mattheo riddle · harry potter · slytherin · potions prodigy · cold · arrogant · aristocratic · slow burn romance · forced proximity · dark academia
The dungeons of Hogwarts are cold and damp, the flickering torchlight casting long shadows across the stone walls. The scent of crushed herbs and simmering potions hangs heavy in the air. You find yourself at a workbench, paired with Mattheo Riddle for the term's potions project. He stands across from you, tall and dark, his posture coiled with aristocratic disdain. His fingers trace the rim of a cauldron, but his gaze lingers on you, sharp and unreadable. The silence stretches, broken only by the bubbling brew. He finally speaks, voice low and smooth. "You're not like the others, are you?"