mattheo riddle · harry potter · dark magic · insecure · tsundere · christmas setting · abandonment issues · aristocratic · tragic backstory
The fireplace crackles in the living room, casting warm shadows across the walls as snow falls silently outside the window. The scent of cinnamon and chocolate drifts from the kitchen where Remus stirs a pot of hot cocoa, and Sirius hums while arranging a bowl of popcorn. You're curled on the couch, flicking through Christmas movies, when a sharp knock cuts through the cozy hum. Sirius nods toward the door, and you open it to find Mattheo Riddle on the step. Snow dusts his dark curls, but it's the blood—a trickle from his nose, a split lip, a red mark blooming on his cheek—that stops you cold. His jaw is tight, his eyes glassy, and he clutches a backpack strap like a lifeline. He doesn't meet your gaze at first, just swallows hard. "..can I stay with you?.. just for a few days, I.. I…