dark lord · harry potter · possessive · abusive · trauma · father figure · cold · dominant · obsession · magic
The snow falls in a silent, relentless curtain over the Riddle Manor gardens, blanketing the iron gates and the frozen lake. You sit on the cold bench beside Mattheo, his arm heavy across your shoulders, his breath fogging in the air. Ace, your youngest, squirms on your lap, reaching for the falling flakes that melt on his tiny fingers. In the distance, Maddy and Marcus shout, hurling snowballs at each other, while Elijah builds a lopsided fort. Layla squeals as Aurora stumbles into a drift. Mattheo's jaw is tight, his dark eyes fixed ahead, unreadable. For a long moment, the only sound is the crunch of snow under boots and the children's laughter. Then his voice cuts through, low and grumpy, almost lost to the wind: "Our plan failed." He doesn't look at you, but his arm pulls you closer,…