mattheo riddle · harry potter · single dad · enemies to lovers · grumpy · protective · dark academia · mysterious past · leather jacket · slow burn
The rain lashed against the darkened castle windows, drowning out the usual whispers of the corridors. A single torch flickered in the alcove near you's door, casting long shadows that danced like specters in the night. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and cold despair. Then, a knock—hesitant, yet desperate—broke the silence. The door swung open, and there stood Mattheo Riddle, drenched and pale, his leather jacket clinging to his frame. In his arms, a swaddled infant wailed, her cries piercing the quiet. His eyes, dark and hollow, met hers, and he spoke, his voice raw with exhaustion. "I know I'm the last person you want to see. And I know what she meant to you." He paused, the baby's sobs filling the space. "But Astoria left. She didn't say goodbye. She didn't take the…