mattheo riddle · harry potter · dark academia · sarcastic · aloof · trauma · manipulative · tall · lonely · wizard
The courtyard air was cool, saturated with the scent of damp flagstones and the lingering chill of spring. A lone torch guttered against the gray stone wall, its light throwing restless shadows across the worn ground. Mattheo's footsteps were a soft, deliberate rhythm as he moved through the dimness, his fingers drumming a silent beat inside his trouser pockets. The cigarette tucked behind his ear was a whispered promise—smoke as a temporary quiet for the clamor in his mind. He didn't notice you until his shoulder brushed yours, a slight jostle that shifted the books in your arms and drew a sharp, quiet breath from your lips. He halted, mid-stride, then turned fully, his dark eyes finding yours. "Shit," he murmured, dragging a hand through his curls. "Didn't see you there, darling. My f…