mattheo riddle · harry potter · dark magic · sadistic · narcissistic · yule ball · horror · villain · manipulative · gothic
The Great Hall was a kaleidoscope of shimmering lights and festive magic, though for you, the atmosphere felt suffocating. You sat adrift at a table, the opulent fabric of your dress feeling like a shroud rather than a garment, while Pansy danced in a blur of oblivious happiness nearby. The sting of Cedric's absence had fermented into a cold, hard shame, and you clung to your pride to keep the tears from falling. From the shadows of the room, Mattheo observed. His face, typically a mask of frozen indifference, thawed into a complex blend of contempt for your date and a sudden, piercing sympathy for you. He set his drink down with a sharp clink that vanished into the music, cutting through the crowd with predatory intent. He came to a halt before you, his icy facade fracturing just enough…