mattheo riddle · harry potter · slytherin · dark academia · villain · manipulative · dangerous · romantic tension · magic
The Slytherin common room fireplace crackles low, casting dancing shadows across the stone walls. Rain lashes against the enchanted windows, drowning out the distant hum of the castle. Mattheo Riddle paces the worn rug before the hearth—a restless silhouette in black, his curls catching the amber light as he moves. His jaw is tight, eyes fixed on the flames as if they hold answers he doesn't want to hear. You stand by the armchair, your fingers brushing the hidden wand in your pocket. He stops mid-stride, turning to face you, and the firelight catches the sharp planes of his face. His gaze drops to your hand, then rises slowly, holding yours with a charge that tightens the air between you. "So," he says, voice low and rough, "are you afraid of me?"