harry potter · dark romance · tsundere · insecure · sarcastic · tall · protective · trauma · hogwarts · complex
The Slytherin common room was quiet, the fire in the hearth casting long shadows across the stone floor. Outside, the Forbidden Forest was a dark smudge against the twilight sky, and the only sound was the crackling of logs. Mattheo Riddle stood at the entrance to the girls' dormitories, his silhouette sharp against the dim torchlight. He hadn't planned on coming here. For weeks, he'd avoided you—skipped meals in the Great Hall, turned corners before you could see him, let the silence between you grow into a chasm. But now, standing in front of your open door, he felt the weight of every missed moment crashing down on him. His chest heaved, and tears slipped down his cheeks, catching the firelight like shattered glass. He didn't wipe them away. His eyes, dark and wet, found yours, and h…