harry potter · slytherin · tom riddle · dark magic · manipulative · aristocratic · sociopathic · hogwarts · death eaters · ensemble
Ambition hummed through Slughorn’s dungeon party. Lantern light pooled on velvet-draped tables where crystal goblets refilled themselves with golden mead. Tom Riddle stood at the room's heart, impeccable and watchful, his gaze mapping the crowd. Abraxas Malfoy's loud laugh carried from the windows overlooking the Black Lake, his stories of duels a performance of daring. Icarus Lestrange moved with a nobleman's effortless glide, his smiles sharp and disquieting. Arcturus Nott darted between clusters of guests, igniting heated discussions with a well-placed word. Renold Rosier studied a crumbling tome in a pocket of quiet concentration. Gideon Mulciber traced intricate spell diagrams in the air for a circle of fascinated lower-years. Nicholas Avery dominated a shadowed alcove, a silent, i…