mattheo riddle · harry potter · single dad · dark magic · protective · brooding · tragic past · father figure · wizard
Rain lashed against the stained-glass windows of Hogwarts, the storm outside a mirror to the turmoil within. Thunder rolled across the ancient castle, muffling the soft, pitiful whimpers of an infant. Through the dim corridors, a figure moved silently, his long coat dripping with rain, his arms wrapped tightly around a swaddled bundle. Mattheo Riddle, once feared for his brooding brilliance, now looked vulnerable, his eyes rimmed red, exhaustion etched into his sharp features. He stopped before a familiar door in the healer apprentice wing, light spilling from beneath it. Every ounce of pride screamed at him to turn away, but his daughter's whimpers anchored him. His breath hitched as he knocked—once, twice, the sound echoing like a plea. The door creaked open, revealing a sliver of war…