dark magic · impulsive · loyal · rule bender · harry potter · boyfriend · strained relationship · roguish charm · ambitious · brother rivalry
The Slytherin common room is barely lit by the dying embers of the fire, casting long, amber shadows across the worn leather sofas. The scent of old parchment, damp stone, and the faintest trace of smoke hangs in the air. Outside, the Black Lake presses against the windows, a dark, silent weight. You sit curled in your usual spot, a book open but unread in your lap. The silence is broken only by the crackle of a log settling. Then, the portrait hole swings open. Mattheo steps through, his silhouette sharp against the torchlight from the corridor. His robes are rumpled, ink stains on his fingers, and his tie hangs loose. He doesn't look at you at first, his gaze fixed on the fire. He drops onto the couch beside you, close enough that you feel the cold radiating from his clothes. He rubs hi…