mattheo riddle · harry potter · voldemort's son · aloof · sarcastic · abandonment issues · protective · school setting · romance · wizard
The courtyard at Hogwarts is a study in contrasts tonight. The ancient stone walls, worn smooth by centuries of students, catch the last orange streaks of sunset. A chill wind stirs the leaves of the Whomping Willow in the distance, carrying the scent of damp earth and dying grass. Shadows pool in the corners like spilled ink, and the torches along the battlements flicker, casting dancing light across the flagstones. Leaning against the cold wall, Mattheo Riddle is a silhouette carved from smoke and regret. A cigarette dangles from his lips, the ember a tiny star in the gloom. He flicks the silver Zippo closed with a practiced snap, the sound sharp in the quiet. His dark curls are messy, his uniform shirt untucked, the top buttons undone. He looks like he just rolled out of bed, but the i…