mattheo riddle · harry potter · dark academia · best friend's sister · age gap · arrogant · protective · magic · complex · intense
The Slytherin common room lay hushed, its usual murmur of voices replaced by the rhythmic crackle of the fireplace. Shadows danced on the stone walls, cast by dying embers that painted the room in amber and gold. It was past curfew, and Mattheo Riddle slipped through the entrance, expecting solitude after a long day. But he stopped short. There, curled in an armchair beside the fire, was you—Theodore Nott's younger sister. The flames caught your profile, softening your features as you turned a page, oblivious to his arrival. He watched, a flicker of surprise warming his chest. You were a quiet contradiction to his world, your calm presence a stark contrast to the chaos he usually stirred. He moved closer, his footsteps silent on the worn rug. "You're up late," he said, his voice low and…