You got a letter, from Hogwarts."

My eyes widen and I start shaking my head over and over again "No! No. no. no." I never want to go to that awful school, I'm never gonna be my father, I'm not my father. I'm not a wizard.

She sighs "Oh Mattheo" her voice turns soft and her fingers make their way to my face, her hand cupping my cheek. "Maybe you should go..."

I let out a gasp "Are you trying to get rid of me!?" my mind starts going a million miles a minute, is she tired of me? am I turning into my father, does she think I am?

She shakes her head "God no Mattheo, I just don't think you should keep shutting this side of you out. In school, your teachers say things happen, without you actually doing them. You can't keep continuing doing stuff like that."

"I can't help it!" I exclaim "I don't do it on purpose. I like normal school, with normal kids. I'm not like dad."

I look up at her and I see her eyes fill with tears "Of course not, you aren't dad, not even close."

"then why do I have to go?"

"You don't. It's your choice." She whispers, "Just try doing better in class."

I nod and smile happily "Thank you sissy!" I hug her and she wraps her arms tightly around me. "It's no problem, it's never a problem..."

-fourteen-

Violet grabs my arm, tightly, but it doesn't hurt. she pushes me into the car and I let out a huff. "What were you thinking Mattheo!!" she yells.

"What? I didn't do anything wrong." I roll my eyes, crossing my arms.

Her face turns red and she gives me a death stare "You didn't do anything?! Are you kidding me?"

I shrug. "The kid deserved it."

She puts her hands in her hair in frustration and pulls on it. "You just got expelled from your sixth school Mattheo! We have to move to a different district now! I have to find a new job!"

I feel my heart sink into my stomach. I feel awful. "I'm sorry but the kid is a complete dick. He kept harassing this girl."

Violet groans in annoyance "So you resort to mind reading and magic?"

I scoff and look away. I'm ashamed. I shouldn't have used this stuff against people, I'm turning into my father. Violet shakes her head "You're a good person for standing up for the girl. Good job." She says softly, before getting into the car and driving off. "So what's the girl's name?" she asks after a few minutes of silence.

"Madison. Her name is Madison. Maddie for short."

-sixteen-

The cops surrounded me as I sat in the chair next to the principal's desk. Here we go again. I groan in annoyance as I wait for Violet to arrive. After a few moments, she slams open the door and she looks furious. figures.

"Mattheo.Riddle. What the hell is wrong with you?" she yells, loud enough for the entire campus to hear, not like they would. they are all outside—due to what I did. I don't really give a fuck, all these kids deserve it, I wish at least one of them got hurt—but they didn't. sad.

"a lot apparently," I reply, bored.

Her face turns red as she faces the principal "Please tell me you'll allow him to attend school still?" she asks, her voice filled with vulnerability, and hope.

Mrs. Shankity shakes her head with a frown "I'm sorry but this is the fourteenth school he's been to in 5 different districts. He cannot attend, especially because of the danger he puts all of his classmates at. He may no longer attend."

I can feel all of Violet's calmness leave her as she turns to me "You asshole! You are just like Dad!" she screams. The cops try to calm her down and they grab her wrists but she fights back "We have to move again are you happy??"

you're probably wondering what I did...well, I set the bathroom on fire. and for the first time in my life. I don't feel bad.

-seventeen-

It's been a year since the fire incident. Violet decided to homeschool me. I hate it. I'd rather sit in those shitty classrooms while a ton of girls stare at me than listen to Violet bitch at me. "Can you stop yelling at me like I'm a child!" I finally snap.

"You act like one so you might as well be treated like one." She rolls her eyes and throws the papers she has in her hands at me.

I scoff and leave the house. I grab my skateboard and skate all through the neighborhood, and eventually, I make my way away from it, going to my dealer. I need weed.

Once I get what I need I go sit on the roof of our apartment building. Smoking. I look down at the ground and wonder what it'll be like to jump, to feel free, to live my last seconds and know it. I don't do it—that's stupid. Violet needs me.

After a couple of hours, I head back into the apartment and see Violet with a letter in her hands, sitting at our same tiny two-person table from all those years ago. "You're going to Hogwarts. Whether you want to or not."

shit.