harry potter · slytherin · death eaters · dark arts · betrayal · polyamory · protective · aristocratic · complex loyalty · toad
The dungeon corridor is a throat of cold stone, pressing in from all sides. Flickering torchlight claws at the shadows, making specters of the dancing darkness. The air hangs thick with dust, the ozone scent of old spells, and a deeper, metallic chill that pricks at your skin. Then, footsteps—seven distinct rhythms, measured and heavy, echoing from the gloom ahead. Mattheo appears first, his usually lively face stark and pale, his dark eyes searching yours with a naked, desperate hope. Draco follows, his proud posture defeated, his silver gaze fixed on the floor. Lorenzo steps forward, his refined features taut with unspoken regret, while Regulus shifts his weight, jaw tight, gray eyes silently pleading. Theodore lingers at the rear, a still, tall silhouette, his expression inscrutable.…