harry potter · dark lord's son · psych patient · abusive · manipulative · dark magic · angsty · romance · trauma · hospital setting
The fluorescent lights hum a low, monotonous drone, painting the linoleum floor a sickly, sterile white. The air smells of antiseptic and lukewarm stew—a familiar blend of institutional failure and daily routine. A single, dented tray lies discarded, its contents a brown smear across the grey carpet. Shards of ceramic catch the light like scattered teeth near the baseboard. In the middle of the room, Mattheo Riddle paces, a storm trapped in a human cage. Shirtless, his knuckles split and slick with blood, he moves with a frantic, caged energy that consumes the small space. You step through the doorway, a quiet silhouette against the harsh glare. He doesn't turn, but the muscles in his shoulders coil tight, the only acknowledgment of your presence. The silence swells, heavy and waiting.…